BeccaOH: Update of just STUFF

[savingdogs]

I wanna make those! I need to make some egg container carrying bags, and what could be more perfect, and I have so many of those bags. Thank you so much.

I wish I had a machine, but I think I can use my moms. I'm so happy to find a use for those bags. I have some pink Layena bags too from when they were doing the breast cancer awareness deal. Thanks!

 

[BeccaOH]

Justasnak, the straw bale instructions I read said I'd need to water daily, but not so in this weather. I did have one flower sort of on the edge of a bale dry out, but the center of the bales are holding moisture well. In fact the whole thing is growing fungus - unfortunately not the edible kind.

I even have a scummy moss growing on the bare ground in the chicken runs. What's with that? It is slippery.

savingdogs, I made a nice purse out of a pink bag that I sold. Didn't get a picture, but I have an order for another - just no time to sew. My poultry chores alone are taking a couple hours a night these days with all the pens of babies that I have to tend.

I really have got to change my mindset from poultry breeder to just having poultry as livestock. I love the idea of preserving heritage breeds, but I just can't do it all.
One day I'm ready to sell all my call ducks, and the next I'm planning for next year's breeding. I just can't make up my mind.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

If I can do it, you can do it!


downsize that is!

 

[keljonma]

I really have got to change my mindset from poultry breeder to just having poultry as livestock. I love the idea of preserving heritage breeds, but I just can't do it all.
One day I'm ready to sell all my call ducks, and the next I'm planning for next year's breeding. I just can't make up my mind.

Making the decision is the hard part. Your career determines how much "free" time you have to spend on developing a breeder program and getting your name out there for sales.

Poultry make great pets, but this much I *do* know, Pet Chickens are wonderful, but don't help with the feed bill.

We started with 25 different heritage breeds of chickens that we were going to narrow down to one or two breeds to focus on. So consider all this time with your poultry as the investigation phase of that project.

Maybe just downsizing as QA has mentioned would be the best thing for now. Dare I say it..... don't buy any more of QA's birds!

 

[BeccaOH]

I created a Kombucha scoby!!!

I had to start from scratch and use a bottle of Kombucha from the health store, but it seemed to work. The scoby/mushroom looks beautiful. The Kombucha is a bit tart, but seems about right. Now to start a big batch. I have a neighbor looking forward to me sharing Kombucha and scoby.

Oh, and I finally found my Nourishing Traditions book hiding on a bottom shelf.

 

[keljonma]

Sounds like a productive holiday!

 

[valmom]

I grew my scoby from a bottle from the store, too. And it works!

I made a bunch of feed bag carry bags for my trips to BJ's a few years ago. I lost them all to people "borrowing" them One of these days I should make some more.

 

[BeccaOH]

New batch of Kombucha may be ready tomorrow. My first batch is a bit too vinegary for my taste. I need to try infusing with ginger.

This past week I trapped and killed 3 coons. I can't see that I lost any birds, but there are some blue (look like chicken) feathers at the bottom of a nearby popular tree. I can't figure out where those would have come from. I keep checking my blue chickens and can't seem to figure out who might be missing. (I guess I have too many chickens. ) No new coon in the trap this morning, though, so maybe I've caught them all for now.

My neighbor up the road from me is seeing what she called minks in the creek behind her house. Her husband killed one a couple weeks ago. Said it looked like a ferret.

Saturday I shredded and froze at least 7 bags of zucchini for future breads and zucchini brownies.

Went for poultry feed on Saturday and nearly went broke. Working on downsizing. There is an auction Friday, a swap Friday-Saturday, and another auction Monday. Somehow, someway, I'm going to reduce my number of mouths to feed. Soon! My garage is full of chicks. Having to make some hard decisions. I know I won't really miss most of these when they are gone, but that sale decision and saying goodbye is still hard.

I finally found nice Spangled Russian Orloffs this May and now I'm questioning keeping those. They aren't the best option for 1) steady eggs, 2) meat, and 3) local sales. I'm really burned out on shipping hatching eggs. And now I FINALLY have Dorkings! I have a pair of off-colored ones hatched last year and some Silver Grays from McMurray that came in may. AND finally I got eggs from a top breeder who I order from and paid in April 2010 (hatch due on the 20th). I just pray that I'm happy working with the Dorkings now that I have them.

My uncle died this past week, and services are today. I sure with I could be in Western Kansas with the family right now.

 

[savingdogs]

Sorry about your uncle.

My spangled russian orloffs are great layers, my best! I don't know why they call them poor layers.

I just downsized my chickens and kept the young ones. I figured out who wasn't laying by keeping close track of the eggs and sold the ones that were not laying cheap. I was up front that they were poor layers. One person came and bought them all. I was delighted the next couple days, I had no reduction in the amount of eggs I was collecting, and picked the right ones. It was pretty easy really, for me, it was all the Buff Orpingtons, so I sold the BO roo as well when the lady wanted him.

I have three leftover BOs and was thinking of selling them. I enjoy the EEs a lot more. So I got rid of the poor layers and ones that I didn't enjoy as much. I'm pretty happy how that worked out.

 

[Wifezilla]

I know I won't really miss most of these when they are gone, but that sale decision and saying goodbye is still hard.

I know all my birds up close and personal, but I have to reduce my numbers due to lack of space. Lots of young drakes going to freezer camp. 3 were supposed to be girls!!! I named them and everything!

Sorry to hear about your uncle.