Just a Little of This and a Little of That
January 7th, 2010Winter hit us early, suddenly, and relentlessly this season. It’s been so cold for so long, I can not even remember how many weeks in a row it is that we’ve had the wood stove cranking out heat. We’ve had snow on the ground since early December. Other than taking the dogs for their daily romp in the woods and caring for chickens, I have spent absolutely no time outside. As a result, I’m having a hard time coming up with things to blog about. So, today, I think I’ll just bring you up to date on a few things here on the homestead.
Remember a couple of months ago when I was trying to sex a few mutt chickens I had? Well, the verdict is in.
This Barred Rock mix?
And these two big white chickens?
Cockerels. No doubt about it. Dad gum cockerels. From the last couple of hatches late last year, I ended up with EIGHT cockerels that need to be sent to freezer camp. Ugh.
But I have to tell you, some of these mutt cockerels are absolutely gorgeous. Three of them are Phoenix/Golden Penciled Hamburg mixes. And they got the prettiest rose combs from the Hamburg side:
This girl here is a Silver Gray Dorking/Golden Penciled Hamburg mix - I must say, it makes for a “different” look:
She got the Hamburg rose comb, and the five toes of a Silver Gray Dorking.
This picture simply cracks me up. I was actually trying to get a picture of the little cockerel to the right, but look at that girl to the left:
Oh, and behind both of them? That reddish chicken? Another cockerel.
We’ll be sending most of the eight cockerels to freezer camp in the next few days. Two of them are still pretty scrawny, and I’d like to let them get a bit bigger. How big I let them get depends on how angry they make me harassing my hens in the coming weeks.
If you’re one of my Facebook friends, you know that we got some bad news concerning Diesel recently. He has had problems with his back legs for some time now, and we’ve learned that he has hip dysplasia. I guess we really knew that before we took him to the vet, but he’s so young and we were really hoping it was something that could be easily corrected. He is on high doses of glucosamine and chondroitin, and it does seem to help him quite a bit. He doesn’t really act in pain, just stiff and a little uncomfortable from time to time. Asprin seems to help that. He and Dolly still run and play every single day. Such sweet pups - we just could not ask for better companions. I just pray they are both with us for a long, long time.
Bernie’s been avoiding cabin fever by refinishing gun stocks. The house has smelled like boiled linseed oil for a while now, but goodness, it sure does make a gun stock shiny! This picture just doesn’t show the wonderful job he did on this gun.
OK, I’m going to leave you with a recipe to help warm you on one of these cold, winter evenings:
Potato Ham Soup
Ingredients:
4 cups peeled and diced potatoes
2 - 3 stalks diced celery
half of a diced onion
1 cup cooked, diced ham
4 cups chicken stock
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
1/2 stick butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 cups milk
Directions:
Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham, chicken stock, salt and pepper in a large pot and bring to a boil. Cook over medium heat until the potatoes are done - about 15 minutes or so.
In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour and milk until there are no lumps.
Once potato mixture is done, add the butter, and the milk and flour mixture. Stir until the soup is thickened.
I suppose you can leave out the butter if you want to watch the fat and calories, but I truly don’t recommend it……
This is a very hardy meal. I serve it with a side salad, or some homemade french bread.
Bon Apetite - and stay warm!
January 7th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
I love the pics of the hens and cockrels. They are so pretty. Who’s gonna do the freezer camp this time? Is B gonna make you do it? Yuck!
January 7th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Well, Jamie, freezer camp is a family affair around here…. B drops the axe while I hold their legs. Then we share the joy of the rest of it. Yea. Not fun at all. But supper time is pretty danged enjoyable
January 7th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
I’m so sorry to hear about Diesel. Glad to hear the med’s are working. I love the chicken pix! They are beautiful. And I’m sure that supper will be very enjoyable!!
-Staci
January 7th, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Oooh - love this post! I think it’s so much fun to see photos of mixed breed chickens and all the new “looks” that come out of it. Those roosters are gorgeous, too bad about their pending trip to freezer camp.
My husband ooohed over Bernie’s shiny gun stock - amazing what linseed oil can do, isn’t it?
Recipe sounds delicious and oh-so-quick-and-easy - just what I love!
