Consolidated Kansas

[checoukan]

Wow, just got in from hunting, brrrrrr!!

Couple of years ago, we bought the Whirlpool Cabrio washer and dryer. It is a He, large capacity, and the dryeris too. When we bought them at Lowes in Joplin, we just happened to get someone that new what they were talking about.

What he told us was that the top loading He, is just like the front load, just loads from the top. I can put a lot of clothes in the there, and it does a good job. One thing neat about the washer, is it does not have a agitater to take up space in the tub. It is so deep, I usually have to stand on my tip toes to reach the bottem. Anyway, we are having good luck with them, so I thought I would tell everybody about them, so they could research them if they wanted too.

 

[mommahen10]

medawinks, you will LOVE LUSH! They're so pricey though, I only buy a little and those lotion bars or shower bars or whatever they are last a long time. I started making bath fizzies because I love theirs but I don't want to spend that much. I've never heard of chess pie. Poor Sera, I can't believe that she's had to go through so much. I'm sure it's one of those things it's easier to do it now rather than later.

Sharol, all this talk about Chess Pie, we moved to Kansas from New Orleans when I was 10 and I've never had it, or at least I don't think I have. Now I'm just curious. Where did you live down there?

maidenwolf, does the chicory have to be harvested at a certain time? How do I dry it out? Then roast and grind? Ratio coffee:chicory? Talk about bitter, chicory has to be up there on one of the most bitter I've ever tasted.

HEChicken, great idea about thawing meat. I turn my pasta off a little early too, although I don't use the timer I just turn it off with it still a bit firm. The paleo diet sounds interesting, I've never heard of that. That's amazing that it healed your BIL so wonderfully. I wouldn't want to go back if I were him either.

Danz, it seems that you are hooked on the white peafowl, they areally are beautiful. We don't have a bobcat either but we've rented them from time to time. Did you make your pumpkin pie today? I ruined my bread dough today so we won't have fresh bread for tomorrow. I left it in the oven to raise because it's warmer in there and then I forgot and preheated the oven to make graham crackers. GRRRR, I hate it when I screw up so bad. The pigs had fun with it. What are Jerusalem artichokes? It snowed here a little too.

Josie, did you survive trimming the horses' feet today? It's miserably cold out there. I moved my EEs back to the brooder room, they're 4 weeks now. They look great. It seems the mutts I've hatched grow much slower than all of the other chicks I've had. I had a lady come out today to buy chickens. She only took 3 but I'm still selling what I'm hatching which amazes me.

Checoukan, did you get anything? I can't believe you were out in this cold. I hope you get warmed up quickly.

The HE washer/dryer stuff, we purposefully chose the one with less features and settings. I was thinking there would be less to break, I didn't even want a control panel but they all have them now. It hasn't broken though. My parents have the HE top loader, I love that too. I find it washes faster than my front loader and I think it spins out a little dryer too. I think it has to do with the way it's weighted in there. I don't remember who posted about not being able to reach the bottom easily, but I'm going to agree with that. I always do laundry when I'm there, sometimes just our laundry or I just find something to wash. Sometimes if I'm behind on ours I bring what I have here so I can keep it going so I have used it quite a bit. When I was pg, it was nearly impossible for me to reach the bottom of it and I had to ask for help but I can reach it now even though it's a stretch. I'm just barely over 5 feet tall. We haven't bought Kenmore or Craftsmen or anything from Sears for years now. It started with a vacuum that was expensive but didn't hold up at all, then a sewing machine, then a dryer. They don't stand behind their products anymore. My grandma swore by Kenmore and they've really seemed to change over the years.

erewards, I tried to sign up but it says it's by invitation only.

Verizon, I looked up information about the cell phone companies having to pay back for data and all I could find is that they were required to refund for fees of $1.99 per MB usage when people accidentally clicked something on their phone but they weren't really using it. Verizon claimed it was as software glitch but only after the FCC investigated. There were several times before we had the $10 data package that we noticed fees and called and they would simply take them off. My thought is, how many times did we not notice. The refunds were only a few dollars to each customer and not the amount that the customers were actually charged. We have had issue after issue of unethical practices with Verizon and after reading about this I saw so many other things that we also dealt with. We had been with Altel when Verizon took over, I've had the same cell number for 12 years. We have been seriously disappointed with them since the whole mandatory data package thing and realizing once you have your contract just how stuck you are. We at the time had 6 phones, we dropped one in May this year and now my other daughter just got a new phone with her dh's plan. Yay! Now I'm down to 4, but we had already decided that we didn't like the leaverage the company had over us when they did the forced data packages and we have not extended any contracts. All of our phones are out of contract. I'm going to seriously talk to my dh about switching to another company but I don't want a contract, I'm even thinking about one of the paid by month plans. Does anyone have any suggestions or input?

I sometimes make svg files and I've uploaded them onto another forum and when they get downloaded about 100 times I usually take them off. I'd like to put them on etsy for sale as an instant download but I don't know how to do the instant download part. Does anyone know how to do that? I was thinking even if I sold them for a buck that would be a little extra.

Oh, can the chickens eat soy meal?

 

[JosieChick]

BRRRRR, I think I would have skipped hunting today!!!!

Wow, just got in from hunting, brrrrrr!!

