Providing helpful information regarding our feathered, feline, and canine friends while also sharing fun stories. And locally we provide pet sitting services.
Author:KS
I breed Black Ameraucana chickens and Easter Eggers that are Black Ameraucana mixed with either Cuckoo Maran or Barred Rock. And I donate eggs to people or organizations in need. Further, I've started chicken and other pet sitting in my area. Details are on my About page.
There are a number of different breads you can choose from when making French toast. I’ve used French bread, Ezekiel bread, and raisin bread. And I’ve even had it prepared with Challah bread. But for an easy homemade French toast recipe, you can just use the loaf you have at home.
Furthermore, you can make French toast in the oven, in a casserole, on a griddle, or in a frying pan. However, for this recipe, I used a griddle. In addition, it’s non-stick, so you don’t have to use cooking spray, butter, or oil. Thus, if you’re wanting to get crisp French toast, use an electric griddle; or invest in one and try it out, without the butter, non-stick spray, or oil.
Ingredients for Easy Homemade French Toast Recipe:
1 Loaf of bread (I used Oroweat 100% wheat bread)
8 eggs
1/4 – 1/2 c of Half n half or heavy whipping cream (I used heavy cream)
1 tsp Vanilla
1/8 tsp Allspice
3/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Salt
Instructions for Easy Homemade French Toast:
In a medium bowl, whisk all of the ingredients, except the bread, together.
Heat a griddle to 350°; after about 15 mins, water droplets on it should sizzle, but not dissolve. So, if that’s what happens, then your griddle is ready. If water dissolves, then turn the temperature down.
Dip slices of bread, one at a time, into the batter; don’t let the bread sit in the batter for long, just make sure both sides have batter, then put dipped slices onto heated griddle.
Cook the battered slices of bread for a couple of minutes; then flip. They should be golden brown. Cook for another couple of minutes before transferring to a plate.
This recipe is ideal if you don’t have sourdough or white bread at home, as it just uses what you have on hand. Since it’s essential that you don’t soak the slices in the batter, that’s the secret to coming up with this quick and easy recipe for French toast.
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Backyard chickens are both fun and entertaining. But have you ever wondered about their combs? Like, what their purpose is? Well, the chicken comb is the fleshy bit on top of their heads. Additionally, some are big, while others are small. Interestingly enough, there are 9 recognized types of combs on chickens.
And the chicken comb serves a few purposes. For instance, the comb is an outward signal of chicken wellness. Thus, depending on the color, you’ll know the health of your flock. Also, since chickens don’t sweat, their combs and wattles act as a sort of ventilation system. That’s how they get cooled off. So, the bigger the combs, the better the birds fare in summer. Likewise, the smaller they are, the better they do in harsh winters.
The next function of the chicken comb is to help establish the pecking order. Typically birds with bigger combs are more dominant than ones with smaller combs. However, it also depends on the breed. We have one black Sex-link, one Wyandotte-mix, a Cream Legbar, a few Plymouth Rocks, Cuckoo Marans, and the rest are Ameraucanas. One of our Ameraucana hens is the most aggressive hen out of the bunch since the Wyandotte sisters left. But that’s atypical of the Ameraucana breed.
4 juvenile roosters and a pullet make up this group. And you can easily differentiate the roosters from the hen by their tail feathers; but also their combs are darker and more pronounced as well.
Furthermore, the last role of the chicken comb is sexual attraction between roosters and hens. There are sites that claim this is the purpose of roosters’ combs in attracting hens; however, hens do not want to mate. Ever. Therefore, it’s been my experience, in watching roosters with chicks, while they’re maturing, the roos are just waiting for the chicks to develop. Maybe they’re waiting for some indication before mating with those birds. Who knows? The chicks change from this fluffy poofball into this creature that the rooster wants to mate with again and again and again.
Types of Combs on Chickens
Warm Climate Comb Types
Large, flamboyant combs are prominent in chickens that do well in warm temperatures. And there are only 3 types that feature for warm, or hot weather. Although, in freezing temperatures, they are more at-risk to frostbite. So, care should be taken in very cold weather with breeds that have the following kinds of combs.
Our first rooster, Cass, a Cream Legbar.
Single comb: This is generally the comb we picture when we think of chickens. Thus, it’s referred to as the classic comb. It’s bright red, stands upright, and has 5 or 6 points. Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, and Ayam Cemani have the single comb, though the latter sports a black comb.
Digital Art, Courtesy of Sarah Smith
Buttercup comb: The buttercup comb looks like a variation of the single comb. However, it looks like a cup-shaped crown with a circle of regular points. Further, there’s only one breed with this unique comb–the Sicilian Buttercup.
Digital Art, Courtesy of Sarah Smith
Carnation comb: This comb is another rare comb that mimics the single comb at first. But it has extra points that stick out at right angles at the back of the comb, also giving it the appearance of a crown. In addition, the only 2 breeds with this type of comb are the Penedesenca and Empordanesa.
Types of Combs on Chickens
Cold Climate Comb Types
Smaller combs, that sit lower to the head, usually characterize cold hardy chickens. That’s because these types of combs conserve heat, rather than expelling it. Therefore, if you have any birds with the following types of combs, watch them in hot weather for signs of heat stress.
Pea comb: This comb can be either small or medium in size, and presents as 3 rows of growths or ‘peas’ that extends in length from the beak. Additionally, the pea comb got its name from the little growths that favor peas. Breeds with pea combs are Araucana and Ameraucana, Brahma, Buckeye, and Sumatra.
