they are. my wife's fam eats them as a bar snack! vodka, scotch...black eggs.

they are simply cooked in superhot, decomposing, tea leaves...like a mulch pile. makes them black, and (gag) fishy.

thanks for the tip, Mrs Trek.

They are delicious actually. Basically chicken or duck eggs that have been cured (pickled?) for 100 days in black tea, salt, wood ashes, lime and I'm not sure what else goes into the traditional version. The whites turn into a sort of dark brown jelly.

I recall a homemade "lite" version which involved cracking the eggshell all over, then placing them in some dark liquid (and I don't recall what it was) for a week or so. The whites were streaked with dark (from the cracks).

We used to eat them when I was a kid but I haven't had one in decades. This thread got me thinking, so I will stop by an Asian grocery to see if they sell them.

There are various Chinese foods we used to eat when I was little, that I liked a lot then, then forgot all about, and would now like to rediscover. I think I may try to learn Chinese cooking.

I was thinking that vash's wife would know all about that stuff. vash himself is clearly a banana :-)

Hey vash, can you post a quickie recipe?

THanks Dean!! That was funnier than hell


Doesn't make me a bad person ;) I'll call you this evening Shaun, Talked to George, not good news.

and still, noone knows why the chicken crossed the road..............to drive a p car?

Nice crib!!

you're one of the best Mark! but you are still a nut! :D

OK it's all done, Added the run and two perches inside for the birds. Picked up two more hens. 6 total, and that's it!!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1251251325.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1251251346.jpg

This may be a silly question, but I'm no farmer... What do you do with them in the winter? Keep 'em in the coop with hay/straw and some sort of feed/grain?

Hell I don't know yet Dean. There are companies that make heaters etc. Others say don't use heat. I use hay & wood shavings now. I've read the waddles and comb can get frostbite. We'll have to see. May run some electricity out there for a heat light of something.
I'm no farner either!

My wife has a tortoise, and we use a ceramic "heat emiter" for his house at night. They're not cheap but last (supposedly) for 25K+ hours. He seems to like it. He's in there when the sun doesn't shine directly on the yard anymore.

Hey this is timely ,, look where I was last weekhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1251257409.jpg

Thanks for the idea Marv, I'll look into it.

I'm afraid to ask Todd :eek:

The birds mouth notch on the rafter is over 1/4 the member depth, but otherwise an excellent looking project.

Ref link:
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:wtz7u0mpil0J:www.iccsafe.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi%3Fubb%3Dget_topic%3Bf%3D10%3Bt%3D00 1930+birdsmouth+notch+rafter&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl =us

Art + Building = Architecture :)

You have yourself some architecture there.:cool:


EDIT: Are those pre-fab concrete post footings? No need for metal post support to lift it one inch in your area?

Ref 2 link (graphics):
http://www.sustland.umn.edu/implement/deck_footings.html

I know it's not a building or even a deck, but anything with a permanent foundation requires an inspection around here (fence, accessory building/shed).

Thanks for the compliment and links. I'm not sure but I think maybe it's because we made it a double wide after we made the initial frame work. The rafters aren't symetrical. As far as inspection goes, well F them. Lets see... the city inspected and approved my house and I fell through the deck railing falling 10 feet when it broke because of the wrong size nails. I had to buy a building permit to have a fulling built shed placed on the property so I figure I'm even with them :D

I am thinking about doing the same thing, what are the diamensions on your hen house ?

Todd :)

Hi Todd, The coop is about 6'x6'x4'. The plans called for like 3'x3'x4'. For the 6 chickens I have that would have been plenty big. It has 4 nesting boxes and a perch all the way across the length. Of course a few of the chickens use the rafter for a perch! Now the run is a different story. Since the last picture I've added 10' to it making it 16' long. A hawk attacked Elvis, the roo, so I no longer free range them if I'm not here. He recovered but is blind in his right eye.
If you'd like I could take pics of the inside and email then to you.
Good luck with your projesct if you do it.

Wow, I don't venture over here to OT much - this stuff scares me. Timely also, as I'm having poultry for dinner.
Nice job Mark, That coop is built stronger than a brick "chicken" sheeeat house.

Hi Mark

We are going to do it, do you close the door at night to keep racoons out, I will take any pics you send me.

Todd

only thing i whisper to a chicken is "be still now, it'll be over in a second" *CHOP*