Couple of years ago, we bought the Whirlpool Cabrio washer and dryer. It is a He, large capacity, and the dryeris too. When we bought them at Lowes in Joplin, we just happened to get someone that new what they were talking about.

What he told us was that the top loading He, is just like the front load, just loads from the top. I can put a lot of clothes in the there, and it does a good job. One thing neat about the washer, is it does not have a agitater to take up space in the tub. It is so deep, I usually have to stand on my tip toes to reach the bottem. Anyway, we are having good luck with them, so I thought I would tell everybody about them, so they could research them if they wanted too.

It snowed here a little too. It spit some snow here too this afternoon. Yuck!

Josie, did you survive trimming the horses' feet today? It's miserably cold out there. I moved my EEs back to the brooder room, they're 4 weeks now. They look great. It seems the mutts I've hatched grow much slower than all of the other chicks I've had. I had a lady come out today to buy chickens. She only took 3 but I'm still selling what I'm hatching which amazes me. I did survive, I wore my wool and coveralls so I was pretty bundled up. The farrier was a new lady to us but she did a nice job and was good with the horses so it only took about an hour. I am so relieved to have them trimmed, my mustangs feet were terribly long. I was trimming myself until I got pregnant and felt so sick and then I couldn't get anybody to show up to get them trimmed!

Checoukan, did you get anything? I can't believe you were out in this cold. I hope you get warmed up quickly.

The HE washer/dryer stuff, we purposefully chose the one with less features and settings. I was thinking there would be less to break, I didn't even want a control panel but they all have them now. It hasn't broken though. My parents have the HE top loader, I love that too. I find it washes faster than my front loader and I think it spins out a little dryer too. I think it has to do with the way it's weighted in there. I don't remember who posted about not being able to reach the bottom easily, but I'm going to agree with that. I always do laundry when I'm there, sometimes just our laundry or I just find something to wash. Sometimes if I'm behind on ours I bring what I have here so I can keep it going so I have used it quite a bit. When I was pg, it was nearly impossible for me to reach the bottom of it and I had to ask for help but I can reach it now even though it's a stretch. I'm just barely over 5 feet tall. We haven't bought Kenmore or Craftsmen or anything from Sears for years now. It started with a vacuum that was expensive but didn't hold up at all, then a sewing machine, then a dryer. They don't stand behind their products anymore. My grandma swore by Kenmore and they've really seemed to change over the years.

erewards, I tried to sign up but it says it's by invitation only.

I hope everyone stayed warm today! I am glad we got almost all the water bowls hooked up yesterday and a few more today. It is going to be a cold one tonight, the horses think they are dying out there. I think it is just shocking to everyone's systems to go from such warm weather to such cold! Have to go finish some laundry here and get a few things out of DH's car before he leaves in the morning.

 

[sharol]

I assume this was directed to me. I'm not teaching full time -- a couple of days a week max right now. I'll be back from Reno on Friday. Let's try to get together some time when you are coming to Emporia anyway. I'm only 10 miles out, so it is easier for me to work with your schedule. For that matter if anyone else would like to meet, maybe we could do a coffee or something.

I ended up buying a top loading Maytag (and the extended warranty) using a price match at Sears (they were on sale at Best Buy). I LOVE my washer, but I don't really trust Maytag at this point -- hence the investment in the warranty. I've had it a year and a half with no problems. It is a large capacity. My dryer is a Kenmore (as are my newish stove and new dishwasher bought to replace the Maytag POS's I bought 6 years ago).

It is just the 2 of us, so I don't do all that much laundry, but I really hate inefficiency. Of course this year the water I save with the washer is going to have to go to the lagoon through the faucet directly if I don't want it to freeze this winter. The big savings is in the drying time. It cut that in half even with the old dryer.

So did you get the Kenmore kind? I am open to learning stuff cause this could be an improvement over what they had before. I bought my refrigerator, freezers, and my stove all from Sears when I bought this house. I bought my dishwasher from Lowes cause it was on sale.
I'm still not convinced I'd get up and go fight crowds regardless of specials. And it's not like I have to have one right now. I washed bedding today and every time I do it reminds me how much I hate this washer.
We do a ton of laundry for two people. I use a lot of things like old towels and bedding for the chickens and the dogs. And I use microfiber cloths for half of the stuff I used to use paper for. But I hate to spend all day doing it in a tiny little wash tub. I had purchased super large capacity washers before but DH went and bought this one and it's just awful. It has lasted well other than I had to replace the agitator because the fins broke off.
BTW are you still working full time? We never did get to meet for coffee in Emporia.

 

[cherwill]

We spent yesterday cleaning up the yard, trimming plants and sucking up leaves, then DH took them to our garden plot. Nothing like waiting for the windiest day of the year to work outside. That's the problem with taking care of other peoples' yards -- your own comes last. Today we just hung out by the fire. My parents came over and visited for a while, then took us out to dinner.

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?

I tried it for a while. My hair is waist length and medium thickness. I mixed the baking soda with water and rubbed it in, then rinsed with vinegar and water. My hair was very soft, but not very shiny. Over time, it became more and more dull and the ends were splitting quickly. I went back to what I'd been using before, Wen Cleansing Conditioner. It's taken a while, but my hair is getting back into good shape. It costs me about $60 every 4 months (I only need to use half as much as the bottle recommends). It's my splurge item, I guess.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for the surgery. She seems to be such a trooper about things like that, but it's still hard to think of them going through the pain of surgery and recovery.