Rose comb: Thick and level, the rose comb is layered in small, round growths. And dependent upon the breed, the comb can have a slender point at the back, extending over the back of the head. In addition, some breeds have rose combs that curve upwards, while others have combs that lay horizontal. Rosecomb Bantams, Wyandottes, Hamburgs, and Sebrights are the breeds with this type of comb.
Digital Art, Courtesy of Sarah Smith
Strawberry comb: Similar to the Pea comb and peas, this comb derived its name from its likeness to strawberries. Additionally, the texture is rough and bumpy. And on some chickens, the comb just barely folds over their beaks. Breeds with this kind of comb are the Malay and Yokohama.
Digital Art, Courtesy of Sarah Smith
V-shaped comb: Due to the thick, obvious, horn-like points reaching left and right from the base of the beak, alternative names for this style include Devil’s Horn, ‘horn comb’, and ‘antler comb’. Crevecoeurs, Houdans, La Flèche, Polish, and Sultans all have the V-shaped comb.
Digital Art, Courtesy of Sarah Smith
Walnut comb: Yet another comb that got its name for having a likeness to the item it was named after, this time a walnut. In addition, the comb is usually red, flat, and bumpy. And you can most often see it on Silkie roosters; though the hens have them as well. However, due to their size, it can be more difficult to distinguish the type of comb.
Digital Art, Courtesy of Sarah Smith
Cushion comb: This last comb is small, compact, and also sits close to the head. And there are no spikes, points, or serrations on this one. Furthermore, the Chantecler dons this type of comb.
What the Chicken Comb Can Tell You
I already mentioned that, due to the color of your birds’ combs, you can determine the health of your flock. Generally a sexually mature chicken’s comb should be bright red, except for the Ayam Cemani, which is black. Sexually mature means ready to mate for the roos, and ready to lay eggs for the hens. In addition, rooster combs develop faster than hen combs.
The following is a list of things to look out for.
This was Natalie, our last broiler.
Dark red to purplish combs can be a sign of a few different issues, like respiratory or breathing problems, heart issues, or stroke. The last broiler we had, named Natalie, was displaying this kind of comb a few days before she laid her final egg, and ultimately died. She lived to be a year old and was probably every bit of 15 lbs. If you see one of your chickens with this type of comb, consult a vet immediately.
This is our hen, Rex, after she was attacked by a hawk. She stopped laying eggs for a while.
Pale combs most often indicate when hens are going through molt and don’t necessarily mean anything is wrong. However, it’s always a great idea to examine your backyard flock for any kind of sickness, including parasites (internal and external), and dehydration. Both of which can cause pale pink combs. But birds with dehydration will be panting and unresponsive. Therefore, if you have a chicken that’s dehydrated, get it to a cool, dim place; and using a medicine dropper, if the bird is too weak, give it water with electrolytes. On the other hand, if your chickens have parasites, treat them topically with Ivermectin. Click here for further instructions.
This is our hen, Oddball, whose single comb was pecked.
Black spots on the comb could either be caused by fowl pox or pecking. And you can tell the difference mainly be looking at the bird’s feet and wattles, because the birds typically don’t get pecked on the latter body parts. Otherwise they look very similar. There is no treatment for fowl pox, except to keep the affected birds separated. Although, you can get a vaccine for your flock to protect them. That’s what I did after 3 of our chickens came down with it.
Baby Nay’s comb used to be a little bit bigger before he got frostbite on the tip of his comb during the blizzard we had in February 2021.
Black tips on the comb is caused by frostbite. And that part of the comb will most likely fall off. But at first the area will appear off-color. Some people apply petroleum jelly to their birds combs during harsh winters; but the best prevention is deep litter in the coop.
Punnett Squares on Comb Types
You may remember learning about dominant and recessive genes and Punnett squares from when you went to school. Well, I’m not going to give you a lesson in that today. But I am going to tell you that Walnut combs are produced by chickens that breed true for Pea combs that are crossed with chickens that breed true for Rose combs.
Additionally, some backyard chicken enthusiasts report that if you cross a dominant Rose comb with a dominant Pea comb, you can even get a Cushion or a Strawberry comb.
In Conclusion
If you show poultry, there are 9 recognized types of combs on chickens. But if your birds are your hobby, pets, supply you with eggs, or all of the above, and you breed them, you could come up with a unique comb on your birds.
Not to mention, the comb is one of the first places we recognize if something is wrong with our birds. Whether dark red, purple, spotted, or pale, the comb won’t lie. And it’s usually easy to see. We just have to pay attention.
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With so many uncertainties still ongoing in the world right now, you may be tempted to pass by this article altogether. And I would understand. I mean, it’s just a pet blog. But our fur babies do offer unconditional love and acceptance. And that is very calming in a stormy, ambivalent time. Furthermore, accidents happen. Like the one a patient told me about regarding his standard Poodle, that tried following him to work. His fur baby ended up getting hit by a car; $50,000 and minus one leg later, he feels like insurance would’ve helped him out. So, let’s examine health insurance for them. Is pet insurance worth it? Does it live up to the hype?
I was surprised to find out that pet insurance first got its start in Sweden over 100 years ago. Additionally, its emphasis was on farm animals and cattle. But before long, in 1924, the first dog in Sweden was insured. Then, in 1982, America’s beloved Lassie was the first dog statewide to receive health insurance, due to her popularity. And as of 2019, 90% of dogs and 50% of cats have health insurance in Sweden.
