Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

I wrote all this last night and didn't get it sent. Seems I was awake all night long worrying about the chickens. I almost dread going out to find what the owl managed to get somehow last night. That wind is blowing so hard but I have so much to do before the front comes in. I can sure feel the work I've been doing. I'm going to have to double up on meds just to move today.
Quote:

Danz, I have a 5ish mo old roo that is scared of chickens too. I have him penned with 3 girls, not because I want them to breed but because they're the odd balls. He girls in there, they are just like the picture that I posted of the hen that creeps me out because her head is all red. I didn't even realize that all 3 white hens look like that. I don't see mites, but I'm not sure what I'm looking for either. They've been in the pen for 2 days now. My kids looked up removing Daniel's spurs on youtube last night and were insistent on doing it. We all went out, I had to bring the little kids out too because I didn't want them to be alone if the rooster freaked. The rooster did just fine but my 8yo was bawling she was so scared it was going to hurt him.
I had forgotten about this. Today when I went to work on the pen I found one of my roosters hanging from a metal roost in the pen. His spur was so long it curled around and he had gotten it hung on the metal and was hanging upside down. I was having trouble getting him off and ended up twisting off his spur accidentally to get him loose. So I grabbed the other one and it came off. He bled for a while but it didn't seem to bother him in the least. I was so glad I found him. It doesn't take them long to die upside down. There was at least an inch long spur underneath the old one already.
Danz, that is sad about your brother moving. I know that stuff happens, what can you do? I went to see them this evening so I could see him before they leave tomorrow afternoon. He has been in North Carolina since the early 80's and had been working in Texas so he is really glad to get to move back. My parents also lived there and moved back here about 3 1/2 years ago. I am so glad. I think of the precious time I had with my Mom before she passed I wouldn't have had if they hadn't moved here! It was invaluable.
If I brought my boys to your place could you just tell them what and how and have them work for you? I've been tempted to ask so many times, they're young but they're just workers. I go out and work with them all the time. They need instruction still sometimes but they're tough and strong. I have younger kids that are good with picking up outside, we cleaned out a big corner of our property yesterday that I'm not sure we've ever touched. One was trimming out the trees so we could get underneath and we were picking up concrete blocks and big pipes and such, and we made ahuge brush pile. We flat got it done in a few hours. Seriously, if we can help we could put it on the calendar and it wouldn't cost anything.
That is very sweet. I just wouldn't know what to tell them to do. I'm not very good at designating work. I tend to start to show someone what to do and then just do it. The real stuff I need done is like concrete work and construction. And a lot of that needs done with heavy equipment. You are welcome to bring your kids to visit though. Speaking of dragging hoses around. Does anyone have a watering system with the nipple waters? We are seriously considering building one. Right now I think I could have one system water 3 different groups of chicks/chickens. I would need another system for the other coop. I saw where you can heat the tank and use a pump to keep the water moving so that it doesn't freeze. It's supposed to be very effective. If it did freeze, I could add heat tape. I've also seen them where you can just use heat, or heat tape to keep them from freezing. I can't decide which way to go. If I do the one that circulates the water, then that would mean that it would need the pump year round, maybe the other way would be better because I wouldn't need electricity all the time.
I bought some water nipples but the darn things kept dripping. I just had them in a bucket. I understand if they aren't screwed in perfectly straight they will drip.
I have some auto waterers I bought that work on a pressurized system. That is what I plan to use in my chicken trailer if I ever get it done. They are quite pricey but I think they will be worth it. I think the nipple waterers would be fine if they are inside a building and wouldn't freeze.
YAY for egg delivery day, what kind of eggs did you get this time? Oh I didn't get eggs. I deliver eggs to my customers in town on Friday. Not nearly as much fun. How do you know it's just one owl? I don't know for a fact. But I've only seen one. I agree, something has to be done. They seem to know that you have an easy food source. They keep coming back for more. I'm so sorry that you are dealing with this !@#$@#$~~~!!!! I don't understand why they tear off the head and not eat them. That makes it worse. It's like they're not really even hungry. I think they rip off the head and about that time the other birds start yelling which alerts the dogs so they take off without their catch.