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.

It's expensive. I buy mine from http://www.vitaminshoppe.com because it's cheaper ($7.99 for 15 oz.), as are a few other things I buy. I think it's usually free shipping if your order is $25. I haven't tried using it for cooking yet because I don't like coconut and my neighbor says it does have a coconut flavor, but I use it for making DH's deodorant and for moisturizing. It takes so little that it lasts a long time.

I read a different recipe for deodorant recently. I might try it since I can't use the homemade baking soda version. It's 2 parts water, 1 part cider vinegar and a couple of drops of essential oil if you want to add a scent.

I have never been on etsy I will have to look at it. I am not familiar with what they do or sell really. But it is a good thing to look at for sure.

I got my first easter egger egg yesterday.


Here is Beast the black cochin I got from chicken danz, nevermind the wd-40!

This is Beauty the cochinx

Woohoo on the egg!

Any more info on the energy efficient washers will be helpful. I keep reading about bad odors. Have you experienced that? I am sure my old washer will quit at the worst time and when I can't come up with the money to buy what I want.

When I got interested in the efficient washers, DH called around and got us a used set. We've always had used washers and dryers, and DH fixes them until they can't be fixed any more, so he knows the appliance guys around here. The ones we got weren't cleaned up very well (or maybe not at all), but they were half the price of new ones. He built a pedestal to put them on, which eliminated the bending problem. You can buy pedestals with drawers in them, but I didn't think I'd want to store anything at basically floor level so that I had to bend down to pick it up all the time. The washer had a bad smell but we cleaned it up with vinegar and I leave the door cracked open when I don't have a load in the washer. It does stay damp in there, so if you wanted to close the door, you'd want to wipe out the inside before doing so. We bought them 2 years ago and they're still going strong and there's been no odor since we cleaned the washer.

Then, I was so excited this morning, my little black pullet laid her first little pullet egg!! It's so tiny and adorable!! I put it next to a "regular" Silkie egg from one of my older girls for comparison.

Anyway, looks like i can start breeding Blacks when I'm ready to hatch again!

Congratulations!

I did think of a couple of other things I do to be frugal, and I was kind of reminded by Danz' ideas on saving moisturizer. I've never heated the bottles but like, I think it was Mommahen said, I turn all bottles upside down to the get the last drops of them out. I do that, too, and they're always falling over. I'm going to try heating them next time.

Another thing I do, is when I am defrosting meat from the freezer, instead of doing it in the microwave (which uses energy), or leaving it at room temperature (which wastes energy), I take it out the day before and put it in the fridge. This allows the fridge to work more efficiently because the colder item helps the fridge to keep everything else cold so it runs less.

And another energy saving tip is when I have something on the stove, I turn the burner off about anywhere from 60-120 seconds before the timer goes off. For example, if I am boiling pasta and have the timer set for 8 minutes, when there is a minute and a half left on the timer, I turn the burner off. It stays hot enough to keep the water boiling for the remainder of the time so the pasta is fully cooked, but I've saved a minute and a half of energy, which adds up over time. I also cook on the lowest setting possible. I used to boil things on high for the whole time but DH pointed out that boiling water is boiling water and if I can turn the heat to medium and the water is still boiling, it will cook it just as fast but use less energy, than keeping it at a rapid boil on high. He also taught me to put a lid on pans while getting the temp up to boiling temp. The water heats faster so uses less energy.

Danz, I had a high efficiency washer in Australia and absolutely loved it. The clothes got cleaner while using less water and less detergent. As a single mom over here, I couldn't afford anything fancy and bought a used set (not high efficiency) off Craigslist, that worked okay but when we moved to the new house, where the washer/dryer hook-ups are set up, required a front loading machine (i.e. the built-in cabinets right above prohibit a top-loading machine). So I got a new high-efficiency washer/dryer pair and really do love them. I haven't had them a year so perhaps my tune will change but based on my prior experience in Australia, I expect to continue to like them. The space for ours included a pedestal so I don't have to bend too low to pull the clothes out. You can either just set it up on something, or there are pedestals you can purchase with all of these machines to put them up at a height that makes them comfortable to use.

Mommahen, you asked about paleo. It is a "diet" that follows what paleo man (hunter/gatherers) would have eaten. So any kind of meat is fine, and any vegetable or nut, but no dairy or grains, is the basic gist of it. My BIL has RA and he decided to try this diet and found the symptoms of his RA went completely away within the first 3 months. They have now been eating this way for almost two years and his RA symptoms never returned. The difference in him is stunning - he went from not being able to pick up a book because his hands were so crippled, to being so fit and happy and healthy and ACTIVE. He is running and working out and looking really good. He figures he must be allergic to one or multiple grains and while he could do the elimination test (gradually add in one grain at a time until his symptoms return), he decided not to bother. He doesn't want to go back to feeling the RA symptoms - ever - and enjoys the paleo meals. I must say, I really enjoy eating at their house too. My SIL makes this dish called Paleo Grits that is just amazing. It starts with cauliflower which is riced and cooked, and she adds in some almond meal and salt and pepper and you really would think you were looking at a bowl of grits. Recently I tried making Paleo Mashed Potatoes using a head of cauliflower. I steamed it and then processed it in the food processor until it was the consistency of mashed potatoes. Since we are not paleo, I did add a little shredded cheese to the top and liberal amounts of pepper and a little salt and it looked exactly like mashed potatoes and was heavenly delicious too. My aunt is diabetic and she substitutes cauliflower for potatoes in mashed potatoes and in potato salad. They're delicious.