As pet owners realized the benefits of health insurance, in 2007, NAPHIA, or the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, was established, by reputable and experienced pet health insurance companies and professionals, to create standards for the industry.
In a previous post, I briefly mentioned that many people adopted pets as pandemic companions. However, I didn’t mention an exact number or percentage. But, during the past couple of years, even though ~33% of American pet parents adopted pets, most didn’t get health plans for their fur babies. Therefore, keep reading to find out the pros and cons of getting your pet health coverage.
With so many advances in veterinary medicine, pet parents no longer have to choose between a mountain of debt or letting their animal go. Also, in the past there weren’t as many options to treat animals like there are today. However, those options can be costly. And pet insurance seeks to mitigate those costs. Although, there are disadvantages to pet insurance as well.
you have to pay the vet up-front before getting reimbursed from the insurance co.
insurance plans don’t cover everything
plans have limits
and you could spend more on your pets with insurance than without it
Most US pet insurance policies are accident and injury, or coverage with added wellness care. And that makes sense when you first get your pet. You might not think your puppy or kitten has a debilitating disease or a genetic problem. So, if you get insurance, you might consider only accident and injury, thinking down the road, something could happen to them. Like the car accident I mentioned earlier. Or what about this other story I heard about a cat eating hair, and it got stuck in its bowels; that ended up costing the pet parent around $1500.
Although, what happens if your pet doesn’t ever have an accident or illness? Not every pet will have an illness or an accident, so they won’t necessarily need any insurance.
For example, my own history with pets: since being married, we’ve had 3 Shelties, 3 cats (that we still have), and one Aussie. And I’m not counting the chickens. Our first Sheltie, Kirby, died of old age; Roxy was hit by a car and died instantly, and Moses died of old age. So, routine care was all those dogs needed. Now we have 3 cats and an Aussie, and thus far, they too have only needed routine care.
I looked at our options for insurance on just Poppy and Sophie, to get an idea. Since we’ve been providing routine care for our pets anyway, I just looked into accident and illness. Therefore, for both pets, it was somewhere around $40- $50 a month. But that’s just the insurance. Hypothetically, if I got the insurance and had to take one of them to the vet, because they got sick or injured, then I’d have to pay whatever the vet charged me. Then I’d file the claim, and once the deductible was met, eventually get reimbursed based on whatever I chose to get reimbursed back–70-90% of the claim. There’s a maximum, unless I choose lifetime.
So, if your pet doesn’t ever have an accident or illness, that’s great news! However, you’re stuck making those insurance payments, unless you cancel the policy. Or you purchase a wellness policy for your pet instead.
AVMA, or American Veterinary Medical Association, states on its website that it “endorses the concept of pet health insurance to help defray the cost of veterinary medical care….” And then it lists some caveats about viable pet insurance. I include that because when I asked my father-in-law his take on pet insurance, he said to read the fine print. Additionally, if you go to the AVMAs site regarding pet health insurance, they re-iterate time and again, to read the fine print, make sure how they handle pre-existing conditions, etc.
Thus, according to my mother-in-law, who worked many years with my father-in-law in his practice, pet health insurance “is usually used to get pet parents in the door. However, most people don’t follow through with the things the contract covers. And when they have something really wrong with their animal, they find out it’s not covered by the contract.” (Italics, mine; substituted for people.)
Still, 1 out of every 3 pets need emergency veterinary care each year. And even though emergency veterinary care can run between $800 and $1500, less than 56% of Americans can afford an unexpected $1000 bill, of any kind.
Other Things to Consider
Usually no pet insurance plans cover pre-existing conditions. And that includes the accidents and illnesses that I mentioned earlier in this post, not just genetic issues. Therefore, getting a pet plan before they get sick or injured makes more sense than after. However, only you can make that decision. And there are different factors that can affect the cost of a pet insurance policy: where you live, kind of pet, breed, age, percentage you want to be reimbursed, maximum, and of course, if your pet has been sick or injured.
Although, there are alternatives to pet insurance if you can’t afford it, depending on the circumstances. Or if your pet is denied due to hereditary or pre-existing conditions. Some examples are:
Pawp: it has no deductibles, no payments; and it’s more of an emergency plan
Care-credit for pets: not only is there financing for people and health, but also for fur babies
Community health sharing plan: it’s like if insurance and crowdfunding had a baby
Pet care savings account: just what it sounds like, a bank account
Most of us love our pets. They’re like family, and we’d be devastated if something happened to them. But at the same time, we don’t want to lose the farm, metaphorically, if we can’t afford an unforeseen vet bill.
On a side note, I read an article on things veterinarians dislike; whether or not it’s true or false, I don’t know. But the comments were horrible. People saying that if you didn’t have insurance on your pet that you didn’t deserve to have pets, which I don’t agree with. There are so many animals in shelters or on the streets. If a loving family takes in a pet off the street or out of a shelter, feeds it, loves it, and gives it a good home, but doesn’t provide insurance, that family has still done more good for that animal.
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If you’re thinking about starting a backyard flock, you need to answer some questions first. Is the primary purpose in order to get fresh eggs? Most people cite farm fresh eggs as the main reason for raising chickens. However there are also chickens for show. And some eggs are more esthetically pleasing than others. That’s how I’ve based most of my flock. But if, like most people, you want eggs, then it’s important to know the best chickens for laying eggs. Especially if you have limited space.
For the following list I’ve included backyard birds that lay between 200 and 300 eggs annually.
can lay ~280-300 eggs annually, beginning at 17-20 weeks old
are nervous and flighty
weigh anywhere from 4-8 lbs
also, if they have pea combs, they do better in cold weather than hot; however if they have single combs, they do better in hot weather rather than cold; (freezing, not just cold)
Black Sex-Link
This is our atheist, Sunshine.
