Thanksgiving on the Traeger: A Turkey Tradition Worth Starting

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Thanksgiving on the Traeger: A Turkey Tradition Worth Starting

Thanksgiving is not just a meal; it’s a celebration filled with family, friends, and cherished traditions. What better way to enhance your holiday feast than by preparing your Thanksgiving turkey on a Traeger wood pellet grill?

At Burns Feed Store, we’ve been supporting our community in getting ready for the holidays for generations. This year, we’re introducing something a little smokier, juicier, and absolutely delicious: the Traeger Turkey.

Why Cook Your Turkey on a Traeger?

Cooking your turkey on a Traeger infuses it with incredible flavor from hardwood smoke while providing consistent, controlled heat. This results in a bird that’s beautifully golden on the outside and succulent on the inside. Plus, it keeps your oven free for all those pies, sides, and rolls.

Benefits of Cooking Turkey on a Traeger:

Even, consistent heat (no flare-ups!)

Natural hardwood smoke flavor

Hands-off cooking with WiFIRE® and temperature control

More space in your kitchen oven for everything else

Our Favorite Traeger Turkey Recipe:

Here’s a tried-and-true recipe that has become a favorite at Burns Feed Store:

Simple Smoked Traeger Turkey

Ingredients:

1 whole turkey (12–15 lbs)

Traeger Turkey Blend Pellets (available At Burns Feed Store)

½ cup kosher salt

½ cup brown sugar

Water for brine

Olive oil or melted butter

Your favorite poultry seasoning or Traeger Turkey Rub

Instructions:

Brine the Turkey

Combine salt and brown sugar in a large container or brining bag. Add water and stir until dissolved.

Submerge the turkey in the brine and refrigerate for 12–24 hours.

Prep the Grill

Fill your Traeger with Turkey Blend pellets. Set it to 225°F and preheat with the lid closed for about 15 minutes.

Prep the Bird

Remove the turkey from the brine, rinse, and pat dry. Rub it with olive oil or butter, then season generously with your chosen rub.

Smoke It Slow  

Place the turkey directly on the grill grate, breast side up. Smoke at 225°F for 2–3 hours.

Crank It Up

Increase the temperature to 350°F and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165°F at the thickest part of the breast.

Rest & Carve

Allow the turkey to rest for 20–30 minutes before carving. Get ready for the compliments!

 

Everything You Need, Right Here at Burns

Whether you’re an experienced grill master or trying your first smoked turkey, we have everything you need:

Traeger grills & accessories

Pellets (including Turkey Blend!)

Brining kits & rubs

Local tips & friendly advice

Stop by Burns Feed Store, and let us help you make this Thanksgiving unforgettable—Traeger style.

Don’t forget to sign up for our Turkey Talk ’25:

Keep Your Dog Warm and Protected This Winter

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When and Why to Use a Dog Coat

Protection from the Elements: Dog coats shield against rain, wind, and snow, which is particularly vital for short-haired, small, or elderly dogs.

Warmth: Coats offer additional warmth during chilly weather. Certain breeds are more sensitive to cold and may benefit from a coat when temperatures drop below 57°F (14°C).

Visibility: Coats equipped with reflective strips enhance a dog’s visibility during walks in the early morning, evening, or on dark winter days.

Comfort: A properly fitting coat can make walks more pleasurable for dogs who feel uncomfortable in the cold.

How to Choose the Right Coat

Consider the Weather: Select a lightweight, water-resistant shell for mild, rainy days. In freezing temperatures or heavy snow, choose an insulated, waterproof jacket.

Check the Fit: The coat should be snug yet not restrictive, allowing full freedom of movement while accommodating male dogs’ anatomy to prevent wetness when urinating.

Look at Materials:

Outer Layer: Opt for durable, waterproof materials like polyester, nylon, or a waterproof blend.

Lining: Common choices include fleece for warmth or down for insulation. Ensure the lining is breathable for your dog’s comfort.

Prioritize Safety and Function:

Avoid coats with small components, such as buttons or hooks, that could be chewed off.

