Fig Jam

Black figs

Well, it's that time of year...fruits are starting to ripen.  Our local farms had a bitterly cold winter, late spring freeze, and no rain to speak of, fires that continue to blaze out of control. As I write this...it is actually raining real drops.  "You know you are a New Mexican when: you are thrilled about the possibility of rain." My chickens have never seen rain.  I checked on them while it was raining, and they were huddled under their porch.....some had gone into their sleeping coop.  Befuddled would be a good word for it. I put "Irma" the black cochin hen into the sleeping coop.  Furious, she ran out into the rain. Looked at me as if I was the cause, and ran back under the porch with the others. They will be pleased with the cooling temps this afternoon.

The inside of a canning pot. Rack to hold jars upright.

The canning bath pot towers over my largest pots!

Wash figs, then pour boiling water over them for 10 minutes.

The farmers markets have mostly root veggies and greens.  Talk of apricots brought me to one this morning in Corrales, New Mexico. Karen, our neighbor and new friend offered to push me in the wheelchair.  I came home with $5 a pint cherries...not any other fruit to be had.  I'm a practical woman sometimes. :-)  I decided that buying locally  could mean a year without any fruit that wasn't from my garden.  So I will buy from states close by that have had good enough weather to produce fruit.  Trader Joes had tons of figs.  So I bought 6 pounds: 5 lbs. for jam, 1 for eating.

Quartered with stems cut off....your fingers will be purple :-)

After cooking on the stove I put it all in the food processor...smooth.

Add lemon, and back in pan to boil for one more minute

Covered and in the canning bath for 15 minutes.

I looked in my recipes file,  and then went to my Google professor.  Here's the recipe I used eons ago. I suspect I will add a bit of ginger or rosemary to the batch.

2 quarts (about 5lbs) figs, quartered, destemmed.
6 cups of sugar...however I used 4
1 cup of water
1/4 lemon juice w/1 Tablesp. of lemon zest
Spices if you like: ginger, cinnamon, rosemary, orange water, lavender

Put washed figs in large pan or bowl.  Pour  boiling water over them, cover, let stand for 10 minutes.
Destem, and quarter each fig.
Combine figs, sugar, water and cook at slow boil until thick, stirring lots to prevent sticking (about 30 minutes.)  I put them in the food processor, you can use a blender, or mash them.
Add lemon juice and boil ONLY 1 MINUTE.
Ladle into hot jars, and process 15 minutes.  Makes 12 8oz. jars.
If you do not have a canning pot, you can put in your fridge.  They should keep for at least a month.
Great filling for thumbprint jelly cookies, or klachkys.
Enjoy!

Mmmm...we had it on toast this morning.

I ordered a second pot  today from Walmart of all places.  (I told you I was reasonable.) With shipping it was under 25 bucks.  Two will not actually fit on my stove in any configuration to come to a boil, but we have the guest house stove.  There are lots of supply houses online for canning.  Here is one link:
http://www.canningpantry.com/

The rain had stopped by the time I finished writing. However, it's still cloudy, and I'm hoping for more.
Thanks for reading,
Each day is a gift. Open now.
xo,
Suz

Roosters are from Mars, and Hens are from Venus

Breaking bread with the Cochin hens.

Today was a perfect weather day.  I allowed myself an hour of sitting with my peeps.  They are 5 weeks old today.  I have been bringing them bread crusts for about 2 weeks.  Today they were insanely pecking and tearing at the bread in my hand.  Some of the hens are absolutely tame. "Talullah" wants to sit ON me.  But the roosters and dark brahmas are not so sweet or tame.

These 2 roosters have been at each other since they were 3 days old.  I am sure they are saying: "you're not the boss of me!" They have got to go!

I brought my camera out, and layed (excuse the phrase) on two seat cushions on my stomach in "Fort Chicken." Here are some of the photos I took.  Tomorrow, video.

"Gigi" the Dominique

A banty Cochin...so sweet.

My yellow Birkenstocks, and purple socks looked like fresh fruit.  Lots of pecking!

Talullah watches the banty peck my toes.

Did someone say sandwich?

That's all !

Thanks for reading.

Each day is a gift. Open now.

xo,

Suz

Chickens From The Past

Lace Wing Wyandotte Hens

I was looking through files of pictures from years ago.  We had chickens in Santa Fe, and some moved to Albuquerque with us.  We had gotten our New Mexican chickens from a New Mexican hatchery. Not only was I less than pleased.  But, they were too closely bred, and were cannibals.  Yes, cannibals.  Some of them ate the feathers off, and then the backs of the other chickens.  I had heard about this, but had never seen it.  In a state where cock fighting is still legal, it makes sense.  Close breeding lines of chickens causes aggression, among other problems.  That's great for fighting cocks, but not for laying hens.

Lace Wing Wyandottes are one of my favorite breeds

The Auracanas were the nasty ones, but we had a few lace wing Wyandottes, and Rhode Island Reds. 

In the 1st photo on top you can see the back of the middle hen is 

missing feathers.  In the picture you can see how unhappy these birds were from being picked on (literally) all the time. Their feathers though, are actually perfect.  However, as a poultry Judge, their combs are a disaster.  Lesson learned and shared: 

 know your breeder.

The craziest rooster I have ever seen

This rooster above almost looks dead in this picture.  He's not. This guy crowed ALL night, every night.

He also layed on his stomach (as in this photo) with his feet stretched out behind him.  I could never figure out why he laid in this position.  Let's say he wasn't  "neurotypical" in any way.  One day I couldn't find him...and I imagine an owl or a hawk took him.  Although sad, we did not miss his nightly crowing.

A buff Orpington hen.