The Black Sex-link is a great bird for any backyard addition. Furthermore, they
are dual purpose birds
are hybrids created by crossing Barred Rock hens with Rhode Island Red roosters or New Hampshire Red roosters
lay large light brown eggs
are hardy in all weather; however roosters will be more vulnerable to frostbite in freezing weather with his comb and wattles
produce ~250 eggs annually, starting at 16-18 weeks old
are docile and have a friendly personality
weigh anywhere from 6 – 9 lbs
and the hens are mostly black with a little bit of brown on their chests and necks; roosters are larger, but appear more like Barred Rocks with hints of red in their feathers
and similar to Leghorns, if they have a rose comb, they do better in freezing weather than hot; but if they have a single comb, they fare better in the heat than freezing temperatures
Just like Black Sex-links, Golden Comets are hybrids, and they
also are dual purpose
lay large light brown eggs
weigh 4 lbs – 8 lbs
lay 250 -320 eggs yearly, beginning at 16-18 weeks old
have light, medium red brown feathers with some white; while roosters are sometimes totally white, or white with some light to dark red feathers splashed on them
are gentle and friendly birds
have a short lifespan: the cost of high production and maturing quickly cut this breed’s life compared to other breeds
and as with all single comb chickens, this backyard bird fares better in hotter temperatures; therefore, they’re more at risk for frostbite in freezing temps
This backyard bird is another good layer. Further, they
have speckled, red, and light varieties recognized by American Poultry Association, while light is the most popular; brown is also recognized in England. Some breeders have made 4 additional varieties.
lay medium to large tinted eggs
lay 200 – 250 eggs yearly, from around 20 weeks old
weigh 7 – 9 lbs; both the hen and rooster look similar: white bodies with black wing tips, black tail, and neck feathers have a black lacing around them. Again, roosters are bigger with longer, more flamboyant tails.
are dual purpose birds
are docile, and easy to handle
can go broody
also have a single comb, so care should be taken in freezing weather
Plymouth Rock
This is either Dopey or Sakura.
The last dual purpose bird on the list is the Plymouth Rock, and they
lay light brown medium to large eggs
come in 7 varieties, but the most popular is barred
produce ~ 230 eggs annually, starting around 20 weeks
can go broody
are very calm, friendly and tolerant
weigh 7.5 – 9.5 lbs; and again both barred rock roosters and hens look similar, black and white patterning; however the roosters are bigger, and they appear lighter in color than the hens, more gray and white; and their tail feathers are bigger
also have a single comb, which is prone to frostbite
To Summarize
I’ve listed 7 backyard birds that lay between 200 and 300 eggs annually. In addition, they’re also classified as dual purpose. Therefore, if you’re interested in having your own flock of birds, you know which ones lay the most eggs. And if you have extra roosters, you could logistically use the meat for a casserole or a soup, etc.
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We’re into our second year, continuing to deal with the ever-changing Covid, and all that entails. Not to mention all of the confusion that still seems to surround this strange virus, including what animals can get Covid.
I recall learning about the first animal in the U.S. that contracted this disease. It was a tiger at the Bronx Zoo in March 2020. And since then, many more animals have gotten infected. Moreover, recently in December 2021, two hippos tested positive for the virus at a Belgian Zoo. Even though their symptoms were reportedly mild, they are thought to be the first of their species to get Covid.
Infectious coronaviruses transmit diseases to many species of birds and mammals, which include us. And there are hundreds of them that are spread around, mainly by animals like camels, bats, cats, and pigs. However, human coronaviruses were first observed in the 1960s and are divided into four main sections. Additionally, since 2019 and Covid, seven coronaviruses can now infect people. Thus, coronaviruses are just a big family of viruses that cause sickness and illness. And the symptoms can range from mild, like a cold, to more severe.
The most common coronavirus(es) that your pet dog or cat could get is CCoV for dogs, and FCoV for cats. And the symptoms primarily involve GI problems. Though, these CV aren’t the same as Covid. But again, they are in the same family. Remember, SARS-CoV-2 was a brand new coronavirus at the end of 2019 and early 2020. It’s still new.
Furthermore, poultry have their own coronaviruses, generally from group 3. Also, the most common CV in fowl is IBV or infectious bronchitis. So, you see that, in just these 3 examples, there are many CV with varying symptoms, some affect the GI, while others affect the respiratory system.
Now that I’ve covered some basics, let’s discuss the novel coronavirus, that infects both people and animals. To date, the species that have been infected with Covid-19 are:
The one thing the majority of these animals have in common is they are carnivoran, which isn’t the same as being a carnivore. Carnivoran mammals are placental, mostly consume meat, but are quite diverse. However, this point regarding Covid isn’t conclusive, and it doesn’t necessarily mean anything. It’s just one fact of many, which keeps evolving.
Also, most of these animals don’t get very sick, with some exceptions. Buddy, the first U.S. dog confirmed to have Covid, died in July 2021. And an unnamed cat in Pennsylvania was put down in October 2020 after suffering respiratory distress. Buddy reportedly had lymphoma, and the cat in Pennsylvania was 16 years old.
In case you don’t know, yes, if you or someone in your home has Covid, and gets cuddly with your pet, your pet can get infected. However, it’s not guaranteed. I think the risk of transmission, and definitely illness, is possibly similar to our own risk.
