About a year ago I posted on GW (and maybe elsewhere - can't recall) looking for a chicken-keeping-basics video. I weas looking for one that included 'the far end of the cycle', the killing and butchering of hens. I'd been asked by some city-based friends about the whole chicken-keeping idea. So I still do wonder if, in this age of VHS & DVD, whether that kind of video is available from some source or another. The chicks and gathering-eggs parts are important, but obviously so are the other aspects of management (whether for laying hens or meat birds). For learning things, books can be good, vids can often be better. Joel

I'll look a little later. We had a chicken from across the street, who made herself at home here. We called her "miss pretty" and she took to hopping up a 40 foot ladder with scaffolding to get to roof to get to the maple tree where she would roost at night outside our window. When the roof job was finished, she began to roost on the rose arbor out back. We went on vacation, and she got killed and eaten by some critter. WE were all so sad. I never wanted to eat her, but I sure have dreamed about keeping chickens ever since then. I apolgize for the hijack, but needed to reminise a bit.

Thanks, Teresa, I don't think I've ever seen a chicken pie recipe without vegetables, that looks really interesting and efficient, because Bud and Makayla wouldn't have to pick out the pieces of veggies, LOL. Ruthanna, the chicken pudding looks good, I'm going to try a couple of these as meals when Elery's family comes. I'll have 11 visitors for 5 days over the 4th of July weekend, so I'm going to have to find things that I can bake ahead or multiply to get enough servings. The following week is Fair Week too, so Bud and Makayla are spending the night tomorrow night, the fair entries will just have to be baked and frozen, then thawed for the fair. (shrug) Just as well, they're getting too complacent about all those ribbons every year, make 'em work at it this time! Ryse, where are you that you need to move to Tennessee for a better climate? I live in North/West Michigan and I really like to process chickens in the fall, far fewer flies and I don't rush so much to get the birds on ice like I do when it's warmer here. sleevendog, the traffic cones actually worked pretty well, but they weren't quite deep enough. Hey, I'm creative! I didn't have enough room to partially freeze all those halves before packaging, that was part of the problem, I think. On another food related note, the second calf of the year was born today, hooray. I left Mama to tend it and didn't bother them by getting close enough to determine whether it was a heifer or bull, I'll know soon enough. Oh, and Elery and I had chicken on the grill last night. No salting or pre-brining, because I wanted to see just how it was. Elery cooked it slowlyl on the cooler side of the grill and it was moist, juicy and delicious. I'm happy. Annie

Moving this down...to late to vote.