TanksHill...Roll on!!

[miss_thenorth]

Tanks.

Seriously.

You need to harvest seeds from those things, and send them to all SS members for Christmas. I for one will be completely disappointed if I don't get any seeds from that thing.

Seriously.

I have NEVER seen seeds for anything like tha around here. Ever. I want seeds.

 

[TanksHill]

You bet cha!! I will save some for you. I got a few dozen from this one today. I have never really saved heirloom seeds before. It's a learning process. They kept molding on me. Grrr...

But I keep trying. I still have about 20 squash down in my new canning cupboard/ pantry. They are holding up wonderful. Oh, and with the rains the past month I have some vines growing again in the yard. I don't know if the squash will make it but heck that would be cool.

I have to admit. I use the pumpkin to make what I call Pumpkin Surprise. It's regular pie filling but has a spice cake mix sprinkled dry over the top then drizzled with butter. Well, I forgot to turn down the oven after the first 15 min. So because it was a bit burnt on top I made another to take to the inlaws. Canned pumpkin for that one. We ate the Cushaw pie after diner tonight. Burnt topping and all. It was wonderful. The only thing I noticed was the color. It bakes up more "tan", not orange. But tasted great!!

Gotta love mistakes in the kitchen!! Yum!

have a great night!!

g

 

[TanksHill]

What a great day.

The weather could not be better, the sun is shining with a light breeze. Just cool enough but the sun still feels warm on your skin.

I got up early, dumped several turkey carcases in a huge pot added a bunch of veggies and seasonings and its been simmering all day. I plan to pressure can it this afternoon.

Then I moved on to house chores. Got some laundry done, dishes, clean up etc...

Went down into the garage and converted the once chicken tractor into a new turkey pen. I hope they like it. I moved it out into the orchard and got it settled. Then I went down the hill and clipped their wings. Since it was my first time doing this I was a bit nervous but I managed. The tom was not all that thrilled with me. I tried tucking his feet in between my knees like the video showed. It just wouldn't work. I kinda squeezed them with my knees. Then proceeded to spread the wing and clip away. I had my 7 yo video but it turned out awful. Not her fault I was kinda barking orders and a bit nervous. My dog was annoying the turkeys but we all survived. After I clipped them I transported them up the hill in my dog kennel and lawn tractor trailer and into the new pen. I think I will leave them in for a couple days. Then give the free ranging a try. They went straight to their food. They seem to like it we'll see.

So this is a still from the video. You can see my tom off to the right. He was a bit upset.

I need to hook up the auto waterer but for now I have a regular one in there. I was thinking about stacking some old straw bales around the back side for a bit more insulation. I think they should be ok.

Well still lots to do today. Dh went to Lowes for the new laundry faucet. We need to get the counter back on. I would also like to do the outside Christmas light this afternoon. But who knows.

G

 

[FarmerDenise]

Sounds like you got a bit done today. That squash does look awesome. SO gave away more than 1/2 our pumkins that I wanted for feed for the chickens and for us.

It is clouding over up here. It was nice earlier today and I spent some time outside with the chickens and the goats.

 

[BarredBuff]

Im anxious to see how the turkey free ranging goes. I would like a trio of STD Bronze for meat.

 

[tamlynn]

Today has been a beautiful day. Hope tomorrow is another one. I was mostly lazy today, but thankfully tomorrow is just Saturday! I am inspired by all your hard work. Now to get off my butt. Oh, and I love the pics of that squash too, I've never tasted that kind.

 

[TanksHill]

Sunday Nov. 28th

Let's talk Turkey. No not recipes or leftovers. Herding!!! So I let my trio out yesterday for the first time. It was such a hoot watching them wander the orchard. They tasted everything and went everywhere. The turkeys discovered the chicken run and the chickens explored the turkey run. Some chickens were picking on On Eye but his girls were right there to chase him off. My Roo avoided the turkeys like the plague. One think I noticed it one of the gals spreding her tail fathers when she was chasing off a chicken. She kina looked like a tom.

But when bedtime came all the chickens went home. But the Turkeys obviously don't have that instinct. That or they were hoping for a late night out in the orchard.

So for those of you who have turkeys, how do you do it? How do you put them to bed? I can't leave them out because of the coyotes.

Last night I had to carry them back to their run. Tom first then one of he girls. The other gal finally came running and went in on her own.

So how would you do it? Will they eventually learn to go to bed? I tried to coax them in with food but itdid not work. I thought about letting Tobias herd them. But I don't trust him with the turkeys yet.

Hummm?????

g

 

[Dace]

I can just picture you out there carrying a big ol' Tom!!

Hope your turkey day was good

 

[Farmfresh]

For a while you have to MAKE them go to bed. Eventually they will go on their own.


I also "broom train" my chickens and turkeys.
I start with my chicks and poults are first put outside. I chase them in their pen with a broom until they run into their coop. I make sure they are good and scared of the broom - gently patting them in the behind with it even. Their only "safety" is the coop.

Then when they get bigger and first start free ranging we have a different kind of broom lesson. The broom "gets you" until you are in your pen at least, coop is better. The first few times are wild races, but if you move slowly and deliberately they will stay mostly together as a flock. With practice they do learn. (see poultry is not as dumb as most people think) They see me come with my herding broom and they start racing to the pen. I have has some backyard flocks so well trained that all I did was bang the broom on the deck they ran in the pen and then I simply shut the door. Time of day does not matter once you get them trained. Which is even better so that you can let them out (this is more for my backyard birds) for an odd hour or so, even in the middle of the day, to forage and still get them back in.

 

[TanksHill]

Thanks. Yes I do keep a broom down there. It was their first day in the orchard so I figure it will just take some time.

Didn't help that dh was working on the gate and dog was barking. they both kept distracting the birds.

I will keep working on it.

Dace you should have seen me trying to clip that big Tom's wings. he was kicking and growling at me. I must admit they are all a bit crooked. But I managed.

g