Ensure the coat is machine washable, as it will inevitably get dirty.

Reflective elements are a valuable safety feature for any coat.

Try Before You Buy:

Stop by Burns Feed Store to explore our selection of sweaters, raincoats, hoodies, Sherpa-lined or smooth-lined waterproof blankets. We offer a variety of colors and sizes! If possible, bring your dog to the store to try on various sizes and styles to guarantee the best fit and comfort.

Maintaining Cattle Nutrition As The Temperatures Drop

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Maintaining Proper Nutrition As Temperatures Drop

As temperatures decrease, the quality of forages often declines. To ensure your herd maintains sufficient energy levels in preparation for calving, consider utilizing a Purina Cattle Accuration® Hi-Fat Tub with Intake Modifying Technology® in the pasture.

Signs That Your Cattle May Be Lacking Fat or Protein:

  • Cows appear thin
  • Decreased forage consumption
  • Digestive issues

Despite your best efforts to care for the land, fluctuations in the nutrient content of hay and pastures are common. This is when we highly recommend products like the Purina Accuration Hi-Fat tub.

When forage quality falls short, these supplements are specifically designed to address the nutrient deficiencies your herd may encounter. Simply place the supplement in the pasture, allowing your cattle to access the tub whenever they need nutritional support, thanks to Purina’s exclusive Intake Modifying Technology.

The Purina Accuration Hi-Fat Tub is a premium, weather-resistant protein tub that features Intake Modifying Technology. It is formulated with a higher fat content to provide additional energy, compensating for nutrient deficiencies in low-quality forages or for cattle with insufficient energy in their diet.

We Take The Importance of Cattle Nutrition Seriously

Cattle nutrition plays a crucial role, particularly as the seasons shift in the Pacific Northwest! If you’re interested in discussing cattle nutrition, feel free to reach out! We can arrange a farm visit with our Purina Feed Specialist to create a tailored feed and supplement plan that suits your herd’s needs. Just give us a call or drop us an email!

Phone: 503-663-3246

Email: [email protected]

Lawn Winterization: Everything You Need At Burns Feed Store

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Lawn Winterization: Prepare Your Lawn for a Healthy Spring

As the fall season winds down, many gardeners are asking the same question:
“What is a lawn winterizer, and do I really need it?”
Here at Burns Feed Store, our garden department, like many across the region, has been
promoting lawn winterizers through the fall months, and for good reason. Applying a winterizer
now can make a big difference in how your lawn looks and performs come spring.

What Is a Lawn Winterizer?
A lawn winterizer is a specially formulated fertilizer designed to prepare your grass for the cold
months ahead. It typically contains:
*A moderate amount of nitrogen to maintain green color
* Little to no phosphorus
*A higher level of potassium, which strengthens roots and builds disease resistance
You’ll often see a nutrient ratio (N-P-K) like 12-0-15 or something similar on the bag.

Why It’s Important
Unlike spring or summer fertilizers that push top growth, winterizer focuses on root health and
resilience. The benefits include:
✅ Stronger root development
✅ Improved disease resistance
✅ Thicker, denser turf
✅ Better winter hardiness
✅ Faster green-up in spring
Many lawn professionals consider fall winterizer to be the most important feeding of the year.
Lawns treated with it tend to emerge from winter healthier, greener, and better able to
withstand stress.

When and How to Apply
You can apply your winterizer alongside your annual fall lime treatment, even on the same
day. Both winterizer fertilizer and pelletized lime can be safely applied from October through
mid-December, as long as your grass isn’t frozen or frosty.

Get Your Lawn Ready at Burns Feed Store
If you haven’t applied your winterizer yet, now’s the time!

Stop by Burns Feed Store to pick up a bag or two of Fertilome or Bonide Premium Lawn
Winterizer. We also carry Pelletized Lime to balance soil pH and enhance fertilizer performance.
Your lawn will thank you next spring, coming out of dormancy greener, denser, and healthier
than ever.