For example, my 19 year old had Covid around the holidays. But we didn’t make her isolate away from us. Although she did have to wear a mask and practice routine hygiene, like hand washing, or use a hand sanitizer if she couldn’t wash her hands. Also, neither our animals nor any of the other humans in my house got sick or infected. And we got tested. However, there’s definitely still a lot we don’t know.
As of this publishing, there have been no petzoonotic transmissions of Covid. But, with that being said, in 2020, the virus did break out on 2 mink farms in the Netherlands. It ended up spreading to 70 farms, leading to the culling of millions of mink. The mink developed respiratory symptoms and the virus mutated, infecting the workers on the farms.
Further, it’s noteworthy to mention that white-tailed deer have been testing positive for Covid, yet not dying. And still the virus is spreading among deer, leading many to wonder if they are an animal reservoir for the illness. Besides, it is believed that Covid-19 originated in bats. However, as of yet, no one knows the intermediate animal that spread the virus from bats to people.
Thankfully, so far there have been no reports of Covid-19 in poultry. Birds have enough to worry about as it is. Avian flu probably being the biggest.
What to do if You Think Your Pet is Infected with Covid
Once again, most animals that get infected with the virus don’t get seriously ill. And some might not have any symptoms at all. However, since it’s possible for animals to contract the virus, symptoms they could exhibit are:
fever
coughing
trouble breathing
lack of energy
sneezing
runny nose
eye discharge
vomiting
and/or diarrhea
So, if your pet is ill, and you’re concerned it might be Covid, the CDC advises you to call your veterinarian. And, if you’re infected with the virus, and your pet gets sick, the CDC cautions NOT TO TAKE YOUR PET TO THE VET YOURSELF. However, call your vet to let them know you have the virus; they might offer Telehealth for your pet or other options. Read here for some more guidelines from the CDC regarding Covid and your pet.
Even considering the mutation and spread of the virus from mink populations back to humans, the risk remains low for animal to human transmission. Therefore, there’s no need to abandon or mistreat wild animals. But we should be cautious around them all the same. Some other reminders are:
Don’t feed wild animals or touch their droppings.
Maintain a safe distance from wild animals; and keep your pets at a safe distance from them too.
Wash your hands after playing or working outside.
Don’t directly interact with abandoned animals, because parents typically return.
DON’T touch or get close to sick or dead animals.
And if eating game meat, read your state’s wildlife agency guidelines.
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To me, good casseroles taste good, are easy to assemble, and don’t require dirtying more than 2 pots. And that’s if you’re not paying attention. That said, sometimes you don’t know if you’re about to make a good dish, especially if it’s new. But then there are the classics. The ones that have been around for generations, like this recipe for King Ranch chicken casserole.
Many people believe that King Ranch chicken casserole has been around for at least 80 years. Since it’s prepared with both condensed chicken and condensed mushroom soups, this seems a likely time frame. That’s because Campbell’s introduced condensed mushroom soup in 1934, while condensed chicken soup came out in 1947. And both types of condensed soups feature in King Ranch chicken casserole.
Others believe the recipe originated at King Ranch, the largest ranch in the world. Although the owners deny this allegation, because they’ve focused on beef, not poultry. Therefore, nobody really knows the exact beginning of this timeless southern casserole.
King Ranch Chicken Casserole Ingredients:
1 1/2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
**22 corn tortillas
10.5 oz can each of cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soup
1 c each of diced onions and diced bell pepper
10 oz of Rotel
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp butter
2-3 c shredded Mexican blend cheese
King Ranch Chicken Casserole Instructions:
Spray 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Next, line the dish with a layer of corn tortillas.
Then saute´ onions and green peppers in butter over medium heat. When soft, add soups and chili powder. Stir till well combined.
Pour layer of soup mixture over tortillas, then layer with shredded chicken, and then layer with shredded cheese. Repeat layers. When done, pour over all the Rotel.
Then bake one hour in 350° oven.
**I got this recipe from my mother-in-law, who’s been making King Ranch chicken casserole for at least 40 years. And her recipe calls for a 2-3 lb fryer chicken, but I don’t like having to deal with that mess. I find it’s much easier working with chicken breasts. In addition, most of the classic recipes call for only a dozen corn tortillas, which makes me think I distribute my layers sparingly.
Also, I boil my chicken, which makes shredding so much simpler. However you can buy a roasted chicken and shred that instead. It’s really up to you and what’s easier. Furthermore, you can add more heat to spice things up. And then there are newer varieties of the recipe which call for chips instead of tortillas. But the idea is still the same: a comfort food that’s easy to make.
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Eggs are the number one reason people get into the backyard chicken-keeping business. And since 2020 more people got into it, though their reasons weren’t necessarily the same. However, there are many reasons to get chickens.
Eggs
Fresh eggs straight from the nesting box.
Even so, eggs are a great reason to get chickens. And a good egg laying hen will produce ~ one egg per day. So if you want a dozen eggs a week, you need 3 or 4 hens. Which means, you don’t need a whole lot of space for only 3 or 4 backyard birds.
Due to shelter-in-place restrictions and then supply shortages, many people started raising their own chickens. A lot of backyard birds are dual-purpose birds. That means you can have hens for eggs. And if you have extra roosters, they can make good meals. In addition, knowing where your food is, and what goes into it somehow makes it taste more amazing.
We’re pretty blessed living where we do; however I know that bare shelves prompted a lot of people to buy chickens. And having backyard birds allows people to be somewhat self-sufficient, by providing a fresh source of eggs and chicken.
