Erin's Journal- Turning Frugal

[<ErinElizabeth>]

I packed my lunch for tomorrow. I'm trying to eat a healthier more natural diet and plus I'm trying to save money. Packing my own lunch should save me at least 50 cents a day which will add up over time. 2 strawberries sliced in lime juice (hopefully to help preserve them), a banana, some trail mix, and a bottle of water.

 

[<ErinElizabeth>]

I found a new home for my black mottled bantam cochin rooster that had starting attacking me and delivered him to his new home today. The lady that took him has had chickens for years and is very well equipped to handle him. It is a major relief to have him gone since I was going to have to put him down. It is a good deal for both his new owner and I.

 

[Denim Deb]

Glad you were able to find him a new home.

 

[<ErinElizabeth>]

Glad you were able to find him a new home.

Thank you. I'm glad, too.

 

[<ErinElizabeth>]

I have finally made my mind up. This is significant, because it takes me forever to make my mind up. I am going to keep one small group of bantams that I have now, probably 4 or 5 hens and 1 rooster and get rid of the rest. I will sell 3 silkie hens and one sizzle rooster. The bantams I will be keeping will serve as my incubators and broodies and will not be bred. I would get rid of all the bantams I have now except a couple hens but the family is a little too attached to them. I've found a happy medium that will work for all of us. I will keep a small flock of the bantams as broodies and a laying flock. My laying flock needs some new layers and I've decided to get buff leghorn hatching eggs this coming spring. Getting rid of some of the bantams will leave me with an open coop. I will make that a buff leghorn coop besides just adding onto the laying flock. I am sold on the leghorns because they are a relatively small bird that lays a large egg and they are gorgeous. A dozen hatching eggs will be $40. I was going to get silver spangled hamburgs but I am interested in a better, more practical layer than them.

 

[Denim Deb]

Glad you were able to find something that works for everyone.

 

[<ErinElizabeth>]

Thanks Deb. I think this is an important lesson on compromising that my family can learn from.

 

[<ErinElizabeth>]

I've decided to start raising mill worms. I want to have them to feed to the chickens and to sell. I will be ordering them Wednesday so that they will ship when the weather is not so hot. I will keep the mill worms in a glass tank with oats (the kind of oats that you get at the supermarket) and chick starter that I have left over. I will also put some oyster shell into the tank so that the worms will contain more calcium. I will get some strawberries tomorrow when I go to the grocery store and freeze a few to give to them. I'm hopeful because other than having to purchase another container of oats, some strawberries, and the worms themselves, they shouldn't cost me anything and should help cut back on chicken feed costs.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

That's awesome! I've thought about it, but I'm a world class procrastinator. Please keep us informed on how it goes.

 

[so lucky]

Erin, you don't even have to spend that. You can start with a little plastic container of worms from the bait shop--or probably walmart if they sell live bait at yours. You can use cornmeal, oatmeal, chicken feed (but I don't think it is a good idea to use medicated chick starter, just IMO). You can feed them lettuce, banana peels, carrots--they love carrots--potatoes. Not a real juicy fruit or vegetable, especially if you are going to have them in a closed container, as the fruit may mildew/rot and get the bedding icky. I don't cover mine. The beetles do not fly, nor can they climb a slick surface.
I started my colonies with the remnants of a cup of mealies that a man at the city park gave me, about 11 months ago. I have about a bazillion now, and feed the chickens when ever I think about it. The mealies like it warm, so they go nuts in the summer, then slow down production in the winter, unless you have a warm place to put the plastic bin, like on top of the fridge.
They take less care and tolerate more neglect than red wrigglers, and that's saying a lot.