Hawkeye, when I was a kid my mom locked us out during the day and I percieved it as mean when I was a kid. I don't think that now. We also lived in Louisiana. Anyway, because of that, I can't lock them out. I tell them that they can go out on official business, such as taking out trash or chores or whatever I tell them that needs done. Then in addition to that, when they go out to play that's fine, but once they come in they have to stay in. They get one chance for play time outside so they better prepare before running out the door. That's still a lot of in and out times considering how many people. I thought about running a window unit and having everyone sleep in one room so we could have some relief at night without cooling the whole house. Seriously, when the bill gets over $500, it was well over $500, I'm thinking it was $575, who can pay that? It wasn't even that cool in here. We also opted for running the canner outside but again it created more in and out. Thanks for the DE link, that's not bad at all and free shipping too. I will definitely be trying the vinegar instead of CLR.
I remember being locked outside when Mom was waxing floors once and I was so cold I thought I would freeze to death. I couldn't lock my kids out either. It isn't unusual for my electric bill to be over $500 in the summer. We are on Rural Electric and it is SOOO high. I had 3 times larger and a much older and drafty house before this one and the bills were never even close to this high there, and I have a top of the line energy efficient system here... supposedly. Our electricity is 4 times more per kw here than in town. In retrospect for the money I spent putting in this system I should have put in geothermal instead. If I live long enough that I need to replace it someday that is what I will do.
I don't use my dishwasher often though, maybe once per week, doubt that much. I think it's that I'm washing so much. We do reuse towels, but it's not uncommon for me to do 6 loads in a day. I use the same towel for a week at a time and so does DH. If it dries I see no need to use another one. When my kids were home I did at least 3 loads of laundry a day and then caught up on weekends. Kids can go through a lot of clothes. I can wear the same old dirty jeans for a week if I don't go anywhere and it doesn't bother me. DH changes clothes several times a day. It drives me nuts. When I worked I had clean clothes on every day and I just don't see the need as long as my undies are clean.

I feel like our house is like glorified camping, we all get dirty and I just keep on washing. My dh calls me on the home phone every morning while he's at work. He couldn't call me on my cell phone because it normally doesn't work here. I don't understand why I can text here but not talk. His phone is the same way, the cell phones have always been this way here. So what was it with your furnace? I can text from home but not talk as well. Or if I do talk I get cut off.

 

[sapphireblu76]

Sapphire, so sorry about Sarge. He is the only pup I had that has had that problem to my knowledge. I think maybe being in that pen with chickens for that period, playing with the chickens must have become a means of entertainment for him. I hope you don't loose more birds. Even with the dogs here since they can't fly, the owl is doing a number on mine.

Thanks, he is such a great dog. In all other ways he is just perfect. He was even great with the chickens ever since we let him out to work. Almost every day, there would be at least one bird that would find his/her way out of the electric netting and he would never pay it any mind. I think he was getting bored and, I agree with you, re-discovered what fun it was to chase, catch, and shake the chickens. If I get another dog, I will be sure not to make the same mistakes again. I don't place blame on him at all. It was my ignorance that ruined him. I really love him and I'm so glad I was fortunate enough to have such a great place to take him. My friend just loves him, too. I hope you don't have any more losses either. You would think with the amount of mice, voles, and moles running around this time of year the darn owls wouldn't want to hunt our poor chickens. Maybe they are just easier targets. I have been working full tilt, trying to get everyone a closed in, protected place for nights, so we won't have to worry about the owls anymore.

 

[medawinks]

Hawkeye, I will hope the chiropractor will be your solution! 55mph! I don't know why I hadn't registered that before, but no doubt things got badly out of line..... Ouch!!! A true miracle you are here to tell the tale!

