Injured Chicken

Warning graphic photos to follow!

As I was feeding the chickens last night I noticed one of the Black Sexlinks had a wound. I didn't realize how bad and big it was till it moved its wing. It's almost missing is whole right back side! I hurried and refilled the water container as I came back I noticed the other chickens had cornered her and where pecking at her wound. :( I felt so bad for her. I don't know how she could have gotten such a huge gash just from the other chickens, cause you can see clear down to her bone! Though I am sure they have been pecking at her for awhile since I have no idea when this happened, I thought I was pretty good about checking up on them I guess I need to be better. I did see a cat in our backyard yesterday morning, but I still don't know how it could have gotten to her either. Either way she is in bad shape. I separated her from the others, I let her wandered around the garden while the others stayed in the coop. I read online some things to do, my Dad clipped her feathers and put hydrogen peroxide and Neosporin on her. 

She seems to be in good spirits. She was calm while we tried to help her, and she has been wandering the garden pecking at the garden and jumping at things to eat. You would thing she wouldn't want to be moving. We are going camping this weekend we will see how well she does while we are gone. Dave will come to check up on her to make sure she is doing alright. 

On a side note the Rooster has starting crowing! I love to hear him, though I am sure my neighbors won't be too pleased as he gets louder and earlier. So it looks like he will not be with us through August. It appears I will probably be losing 2 chickens if this hen doesn't survive through her injuries. She seems like a tough bird so I will keep you posted.

Lamb Day

This year we went down to Fountain Green, Utah for their yearly Lamb Day celebration. Jody Noakes who lives in our neighborhood grew up in Fountain Green, so that is how we have come to know about Lamb Day. Her parents still reside down there. I love it down there, it is an extremely small town. They have a lamb show, where kids show off the lambs they have raised, a Lamb Day queen and attendants, a big parade where they throw a lot of candy, mutton busting, they sell lamb sandwiches, they have a lamb sale, a dance and fireworks. We didn't stay for the whole day, and we missed the lamb show they do that the night before so the winners can ride in the parade. 

Dave, me, Dad and Mom waiting for the parade to start.

Dave and me

Julie's cute little baby girl, her name is Afton.

Part of the Noakes, Natalie, Jody, Derrick, and Julie.

Julie running for the candy and I believe a ping pong ball that they were throwing to the crowd.

Ann, another Noakes girl, who is now a Davidson, that is her husband Ben Davidson.

They had a tank in the parade.

And Alpacas!!

Big draft horses pulling a tractor.

Little tiny ponies pulling a wagon.

And of course a John Deere tractor! 

After the parade we went to the park to see the little booths they had there. There wasn't much to look at this year. After that we went to the Gilgen's residence (Jody's parent's house) and had a wonderful lunch, it consisted of lamb sandwiches, chips and dips, and a lot of salads which were all delicious! It was fun to go and visit with the Noakes, and spend time with Jody's family. They are great people to be around. Those who might be interesting in going to Lamb Day next year, its the 3rd weekend of every July in Fountain Green. I think it is at least worth a visit. :)

Homemade Hamburger Buns

We had a little dinner before we went to go see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing on Friday night. My Uncle Phil sings in the choir so they were able to get some tickets. The choir has been singing for 100 years this year. Any way my Mom asked if I would provide the hamburger buns. I noticed this recipe for hamburger buns on Annie Eats a couple weeks ago, so instead of buying buns I made them. I am so glad I did, they were so much better than store bought buns. I didn't add the sesame seeds to the top like it called for since I don't like those on my hamburger buns. The recipe is pretty easy, I was amazed at how well they turned out. Here is the recipe:

Light Brioche Burger Buns

Ingredients:
3 tbsp. warm milk

1 cup warm water
2 tsp. instant yeast
2½ tbsp. sugar
1½ tsp. salt
1 large egg
3 cups bread flour
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2½ tbsp. unsalted butter, softened

For topping:
1 large egg beaten with 1 tbsp. water, for egg wash
Sesame seeds

Directions:
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the milk, water, yeast, sugar, salt and egg.  Mix briefly to combine.  Add the flours to the bowl, and mix until incorporated.  Mix in the butter.  Switch to the dough hook and knead on low speed for about 6-8 minutes.  The dough will be somewhat tacky, but you want to avoid adding too much extra flour which will create tough buns.

Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, 1-2 hours.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.  Using a dough scraper, divide the dough into 8 equal parts.  Gently roll each portion of dough into a ball and place on the baking sheet, 2-3 inches apart.  Cover loosely with lightly oiled plastic wrap and let rise again, 1-2 hours, until puffed up and nearly doubled.

Set a large metal pan of water on the lowest rack of the oven.  Preheat the oven to 400˚ F with a rack in the center.  Brush the tops of the buns lightly with the egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds.  Bake the buns about 15 minutes rotating halfway through baking, until the tops are golden brown.  Transfer to a rack to cool completely.         

Update on the garden and the chickens

So I haven't written about the garden or the chickens in a while. Here are some photos of what is going on with them.

The garden is finally producing some stuff. Its still off to a slow start because of that late snow storm we had, but it is making progress.

There is one lonely Anaheim pepper.

Here are some green steak tomatoes.

The green and yellow beans are finally growing, even some of the frost bitten ones are starting to get bigger.

 Carrots, we thought they were never going to come up.

Delicious raspberries!

These are some Roma tomatoes.

The lettuce is still going strong. 

As are the potatoes!

Excited for the yellow squash!

And for these green peppers. They are so tiny and there was only these two.

I let the chickens out in the garden to pick and scratch at the dirt. The pictures that follow are from that.

This is one of the Black Sexlinks, and I think the prettiest bird. I love the coloring on them.

Here is the smallest Rhode Island Red, she came right up to me.

This is one of the Golden Sexlinks.

My rooster, I have nicknamed him Little Jerry. Sadly he won't be with us to much longer. 

 I caught one a picture of one of the birds when she was flapping her wings.

All of them out at once.

Rooster in all his glory.

Curious birds.

I hope you've enjoyed these pictures of my crazy chickens and the wonderful growing garden.