Howdy Everyone!

I know long time no post. I have been up to my eyeballs in busy. I hope everyone is getting along ok and enjoying the much needed rain.

My girls are doing well. I did my Australorp three weeks ago to an owl. Last week one of my hens started sneezing so I pulled her from the flock and started antibiotic. I don't have any VetRX, but I am trying to get some. Now, two days ago two more hens started sneezing and have clear "buggers". I figured my coop was a little too vented so I got those vents plugged up. I have some electrolyte in their water to help boost their immune systems. Today they seem to be doing better. The are all eating like horses and out an about the yard. The bird in the garage is off of the antibiotic and onto the electrolyte, but is still coughing a little. Her demeanor is still great. Should I be overly concerned? Is there anything else I can do? Suggestions appreciated.

I'm sorry about your Australorp. The hawks and owls have been deadly this year.

I bought a food sealer earlier today on line. Found a special price and I am sure it isn't the greatest kind but I have to start somewhere. I use so many freezer bags it would be nice to have things sealed up really nicely. My son buys off brand bags in rolls and saves a lot of money that way. He does a lot of meat smoking and does huge amounts at one time so they bag them in small portions to eat later.

I have a cheap food sealer and it does the job. Things do seem to last longer than in the zip-locks, because I just can't get all the air out of the zip-locks. I do still use them for some things, but I like the vacuum sealer a lot. If I'm freezing something very liquid, like chicken stock, I freeze it in 1 or 2 cup amounts in Tupperware, then pop them out after they're frozen and seal them up with the vacuum sealer.

Wow, just got in from hunting, brrrrrr!!

Couple of years ago, we bought the Whirlpool Cabrio washer and dryer. It is a He, large capacity, and the dryeris too. When we bought them at Lowes in Joplin, we just happened to get someone that new what they were talking about.

What he told us was that the top loading He, is just like the front load, just loads from the top. I can put a lot of clothes in the there, and it does a good job. One thing neat about the washer, is it does not have a agitater to take up space in the tub. It is so deep, I usually have to stand on my tip toes to reach the bottem. Anyway, we are having good luck with them, so I thought I would tell everybody about them, so they could research them if they wanted too.

The other nice think about having no agitator is that your clothes don't get caught in it and torn. It didn't happen often when I had the old top loaders, but every once in a while it did.

 

[sapphireblu76]

Hi all! Just popped in to say, "Hi!" Brrrrr! It's cold!

I know I've missed a lot of posts, so I just read the last page.

Sorry to hear you had a loss to an owl, too, Rob
One of my chicks that I hatched this spring (the only offspring of my now deceased Australorp hen and deceased SLW roo AND he was the only one my son had named

) was the first victim, then a couple of nights later, my biggest, most beautiful, well-marked BR roo. I got one of my dog kennels topped and wrapped so they go in there at evening feed. Then I just shut them in and let them out in the morning. Makeshift coop, since we weren't able to finish the one we were trying to build. I love owls, but not when they are decapitating my birds!!!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hawkeye, I didn't think that you were mean, I just perceived my mom as mean. I actually thought everything she did was mean when I was a kid, I don't think that now. The only reason I don't do that is because I don't want my kids to think I'm mean, making them stay in is kinda mean too. I don't blame you a bit with the neighbor kids. I didn't like that part about living in town. I had kids over all the time then, they'd be over for meals and it got costly. One time, I got tired of it and sent this particular group of kids home while we ate lunch, we really didn't have enough that day. They were back at the door before we got up from the table. I asked if they went home and got lunch, the oldest say yes. I asked what they ate, he said french fries. I said, Anything else? He said, and ketchup. I never sent him home again. There are a lot of times that I see kids are just raised so differently than what I'm used to, sometimes I feel bad because I just can't handle it and I get rattled to have my kids exposed to kids who don't behave. Then I feel guilty for how I feel. I can't believe you are still battling with the insurance company. I think it's time to tell them that this is costing you money and that you will be sending them a bill for this time while they are figuring it all out. GRRRR. I'm sorry you have to deal with that on top of your injuries. I love cajun rice, but we call it dirty rice. I still have half my kids who eat spicy and half who won't. My grandma used to take all of the super thin bars of soap and soak them for a while and then press them together to make a new bar. I've done this before too. Also, you can just put the thin bar into a hand soap bottle and fill with water and it works great as hand soap too.

Hawkeye, that's terrible about the phone. I'm sure they understand that these things happen. The pullet eggs are so fun. I have one that I don't know who it's coming from. Is their voice changing a sign that they are are mature enough to lay? For instance, I have a 3 mo old that is acting well beyond her months. She's clucking while her other hatchmates are still making a little peepy sound. She went right for the nest box when we moved them to the big coop and then the next day I got a tiny pullet egg. I thought, no way! Then today I picked her up and she's totally clucking. I'm so excited that you can begin breeding your blacks. I can't wait to follow along.

Night, ya'll.