Danz, I knew you were solidly good folk the first time I met you! I just didnt know how amazingly accomplished you were at overcoming life's mountains and valleys.... Isn't it amazing how life's toughest times can be the times we end up treasuring the small things for? Your kids are so lucky to have such a determined and committed, loving mother! As are all the kids I read about here

Laundry here is always breeding! I can't ever get ahead:-( I know it costs more to dry it, and did get a more energy efficient new dryer last year that does seen to help. Both myself and my kids use the same individual towel for a week too, and every weekend we put our bedding and our towel together to wash in individual loads instead of combining them. It saves on the sorting for me as well, which i hate to do! I also use cold water for everything but some whites which I have to use hot water on. Just because. I probably could adjust and change that... I wish I could wear something more than once. I hate wearing my clothes out washing them so often, but I am around so many body fluids each day that they have to be changed and washed when I get home. I have to wear business casual, not scrubs, too. It's hard on clothes and I have to replace things more than I like.

We cut costs with haircuts here too and only one or two shampoos a week. I am curious about the no poo ideas regarding not putting soap of any kind, just baking soda on hair, but haven't been brave enough to try it yet. I too have to have my torso clean daily, but have learned I use much less lotion if I only use very little soap, and very mild soap. I actually buy goats milk soap off etsy because it is what i like best. We need very little lotion this way. I am intrigued with making my own goats milk soap- trading eggs for goats milk, someday. Has anyone done this?

We have used Burt's Bees lotion for forever.... But I am also interested in trying a homemade body butter I read about that uses beeswax and coconut oil. That might cut one of our costs. Do any of you make your own lotions?

I am in love with our Sussex and splash Marans! As chicks they run and jump to be held! Not a frightened bone in them! The shades of grey and grey eyes are so intriguing! Almost water like! My oldest is supposed to try a watercolor of one for me. We will see! I do agree, Mommahen, the lavender and blues are so pretty!

Danz, PM me later when you aren't slaving away out there. My youngest made something for you that she wants to give to you and I thought I might as well bring our chicks for a ride and maybe you will know if we have a roo in the midst I won't be able to watch them as closely the next few weeks, and will be relying on my oldest and a good friend for our chicken maintenance and roo crowing alert, since my littlest one has surgery on Wednesday to take bone cultures for a later graft and to have teeth pulled to prepare for the grafting in her jaw and cheekbones. Won't be fun, but will be worth it!!

Good luck today with all of the winterizing everywhere! I will hope it will all be painless!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Glad to hear you are doing better Tweety. I normally wash my hair once a week unless I get really dirty dusty like shoveling out a chicken house or something. My hair however is VERY dry and fine and if I wash it more often it just becomes almost crispy and breaks really easily. I do rinse it every day and use a conditioner on it. It is also naturally curly and ties itself in knots if I don't. I do have to take showers though. I can make it a second day but there's no way I could go longer. I just feel totally grungy. I can't stand body odor on anyone and have always worried about that. I don't mind my hands, feet, legs, and arms being dirty but I want my torso clean!!!!
I was thinking I should print out a little booklet with every one's suggestions so I don't loose track of them. Heaven knows when I might need one of them.
I just thought of something I do that is a bit on the frugal side when it comes to not making your own products. I save my left over lotion bottles. (I also have very dry skin and have to slather lotion on from head to toe or I look like a snake. When I get several bottles collected I put them in the microwave to heat them up and little and put a funnel in one and pour all the old lotion into it. You would be surprised how many times I have filled an entire bottle from a few bottles that wouldn't pump any more up. I tend to do this type of thing with several things. I just saw a show where a guy took the bar soap slivers and put them in the end of a pair of old panty hose and used that to wash with. I never use bar soap because I am allergic to most of it. I have to be very careful about using much of anything with fragrances. But it seemed like a good idea.