Understanding Your Chickens During Molting Season

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Understanding Your Chickens During Molting Season

Is your flock causing a bit of chaos when you step into your backyard, resembling a scene from the Royal Rumble of pillow fights? Don’t panic; your hens are simply undergoing their molting phase! That’s right, those fluffy beauties are shedding old feathers and sprouting new ones, which are composed of an impressive 80-85% protein. This means they require a protein-packed diet to regrow their luxurious plumage. Curious about molting?

 

What is Molting?

Molting is essentially your chickens’ version of a makeover. It begins with stylish changes starting from the head and neck, gradually moving down to the wings and tail. Here’s a fun tidbit: they will experience two mini molts before their significant annual molt! The first mini molt occurs when they’re just tiny chicks, around 6-8 days old, while the second takes place between 7-12 weeks, when they begin to show off their vibrant rooster feathers.

Molt Season and Its Effects

Prepare yourself—molt season is here, if it hasn’t already made its presence known in your coop! As the days shorten (cue the sad trombone), egg production dips, and feathers scatter as your hens shed their old attire. But don’t lose hope! With the arrival of spring and longer days, egg-laying will make a comeback.

 

Supporting Your Hens Through Molting

To assist your hens during this feather fiasco, consider enhancing their protein intake with a high-protein feed, such as Purina High Protein. They will appreciate the 19% protein goodness, featuring black soldier fly larvae and the Oyster Strong® System. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you might want to add some supplemental light to your coop to encourage egg production during the darker months.

It’s also important to avoid changing their living arrangements or introducing new companions during this sensitive time. Keeping stress levels low is crucial, so consider providing a Flock Block or the new Farm To Flock Block for added enjoyment!

So, while your feathered friends may appear a bit down during molting, rest assured it’s merely a part of their natural beauty regimen!

Certified Weed Free Orchard Grass & Straw at Burns Feed Store

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Why Weed Free Forage?

Using weed free forage is a proactive method of preventing our natural and working lands from invasion by noxious weeds. Our natural and working lands are especially vulnerable following catastrophic events like wildfire and flooding and using weed free forage can help mitigate the risk of invasion during recovery. Using weed free forage also ensures that you are providing the most nutritious and palatable version of a product to your livestock, free of undesirable and sometimes toxic weeds. For producers, ODA’s Weed Free Forage and Gravel Program provides an opportunity to add value to your products while contributing to overall ecosystem resilience.

Certified weed free hay and straw are in high demand in Oregon and throughout the western states. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) Weed Free Forage & Gravel Program, as part of an integrated weed management approach, helps limit the spread of noxious weeds and protect Oregon agriculture. The ODA follows the standards set by the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA; www.naisma.org). Additionally, inspections include Oregon’s listed ‘A’ and ‘B’ listed noxious weeds which can be found at www.oda.direct/NoxiousWeedProfiles

In Oregon, individuals utilizing livestock, horses, or pack animals on U.S. Forest Service land, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, and designated Wilderness Areas are required to use certified weed-free forage. This regulation aims to prevent the spread of invasive plant species. Additionally, this requirement extends to contractors engaged in public projects, recreational outfitters, and anyone transporting hay or forage across public lands for any purpose.

 

Planning Your Straw Bale Garden for Next Spring

Gardeners, are you already preparing for next spring’s Straw Bale Garden? Here’s something to consider: it’s crucial to use weed-free straw bales for your garden. Weeds are one of the main issues this gardening method aims to combat. Conventional straw bales can contain unwanted seeds that may germinate once the conditioning process begins.

Benefits of Straw Bale Gardening

By selecting the right bales and conditioning them correctly, you can fully enjoy the benefits of straw bale gardening:

  • Fewer weeds:The most significant advantage is a substantial reduction in weeds, as you’re not working with traditional soil.
  • Less soil trouble: This method is ideal for areas with poor or rocky soil.
  • Reduced pest and disease issues: Planting above ground can help minimize problems associated with soil-borne diseases.
  • Improved accessibility: The elevated height of the bales makes gardening easier on your back.

 

At Burns Feed Store, we currently have in stock Certified Weed Free Orchard Grass as well as a Certified Weed Free Straw.

