Chicken bald back

[AndyRoo]

I noted today that the combs on the Legbars are starting to turn quite red. Blue/green eggs coming soon!?

 

It'd be great if they did. *crosses fingers*

[Roksteddie]

The waiting is difficult, isn't it?! One of my 3 has been laying for 2 weeks now and waiting for the others to start is killing me!!

[Blackrocksrock]

That will be good when she does - you will soon have a plentiful supply of eggs! Lots of cakes!!

[Luvachicken]

That will be good when she does - you will soon have a plentiful supply of eggs! Lots of cakes!!

 

[Chickabee]

I don't want to burst your bubble and I really hope they do lay. It would be unusual for pure breeds to start laying this time of year. I have a 6 month old. She laid her first egg ages ago, then gave up for winter. Just saying don't hold your breath, and if they do lay then you are very lucky, and must do the egg dance !

[AndyRoo]

I don't want to burst your bubble and I really hope they do lay. It would be unusual for pure breeds to start laying this time of year. I have a 6 month old. She laid her first egg ages ago, then gave up for winter. Just saying don't hold your breath, and if they do lay then you are very lucky, and must do the egg dance !

 

Oh they might not. But it's good to see their combs turning red - I am taking it as a sign that they are at least in good health if nothing else.

 

In other news, the girls that are already laying have now started doing the "egg song" - despite having been completely silent until now. Unfortunately we can now hear them from the house while that is going on, so I am going to have to think about ways to soundproof them a little. Fortunately right now they don't lay until between 9am - 1pm.

[mullethunter]

One of my pure breed araucana bantams has just come into lay. And one of my pekins has just started laying again, so you might be in luck.

[Chickabee]

Actually we're in for a bout of warm weather here in the South East. So maybe my little madam will give laying another try

[AndyRoo]

That will be good when she does - you will soon have a plentiful supply of eggs! Lots of cakes!!

 

Between the three that are laying we're currently getting 14 - 18 eggs a week.

 

I am officially in charge of dessert making duty this Christmas, so eggs will definitely be needed for cakes. I have already prepared a traditional Christmas cake with is just waiting for the marzipan and icing.

 

I'm also thinking of doing a Victoria Sponge, and either a chocolate fudge layer cake... or fudge brownies with salted caramel sauce...

 

Great. Now I want cake.

[sjp]

That will be good when she does - you will soon have a plentiful supply of eggs! Lots of cakes!!

 

Between the three that are laying we're currently getting 14 - 18 eggs a week.

That's just showing off

I am officially in charge of dessert making duty this Christmas, so eggs will definitely be needed for cakes. I have already prepared a traditional Christmas cake with is just waiting for the marzipan and icing.

 

I'm also thinking of doing a Victoria Sponge, and either a chocolate fudge layer cake... or fudge brownies with salted caramel sauce...

 

Great. Now I want cake.

your only doing a couple of snacks then

[AndyRoo]

your only doing a couple of snacks then

 

Just a couple. It's chocolate cake vs. brownies and caramel!

 

I always get told off / complimented (it goes either way) when I cook Christmas dinner. Last year I did the following -

 

Roast Chicken

Roast Beef

Roast Pork w/ crackling

Pigs in blankets

Honey Roast Parsnip

Sautéed red cabbage

Carrots

Roast Potatoes

Cauliflower Cheese

Broccoli

Runner beans

Swede

Garden peas

Sweetcorn

Sage and onion stuffing balls

Cranberry sauce

Apple sauce

Chicken style gravy

Beef style gravy

Yorkshire puddings

Christmas Cake

Chocolate Cake

 

 

I likes me food!

[Chickabee]

Great. What time do you want us

[AndyRoo]

Great. What time do you want us

 

Haha. This year I am the one being cooked for. I think it'll be my turn again next year! And by that time I should have a nice new, bigger kitchen and dining room. YAY!

[mullethunter]

AndyRoo did you cook all the meats on the same day?

 

I want to do turkey and big pork with crackling but can't cook them both at the same time.

[Chickabee]

I usually put my turkey on first thing in the morning. Then cook pork later. I have however cooked my turkey overnight, just make sure you cook it breast down and slow. Yum yum. Once wrapped in foil it stays warm for ages

[AndyRoo]

AndyRoo did you cook all the meats on the same day?