It does seem that the birds go from peeping to clucking over night. My silkies do the same when they mature-- or they will growl when I pick them up. It's a "I'm not sure about this" growl, not a mean one, but I find it interesting when they do, because it reminds me they are growing up! I have gotten to the point where I don't have any peeping now. My grandma would press together lots of slivers and make a big bar. Crazy, but frugal. I know you didn't think I was mean... but just figured I didn't explain it well and didn't want anyone thinking I was locking my kids out all willy nilly. It was quite the situation this summer. I haven't had to lock the door in a while since it's cooled down. Plus, part of the problem was training the kids that once they go out, they need to stay out for a while and not just run back in like 2 minutes later. GO PLAY!!!!

Hawkeye- The cochin has a tail he just wasnt holding it up for me. Not a long tail but a tail. The dandelion flowers are wonderful, the taste great really and dandelion greens washed and put in your salad are wonderul too.

It is raining like crazy and my turkey were out init all morning and are soaked to the bone I hope they go in and dry soon. Hope everyone is staying warm. Keep the ideas coming and yea someone should put together a book of all this and give it to all on here for xmas....

I don't know... I just don't know if I could cook up dandelion heads. I wouldn't be afraid to try it if someone else had, but pretty sure no one would want to try them other than me! LOL Hope your turkey are all okay. I had a royal palm earlier and she would sit out in the snow, the rain, whatever. I would have to go drag her inside.

It is so cold out and the temperature is still falling. I really am not ready for this but am welcoming an excuse not to be outside working.
I was pretty happy this morning. I had all the birds but 5 penned. Usually the yard is full. And out of those I knew where 4 of them were sleeping. 2 more of those will be penned up tonight If we get home early enought to do it. I have a group sectioned off where i have birds housed that I am trying to teach a new place to roost at night. They aren't going to be running around outside for a while. I also have few "wild" chickens that sleep in the barn but they must have stayed in. I'm still hoping to put up a temp pen to catch them in so I can sell them for meat.
I'm impatiently waiting for some eggs to hatch. They should have been done by now. I need to move some chicks out to the brooder to make room for those that hatch. This is a small group of Brahmas and Bredas and it doesn't look like I am going to get hardly any out of it.
I just won some more Olandsk eggs. I wasn't going to hatch any thing else but in talking to a gal she told me she had an auction up for some with no exposure. I won them and although expensive, it sure beats paying a $100 a bird.
I was just reading about Jerusalem artichokes. I'm not sure if all the sunflowers growing around here are sunflowers or J artichoke plants. So I am thinking I will go dig some roots and see when it is nicer weather.. I found all kinds of recipes using them. I think it would be awesome to use some of these weeds for food.

Sounds like you are getting organized on the pens. It doesn't look like I will get my pens built this Fall. Sigh. I had my DH all convinced to dig my holes and then he said he was not building pens all wild like and wanted me to string lines and paint where the holes were going, etc. and I was like-- just dig the darn holes!!!!! ARGH!! I would like to have those pens now so I can start separating out all of my colors and pen up boys with girls. Right now all the boys are together and all the girls are together. Good luck on the Olandsk eggs! That is something I'm not familiar with-- are they a heritage breed?

Howdy Everyone!

I know long time no post. I have been up to my eyeballs in busy. I hope everyone is getting along ok and enjoying the much needed rain.

My girls are doing well. I did my Australorp three weeks ago to an owl. Last week one of my hens started sneezing so I pulled her from the flock and started antibiotic. I don't have any VetRX, but I am trying to get some. Now, two days ago two more hens started sneezing and have clear "buggers". I figured my coop was a little too vented so I got those vents plugged up. I have some electrolyte in their water to help boost their immune systems. Today they seem to be doing better. The are all eating like horses and out an about the yard. The bird in the garage is off of the antibiotic and onto the electrolyte, but is still coughing a little. Her demeanor is still great. Should I be overly concerned? Is there anything else I can do? Suggestions appreciated.

Great to see you back Rob! Sounds like you have been very busy. I'm really sorry about your Australorp. We have hawks hanging out here watching my birds. I found VetRX in stock at Atwoods. I've also seen it at TSC when I was there over the summer. I'm guessing most farm stores are going to have it in stock now. I bought 2 or 3 bottles on top of the one I already was using when I saw them stocked. Figured I'd better get a few in case. They were right around $7 a bottle on the shelf. Every time I see a new antibiotic for poultry at the farm store, I buy it. Figure better safe than sorry. Last year, I had my rooster get REALLY sick over the holiday break and couldn't find a vet that was open! I'm not going to be in that position again, so I'm arming myself with antibiotics every time I have a chance. Might be a little paranoid of me, but that's my luck. I have bad luck, so I find I need to be prepared for the worst. My advice would be to make sure you are running the antibiotic the full course of what they recommend. Withdrawing too soon can bring it back. If they were really sick, I would probably run it a day or more over just to be sure. I would be using Tylan or OxtTet for runny noses. I used Denagard over the summer for sneezes when my silkies got them. They had NO runny noses, just a sneeze. I figured I'd better get right on top of that quick and got the Denagard started in their water, and it seemed to clear it up fine. I did have to use it about 3 days longer than it said-- they were just persisting with the sneezing. But after that, they were fine. Not a symptom since.

