AL - Recording baby steps: Newest Addition

[SKR8PN]

Al....when your meaty birds get big enough to move out of the brooder.... See if you can find you one of those outside dog kennels that are made out of chain link fence. They are anywhere from 8x1 to 12x12, pretty cheap, easy to move, and you can toss a tarp over the top if it gets to hot. That's what my cousin and I have used the past two years and they work great. As a matter of fact, I just had one GIVEN to me, so The Wife and I are going to raise some meaties on our own next spring!

 

[AL]

LOL I have already been nixed on goats... my property isn't seperated from my parents land since the barn is on their side, plus it is more room for the horses. Therefore, they have completely forbidden ever bringing another goat on this place (something about my pet billy I had when I was little, horns, and paper grocery bags ..... lol he would escape the field when my mom was carrying in groceries and hook his horns in the bottom of the bag ripping it and eating whatever goodies fell out). They ARE , however, giving a little more wiggle room on a cow.


Had a GREAT day

I got up early and went to a "Barktoberfest" fundraiser for our Humane Society. They had dozens of vendors (including my vets - YAY), dachsund races, flyball demonstrations and a few contests for the dogs (best trick, best costume, etc). I took Rio, my 2 1/2 yr old yellow Lab and he was soooo good. The only time he got a little crazy was when he saw not just one, but all THREE of the docs from my vet clinic (He LOVES them).
After walking around there for about an hour I drove across town to meet a friend whose hubby is a "tree man". He is in the process of taking a humongous monster of an oak tree (seriously.. humongous). I got a load of wood for free! AND I didn't have to load it, my dad doesn't have to cut it - her DH had his workers cut it to length and load it for me! AWESOME
(while I was there 3 kids age 7,7 and 3 took Rio and a bag of treats... he slept all the way home LOL)

Left with the wood and unloaded it in the shed down at my folks house. Grabbed a bite to eat on the way out to meet the friend who went in with me on the cornish rocks. Her BF built a quick roof and closed off the short leg of the "L" on my chicken yard. I will use our infamous blue tarps for the sides so that I can put them in / remove them easily depending on the weather.

After the chicken stuff was finished I went BACK across town and got another truckload (as in my truck is squatting on its springs) of wood. Still have to unload it, then I am just gonna chill for a little while! I would like to go pick some of my dried out peas and put them up as seeds. But I may not make that today lol

 

[AL]

HOW THE HECK IS IT IN THE 40's HERE?!?!?!?!?!??


rant over thank you

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

wow!!!

its kinda cold here too... but how is it warmer HERE!?!? wow. but i wont give in. i'm still wearing shorts. and wool sox. and a heavy sweatshirt.

 

[AL]

it is just in the upper 40's at night, by 2pm it is back to 80 or so. We don't usually have this weather for a few more weeks. I LOVE cool / cold weather, and I knew it would be colder before processing time for my chickens I ordered - I did NOT plan on it being cold before they get here.
Lots of scheming and planning to try to keep them out of my house their first week or 2.

 

[AL]

Supposed to be 46 again tonight, then gradually start 'warming' to lows in the 60s.

I think I am going to give up on the mustard greens. My blackeye peas are scattered, but maybe I'll get a dinner's worth anyway. Squash plants are coming up everywhere, even where I didn't plant them! I dropped the packet of seeds so I guess wind , birds , critters moved the dropped ones around?

Supposed to call tomorrow evening and see about going to get more wood on Wednesday. A very dear friend of mine (like a 2nd dad...actuallly, more like a dad than MY dad) and his wife want some but they will be out of town. I will also get at least another load for my folks.

My dad went up to my house and worked on the chicken house for me. It is a shed with an add on. When I decided to use the shed in addtion to the house we built, I just kicked some boards out of the wall to make an opening. That was fine because I had a walk-in door to that side... now we have closed all of that off for the meaties so I was having to stoop / crawl / crabwalk under the roosts to get to the eggs. He is going to remove more of the wall support so I can just walk through.

Started giving the horses hay today. I have Buddy's hay seperate from the bales I bought and paid for, but I am thinking I will feed a free bale and then my bale, etc.
Still have to clear out space to put more hay for Buddy. I guess I will have to resort to using the old hayloft, which I am not thrilled about. :/

I talked to my cousin about how to get a permit to dig a small pond in the pasture. I will call the county at some point to get the site test and all. My nephews were digging with shovels (about 3-4ft deep) and hit a tiny bit of running water. It ran out quick, but I am betting it would support a pond 6-7ft deep? Just set it up to overflow to the swampy part of the woods. There used to be a small area of wetlands behind us, but they filled it in for houses, so maybe that will work in my favor?


Sold 3 dozen eggs today. No more orders for a while, but that will give me time to get some more stored up. I average a dozen every 2 days. I think I still have some hold outs so I should get more than that when everyone is in full swing.


The Fair starts the 21st. I have not picked out all of my photos much less had them developed / enlarged / framed. Nothing like waiting til the last minute.
I also have to get started on the photos for the gift calendars.

 

[AL]

Buddy reached into the feed stall and stole my lunge whip... it's chewed in half so I bought a new one. Friend let me borrow a ground training DVD so I will be working hard to "memorize" it this weekend. Bud LOVES the cooler weather, he ran the pasture last night until he was winded, then came for some treats. I am giving him just a flake of hay a day for now. Still a big scoop of pellets. Skye is getting a big scoop of Sr and a flake of wet hay.
- need to buy a new small water trough for cold weather (she won't drink cold water, have to haul it warm or she dehydrates and colics)

We have a new TSC... I can't wait to get to go exploring!

Cleaned the chicken house and stirred the compost pile. Also on the schedule for this weekend is to go to Mr. M's house and get a couple of truckloads of oak leaves. I will pull the dried peas and go ahead and cover / till that half of the garden.

Took photos to the printer for my enlargements. I don't even know if I will use them, I just am not impressed so far with my entries :/

Thinking seriously of getting even just storebought goods to can. I am fortunate to have a very secure, stable job.... but my folks are having trouble making ends meet. I have hauled in 3 truckloads of wood for them, only one is seasoned. A guy helped my dad get 2 truckloads that are pretty seasoned. I'll get a load for J and P , then start hauling more for my dad in case they get where they can't afford to run the central heat and if I don't have the $ to help.

I need to do some research on beef prices. I found a place locally that raises the steer and takes them to the processor for you... but is sure does add up to a lot of $$$. They take orders on whole, half and quarters. They say the quarters are "standard cut only" - stupid question, but what does that mean?

http://www.gizmoangus.com/2010_gizmo_beef.pdf

 

[Farmfresh]

Some people (me) have them do special things with the prime cuts... like make the steaks extra thick or trim the briskets a special way. Standard cuts are like most supermarkets sell things.

 

[AL]

aah ok... thanks!

 

[AL]

My work has blocked CL!!!


I am devastated!!