Consolidated Kansas

[CayugaJana]

I've never done one because it is so labor intensive. Quite a process I know just from butchering a few fur bearing animals.
You need to first cool the hide immediately after it is butchered. The next step is to scrape the hide free of all flesh and fat. You need a fleshing knife to do that cause other knives could damage it. Then there are variable steps to curing but the most common is to lay it flat and use several pounds of salt to cure it.
There is a second way to cure it using the brain of the animal. If I were you I'd research the different methods and do the one that sounds like it would work for you. Your advantage right now is the cold weather. Just be sure you put it where no animals can get to it. I'm going to try it one day but every time I've had a hide I thought was worthy I was too busy to mess with it. It would help I'm sure if you didn't have to do the butchering yourself.

Yes I’m assuming it is pretty labor intensive. But sometimes I like a challenge and I for once have the time. Plus the Hubs is willing to help me with it so we shall see. I will try to update you as I go along so you can see what did or didn’t work. His skin is so pretty that I’m going to be sad if I mess it up.

 

[CayugaJana]

I wish I could help you but this is something I am wanting to learn myself since our hope to live "clean" off the land will be using all of the animals that we kill (be they raised by us or hunted) so look forward to hearing what you find and end up doing so perhaps I can be more ready when its time to do it myself.

I’ll try to do that and take some pictures since I definitely learn better from visual aids.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

I hatched three new cayugas yesterday. The girls are still laying.

Can't wait to get some of those ducks

 

[CayugaJana]

I hatched three new cayugas yesterday. The girls are still laying.

Did they sit on them or did you incubate? I can’t remember if you’ve said.

 

[Trish44]

Merry Christmas everyone! https://goo.gl/images/2UwRz7

 

[chicken danz]

I wish I knew how to do every self sufficient thing. But every time I consider something else, I realize I have too many projects already and am getting too old to tackle new ones. But.... it doesn't keep me from trying. How much money I've wasted on things I wanted to try I will never know. There's a lot of "someday" in my life.
I imagine every one is doing their last minute Christmas prep right now. I'm actually just relaxing for a while this morning using the snow as an excuse to not be out working.
If I don't get back on here before tomorrow,

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!!!!! Enjoying the sight of snow as we drive home from Kearney from our mini holiday vacay. Can't wait to get home and see how many fuzzy babies are in my incubator. When I candled on day 18 all 18 were developed and ready to hatch. My kiddo sent me this picture last night. Will post another pic when we get home in about an hour.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Omg overfilled Incubator 15 chicks hatched but one didn't make it and two more are hatching as we speak no pip or chirping from the 18th egg though it is a bit thin and long so maybe thats why will leave it in for a couple days just be sure. Lots of super cute chicks can't wait to see them all grown up

 

[CayugaJana]

I wish I knew how to do every self sufficient thing. But every time I consider something else, I realize I have too many projects already and am getting too old to tackle new ones. But.... it doesn't keep me from trying. How much money I've wasted on things I wanted to try I will never know. There's a lot of "someday" in my life.
I imagine every one is doing their last minute Christmas prep right now. I'm actually just relaxing for a while this morning using the snow as an excuse to not be out working.
If I don't get back on here before tomorrow,
View attachment 1217152

Eh, it’s just fun learning new things! It’s not money wasted if you were learning something new or entertaining yourself. Learning new stuff keeps you young ya know?!
Merry Christmas to you too!

 

[chicken danz]

Congrats on your hatch Dani. Merry Christmas again.