Sustainable Living
One of our first raised garden beds that our chickens loved to help eat from and fertilize.
Rather than supporting factory produced eggs and their big carbon footprint, when you raise your own eggs, there’s less manure. So you have less of a carbon footprint.
Also, the chicken manure can be used for fertilizer or composted. Therefore, the result is less carbon emissions. And the birds help you with gardening.
Pets
My pet rooster, Megatron.
Another reason to get chickens is that they make great pets. And when they’re chicks, they come on the cheap side; no pun intended. Furthermore, they come in many different breeds, colors, and sizes. And you can name them, if you so choose. We’ve named all of ours–after Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Marvel, Transformers, and anime characters.
Additionally, they all have personality. And they’re mostly easy to take care of: feed and water them, provide good, predator-proof shelter, and remember to clean their coop. Other than that, they do their chicken thing, providing you with food.
Chicken TV
This was our Cream Legbar rooster; he’s asleep in this pic, but he looks like he’s reading.
Have I mentioned chicken TV? Keeping backyard chickens also provides free entertainment without the use of electricity. Just step outside, pull up a chair, and sit a spell. It’ll only take a moment before you see one of the members of your flock doing something adorable or hilarious.
And if you can, I highly recommend getting a rooster to complement any flock of hens, because that’s the best entertainment. You’ll get drama, suspense, romance, and comedy when you add a rooster.
Education
This was one of our first chicks hatching.
Having chickens is also educating. I can’t express to you how much I’ve learned just in the 7 or so years we’ve kept backyard birds. For most people, this might be considered useless. However, if you have children or grandchildren, it will be fascinating, especially when they see their first egg hatch. And they’ll learn to take care of animals.
Backyard Therapy
This is one of my favorite things to do with them: just be out there with them.
The biggest benefit I personally receive, from taking care of chickens, is backyard therapy. And I’m not the only person to have experienced this. Other people, who either have kept chickens, or still keep birds, are familiar with this phenomena. I don’t know if it’s just the birds, or a combination of being outdoors, watching the birds, or what. But things that were troubling eventually fade away.
I don’t know that I would say the chickens are empathetic, and that’s the reason having them helps. It’s just that after I’m outside watching them for a while, I start to feel better.
To Conclude
I’ve listed 7 reasons to get chickens, but ultimately the decision is yours. Backyard chickens make amazing pets and are a great supply of food. But I’m sure that whatever the reason you decide to get chickens, you’ll enjoy them.
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It used to be you only had brown and white eggs to choose from. But now grocery stores offer cage-free, free-range, and even pasture raised eggs. Maybe you think they’re all the same? I mean, they all come from the same place, right? Well, I’m going to explain the differences, in particular, of pasture raised eggs and the others.
Caged eggs come from hens that are basically housed in battery cages. This is the most common method for industrial egg production. So ~85% of US eggs are from caged hens. And that means the birds are stuck in cages for their egg-laying lives in roughly 67 square inches. Also, they’re fed a corn or soy diet.
In my own opinion, I understand why the industrial egg producer keeps their hens in this situation. Since they’re dual-purpose birds, when the hens are no longer laying eggs, (at the industrial level ~ 2-3 years old), they’ll slaughter them, package the meat, and sell to a specialty grocery store. Because a 3 year old hen, that’s gotten plenty of exercise, is a tough old bird in terms of food. So, the less space they have to move in, the better they’ll taste when those farmers cash in on those hens for the last time. Thus, it’s more economical for the farmer to keep their egg-producing hens confined this way.
However, some industrial egg producing farmers send the hens to a landfill or make them into pet food. I wouldn’t do any of those options, because my birds are like my pets. But I’m also not a commercial egg producer.
What are Cage-Free Eggs
As of March 2021, about 29% of eggs sold in US grocery stores were from cage-free hens. In addition, these hens have a little more space, than caged hens, with a little less than one-square foot each. Furthermore, they’re living in barns, and like their counterparts, they don’t have access to the outdoors. And they also have a diet consisting of corn or soy.
According to the National Chicken Council, (yes, apparently there’s a chicken council), less than 1% of chickens are considered free-range in the US. Additionally, these hens have more room than either caged and cage-free hens with 2 square feet each. And they have access to the outdoors. Although there’s not really a consistent standard on how long the birds get to be outdoors or what the space is like. Also, they too are fed a diet of corn or soy.
What are Pasture Raised Eggs
Pasture raised eggs first got their start in 2007 by Matt O’Hayer from Texas. However they didn’t get any steam until cage-free and free-range had already gotten attention. With that being said, there’s not a standard for pasture raised eggs either. But, according to the USDA, pasture raised eggs are laid by hens with more access to the outdoors, and their diet is supplemented with bugs and wild plants.
Although, the best method to determine if the eggs you’re buying are pasture-raised is other labels, such as: Certified Humane Raised and Handled + Pasture Raised, or American Humane Certified and Pasture Raised. If your eggs have either of these labels, then the hens who laid the eggs have access to the outdoors, with 108 square feet per hen. And each hen eats a combination of a balanced feed and whatever they get from foraging: grass, worms, and insects. In addition, they can roam all day and return when it’s time for bed.
Which is More Expensive
Digital Art of a Dollar Sign, courtesy of Sarah Smith
As you can well imagine, the most expensive option is going to be the one that is the most humane for the birds. I already mentioned that the most economical way for the farmer was the battery caged method; and that’s because the farmers are sucking every last penny out of those chickens that they can get.
