NEVER EVER give a chicken Avocado! Avocados are poisonous to birds all birds. I know this thread is really old but someone will read this. I can't help but wonder why someone would find exploding chickens funny, maybe she shouldn't have animals then! Anything that would cause my wonderful hens pain I find very disturbing. I have a few that are going on 8 years old, they still lay, maybe not all the time but they have a little cycle, they are girls after all! If they stop altogether, they still have a forever home! My hens eat peas mixed with some plain yogurt and scrambled eggs (scrambled in a little olive oil) and diced blueberries and strawberries they love this treat. Its good for them and helps them lay nice strong eggs. I only use a tiny bit of olive oil and this helps keep them clear, a bit of organic apple cider vinegar in their water keeps them from getting sour crop, just a couple times a week. No way would I give them anything that is questionable, too acidic like lemons, or strong like onion. They free range during the day and are in their coop at night, safe and sound..... and they are very funny and sociable. If I am unsure, I don't risk it. They get good lay mash, crumbles and scratch too. always fresh water (on a drip) Chickens need to drink A LOT, more than they need to eat so make sure their water is fresh and clean ;) If you are going to keep birds, don't laugh at them being hurt, that is just not right.

Also, red or yukon gold or sweet potatoes over white. Sweet have the same carbs as white, but the carbs are absorbed slower so it helps keep the sugar spikes down. Brown over white rice. For me, white rice, pasta, and potatoes are my spikes. I eat them, but try to limit them. I controlled mine by diet for about 18 months before I asked to be put on meds. I still eat what I want, when I want, but smaller portions if I know it's something that will spike mine. Each person has their own triggers. You can not go strictly by the book. I can eat ice cream, not sugar free, and not have much more of an increase than if I ate a big bowl of fruit, but much less of an increase than if I had rice or pasta. It's common sense and knowing what your system digests the best. You are giving a wonderful gift. Just cook as healthily as you always do, and you will do just fine. So many non-diabetics panic when they have to cook for us, but you don't need to. You already know how. And all these sugar substitues are not good for anyone. Of course naturally occuring sugars are better than cane/beet sugar, but a little isn't a big deal. If we sit down with a piece of cake piled high in icing, yes we'll have a problem, but it's OUR problem, and we don't have to eat it. The cake itself won't hurt us if we substitute it for another carb for that meal once in a while. Tami

Take her a well seasoned chicken breast....garlic, oregano and lemon juice, bake it until it's just not pink....about 17 minutes at 375... Add some fresh veggies, green beans with a small touch of salt and some pepper and a little butter... A tossed salad with your own dressing, a clove of garlic, olive oil, half as much vinegar as oil and rice vinegar is good and mild and some seasonings like basil...add a couple fo slices of tomato and a serving of brown rice with a few pecans added for flav or...a whole wheat bun and she has a nice dinner. For dessert, peel and slice an apple, put it in a glass container add a little splenda and some cinnamon and nuke it about 3 minutes until tha apple is soft. Linda C

quirkyquerus: I totally agree. We don't really have any pet stores to speak of in my area other than Petsmart. I have never gotten a pet from a petstore except for hamsters and guinea pigs and fish. I think when people buy at a petstore it's more for convenience. They decide they want a pet and they go shopping. I tend to buy from breeders unless I can find the specific breed I want from rescue. In the past I have gotten rescue animals but what I learned is that sometimes you really do need to pick an animal that will fit with your family better. This is a long term committment. Too many people buy because the breed is popular or cute and then they find out it doesn't get along with kids or cats or whatever and the dog ends up being abandoned. Research is really important. I spent a year and a half researching my current dog before I got him and he's better than I could have hoped for. My last dog was with us for over 14 years (a retriever)who was perfect for our family then.