January 7th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
I wish we could get some of those cockerels from you. We are down to one rooster now. Hope he holds out till spring. We are getting some Buff Orphington’s. I can’t wait.
Kelly
January 7th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
Funny how the cocks have the majestic artwork for your wall look, then, in steps the one girl looking silly as chickens often do. Looks like I am gonna have to send my Marlin 22 stock to Bernie. Lastly, but not leastly, I hope everybody tries your recipe. I have one similar, and the potatoes just make it better!
January 8th, 2010 at 12:32 am
It’s brutal cold here in West Texas right now so the soup sounds great-I’m just out of potatoes but will rectify that tomorrow. I’m sorry about Diesel but am glad the gluco/chond. are helping him. I, too, would like to send my guns to Bernie! I’ve never cleaned my husband’s guns but they sure need it. Keep warm-guess we just have to tuff out the winter!?
January 8th, 2010 at 6:28 am
Oh those chickens are gorgeous!! I am partial to the Delaware mixes. They look like my Jack. And I feel for you with having all cockerels. All 3 of my babies are roos…… They were fighting yesterday or at least 2 of them were, but one of my Delaware girls got hurt to. So I know that i will get rid of 2 of them and see how it goes with just one baby and Jack.
sorry to hear bout Diesel, hope he continues to do well with the meds he is on.
take care
xoxoxoxoxo
lisa
January 8th, 2010 at 10:04 am
Isn’t the roo/hen hatching ratio annoy sometimes? We have yet to hatch our own but I’m hoping to this year. Love all of your pictures, good luck with freezer camp (I love that name and will have to tell DH, he’ll get a kick) and sorry to hear about your dog. Best wishes and great blog! Heidi
January 8th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Aint those combs that look like half a brain hanging out of the chickens heads just the funniest LOL
Gotta love that little lady on the left with her cocked headed look
x
January 9th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
You have some really pretty chickens. I’m sorry to hear about Diesel, I hope the medication helps him.
That soup would really be good on one of these cold days.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:57 am
Thanks for stopping on by the 7MSN. Your blog is a goldmine of information for somebody like me - particularly as I embark upon a chicken-raising adventure. I’ll be back!
January 12th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
All the chickens are so beautiful… I’m amazed at all the varieties and differences in their feathers. Stunning! And I’m very, very sorry about Diesel. Hip dysplasia happens to so many larger dogs … but with glucosamine and chondroitin, hopefully he will still manage to live a long life! I did the gluco/chondroitin thing with my dalmatian as he got older. It definitely seemed to help him.
That potato soup sounds extra yummy, as I sit here typing with frozen fingers… it sounds very similar to some I made a few months ago with ham, and it was delectable!
Hang in there and stay warm… spring is getting closer!
January 17th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Staci - thank you for topping by!
Farmgirl - I agree. I’ve really enjoyed all the mixes around here. It’s fun identifying the traits of the two breeds. Now, what will be really interesting is the results of these mixes mixing
Kelly - I wish you could have gotten some of these cockerels too! But I bet you’ll love your Buff Orphingtons. Can’t wait to see the pictures.
Paul - Bernie chuckled at your comment about sending your Marlin 22 stock to him. He said “Awwww. Paul apparently has the same rifle.”
Cotton Lady - it’s been cold every where, hasn’t it? I hope you’ve warmed up by now.
Lisa - I really hate that all those babies ended up being roosters
I bet things will be much better when you get rid of them though. Having too many roos is NO fun - especially for the girls.
Heidi - Thank you for stopping by! Yes indeed - the roo/hen hatching ratio can be very frustrating and disappointing. I ended up with a total of 19 roosters from last year’s hatches
I don’t know the exact number of hens I ended up with from those hatches, but it wasn’t as many as 19!
Marmy - you are too funny! And Bernie said no way it looks like their brains. If it did it would only be the size of a pea.
SVB - It looks like we’re finally getting a bit of a break from all the brutal cold of the past few weeks! Thank goodness!
Carson - thank you for visiting! I LOVE your blog!!!!
Oz Girl - I’m so glad to know the glucosamine and chondroitin helped your Dalmation. I’ve gotten suggestion for using Fish Oil and Vitamin D3, so Diesel is getting those as well. Thanks for the sweet words. And I really hope spring is just around the corner!!!