Have you ever tried plain, pure coconut oil? It is a product I get at the herbal shop I mentioned. I also have extremely dry skin and in winter it is like sand paper. I started getting a tub of coconut oil and I add lavender because of all its tremendous healing properties and it is amazing. Bes stuff I have ever used. It doesnt take as much as with loition and no it doesnt leave a greasy feeling it soaks in very well.

Chinese food is my absolute favorite and I had NO IDEA that fried rice was this easy to make!!

Rice is something that my tummy has been able to handle, and I've been eating a couple tablespoons of scrambled egg as well, so I could easily make some of this and get 1/4 cup of something that would taste much better than the plain white rice! Thank you!


I wash and re-use baggies as well. I've started writing on them and putting "apples", "red pepper" So i know what was in there before and I can use the same bag for the same product. It even saves on washing them everytime! We have Darwin, our american bulldog, on a diet. (He weighed in at 167 at the last vet appointment.. oops.. lol) so the dogs now get apples, red peppers, and carrots as their daily treats. No need to rewash those bags!

I also use only cold water for laundry and have never noticed any difference! I've also never shrank anything either because of it! Every great once in a while I'll use hot water with my whites if they are starting to look dingy, but that's about twice a year at the most.


I am so glad that I'm not the only one that realizes this! I'm almost embarrassed when i mention to someone that I only wash my hair a couple times a week. The snobby ones think it's "gross", but I am in complete agreement with you! The more I washed it, the more I HAD to wash it!

I make healthy dog treats for my dogs, I put veggies and fruits in and they love them.

I like the cold water only idea, I will use this.

I also only wash my hair a couple times a week. It is long and thick so it gets dry and oily if it is washed too much. The colder windier weather effects my skin alot and the more it is washed the dryer it is.

I am so glad you are doing better, dont over do it lady and keep your head high.

Mommahen-- I get very good herbal products in Belton MO at a shop called Life Thyme botanicals. The woman who owns it, Denise, is lovely, friendly, warm and inviting. She has very good stuff and doesnt keep it too long which is good because you want as fresh as possible. Her prices on oils and herbs cant be beat. she is very knowledgable and eager to help. You can also order online.

 

[chicken danz]

Medawinks, Aw I hope S does well with her surgery. She is such a precious child. Makes me tear up to think of her hurting. Do you have to go out of state for the surgery? I think she is beautiful just the way she is.
I honestly feel I have faced nothing in comparison to what you do on a daily basis. I can't imagine having your job. Living with short term obstacles is one thing. Doing a job where you face major obstacles on a daily basis is something else.
I'd like to get an energy efficient washer and dryer but I keep reading reviews about problems associated with them. I'm hoping they will work out some of the bugs. My washer is far too little capacity and I hate it. I really want a bigger one. More clothes= less loads. I would also have to have a top loading washer because bending down to even take clothes in and out of the dryer is hard for me.
Because of allergies I used to make my own skin oil. I used cocoa butter, coconut oil, anhydrous lanolin, and almond oil. It was pretty oily but didn't take much to soak in. I remember one of my sons was in the hospital and asked me if I would bring my robe to him. I thought that was strange request. I asked why and he said, "cause it smells like you." I realized that those oils made me smell a certain way which wasn't at all unpleasant. After he was back home, I did catch him cuddling my robe with his nose buried in it. I figured that was a sign he needed some time for mommy comforting.
I cut my kids' hair until they were in college. l also cut my own hair for over 20 years. It breaks off and falls out so it wasn't much but a trim. I had my hair cut by a stylist for my middle son's wedding and it was such a great cut I decided I really should stop trimming myself. I have a sister who cuts my hair now and then. It grows so slow that twice a year is about all I can handle. I am lucky if I can get 3 inches of shaggy growth in a year. I guess one advantage to having very little hair anywhere is I don't have to spend a lot of time shaving so I save on razors.

