We were using the JB Weld to glue a piece. There is a little piece that sticks out that is like a plastic tube, to it connects a rubber tube that goes to the pressure switch. The plastic tube was broken, we got that fixed and it's all sealed again and the pressure switch is working so there must be something else wrong. I can hear it trying to work, I can hear the gas, but it doesn't ignite. HMMMM, maybe we need to check the current to the igniter. I'm so thankful it's not terribly cold out.
Kansas Prairie, you make a good point about the furnace being out. My dh is practically laying on my arm and it's hard to type this way.
The hot flashes haven't hit me yet, but I'm sure it's just around the corner as I hear that clock ticking. Tick Tock. That's a really funny goat pic.
Maidenwolf, now I want a turkey. I mean I had been thinking about it, but now I know I want to raise just a few for us. He's so pretty. Your roo is beautiful too. I think that checoukan is probably talking about the same thing I was going to suggest but I don't know it by that name. I was going to suggest going to the USDA office, they have programs for first time home buyers, and low income home buyers. They should have something available to help you.
Lizzy, I'm so sorry you are still dealing with the sick fish. Now you will get to see how those new vents work out, that's a good thing. I'm sorry things are stressful right now.
Danz, I'm so sorry about your sick roo. You know how some basements are but if you know yours is safe I'm sure it is. The basements in newer houses seem unaffected by molds and such. I don't know how many birds you have in your basement. Is it just one type of birds affected by this? Are they the only ones in the basement? Maybe you could figure out a causing factor just by process of elimination. I would be more inclined to think that they are sheltered from developing immunities by not being exposed as they would normally. I ran in to this with my kids a bit too. I have a microscope, and I love to use it, I wish I could use it to figure this out. I would have to study chicken germs and I haven't done that before.
Hawkeye, I don't know what a slurry is. Do you have a link? Hey, the software that you use, does it have a capability to measure the distance around an object or between certain nodes. I need to measure the distance around 2 curves, one is all the way around and one is from certain nodes to make the two pieces fit together, it's a pattern. I keep having to adjust and recut and see if it fits, it's such a pain.
Citric acid is vitamin C, you can actually use vitamin C tablets in place of citric acid. Fruit fresh is also citric acid. I have lots of citric acid we use it to make bath fizzies. I can look at where I got it from tomorrow. Probably any type of acid would have the same effect, vinegar or lemon juice, but I don't know that specifically with Oxine. Does it smell like bleach when mixed? It does sound enticing.
DING DONG HOORAY!!!!! I don't like wicked witches anyway!
I wanted to comment about the deer meat. I really had problems eating it for, well... forever. I didn't like it, it tasted gamey and strong. I basically had been refusing to eat it because of the few times I'd had it here and there. My dh recently processed one for us, he'd been telling me all along it's all in how it's processed, I guess I'm saying he's right, shhhh. They bleed it out INSTANTLY and thoroughly and soak it in salt water for a few days, rinsing and replacing the water each day. It really is good, eating things like this doesn't come naturally to me, but seriously now I can't say it has anything to do with the taste, it tastes good.
Maidenwolf, I would think that your two eggs were from different pullets because of the difference in size. I didn't think that one pullet's egg would grow in size that much so fast.
Sapphire, don't worry about heating the waterer just to keep it from freezing, that's not hot enough to hurt anything. I think a little warning/notice sticker would be appropriate. It's just not something that you think about. I looked all over for info about the manufacturer but it's not even on the label. I'm not saying this is their fault at all, I did this, but it could have been prevented.
HEChicken, what is "on a spit"?
Kansas Prairie, I would leave them out until I get back, leaving the door open so they can get in and then just close it when I get back. We haven't had much trouble with predators getting into our barn, but I think the dog helps out there too. I don't go close us my coops until late anyway but I can see them from the window too. The coyotes have been close and the dog has been trying to compete with the racket they make. He's barking a lot, I think he keeps them at a distance.
HEChicken, I had to read your goat milking story to my dh but I was laughing so hard I could hardly read it. That's too funny.
Michelle, I agree that a milk crate is big enough. It will do just fine.
I sold 6 more pullets today sticking to my price of $2 per month of age, the lady didn't even blink an eye at that. I don't have many more left to sell, just a few that would be getting close to laying. My dh is happy with how they are moving, I think it motivates him to help with this endeavor too. They came out to pick them out and she had her little children with her and they were not dressed for the weather. It was so windy and cold this morning my ears hurt in the wind. I had on a heavy jacket. One of the kids was in shorts and she was so cold and I felt so bad. I had the boys bring the swing around that has a big shade on it, we put the shade down to block the wind even more. Then I had my dd get some blankets for them. She said that she told them to dress warmer and they'll learn and I'm sure they will but I still felt badly that they were freezing. The kids were quite afraid of animals, even the baby chicks. We locked up the dog but even baby kittens were causing squeals. I tucked a tiny chick in my jacket and sat down in front of them on the swing and talked to them for a bit. Then I told them I had something I wanted to show them and got them curious. Then I showed them the tiny chick, just barely letting it peek out of my jacket. I asked if they wanted to touch it, 2 wouldn't touch it, 1 touched it and didn't want to hold it. The youngest boy finally held it but only for a second. I don't know what or how they will deal with the pullets.
My baby chicks that are supposedly Ameraucana but I suspect EE's are doing wonderfully. They are just precious. I'm so glad they adjusted to their abrupt move from inside to outside so well. The chick with the hurt eye, it's doing very well adjusting too. Tonight, I went out and gave them their sweet potatoes, I felt so badly they hadn't had their treat in 2 days. They were trying to peck my hands so I had to go get it for them, my dh laughed at me. I got to get a closer look at the hurt one though. She used to try to peck at her sweet potato and miss it and have to try again. Now she can get it right away, I don't think she's seeing better but adapting to having one eye. He other eye looks weird, it's completely white now. I do think that she had some type of abcess around/under her eye, it drained so much but the bulge went down and now she seems so much better. She may get along just fine like that.
My eggs are in lock down and the one that I taped the shell pipped this morning, it's starting to zip, tomorrow is day 21. I hope more start going tomorrow. My dh got a wild idea to use an old refrigerator wire rack as a door for the shelving/brooders in what is going to be our brooder room. At first I was kinda agitated about this idea, but they really do fit nicely and are lightweight and not so bulky for me. I think it's going to work just fine. We are still brain storming and playing around with different ideas for the lights, we will have at least part of it done this weekend althought I don't need to move any out for about a week still.
The BO chicks I got about a month ago are towering over my hatch that is very close in age, I'm tempted to move them with the group older. They are closer in size but I'm not sure they're ready for more freedom, they aren't cautious at all. I'm pretty sure one may be a roo. They too peck at my hands, they seem to think my ring is food. I really enjoy playing with them.
Selling the pullets this am gives me just one more pullet in my 3-4mo old group, I am going to put her with the girls and make that coop the grow out coop for now, that should be adequate until spring when I start moving more outside again.
Danz, exactly what type of work are you needing help with? Sawing, nailing, measuring? Do you know what you want and need done and just need someone to do it and you can instruct?
Hey, if anyone happens to read this in time, Harvesters wasn't last weekend, it's tomorrow and starts very early. My dh will be there by 7am. It's at an Assembly of God church in Paola. I don't think you need to bring any paperwork but it wouldn't hurt to just incase. I don't remember what we had to do the first time we went, but we don't bring any of that now.
