The Story of Lulu - Part One

Last fall, we noticed that two of our chickens were limping.  We were never sure how they became lame and they declined to name names.  We figure that they either jumped down and hurt themselves or got squashed in a corner in a chickie mosh pit.  They seemed to be smaller than the other chickens as well, so we caught them and built them their own pen so they could recuperate.  Lucy and Lulu got extra food and vitamins and they seemed to improve quickly.  Lucy's limp was a lot less pronounced than Lulu's.  When we decided to put them back with the other girls, they seemed to be all right. 

After awhile, we noticed that Lulu spent most of her time alone hiding in the bushes.  One day we notice Lulu hobbling over to get a drink of water when another chicken came over and pecked her and chased her away without allowing her a drink.  We realized that she was the bottom of the pecking order and was not able to get enough food and water because of her injury.  That was when we decided that Lulu couldn't live with the other girls any more.

The small pen we had made for Lucy and Lulu was too isolated for one lone chicken.  So we made her a bed in the garage and allowed her the run of the yard.  This way she could see the other girls but not be abused by them.

Lulu had trouble walking because she couldn't step far enough ahead and as a result would step on her toes and trip.  In this photo you can see her standing which causes her to have trouble lifting her other foot. 

Lulu did not look as healthy as the other girls - her eyes were glassy and her feathers were dull and rough looking.  We gave her extra food and daily vitamins.  For vitamins, we used liquid baby vitamins and gave her a couple of drops daily in an eye dropper.

The cold weather was hard on Lulu so we made her a bed in the corner of the kitchen.  We used old sheets and a clothes basket on its side so she could lay in it and be able to see what was happening around her.

Lulu would still sleep in her box in the garage every night and spend her days in the corner of the kitchen. 

She ate well and was good company.  Lulu liked to be talked to and seemed to answer back.  She was always cooing, trilling and softly clucking.  She loved to be held and cuddled.

Her eyes got brighter and her feathers got soft and smooth.  She was also able to move around a little easier.

Orchids

 

 

Flowers

A Poem

 by: Albert Laighton (1829-1887)

They are autographs of angels, penned

In Nature's green-leaved book, in blended tints,

Borrowed from rainbows and the sunset skies,

And written everywhere--on plain and hill,

In lonely dells, 'mid crowded haunts of men;

 

 

 

 

On the broad prairies, where no eye save God's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 May read their silent, sacred mysteries.

 

 

 

Thank God for flowers! they gladden human hearts;

 

 

 

 

 

Seraphic breathings part their fragrant lips

With whisperings of Heaven.

 

 

 All photos of orchids taken in Hawaii.

 

Feeding Chickens Produce

Our chickens are fortunate that our local grocery store saves the outdated and bruised produce for them.  Every day we bring home between one and three garbage bags full. 

The produce is divided into several categories.  The first is ready-edible meaning little to no work on our part.  This includes lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts, etc.

The girls love the greens and can hardly wait until we dump the pails.

Sometimes shoving matches occur among the greedy feathered pigs.

The second category is edible-chippables.  These include carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, apples, cauliflower and much more.

This produce the chickens won't eat in the present form.  We use our chipper/shredder to break it into bite-sized morsels.

We toss the produce into the hopper -



and out comes yummy mush for the chickens.


The girls peck and scratch and gobble them up. 

What they don't eat gets tilled into the garden as compost.

Sometimes we have volunteers to help run the machinery - that is, until the food actually arrives.

Carrot Rolls

I have a recipe for Sweet Potato Rolls that is very good.  I found the recipe at this link:  http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=165770

My sweet potatoes did not produce this year but I have an abundance of carrots.  Carrots and sweet potatoes do taste fairly similar so I decided to try Carrot Rolls instead. 

I mix my dough in my Cuisinart but you can mix and knead it by hand if you want.

List of ingredients:

1 1/2 tsp yeast
1 tsp sugar
1/2 c. warm water
2/3 c. shortening, butter or margarine
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. sugar
2 c. mashed carrots
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 c. scalded milk
2 eggs
7 to 8 c. flour

Start by peeling and slicing up enough carrots to make 2 cups when mashed.  Cook carrots in very little water until soft.

Mash the carrots and set aside.  Meanwhile, scald 1 cup of milk and let it cool.  In 1/2 cup warm water stir 1 tsp sugar.  Then add 1 1/2 tsp yeast and set aside.

Mix 2/3 cup of margarine, butter or shortening with 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tsp salt.  Beat in 2 eggs, 1/2 tsp nutmeg and the 2 cups mashed carrots.

Add both the cooled milk and yeast mixture to the bowl and mix well.

Next add about 7 cups of flour, scraping down the sides of the bowl while mixing.

Add the rest of the flour (1 cup - more or less), a few spoons at a time until dough pulls away from the bowl.   

Continue kneading 3 to 5 minutes, adding more flour a sprinkle at a time if the dough starts to stick to the bowl.  The dough should be soft and pliable but not sticky.

Form into a ball and place in a greased bowl and lightly grease the top of the dough. 

Cover and let rise in a warm spot for several hours until double in size.  I let mine rise in the oven with the light on - it stays warm and is out of drafts.

Knead the dough and cut in half.

Cut each piece in quarters and then quarters again.  This will give you 32 large rolls.  Form each piece of dough into a ball and place on a greased baking sheet.  

Brush with butter and cover and let rise for about 1 1/2 hours. 

Preheat oven to 375F.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned.

I like to brush my buns with butter when they come out of the oven so they are shiny and stay soft.

Remove from pan to cool. 

I found these buns every bit as tasty as the sweet potato ones.  They are a lovely golden colour with a slightly sweet taste. 

Enjoy!  :)

Roses in the Fall

Some of my roses have decided to bloom again this fall.  They had a rest for a month or so and now are showing their lovely faces once more before the onset of winter.  Here are a few of the beauties.

Keeping Chickens

Not so long ago, and not so far away, we decided to raise chickens to provide us with tasty eggs. So we went for a drive and came home with a box of peeps.

We had 31 adorable balls of fluff.  They learned to peck and scratch and do all sorts of chicken things.



In a blink of our eye, they were full grown and feathered.  The girls were moved out of the garage and into to their coop and run in the yard.  They were fearful at first but their curiosity got the best of them and soon they were exploring their new digs.



They had many things to do throughout the day that kept them busy from dawn until dusk.

Eating

Catching some rays

Eating

Chanting "I'm higher than you . . . "

Eating

Dust bathing

Oh yes, did I mention - EATING!

They did of course start laying eggs and it has been just over a year since we've bought eggs from the store.  :)