More and more free wood

[milkmansdaughter]

Thanks, @sumi! The wood projects have been a lot of fun, and are promising a side income if we keep getting the free crates. M is the one with most of the ideas though. He's really super creative, and worked in carpentry years (and years) ago. I help organize, paint, sand... I did help alot on the little rooster house, though.
Yep, the pecan trees are coming down, but right now we don't have a tall enough ladder. We can't afford to have them professionally done, but M is really good with a chainsaw if he can reach. We're saving a few on the edge of the property for shade, but want several others down so we can plant more fruit trees, and to cut down on the falling branches. I'm trying to convince M to post "free pecan wood/cut your own" on Craig's list and see if anyone bites.
I was hoping to paint today, but now the rain is here. We've gotten more than an inch in the last hour and it's supposed to last all day and into the weekend. I doubt anything will dry. All my rain barrels are full. Hate to even think it, but I might have to work inside for a day or so... And just when it's finally cool enough to enjoy being outside!

 

[Denim Deb]

I would think they would! I don't have pecans here, but they're in the same family as walnuts and hickories. Both of those are excellent for firewood, so I would think the pecans are as well.

 

[baymule]

What I see is some very talented and creative people taking unwanted materials and making things that are useful, cute and awesome! Ya'll just keep up the good work.

I wish I had pecan wood! It makes the best smoked meat. Do ya'll have room to raise a pig? Pecan smoked sausage......pecan smoked bacon.....

 

[milkmansdaughter]

Thanks @baymule!
I want a (one, and no more) pig, raised for just long enough to put meat in the freezer and to clean out the garden. . M doesn't want the smell. We only have two acres (plus an acre that belongs to the county between us and the hwy). Our neighbors like the chickens. Not sure what they'd think about a pig...

 

[baymule]

Get one NOW. Raise it through the winter and slaughter in the spring. I have raised pigs twice since we moved here. The first batch was in the winter, the second batch was in the spring/summer.

What I learned;
I can keep pigs warm easier than I can keep them cool.
Winter=no flies.
Summer=flies
Winter=no smell
Summer=smell
In the fall there are acorns, we raked them up and I gave a coffee can to the pigs each day until we ran out.

In the fall we raked up tiny pecans in the city park that nobody would pick up and I gave a coffee can a day until I ran out.....and ya'll have LOTS of pecan trees!

In the spring/summer there are vegetables and stuff from the garden.

In our climate, raising pigs from fall to spring is the way to go.

https://www.backyardherds.com/threads/feeder-pigs.32154/

https://www.backyardherds.com/threads/feeder-pigs-2017.35395/

 

[milkmansdaughter]

@baymule, I read the complete threads that you sent me on the pigs, and had to really sit down to see where we were going. I'm thinking maybe next winter. Priorities right now are getting plants and flowers in that will attract pollinators that will come back every year, and will have something blooming almost all year. I also want to get a lot of chicken and rabbit friendly food growing. We want to add more fruit trees, and this fall add rabbits, with bees and massive pruning this next spring. And before winter, we need to get some pecan trees trimmed or gone, the shop fully functional, and the back shed either rebuilt completely or seriously fixed up. Thank you for the links. we'll definitely be adding pigs in the future and now know to raise them in the winter! We'll probably be adding a smoke house to our plans now too... Sooo many projects!

Today, we had a second load of wood delivered, and wooo-hoo! The wood is beautiful!! Pictures are better than words. Much of this wood was saved when our friend took down a 150 year old barn. Many of these new boards are over 10 feet long.

 

[baymule]

What a haul! That is purely wonderful. Wow, you can build a LOT of stuff with that beautiful lumber. You can build a hawg hut for your future pig!

If ya'll build a smoke house, please take lots of pictures and tell us how you build it. I think it would be so cool to have a smoke house. We smoked our bacon and sausage on a $99 smoker pit from Walmart. It is freakin' awesome, so good!

You would do better to raise 2 pigs together. They are social animals and get lonely. A lonely pig looks for a way out so he can go find friends. Find a friend that wants a pig and split costs. It's even better if Friend wants to slaughter pigs and ya'll do both of your pigs together. I m glad my posts helped you make a better, informed decision on raising pigs.

 

[milkmansdaughter]

I saw that in your post. So I was like, 2 pigs?? BIG holes? Yes I want/ oh so not happening this soon.
Before we moved back South, we had friends who raised a few pigs every winter. It was the best pork I've ever eaten - no contest! We'd go over and they'd grill sidepork. YUM!
But they had a small farm, fields, fences, a real barn...
The smokehouse idea came up today when we saw this new wood... We do have plenty of room for one. If we build it, I'll post pictures.

 

[sumi]

You got a wonderful load of timber there!

I like the idea of a smoke house and would love to see the project, please, when you do that

 

[milkmansdaughter]

Today was a busy day. We had gotten 6 new poults/hens at the trade show Saturday. We had them separate from the others but today we ended up culling two because they were having trouble breathing, swollen sinus, closed eye with a bad smell. They seemed fine when we got them but maybe the dust on the trip home got them or they were sick when we got them. Anyway, we didn't want to risk the whole flock. The other two that came with them are in a small box by themselves so can watch them:
1) free wood project #1

Free wood project #2:
We finished the "old ladies" home and put it up by the garden. We put up t-poles and net, and introduced them to their new home. There are lots of bugs up there and they are LOVING IT! I have to tighten up the fence tomorrow, and stake the bottom to the ground, but the door on their henhouse can be closed so they'll be safe tonight. They also have a laying box so we'll know how often they're still laying. They're all about 4 years old.

Free wood project #3 today was fixing the floor of two of the nesting boxes.
Then we separated the two Bard rock, and put them with Char and Ash in a house for just those 4. They are younger than the rest and were not sure if any are laying yet. We plan on giving them more space as soon as I can fence off an area for them. But now the 4 are together and we'll know when/if they're laying. (This house was not free. It was from a kit, was expensive, and was before we had free wood. It is much flimsier than the ones we built.)

And we separated the two young roosters to their area.

That leave 8 of our original birds (all about 8 - 9 months old) in the biggest run with 4 nesting boxes. 4 younger birds (4-5 months old) in a smaller area, also with 4 nesting boxes. 3 old ladies (about 4 years old) in their own area in garden with 1 nesting box. 2 young roosters with a small hutch, and the two babies (about a month -6 weeks old) in a big box on the deck with a warning light if we need it.
I'm glad we had the new ones separate from the others. Rather lose a few new young birds than all.

Tomorrow I'm planting tomatoes in the new (free wood) planter box M. made.