Which is the Healthiest
According to The Egg Nutrition Center, there’s little nutritional difference between all 4 types of eggs. Although, there have been studies showing differences in mineral content based on the type of housing a particular egg was laid in. And Mother Earth News has verified the superiority of true pasture raised eggs to traditional eggs sold in grocery stores several times.
Furthermore, I covered a post on egg facts not too long ago, confirming that hens with access to pastures, grass, and bugs lay richer eggs. And richer eggs just taste better.
Obviously allowing chickens all day access to the outdoors is the best policy for the chickens. It’s what they do in nature; it’s what they did before we captured and tamed them for our own use. They can communicate with each other, stretch, roost, forage, and just be birds when they’re truly in a pasture setting. But in the other 3 settings they don’t really get to be the way nature intended; they’re the way we intended, which isn’t the same thing at all.
Since we’re considering every option, people and birds, I wanted to include the environment. Because any type of industrial food production has an impact on the environment, which then trickles down to us. However, the only thing I could find on that was based on feed. And that really applies to all of the egg-producing systems. Apparently any type of egg production leaves behind a pretty steep carbon footprint due to the embedded emissions in concentrate feed.
Therefore, if industrial chicken or egg farmers could find an alternative feed for their birds, that doesn’t produce as many greenhouse gases, then it would be better for the environment. Of course the feed should also consist of a balanced diet for the birds.
In Conclusion
There are 4 types of eggs to choose from at the grocery store. Since labels can be confusing, you need to know how to read them. Caged eggs make up the vast majority on grocery store shelves. While cage-free hens are in somewhat better living conditions, they still represent a small percentage. Even though free-range and pasture raised have access to the outdoors, there still isn’t a standard for commercial egg producers.
However, if you’re interested in animal welfare, then look for those kinds of labels. But if you see labels for organic, that has nothing to do with the bird’s welfare; it just means the bird was fed a vegetarian diet, free from antibiotics and pesticides.
If you have neighbors with backyard birds, know they treat their birds well, and you have the means, buy some eggs from them. That way you’ll be supporting your very local community and get to enjoy the benefits of farm fresh eggs, which are true pasture raised eggs.
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Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, it’s typical to see chocolate covered strawberries in grocery and on online stores. However ordering, or buying pre-made, doesn’t make much economic sense when you only get 6-12 strawberries for a whopping $30-40. In addition, 2 lbs of fresh strawberries costs less than $8, and the other ingredients are simple to get. Thus, it’s just as easy to make your own. So I’m going to show you how to decorate chocolate covered strawberries instead.
Chocolate covered strawberries are great to eat any season. And there are a lot of benefits to eating them, such as their fiber content. Also, eating strawberries can lower the bad cholesterol in our bodies. Additionally, eating them could even prevent cancer cell growth.
Then there’s the chocolate combined with the strawberries. And there are different textures involved too. Sometimes it doesn’t work. But sometimes it does. And chocolate and strawberries are definitely meant to be together.
Ingredients for Decorating Chocolate Covered Strawberries
1/4 c each of toppings, such as: sprinkles, decorating sugar, coconut, chopped nuts, and/or chocolate curls
Instructions for Chocolate Covered Strawberries
First, line a jellyroll pan with wax paper
Next, wash the strawberries; and carefully pat each one dry with a paper towel
Put each topping in a separate shallow bowl
Melting Chocolate Chips and Wafers
Place the vanilla wafers in a microwave-safe bowl
And microwave on medium power for 30 seconds to a minute, depending on how cold it is in your house; the colder it is, the more cooking time you’ll need
Stir the melting wafers
Continue this until the wafers start to melt; then drop the cooking time to 30 secs
Stir in 1 tsp of olive oil to thin out the vanilla, if it’s a thick mixture
Next, melt the chocolate chips in a similar manner to the wafers: on medium power for 30 seconds to a minute; however, do not add any olive oil when you’re done
We’re almost done! My main concern during the last part was the chocolate and vanilla hardening before covering all of the strawberries. So my youngest helped me out, and it made it much easier. Also, I laid everything out like an assembly line. Therefore, if you have pre-teens, have them help. You both will enjoy it. Likewise, set everything up as an assembly line: strawberries, chocolate, toppings, and finally, the jellyroll pan.
How to Decorate Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Take one strawberry by the leaves and dip it into the melted chocolate or vanilla.
Swirl until evenly coated.
Then dip chocolate coated strawberry into the topping of your choice.
Next, place decorated, chocolate covered strawberry onto jellyroll pan.
And repeat until all of the strawberries are decorated.
Chill in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes or until chocolate is set.
Ideally, these are best served the day you make them and at room temperature. They can be made a day ahead, however condensation will form, which isn’t good. Read this for tips on how to store chocolate covered strawberries in the refrigerator.
I hope you guys have a great Valentine’s Day! And thanks for stopping by! If you enjoyed this post, please like, post a comment, share, and don’t forget to follow!
Basic emotions come from the limbic system. And we share that with many animals: reptiles and other mammals. Also, birds, like chickens, have something similar to a limbic system that’s said to have evolved from a common ancestor. So, with that information, do pets experience emotions? Or, for that matter, do pets get jealous of other pets?
Do Pets Get Jealous of Other Pets
Sketch of a Brain, courtesy of Paul Smith
Well, the answer should be obvious that, yes, pets can and do get jealous of other pets. And they can also get jealous of other people, particularly babies, boyfriends, or girlfriends. Or really anyone or thing that’s taking attention away from them. That’s because the limbic system, which I already mentioned, is linked to emotions.
