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  1. RidgebackRanch

    First Time Turkeys

    This young hen is showing signs of improvement! If she can get through the couple of days she can either go back with the rest of her flock, or we arrange something for her in the main barn with the horses. She won't be getting butchered any time soon as long as she is getting better. :celebrate
  2. RidgebackRanch

    Preserving Chili Peppers

    A Chipotle is a smoked Jalapeno. What passes for Chipotle in the restaurant and processed food world is just spicy with no smoke flavor. I'm a bit of a stickler on that being an ex chef. On the other hand an Ancho pepper is a Poblano that is left to ripen to a reddish color and then dried. It...
  3. RidgebackRanch

    What Did You Do In Your Garden Today?

    We put up 8 quarts of pickles, can't wait to do more and taste these. :D
  4. RidgebackRanch

    First Time Turkeys

    The worst part was the other turkeys and the chickens pecking her head. For her safety and respect she is in quarantine until we know what to do. The purpose of raising these birds was for meat and we will honor that purpose. The timing just isn't perfect but what does nature care about our...
  5. RidgebackRanch

    2013 Garlic harvest...:)

    I agree 100% :thumbsup
  6. RidgebackRanch

    2013 Garlic harvest...:)

    I planted Karl's Soft Neck and Inchelium Soft Neck. They came from one of my customers in Grand Junction. I was told a few weeks ago that they did not grow these varieties this year so I will be sure to replant them again this from my stash. It's odd that garlic comes into the garden centers in...
  7. RidgebackRanch

    2013 Garlic harvest...:)

    What is the difference between soft neck and hard neck? The newspaper said that soft neck stores longer? Does hard neck taste better or is it more based what zone it is grown. Also ours never had scapes or flowers is this normal as well? Anyway garlic will always have a home in this garden. :)
  8. RidgebackRanch

    Preserving Chili Peppers

    Hi Smiles, When I make hot sauce I use hot peppers, whatever is ready to pick that day. Usually Habanero, Jalapeno, Fresno, and sometime Poblano and Anaheim. I will roast them on a charcoal grill with chunks of water soaked wood to "smoke" them. When roasting them, they are in a pan with some...
  9. RidgebackRanch

    Preserving Chili Peppers

    I should have waited until today to pick them. It's been cool and wet all day with more rain coming. I just didn't have enough faith in the forecast yesterday, we have missed out on a lot of rain in the last couple of weeks by just a mile or so. There will be more to pick next month though. :)
  10. RidgebackRanch

    First Time Turkeys

    The smallest of the four is having problems today. She is eating and drinking but can't stand or walk. I suspect it was a hard landing off the roost this morning. The others were really pecking her head so she is in isolation in the garage. We have check her over pretty well and there don't seem...
  11. RidgebackRanch

    2013 Garlic harvest...:)

    Looks pretty good Collector! I just trimmed ours and hung it in a mesh bag in the basement. We grew two soft neck varieties, and I am pleased with the harvest. I'm going to plant some of them for next year. I was fun and I highly recommend growing it. :thumbsup
  12. RidgebackRanch

    Preserving Chili Peppers

    We do have a food saver. I think I'll try that and freeze them until I can fire up the Weber for half the day! Thank you all for your input :)
  13. RidgebackRanch

    Preserving Chili Peppers

    We have some chili peppers that need to be harvested this weekend to encourage a second harvest. Normally I would roast them and make hot sauce but we are under a local open burn ban so that is not an option. Does anybody know what would be the best way to preserve them for later use for the...
  14. RidgebackRanch

    First Time Turkeys

    I plan butchering the first one in October, this being the first time we don't want to bank on this being perfect for Thanksgiving. As for how much they eat, when they were still in the brooder I couldn't keep enough food in there for them, they were quite piggy. They were started on granulated...
  15. RidgebackRanch

    First Time Turkeys

    Here are some recent pictures of our turkeys. They are now 17 weeks old and are getting along just fine with 7 "retired" hens. I added the kiddie pool a few weeks ago and the turkeys just LOVE to stand in it and poop in it. Because of that it gets washed out everyday otherwise it's just nasty...
  16. RidgebackRanch

    does clipping wing feathers work?

    I agree with Seedcorn. Our Blue Andalusians quickly figured out to fly up as high as they could and then use their feet to climb the rest of the way. Less heavy breeds can be rather independent, but ours would be back on the roost with everybody else in the evening. You may have to make a small...
  17. RidgebackRanch

    First Time Turkeys

    Hi Monty I had to shoot it in the trap because it was staked down. Unfortunately it sprayed then but only on the ground so that means the coop area will be a little ripe for a few days. We're just thrilled that it's over. The next step is to install hardware cloth around the base of the coop...
  18. RidgebackRanch

    First Time Turkeys

    I have some answers to my previous questions. No a skunk may not smell where it is living. Lesa, a trap staked down directly in front of the hole and traps on either side with all gaps blocked off with bricks did the trick. I was surprised at how large the animal was compared to the hole...
  19. RidgebackRanch

    First Time Turkeys

    Thank you everybody!!! All excellent tips. I'm going to put the live trap staked down in front of the hole. If it decides to dig around it there will be several rat traps on both sides. If I had the time I would do a stake out and shoot whatever popped it's head out. If that situation has to...
  20. RidgebackRanch

    First Time Turkeys

    I need some advice from those of you who have had skunks on your property. If there is no longer any "skunky" smell near the coop is that an indication that it is gone? I fill in the hole every morning at the base of the coop, and by the next morning it has been pushed out again. Something is...
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