Gate Maintenance

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Gate and System Maintenance

These guidelines are meant to be general in nature and specific needs will vary based on your environment.

Getting Started:

  • Adjust the gate hinges to make sure the gate swings level, plumb and freely throughout the full opening and closing range of motion. Level is horizontal and plumb vertical. Plumb refers to something being straight up and down. The gate post(s) needs to be plumb and hinges need to be aligned vertically. When a gate/post is not plumb it may surge/hesitate in a particular direction of its travel and possibly not function.
  • Clean your gate with a mild cleaner, a rag, a soft brush, and a water hose to remove dirt and dust.
  • Do any rust removal and touch up painting, that you might deem necessary.

The Gate:

Keeping your gates swinging easily and freely is very important so that your gate opener system continues to work correctly. If your ball-bearing/bearing type gate hinges are binding, out of grease, or have become difficult to move, your gate opener system may treat this as an obstruction. If it seems to be associated in some way with the temperature the problem can likely be resolved by lubricating your gate hinges. If the hinges are worn or damaged replace them.

We suggest removing the pin from the front of the operator and working the grease into the gate hinges as much as possible. Use a grease suited for the temperature range in your location. Lithium-based grease tends to work well in many applications. Don’t forget to put the front clevis pin back into the front of the operator when you have finished greasing the hinges.

 

Lubricate The Operator Arm

Using a silicone spray, you can maintain/clean the silver aluminum push-pull tube (with the operator arm extended and the system turned off) , spray a clean cloth with the silicone and wipe the extended push-pull of the operator arm. Cleaning this part of the arm helps remove any dirt and debris that has accumulated over time and can help reduce premature wear and noise on the internal parts of the operator arm.

Check The System Batteries

As a battery ages its ability to work becomes reduced. A good rule of thumb would be to inspect the battery(s) each fall.

  • Clean any corrosion from the battery terminals and connectors. A wire brush the size of a toothbrush is a handy tool for this job. Brush it lightly until any corrosion is removed. Most automotive part stores also have some type of anti-corrosion product that can be added to your system for additional protection.
  • Check all battery and battery harness connections to ensure none of the connections are loose.
  • The batteries can be loaded tested as well
    • Disconnect the charging source. (solar panel or transformer connections)
    • Measure battery voltage.
      • a. If you have two batteries, check them individually.
      • b. If the voltage(s) is above 12 Vdc, proceed with the load test.
      • c. If the voltage(s) is below 12 Vdc, charge the batteries externally before proceeding. At no greater than 2 amps.
    • The load test will only be conducted on one battery at a time. Measure the voltage prior to operation. Activate the unit while continuing to monitor the voltage. The voltage should drop less than .5 volt during the cycle.
    • Repeat for 4 more half cycles (open or close) pausing for approximately 10 seconds in between activations. The voltage should drop less than .5 volt during these movements.
    • If the voltage drops are greater than .5 a volt the battery/batteries should be replaced.

Solar Installations

  • Use glass cleaner: Clean the glass on your solar panel to remove any algae, mold, mildew, or dirt that may have accumulated throughout the year. Keeping your solar panel glass clean helps to maximize the potential charging ability of the panel which is more important during the winter months as the number of hours of unobstructed sunlight hitting the panel decreases. Move/relocate panel if needed.
  • Using the screwdriver provided with your kit, tighten any of the wiring terminal connections that are loose.

E-Z Haul Carts

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The perfect balance of an E-Z Haul Cart will get the job done with less effort.

These carts are built to last! They are made with the most durable components to handle big loads, regardless of cart size.

The E-Z Haul Cart is available in three sizes with load ratings from 250 to 600 pounds.

Sizes available at Burns Feed Store are:
5 1/2Cu.Ft. Garden Cart
8Cu.Ft. Utility Cart
11 1/2Cu.Ft. Jumbo Cart

Since 1986, the E-Z Haul cart has been manufactured in the United States, to provide cost effective service for new products and replacement parts. We carry a full line of replacement parts if you need to spruce up your old cart!

E-Z Haul Carts are Affordable, Durable and Versatile!