I used to condition my hair with honey, It made it ultra shiny and healthy. The only reason I stopped was the price of honey got ridiculous. Brewers yeast is also supposed to be very good for hair but I don't know how you use it.
Thanks maidenwolf for posting that business. It is hard to find good fresh botanical items. I buy essential oils now and then and some are quite pricey.

 

[HEChicken]

I use the same towel for a week at a time and so does DH. If it dries I see no need to use another one. When my kids were home I did at least 3 loads of laundry a day and then caught up on weekends. Kids can go through a lot of clothes. I can wear the same old dirty jeans for a week if I don't go anywhere and it doesn't bother me. DH changes clothes several times a day. It drives me nuts. When I worked I had clean clothes on every day and I just don't see the need as long as my undies are clean.

x2. I figure if I am clean and using the towel just to dry off the (clean) water from the shower, then why would the towel need to be washed after? As long as it has a place to thoroughly dry, I will use the same towel for awhile. And yep, the same jeans go on day after day unless I kneel in chicken poop or get splashed in mud or spill something on them. Clothes (any fabric really) last a lot longer if they aren't washed too often.

I am curious about the no poo ideas regarding not putting soap of any kind, just baking soda on hair, but haven't been brave enough to try it yet.

I did try this a couple of years ago. The "recipe" I got from another forum was to use a couple of tablespoons of baking soda and massage that into the scalp, and then rinse with 1/4-1/2 cup of vinegar. At first I loved it - it sizzled up nicely and "felt" like it was doing good things for my hair. And the first few times, my hair felt really soft and clean afterward. But with extended use, I found I had some sort of build-up in my hair and it started to look dull and listless. So I went back to using a commercial shampoo. It might be something that is good to do some of the time, as long as you use a real shampoo intermittently to avoid the build-up.

Have you ever tried plain, pure coconut oil?

Isn't coconut oil pretty expensive? My SIL uses it in cooking a lot since her family went paleo, but when I priced it once at the grocery store, I just couldn't put any in my basket because it was so high.

 

[Marty1876]

Always fun to drop in and see what the local chit chat is! Hi everyone....

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Danz- some places also over price their oils. Yes they should all be different prices. If you find someone selling essential oils and every single different oil is the same price they are not pure oils. Denise has great pricing on her oils the one I get the most is lavender it is $5 a bottle but is the one oil that does the job of any item in your medicine cabinet. I wildcraft herbs growing around me,, harvest and dry them and take them to her in exchange for my herbal goods. Also she consigned me so I sell herbal cookies and dog treats at her shop. I treat everyone, animals included with herbal remedies so being able to trade for herbs is a huge thing for me. Alot of the stuff I find growing around me and pick it and dry it. But it took years of studying plants to know what I was getting. I help alot of friends around me with herbal remedies and it feels good to share that knowledge with people. I also buy liquid shea butter from her shop and it is amazing as a hair moisturizer and a skin moisturizer. I have been using that alot. I make lots of different lotions and soaps and the liquid shea butter blends so much easier. I buy a vitamin blend that she makes at the shop it is a powdered mix of so many nutritional vit and min, like brewers yeast, kelp, broccoli, bee pollen to name a few. I blend a tsp in a small cup of juice and drink it that way you could put it in a smoothie or applesauce too. I love it, I can tell the difference in how I function when I take that daily. It has no binders or preservatives or other things you dont know about like the store bought vitamins. She also can put them in a capsule for you too. She sells the capsule machines and capsules that you could do it yourself as well.

 

[chicken danz]

You can learn a lot about saving money right now. There's been some really good suggestions.

 

[medawinks]

Had to jump back on quickly to share a link my daughter found as we explore some soap making options for Christmas gifts- it includes EGGS

http://www.soap-making-resource.com/shampoo-bar-recipe.html

Sounds way to complicated for me right now, but Maidenwolf, with your connections to essential oils and experience.... Might be a cool thing to add to an etsy shop!!! I would buy it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk