Aidenbaby
Lovin' The Homestead
Yall are making me think we need to do a little backyard camping with our kids. Last time, it was fun. The only problem we had was that it was a bit too hot and then a bit too cold. Summer in Colorado, go figure.
NoobieChickenLady's Journal - SS Score and Mah Kitteh is HOME!! Yay!
- Thread starter noobiechickenlady
- Start date
TanksHill
Super Self-Sufficient
Welcome and thanks for sharing your stories. Kinda gives me hope that someday I will be able to "unplug" my family.
Beekissed
Mountain Sage
Noobie, I rip mine off with the truck or the lawn tractor....so quick and easy and no knife blades flying around! I've never hung one with guts before, always field dressed it, but plan to do so with my calf this fall if I butcher her. I want to try it once to see if its easier.noobiechickenlady said:Don't be jealous! Its messy work and I kinda got thrown into it when I was a kid. Have you ever watched or butchered anything? Its gross, and I have a strong stomach.
Things you need to keep in mind are
1. You have to have a good support for the animal and a way to lift it to that support. I've never liked skinning on the ground. It can be done, but it is so much easier to put your body weight into pulling the hide off. I use a chain hoist, so I can lift a 150lb deer with my 140 lb. body strength.
2. Do it when the kill is fairly fresh. The longer the body has to cool, the harder it is to peel it. I understand it can get easier once it has aged, field dress it (take out the entrails and leave the hide) then leave it somewhere cool to age a bit. I've never tried it though.
3. You DON'T need to knife up the hide to get the skin off the deer (or whatever) you can use body weight & gravity, along with forcing your hands, elbows, fingers, etc between the meat and the hide to loosen it. Mostly, they just peel right off with a little tugging.
4. By the above, you will know you need to wear muck clothes. Not your sunday best
5. WATCH YOUR KNIFE BLADE at all times. My hubby almost took off my ear one year! Not literally, but it was darn close. Bless those quick reflexes. The hide can slip suddenly and if there is a blade close, you might just wind up on it. I make sure he stays a good 4-5 feet away when I'm pulling down on the hide. Or at least, the knife stays away. Basically, I make the cut, put down the knife, then tug away. If you want the gory details, PM me and I'll be happy to oblige.
- Thread starter
- #24
noobiechickenlady
Almost Self-Reliant
Beekissed, that is hilareous! Are you.. uh, pulling my leg? 
I've never heard of ripping off hide with a motorized vehicle. Except by accident. Got any details? I like the hanging method because I'm relatively small and I can really get my whole body involved. Even with the... goo I get all over.
Thanks for the welcome, TanksHill. Start small, try one day or even just an afternoon. Then gradually increase the "difficulty". Once you start, it gets addictive.
Aidenbaby, try breathing through 75% humidity!
I think all places across this country, heck the world for that matter, have their own personality and are special in unique ways. I like the desert, but I could never live there, I love the views in Colorado, but it gets too cold for me. We didn't get to camp this past weeked, but we might this one. Heck, we might just set the tent up in the backyard. Our perfect backyard spot is nice and dry, unlike most of the rest of our yard (see below...)
I (we!) got soooo much done this weekend. DH and DBF (Dear best friend) got on the weedeaters and lawn mower. My yard has been a swamp due to the heavy rains we've had and clay soil with a bad slope. We've been waiting for it to dry up enough to mow. Grass was up to my armpits in places. We mowed the paths between the garden rows (no mulch there yet, cardboard is blocking weeds on my 2 unplanted rows, planning to move it over to the paths once we get the rest of the stuff planted) Tossed all the grass clippings around the plants, mulched on top of that with some dry stuff we had bagged up weeks ago and planted a few more corn seedlings.
We poured concrete into the cinderblocks for the foundation of our coop and finished the back wall of the coop, convinced the chickens to scratch under the trampoline instead of around the back door (oatmeal works wonders for chicken bribery) Plus its nice and shady under there, so those dark red feathers don't pick up as much heat.
We also started draining the pool in prep for this year. We left it full because of all the tree frogs, love listening to their singing and the dragonflies come eat almost all the mosquito larvea. We left it a bit late this time though. I've got 300 feet of hose, so I'm thinking I'll run those all around the yard in the sun and the water will be warm enough to swim much more quickly.
I decluttered my closet too! I've lost some weight (YAY!!), had some clothes that were too large before I did lose it and they had to go. I kept a t-shirt to work outside in and took the rest to salvation army. Now I've got more room in my closet.
Got DD & DS to wash the dishes, that was an adventure. DD just had to wear my apron, DS wanted his raincoat. Water was everywhere! S'okay, the floor needed mopping anyways.
Cut DS's hair, clipped DH (he keeps it at 1/4 to 3/8") gave DD & myself a hot oil treatment. After sweating all day saturday & the afternoon on Sunday I simply had to use some nice smelling stuff to clean my hair with. (Sorry Aidenbaby, I wanted to join you in the hair experiment!) Washed 3 loads of clothes, dusted & picked up the living room and kitchen. Made brownies! Yum! And I harvested some purslane and more yellow dock. The yellow dock got a thumbs up, the purslane I think will take some getting used to.
Whew, makes me tired just reading all that.
ACK! DD's birthday is this weekend, I thought I had more time! I'll be fine, just have to bake a cake (thinking carrot with cream cheese frosting), get some ice cream, wrap the presents (couple cute outfits and a beginners bow hunting set) and decorate a little.
Deep breath, its just a 7 year old's birthday party. I will be okay.
Deep breath, its just a 7 year old's birthday party. I will be okay.
Deep breath, its just a 7 year old's birthday party. I will be okay.
There, I feel better now!
I've never heard of ripping off hide with a motorized vehicle. Except by accident. Got any details? I like the hanging method because I'm relatively small and I can really get my whole body involved. Even with the... goo I get all over.Thanks for the welcome, TanksHill. Start small, try one day or even just an afternoon. Then gradually increase the "difficulty". Once you start, it gets addictive.
Aidenbaby, try breathing through 75% humidity!
I think all places across this country, heck the world for that matter, have their own personality and are special in unique ways. I like the desert, but I could never live there, I love the views in Colorado, but it gets too cold for me. We didn't get to camp this past weeked, but we might this one. Heck, we might just set the tent up in the backyard. Our perfect backyard spot is nice and dry, unlike most of the rest of our yard (see below...)I (we!) got soooo much done this weekend. DH and DBF (Dear best friend) got on the weedeaters and lawn mower. My yard has been a swamp due to the heavy rains we've had and clay soil with a bad slope. We've been waiting for it to dry up enough to mow. Grass was up to my armpits in places. We mowed the paths between the garden rows (no mulch there yet, cardboard is blocking weeds on my 2 unplanted rows, planning to move it over to the paths once we get the rest of the stuff planted) Tossed all the grass clippings around the plants, mulched on top of that with some dry stuff we had bagged up weeks ago and planted a few more corn seedlings.
We poured concrete into the cinderblocks for the foundation of our coop and finished the back wall of the coop, convinced the chickens to scratch under the trampoline instead of around the back door (oatmeal works wonders for chicken bribery) Plus its nice and shady under there, so those dark red feathers don't pick up as much heat.
We also started draining the pool in prep for this year. We left it full because of all the tree frogs, love listening to their singing and the dragonflies come eat almost all the mosquito larvea. We left it a bit late this time though. I've got 300 feet of hose, so I'm thinking I'll run those all around the yard in the sun and the water will be warm enough to swim much more quickly.
I decluttered my closet too! I've lost some weight (YAY!!), had some clothes that were too large before I did lose it and they had to go. I kept a t-shirt to work outside in and took the rest to salvation army. Now I've got more room in my closet.
Got DD & DS to wash the dishes, that was an adventure. DD just had to wear my apron, DS wanted his raincoat. Water was everywhere!
S'okay, the floor needed mopping anyways.Cut DS's hair, clipped DH (he keeps it at 1/4 to 3/8") gave DD & myself a hot oil treatment. After sweating all day saturday & the afternoon on Sunday I simply had to use some nice smelling stuff to clean my hair with. (Sorry Aidenbaby, I wanted to join you in the hair experiment!) Washed 3 loads of clothes, dusted & picked up the living room and kitchen. Made brownies! Yum! And I harvested some purslane and more yellow dock. The yellow dock got a thumbs up, the purslane I think will take some getting used to.
Whew, makes me tired just reading all that.
ACK! DD's birthday is this weekend, I thought I had more time! I'll be fine, just have to bake a cake (thinking carrot with cream cheese frosting), get some ice cream, wrap the presents (couple cute outfits and a beginners bow hunting set) and decorate a little.
Deep breath, its just a 7 year old's birthday party. I will be okay.
Deep breath, its just a 7 year old's birthday party. I will be okay.
Deep breath, its just a 7 year old's birthday party. I will be okay.
There, I feel better now!
keljonma
Epicurean Goddess
Purslane hasn't even started here yet!
- Thread starter
- #26
noobiechickenlady
Almost Self-Reliant
Wow, its taking over my yard at the moment, or it was before I mowed. Still have all the little creeper parts the mower couldn't get. I'm waaay down south though, central Mississippi
- Thread starter
- #27
noobiechickenlady
Almost Self-Reliant
DSIL is getting married in about 4 weeks! Yippie! This is a chick who has had major problems with guys, namely she usually likes the ones who aren't good for her or the family's peace of mind.
He gave her fainting goats for her little farm (she does therapeutic riding for children and teaches riding lessons) a couple of months ago and his daughter started on lessons. So, she's only been dating this guy for a couple of months, but everyone in the family is crazy about him. Such a wonderful surprise! And I found out he's a big cuddly teddy bear of a guy, attractive, but not at all like the "studs" she's dated before.
We'll be going on vacation then around the end of June. What am I going to do with my garden & chicks?!?! ACK! DH has to give her away, as both Dad & Step dad are gone now. Double ACK!
I have this feeling that all of my Romas are going to ripen that week while we're gone, and then the squirrels are going to come and take a single bite out of each one!
Anybody want to volunteer for chicken sitting?
He gave her fainting goats for her little farm (she does therapeutic riding for children and teaches riding lessons) a couple of months ago and his daughter started on lessons. So, she's only been dating this guy for a couple of months, but everyone in the family is crazy about him. Such a wonderful surprise! And I found out he's a big cuddly teddy bear of a guy, attractive, but not at all like the "studs" she's dated before.
We'll be going on vacation then around the end of June. What am I going to do with my garden & chicks?!?! ACK! DH has to give her away, as both Dad & Step dad are gone now. Double ACK!
I have this feeling that all of my Romas are going to ripen that week while we're gone, and then the squirrels are going to come and take a single bite out of each one!
Anybody want to volunteer for chicken sitting?
- Thread starter
- #28
noobiechickenlady
Almost Self-Reliant
Our pool is almost drained, thankfully. We decided drain it into the garden area and it had just now gotten dry enough to accept the extra water. We only do this once a year when the season starts and just keep it clean until its too cold to use it again. Then it becomes a pond of sorts I am looking at a small solar panel to plug the pump into so we'll save that little bit of energy. I want to build a pond, or a natural swimming pool, so the maintenance will be more self-sufficient. Hey, there's a post!
Ended up heading home yesterday with 5 - 80lb bags of concrete, a 50lb bag of chick feed, 2 large garbage bags of grass clippings for mulch, a sprayer and a bathroom vent fan. Hehe, I have a small car, not a truck. Somehow, I was able to fit all that in though.
Things at work have been just a bit stressful, website redesign, reconfiguring catalogs & promotions, the folks who manage our site have a hard time understanding what we want. We just want it to work!
I really have to work on the rest of the coop this afternoon. Hopefully I'll get off work in time to beat the sunset. The chickens need to get out of my house, they are too dusty
I am looking at a small solar panel to plug the pump into so we'll save that little bit of energy. I want to build a pond, or a natural swimming pool, so the maintenance will be more self-sufficient. Hey, there's a post!Ended up heading home yesterday with 5 - 80lb bags of concrete, a 50lb bag of chick feed, 2 large garbage bags of grass clippings for mulch, a sprayer and a bathroom vent fan. Hehe, I have a small car, not a truck. Somehow, I was able to fit all that in though.
Things at work have been just a bit stressful, website redesign, reconfiguring catalogs & promotions, the folks who manage our site have a hard time understanding what we want. We just want it to work!
I really have to work on the rest of the coop this afternoon. Hopefully I'll get off work in time to beat the sunset. The chickens need to get out of my house, they are too dusty
- Thread starter
- #29
noobiechickenlady
Almost Self-Reliant
Well, didn't get anything I wanted accomplished yesterday when I got off work. DH was feeling bad with a naging headache, so I gave him the night off, cooked & cleaned the kitchen & living room. Sat down in the recliner to rest for a minute and woke up at 3 this morning.
I've taken Aidenbaby's hairwashing challenge and posted the results there, only day 3, but its not too bad. Little oily. If I can remember to get batteries for my camera I'll take a photo of my hair, and that stand of wild grass I thought about making baskets with.
The pool finished draining late last night sometime, so today will be the day to start the filling. Either that or I could start it in the morning so the sun will heat the water up a bit more quickly. DD wants 2 or 3 friends to sleepover Sat. I hope I can get it finished before then.
I've taken Aidenbaby's hairwashing challenge and posted the results there, only day 3, but its not too bad. Little oily. If I can remember to get batteries for my camera I'll take a photo of my hair, and that stand of wild grass I thought about making baskets with.
The pool finished draining late last night sometime, so today will be the day to start the filling. Either that or I could start it in the morning so the sun will heat the water up a bit more quickly. DD wants 2 or 3 friends to sleepover Sat. I hope I can get it finished before then.
- Thread starter
- #30
noobiechickenlady
Almost Self-Reliant
Scrubbed the pool out this morning. Ugg, algae. Ran the hoses all around the yard out in the sun. The water that was coming out was coooold, but I turned it on real low, so it will warm up as its creeping through the hose. DH should have turned it off by now. I guess I need to call him.
Mental notes:
Go to Farmer's market - Buy carrots & Honey, see what else is available
I bought oil, flour, yeast & sugar for bread & DD's cake
Tonight I need to make double sure I have everything in my recipe.
My blackberries are getting ripe! Picked a handful last night when I walked the back fence. We've got a huuuge stand of wild berries, the ones that are in full sun more are sweeter for eating out of hand, but the ones in our hollow are still great for making jam & sauce. Buckets... I need buckets.
Mental notes:
Go to Farmer's market - Buy carrots & Honey, see what else is available
I bought oil, flour, yeast & sugar for bread & DD's cake
Tonight I need to make double sure I have everything in my recipe.
My blackberries are getting ripe! Picked a handful last night when I walked the back fence. We've got a huuuge stand of wild berries, the ones that are in full sun more are sweeter for eating out of hand, but the ones in our hollow are still great for making jam & sauce. Buckets... I need buckets.