Most of the chickens were given away to a family with kids who wanted eggs.  We kept 3 (my son's favorites) and kept them for 2 years in Albuquerque. In the city limits you are allowed up to 15 hens, and one rooster. They say in the ordinance: "in compliance to sound restrictions."  I picture rooster owners sitting down with the cock on their lap and reading him the city ordinance.

 I was still working in the movies when we bought our house in the county on an acre of land.  We moved the chickens with us.  I even added 6 pullets (young hens) to freshen the laying flock.  One night my son forgot to lock them up, and in the morning came out to blood and feathers everywhere.  The coyotes got them all.  I was at work, and missed the whole ordeal.  I lovingly washed and put away all the feeders, heaters, and nesting boxes.  It's taken me 2 years to even think about getting more.  

So now you have some understanding of why we are building "Fort Chicken." It is 12' x 35'. The floor of chicken wire is in. Now for the sides and the roof.  Every seam is sewed together with bailing wire. And if that's not enough-- I have 6' horse fence around the entire sides that is sewn to the chicken wire. There are 2 x 4's running on the ground and roof that the the chicken wire is attached to.  The only way coyotes will be able to get in will be with wire cutters.  Right now a NM spring wind storm is preventing further work (and I have bronchitis).  

A photo of my black prize winning Cochin.

The peeps are growing. The copier box I use to put them in when I clean their nursery every day, they hopped out of! The larger ones had their heads peeking over the top.  The points of beaks were lined up along the edge of the box.  Their back feathers are coming in.  The larger Cochins continue to run to me, or puddle jump when I open the door.  Then they turn their heads to the side and give me that one eyed "chicken stare."  When Bob walks by the nursery he looks through the window and says: "Hi Kids!"  We are down to 85 degrees this week, and they are looking pretty sturdy.   More photos this weekend.

I have my eye on a wooden bench on Etsy....sort of bleacher seats for chicken watching.  

Bagawk!!!!!!

Thanks for reading. Blogger decided to put the last part of this in bold/italic. And will not let me change it.  Augh!

Each day is a gift. Open now.

xo,

Suz 

Future Peach Pie

Gala Apple Blossoms

Today the nursery that I bought the most expensive tree I have ever bought came to plant it.  I can't say they were tip top, like the guy last year.  They were very surly, and not helpful.   I told them they needed to dig a bigger hole, but they would not comply.  I sent Bob out for some testosterone, but he was as helpful as Buddy our dog.  This peach tree  came in a square 20" crate.  It's an Elberta yellow freestone.

I went around the property watering while they were here.  The 3 apple trees I planted last year are doing really well.  It's officially spring, as our big desert ash in front is spring green.  Strawberries are coming back beautifully.  Now to buy some nut trees, and decide where to plant them.  My onions, spinach, chard, and peas are all up.  This time of year is so exciting to me.  I love to watch everything wake up.

strawberries

peas, spinach, onions, and chard

Yesterday we had a huge wind storm.  As usual tumbleweeds are everywhere.  It was the day my son and friend Ami were coming to work on "Fort Chicken."  I have some crud that erased my voice, and makes me cough, and I feel pretty lousy unless I've taken some Ibuprofin.  So I was not going to work at all.  They all showed up in spite of the weather with 50mph winds.  They put the last piece of chicken wire on the floor of the run.  This meant moving tons of rock again, and sewing the seams together.  Out of love for me they all worked in the inclement weather.  I layed in bed and felt very guilty.  I owe them BIG time.

"Fort Chicken" floor 

They are growing!

The chicks are still being brought into our living room at night, as the temps are 30 degrees, and the winds have been brutal.  All doing very well. Except one seems to have a bad leg...I am keeping an eye on her.  In fact it's almost time to buy more feed.  I lay in bed at night and hear them peeping.  Somehow that soothes me.

Spring green in the desert is extra special.

Buddy guards the new peach tree. :-)

Thanks for reading.
Each day is a gift. Open now.
xo,
Suz

The Chickens are Coming !! part 2

Dark Brahma Hen

Here is a link to Dark Brahma Chicks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0osv6-Bgog&feature=player_embedded

This morning I went on a field trip to all the feed stores in our area.  I was comparing feed brands and types.  I am not lover of medicated food. But baby chicks tend to walk on the feeder, and drop feed all over, as well as poop everywhere.  So that the babies don't get Coccidiosis (fatal) I will probably get one bag of medicated feed to start with.  But I did find organic feed at Dan's Boot and Saddle. That was great! I also found a great hardware store that has 6' x 150' rolls of poultry wire. It took 2 guys to load it in the back of the Yukon.  Bob and I are ready to build "Fort Chicken."

A PERFECT Black Cochin Hen  

I have the heat lamp, bulbs, feeders, waterers, and thermometers.  Chicks have to be kept at 95 degrees for the first week, then the temp is decreased 5 degrees every week after that.  Tomorrow I will put the sides up on the "Nursery" and fire up the heat lamp and see what temperature we have.  This is so important. As heat is the number one priority for these chicks. I plan to have this all worked out before they arrive.

Buff Silkie Hen and Rooster  

I got an email from the Hatchery and it looks like they are not sending all hens....oh boy.  When I can determine the roosters, they will have to go to the farmers market.  I am being a chicken sexist and only want hens. I've had enough roosters for a life time.  My neighbors are only an acre away, and would not enjoy crowing at the crack of dawn.  We once had a rooster who crowed at night, and almost drove us mad. Above are some of the breeds we are getting.  The Silkies are Japanese chickens, and the Brahmas and Cochins are Asian.

It feels a bit like Christmas for me! I know this sounds strange. I've had so many emails from chicken lovers here and on Etsy that I know I'm not alone.   I'll take pictures of the nursery when I have it set up.

Thanks for reading!
Each day is a gift, open now.
xo,
Suz