It is sooooo cold! Of course I have a gal coming out to trim the horses feet today in this lovely weather. I am sure I will be freezing my tail off out there holding them. I had a scare last night. I am consolidating birds so they can share warmth and unfrozen water and I put my mille fleur bantam cochin hen was missing. I was about in tears after searching high and low for her for 45 minutes. I went out this morning assuming she had been eaten and there she was, soaking wet and cold but fine!! Phew! She is the foundation of my mille fleur cochin pen and a very valuable asset never mind my little pet! I have no idea where she was hiding but I am glad she is back.

We got a round bale of hay moved out to the horses redneck style yesterday!! Used the new car's tow hitch and tow ropes and hauled it out there. We had several idea failures before we found something that worked but we finally got it done!

Well must get off my butt and get something done. Need to go find my coveralls for the horses! Poor ponies are so cold and wet this morning!

Yeah, it was a real bummer that we forgot to load up the rest. SO GLAD that the jeans are working out, though. And just wait, if any of them are a bit too big right now... they won't be in a few more months! And you'll appreciate the extra room in the hips on those other jeans when your belly grows and your hips spread out when baby moves down and settles. SO funny that you used your tow hitch like that. Don't think I would have thought of that. I'm so grateful for a tractor that works every time I need it and that has a hay pick on it. Glad that your mille fleur came back.

Thanks Sharol, that is an excellent resource. I did look at many of the other stores prices. I am thinking if I am going to spend that much money I want one with a BIG capacity. That is my major complaint about this one. Just not big enough. I usually won't buy anything in the way of a washer that is made by GE, Hotpoint, or Kenmore. They are all manufactured at the same place. I had used GE and Hotpoint washers since the 70's and loved them. Then I had 3 washers in a row that the transmission went out on. Not only is is the cost of a new washer to repair but every time it ended up coating my clothing in oil. I swore never again. I have lots of other things made by them but I won't do their washers.
I learned from that site the LG top loader I was looking at is $100 cheaper for black Friday. At any rate I'm going to keep checking back on that site for what the update.

I hope you can find what you are looking for. I am so far refusing to get the HE machines just because of the odor and the reviews that you can't adjust the water level manually. I'm pretty darned happy with my top loaders. Plus, I don't need one more thing to clean out and ruin my day. I have the big capacity washer, and love it. I can fit the kids comforters in it off their beds. I can't do mine-- have to take it in to the laundry mat, but at least I can do everything else. And I can wash all of my sheets at once plus more.

Wow, just got in from hunting, brrrrrr!!

Couple of years ago, we bought the Whirlpool Cabrio washer and dryer. It is a He, large capacity, and the dryeris too. When we bought them at Lowes in Joplin, we just happened to get someone that new what they were talking about.

What he told us was that the top loading He, is just like the front load, just loads from the top. I can put a lot of clothes in the there, and it does a good job. One thing neat about the washer, is it does not have a agitater to take up space in the tub. It is so deep, I usually have to stand on my tip toes to reach the bottem. Anyway, we are having good luck with them, so I thought I would tell everybody about them, so they could research them if they wanted too.

What were you hunting? Our friends went out for pheasant over the weekend. I think they did pretty well. What all did you get? Hope you got deer-- they are numerous beyond belief here. They are being hit on the roads left and right and still see more! They need to be eaten, not be hit and left to die on the highway.

It sure is a lot more work when I have to make sure everyone is in and the doors all shut. I'm just afraid that now since the chickens are all shut up the owl is going to start going for the ducks next.
Rob I was thinking TSC was carrying vetRX now but not sure. I know I saw it at Orchlen's.
I've got tons of other Maran's right now. Still young and lots of chicks. Some of them came from the darkest eggs ever. I will probably do some culling later and lots of hatching next spring. In the process I hope to have a dedicated pen just for the cuckoos. I just keep working and planning and maybe someday it will happen. Some of my hens are getting older so I need to be breeding for some new stock anyway.

sure am sorry about your owl problem. He is sure creating a lot more work for you. I hope he doesn't go after your ducks.

We have been super busy trying to get through boxes of stuff and start to get organized. I go back and forth between excitement about moving to just being flat overwhelmed! My DH made the turkeys a new shelter the other day. Isn't it nice when they do stuff and you don't even have to bug them? I had to move the two turkeys because the big bronze tom grabbed a rooster the other day and I thought he was gonna kill him. That poor roo still isn't quite right!

It is so stinkin cold out I just can't get my behind in gear to go out and catch the horses. Ugh. Wish we had one more warm day today...

We are hopefully putting an offer in on the house the beginning of this week so cross your fingers!

I hate having the farrier over in the winter. Just because I hate standing out there freezing my bootie off. The up side is that their feet don't grow at fast when it's that cold, so at least it's not our regular schedule. We go every 6-8 weeks here. But in the winter, we cut that back, because they just don't grow. They are busy putting on thick coats and using energy to keep warm. This is the time I start to increase their feed a bit and put their coats on if it's going to be wet and miserable. So long as it's dry, they do pretty good. Good luck on the offer!

Hi all! Just popped in to say, "Hi!" Brrrrr! It's cold!

I know I've missed a lot of posts, so I just read the last page.

Sorry to hear you had a loss to an owl, too, Rob
One of my chicks that I hatched this spring (the only offspring of my now deceased Australorp hen and deceased SLW roo AND he was the only one my son had named

) was the first victim, then a couple of nights later, my biggest, most beautiful, well-marked BR roo. I got one of my dog kennels topped and wrapped so they go in there at evening feed. Then I just shut them in and let them out in the morning. Makeshift coop, since we weren't able to finish the one we were trying to build. I love owls, but not when they are decapitating my birds!!!