 

I want to do turkey and big pork with crackling but can't cook them both at the same time.

 

I did everything on the day - in a small single oven. I started early, and there was a LOT of swearing. My OH's mother said she had never heard me swear before that day.

 

Even my sister who is as perfectly foul mouthed as I am commented on it!

 

Now that I have my range cooker, I am like an angel. Although it is being replaced with a better one when we get the new kitchen. I am also thinking about getting one of those wall ovens too because of the amount of baking I do.

[Blackrocksrock]

Blimey - I hope you dont do the washing up!! - Have 2 chooks here and we are still getting about 11 - 12 eggs a week! - they are relentless.

[mullethunter]

Sorry Andy I'm trying to figure out how to serve hot roast turkey and hot roast pork. Did you do that and how?

 

Chickabee were yours both hot?

[AndyRoo]

Blimey - I hope you dont do the washing up!! - Have 2 chooks here and we are still getting about 11 - 12 eggs a week! - they are relentless.

 

If I am cooking I tend to clean as I go. In fairness most of it was just chopping vegetables and putting them in roasting trays or saucepans to cook.

 

The rest went in the dishwasher!

[AndyRoo]

Sorry Andy I'm trying to figure out how to serve hot roast turkey and hot roast pork. Did you do that and how?

 

What can't you figure out?

 

When I cooked the pork joint I always score the crackling a lot and then cover it in (sea) salt. I cook it crackling side down for 8 - 10 minutes on a medium heat so that it starts browning and cooking, and then I sear the rest of the meat and put it in the roasting tray and whack it in the oven for whatever time it says with a little more salt rubbed into the crackling.

 

Ditto the chicken, they just happen to be in the oven at the same time. Usually with the beef and pork, I tend to take them out a little earlier and cover them with tinfoil to let them rest a little. The beef I usually do so that it's medium, so that just stays on the side. Once the chicken is done I put that on the side covered in foil, and while I am preparing everything else and dishing up I might just plonk the pork back in for a few minutes to re-heat it.

 

It's just a case of timing everything and finding inventive ways to keep it warm until you serve it.

[sjp]

Sorry Andy I'm trying to figure out how to serve hot roast turkey and hot roast pork. Did you do that and how?

 

Chickabee were yours both hot?

it just takes a little planing you start off the one that needs the longest cooking time first then work out the time difference between the two then when the first one has been in the oven that amount of time put the 2nd one in

I.E if the turkey needs 3hrs and the pork 1hr 30m then put the pork in the oven 1hr30m after the turkey

I've not done turkey and pork but I've done Turkey and gammon and chicken and gammon

I must get into the habit of resting the meat after cooking through

[AndyRoo]

it just takes a little planing you start off the one that needs the longest cooking time first then work out the time difference between the two then when the first one has been in the oven that amount of time put the 2nd one in

I.E if the turkey needs 3hrs and the pork 1hr 30m then put the pork in the oven 1hr30m after the turkey

I've not done turkey and pork but I've done Turkey and gammon and chicken and gammon

I must get into the habit of resting the meat after cooking through

 

Yup! This exactly. It's a culinary juggling act which you don't always get right, but when you do you'll be thrilled!

 

In other news, we got our first blue egg - I am posting pics in the Egg section because I want some advice...

[sjp]

it just takes a little planing you start off the one that needs the longest cooking time first then work out the time difference between the two then when the first one has been in the oven that amount of time put the 2nd one in

I.E if the turkey needs 3hrs and the pork 1hr 30m then put the pork in the oven 1hr30m after the turkey

I've not done turkey and pork but I've done Turkey and gammon and chicken and gammon

I must get into the habit of resting the meat after cooking through

 

Yup! This exactly. It's a culinary juggling act which you don't always get right, but when you do you'll be thrilled!

the turkey or chicken always cooks quicker than normal and the pork always needs extra time when you have another joint on the go

In other news, we got our first blue egg - I am posting pics in the Egg section because I want some advice...

[Chickabee]

Oh I'm well jel. You lucky thing. I'm deffo doing the egg dance when I get my 2nd blue egg! BTW you may have noticed I've slipped 2 new girls in. It was an accident, I was passing a poultry farm, they called out to me