Signs of Pet Jealousy
According to the emotion wheel, jealousy or envy is a combination of anger and sadness. But what are some other signs your pet is jealous?
Aggression
If your pet is jealous, they might be aggressive. For instance, they might bite or nibble the person, or pet, getting the attention they’re in competition with.
Acting out
Since our pets can’t talk the way we do, sometimes they’ll act out. For example, when we first got Meow Meow, she was the only indoor pet we had, other than our dog, Moses. However, as time went on, we collected 2 more cats, 2 bunnies, and another dog. The bunnies are no longer with us, and Moses died of old age. Now these changes happened over a period of years. But Meow Meow didn’t care. She metaphorically put her paw down and started acting out. By peeing on the kitchen counters. Therefore, Meow Meow moved out to the garage with Cake, so she wouldn’t be alone.
**Because using the bathroom outside of the litter box, or having accidents in the house, can be a sign of a health issue, always check with your veterinarian.
Clinginess
If your pet is clingy, which you might interpret as cuddly, they want your attention. Imagine your pet is in your face, extra close, and licking your face and hands. That’s clinginess.
Dominating
This type of behavior reminds me of our dog, Sophie, when my husband and I hug or kiss each other. Sophie will come right in between us, demanding attention.
Fighting
Listen to the sounds your pets make when they interact. Do they hiss and growl at each other? Watch their body language, and you’ll know if they’re fighting.
Scaring Visitors
Some pets may fiercely bark, hiss, or growl when visitors come over. In addition, other pets might be just as aggressive if there’s a knock on the door or the doorbell rings.
Smother you
Cats are notorious for getting on their owner’s level when they want attention. For instance, when my calico cat, Poppy, is ready for me to play fuzzball with her, she’ll walk on the kitchen table where I’m working. And a lot of times she’ll just walk across my computer keyboard.
Fawning
This is another behavior typical in cats, where they will rub against their owners, purr, and meow prodigiously. And these are all in the attempt to get their owner’s attention.
Leaving
Pets can get mad just like people. And if you don’t pay attention to your pet, they might just walk out of the room and withdraw. Poppy did this last night. She pulled away from me while I was busy with something else. But the next time I spotted her, she was playing with one of her fuzzballs. So I made it up to her and started playing with her.
Competition
Finally, the last sign of pet jealousy is competition. Pets who are jealous of other pets might compete with each other for attention. However the competition doesn’t necessarily have to be aggressive.
Both Poppy and Sophie are jealous of each other. When one of them is getting attention, the other is watching and waiting. If Sophie gets to go outside, Poppy will meow, yowl, and cry to go out too. And Sophie’s playtime with her ball prompted Poppy to learn how to play fetch. Additionally, Poppy doesn’t like to play fuzzball with me when Sophie is in the room with us. She wants me all to herself.
Warning. Graphic image of animal injury below.
This is our boss rooster, Megatron, after his son attacked him for leadership. He had feathers ripped out, and his right eye was swollen shut. But we nursed him back to health.
What about birds? Do they get jealous? If you follow my blog, it’s possible you’ve read my article on the chicken pecking order. Which is all basically based on the leader of the flock running a tight ship. However birds that aren’t on the top will display jealous behavior.
Take, for example, my 2 roosters, father and son. Baby Nay is jealous of his dad, because Megatron bosses him around, essentially telling him when he can mate, who he can mate with, when he can eat, and etc. And so he attacked his dad to change his position in the hierarchy.
There are several reasons why pets will get jealous of other pets, including boredom, lack of space and exercise, and stress or conflict. Furthermore, genetic disposition, upbringing and level of socialization, insecurity, and interaction with a pet parent all contribute to pet jealousy.
Interaction with a pet parent can also be interpreted as lack of enough bonding time. If your pet feels like it’s not getting enough quality time with you, it can act out aggressively toward another pet.
Insecurity can come from abandonment issues, like our dog, Sophie, has. Animals have memories of both good and bad events. Thus, their jealousy could stem from being abandoned by previous owners. Or possibly even from past abuse.
Pets without enough social interaction with people or animals can easily experience jealousy. So when they’re confronted with a social encounter, that pet might act out due to a lack of instruction and experience. Because, essentially, they’ve never been taught better.
Observe and note the times and conditions that cause the jealousy and/or aggression. This way you can discuss the issues with your veterinarian to help manage them.
Give your pets equal time and attention.
Make sure your pets each have their own safe space, like a crate for a dog, and a room for a cat.
Feed your pets separately during meals. And give them an equal amount of treats.
When you get home, don’t pay more attention to one pet over another.
Leash dogs when walking two at a time.
When petting your pets, make sure to include all of them.
Make sure each pet has its own bed and toys.
And don’t forget to reward your pets when they’re good and don’t act jealous!
To Summarize
Jealousy is a complex emotion. And it’s obvious that, since all animals have some sort of limbic system, your pets have emotions like you, including the ability to get jealous of other pets. In addition, just like with people, jealousy in pets can present in similar ways.
But there are things you can do to mitigate issues with your pets. And they primarily involve giving each pet the same amount of attention, food, supplies, and toys. However, this doesn’t always work with chickens, like with my 2 roosters.
They each have their own harem of hens. And they have plenty of space, healthy food, and clean, fresh water. But after letting Megatron back with his flock, both father and son wanted to annihilate each other, to the exclusion of all else. Therefore, if you still have issues with your pets, definitely reach out to your veterinarian for suggestions.
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Chicken Girl 