So sorry about your birds. Sheesh this is getting crazy with the predators!! We proof our pens for everything else and don't give much thought to hawks and owls.

I'm going to have to start washing birds this week. The show is this weekend, so here we go again!!! Going to try to get my last nice boy sold there at the show. I have two other cockerels that are pet quality that I need to get rid of. If anyone wants a couple of nice pet quality silkie boys, they are free. They get along with each other and like each other. They do spar with each other for fun, but then they will sit down and snuggle into each other. They pal around, too. I hope I can give them away together so they can continue to be friends.

 

[checoukan]

Oh, hawkeye, you silly goose, just take them to Hutch, you should be able to give them away there, hey, you might even get a couple dollars for them, there always seems to be someone looking for something cheep.

I was hunting deer, but it was a rough weekend to hunt. Heavy winds Saturday, then heavy rain sunday morning, and then falling temps, and wind sunday after noon. BRRRR still chill thinking about it. No did not get anything, but almost got a big doe with my bus this morning. Silly thing.

I need to bathe, but it is so cold out right now, may wait. Could bring them into the garage to wash and dry. I would be warmer in there. It was close to 60 in there awhile ago. Might work, sure will have to watch for colds thou.

Who was it that said they make dog treats? I would be interested in some, PM me and let me know, I would like to try some for Issiac.

Well Ivy brought me a present when they came down Friday. A pair of black ameraucanas. I have two lavenders cock birds. I had one black pullet, but he last possum got her. So she brought me a hen and a young cockerel. The hen I thought she said was from John Blem. She raised the cockerel. With the move and everything Ivy has just about sold or lost most of her birds. I don't thnk she will get back in to breeding like she was. Said she was just going to keep some layers and that was it. There is a small coop at the new house, she likes it, and since she is so busy, I think she has lost interest in the chickens. With Ivy who knows, she might get settled in, and get right back to raising birds.

Well, guess I had better read my other threads and get busy the day marches on.

 

[chicken danz]

I have a cheap food sealer and it does the job. Things do seem to last longer than in the zip-locks, because I just can't get all the air out of the zip-locks. I do still use them for some things, but I like the vacuum sealer a lot. If I'm freezing something very liquid, like chicken stock, I freeze it in 1 or 2 cup amounts in Tupperware, then pop them out after they're frozen and seal them up with the vacuum sealer.
Great Idea. I'll remember that. I have gotten so I use zip lock bags for liquids quite a bit and just set them upright until they freeze. I figured I would have to continue to use them for that. You solved that problem.
mammahen10
Sharol, all this talk about Chess Pie, we moved to Kansas from New Orleans when I was 10 and I've never had it, or at least I don't think I have. Now I'm just curious. Where did you live down there?
Chess pie is an English import. It showed up in early cookbooks like in Virginia and some of the other southeastern stares.
HEChicken, great idea about thawing meat. I turn my pasta off a little early too, although I don't use the timer I just turn it off with it still a bit firm. The paleo diet sounds interesting, I've never heard of that. That's amazing that it healed your BIL so wonderfully. I wouldn't want to go back if I were him either.
I need to check into this Paleo diet. My doctor told me to avoid corn and corn fed animals to help with arthritis. That about eliminates everything!

Danz, it seems that you are hooked on the white peafowl, they areally are beautiful. We don't have a bobcat either but we've rented them from time to time. Did you make your pumpkin pie today? I ruined my bread dough today so we won't have fresh bread for tomorrow. I left it in the oven to raise because it's warmer in there and then I forgot and preheated the oven to make graham crackers. GRRRR, I hate it when I screw up so bad. The pigs had fun with it. What are Jerusalem artichokes? It snowed here a little too.
I never got the pumpkin done. Another thing on the list of not dones! I have several of them I need to get processed.
I think the white peafowl are beautiful. What attracts me most though are the prices they bring. I really would be happy with a breeding trio but to get the girls you sometimes have to get some boys in the process. They are also easily crossed with other colors to produce pieds and such. I will probably end up selling several of them after I determine who are girls and who are boys.
Jeruselum artichokes look like wild sunflowers but they form tubors on the roots. They are suppsosed to be very good sliced and raw in salads and are supposed to be similar to potatoes when cooked as veggies and in recipes. I've never had them but they considered quite a delicacy especially in Cajun dishes,
Josie, did you survive trimming the horses' feet today? It's miserably cold out there. I moved my EEs back to the brooder room, they're 4 weeks now. They look great. It seems the mutts I've hatched grow much slower than all of the other chicks I've had. I had a lady come out today to buy chickens. She only took 3 but I'm still selling what I'm hatching which amazes me.
I'm glad you are selling your birds. Chicks are the best way to make poultry pay for sure. I was getting really good prices out of mixed birds but people are now wanting lots of purebreds so I am trying to go that direction.

