Broken links

I told you in the beginning I wasn't that flash at all things computery. For the life of me, I can't figure out how to fix those links in the previous post (enourmous eggs). Every time I edit it, the link still puts the blogger address in front of the other address. So if you are giggling at me right now, please enlighten me!

In the meantime:

Link for video of hatching twin chicks

Link for pictures of all different breeds including what the chicks look like

Enourmous Eggs!!

Check this out!! Routine collection of eggs today and there it was. My poor hen, that must have been like pushing out a 15 pound baby. But I couldn't see any of them limping so.... no stiches required! (or intact perineum as we say in the midwifing business - hmmm, do chickens have perineums?).

Anyway, I just had to crack it open and sure enough it was a double yoker. These do not normally develop, but I have heard a few stories of twin chickens. Check this link out for an assisted twin chicken birth. In this eggs case, even it had been fertile (I have no fully grown roosters at present), it wouldn't have survived as the yolks are partially joined.

Because I don't normally have roosters, when I want more chooks I buy in fertile eggs and put them under a broody hen. All going well, 21 days later I have cute fluffy little babies.

I often buy a mix of purebred eggs. This can be a great way to try out different breeds and is often a good way to get expensive breeds cheap. How? Well, breeders usually sell eggs in dozens or half dozens but if they have some extras they make up mixes and sell these at the same price as the cheapest breed in the mix. The only problem is telling who is who when they hatch. But I found this page which includes pictures of different breed chicks - very handy!

Cool Site

Hmmm, something else I do on rainy days is stick on a kiddy DVD when it all gets too crazy. It lets them chill out and if I'm lucky (and have already got dinner on the go) I can sneak in a little browsing.

And here is a really cool site I just found:

http://www.instructables.com

I've only spent a little while, but what it seems to be about is members posting instructions for just about ANYTHING you can think of. I was looking for a free fabric grocery bag pattern....well, there's heaps. And it seems there is also a million things you can do and make with plastic grocery bags too!! Who knew !

There is also forums on being green, crafts, events, games, kids....the list goes on. And an interesting section where you can ask other members burning questions you need to have answered. Like this one: "How can I remove the diodes from a modern television flyback transformer?" Must confess to not knowing the answer to this one!!

Rainy Day Fun

It's raining here today, and not just a drizzle, I mean really raining. And cold, so we can't even put our coats on and splash in puddles. Just too horrible.

So what to do??

Playdough! The old standby for kids entertainment. Here is the best recipe I've found:

PLAYDOUGH

4 cups plain flour

2 cups salt

2 tablespoons of cream of tartar

3 tablespoons of cooking oil

food colouring of choice

3 1/2 - 4 cups of boiling water

Put all the dry ingredients into a big bowl, then add the oil and boiling water and mix well OR dissolve the salt in the water first so you don't get that grainy texture then mix in everything else. Knead well. I then divide it up into 3 or 4 lumps, flatten these and drop different food colours onto each. Fold the dough over the colouring and knead it in. Add some cookie cutters, a rolling pin, some old butter knives etc and hey presto, hours of entertainment!

After play, put it into a plastic shopping bag and squish ALL of the air out and it will last for ages. And a word of advice - don't EVER chuck old playdough out where chickens can eat it. They will, and then they will die (don't ask me how I know).

Mmmmmm, cookies.....

Talk about nostalgia. My Sis posted a recipe on her blog for Gingerbread Witches that we used to make as kids so, of course, I couldn't resist trying them out again. But I couldn't be bothered to make up a Witch template so mine are the good old fashioned Men shape (albeit a bit mini, I found that cutter at a junk emporium).

Thanks, Sis