Verizon,
Our service went down hill when Verizon took over from Altel. We however have one of the really old packages and it is still a better deal than most. I just added texting to mine when my mother was in the hospital before she passed away so I could communicate with family members. I don't have a smart phone nor care to have one. We are looking into buying an antenna thing that is very pricey from another company. It is expensive but if it works it would be worth the money. Our internet is Verizon as well. Thank goodness it works better than just the phones do..
I sometimes make svg files and I've uploaded them onto another forum and when they get downloaded about 100 times I usually take them off. I'd like to put them on etsy for sale as an instant download but I don't know how to do the instant download part. Does anyone know how to do that? I was thinking even if I sold them for a buck that would be a little extra.
There are some web sites available where you can join and make public files. I tried one but that particular one didn't allow me to password protect the information. You can also program that into a private website. I can't remember the name of what I used. I am sure you could do a search and find one.

Oh, can the chickens eat soy meal?
Yes but they might not eat it well unless it is mixed with other things.

Checoukan, You guys have got to love hunting. I remember Ivy talking about it a lot. I just can't do the cold like that.

I assume this was directed to me. I'm not teaching full time -- a couple of days a week max right now. I'll be back from Reno on Friday. Let's try to get together some time when you are coming to Emporia anyway. I'm only 10 miles out, so it is easier for me to work with your schedule. For that matter if anyone else would like to meet, maybe we could do a coffee or something.
We will do that! I really don't get out very often but I can always use a trip to Walmart and Bluestem. I just normally combine it with something else so I don't go for just one thing.
I'll have to be doing some shopping for TG dinner before long for sure. I try to stretch it out a little so I don't realize I spend $100 for just one meal!!!

bnI ended up buying a top loading Maytag (and the extended warranty) using a price match at Sears (they were on sale at Best Buy). I LOVE my washer, but I don't really trust Maytag at this point -- hence the investment in the warranty. I've had it a year and a half with no problems. It is a large capacity. My dryer is a Kenmore (as are my newish stove and new dishwasher bought to replace the Maytag POS's I bought 6 years ago).

It is just the 2 of us, so I don't do all that much laundry, but I really hate inefficiency. Of course this year the water I save with the washer is going to have to go to the lagoon through the faucet directly if I don't want it to freeze this winter. The big savings is in the drying time. It cut that in half even with the old dryer.

I don't think I will replace my dryer. I like to have things match but it's just an unecessary expense at this point. I am reasonably tall so I think I can probably reach in a top loader washer okay. That would be one thing I will remember to try out at the store before buying. I definitely don't want a front loader. My dryer kills me. With a fused back and lots of arthritis, bending just isn't something I can do regardless of how far up it would be on a pedastal, unless it was eye level. I've been reading lots of revues. My biggest concerns were odors and I had read where if a load gets off balance they will keep running forever. I haven't read much about the later recently so maybe that has been remedied. And it seems that the odor thing can be resolved by leaving it open. I don't like that idea very much but I guess it wouldn't be as bad with a top loader. I am one of those people who hates doors on cabinets, ovens, microwaves, dryers etc etc are left open. I think it looks tacky, but more than that it's proabably cause I have cracked my head a million times on open doors.
My one other concern is that sometimes our clothes get really filthy working out here. Since they use less water are the clothes really going to get clean and rinsed well. When I look at how grungy my wash water gets I often wash a second time cause some of that dirt has to stay in the clothes.
Hawkeye95
Well as of early this morning there is one less owl hanging around the farm. I would like to relax my security but I'm afraid there are more of them out there. Maybe if they can't get these easy prey birds they will start removing some of these God awful mice around here. I think they just learn to go for the easiest prey. Thank heavens I can still let my birds roam in the day time. The one this morning however was hunting after it got light. I do wish I could somehow drive the rodents out to the fields. I really get tired of baiting traps and I am tired of doing it all the time.
I haven't gotten my heated waterers set up yet. Everything was hard frozen today. I guess I'll have to bundle up and run some extension cords. Dang it.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I bought my large capacity washer and dryer combo at a used appliance store last year it is Briens appliances in Grandview mo they have great prices,this one is a new model top loader GE Eterna. I really like it. They lots of other kinds to but they have a good warranty which cost nothing 3 yr, 1st yr you pay nothing for repair, 2nd year pay for part only and 3rd year parts and labor.

Mommahen- the chicory is best and less bitter when younger but you can harvest any time of the year that it grows. I lay mine out or hang them in the sun if you lay them out make sure to turn them every few days. You can also use a dehydrator I suppose but i like to dry mine in the sun. After they are dry enough to break then roast them tillthey turn dark but not burnt on a very low setting and keep a close eye on it some of the smaller thinner roots will not take as much time. Then grind. Everyone likes a different ratio to the coffee, I use a single cup coffee press so I coarse grind mine and put 1/2 - 1 tsp of the root in there. Yes it is very bitter but it goes well with the coffee.

Sapphire- sorry about your loss

Hawkeye- When I first made mine everyone was kind of not sure but it is like any other new experience you never know if you will like it. You could always do just a couple for yourself, there are tons of other recipes using the flower if you google search it. The taste when fried is like a mild mushroomy taste, like a morel, but very lightly. When my kids see someones yard full of them they say man I wish that were our yard lol. My daughter just doesnt understand why people want to kill them out of their yards so bad she says "dont they know that is food?" I love it and I teach my kids other wild edibles so they can see how an everyday weed can be food and how to look for it. Turkeys did fine they dried off and went back to fighting badly. I have had to shut them in the hawk shelter at night and cover the entrance with plywood so they would stay and not go on the roof.. Goodness they are like a 2 year old at bedtime lol. We are going to turn the hawk shelter into a pen for them so they are safe and warmer at night.