Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

Danz, you did an awesome job at remembering all that to post! Wow! That's funny about the energizer bunny, my dad always calls me the energizer bunny. You know you could put frozen meat right from the freezer to the pressure cooker and it'll cook fast. I used to do that with a small one all the time but now the small one won't cook enough for all of us. I long since got rid of this little electric pressure cooker, I'm sure I'll want another one sometime. It was so convenient. Beans even went fast without soaking them. Ya know, sometimes I don't know how I keep up but really it's not just me. I think the kids prefer for me to cook and they do a lot of the work outside. That is until things get messy out there and then I get them all working toward cleaning up. They do the chores every morning and night, I do spot checking to make sure all is done. They really don't want me to do that stuff becuase (again, my fingers mispelled) then they have to clean the kitchen. Our garden was a success because we watered from the pond, we bought a pump and had cords strung a really long way. I've never worked as hard as I did this summer, but knew that garden HAD to make it or we wouldn't be eating. We lost a chunk of income in May and of course that comes out of grocery money. I felt the pressure, and I don't regret our work, I'm thankful for all of the homemade goodness.
I have a pressure cooker but it is in storage. It's one of the things that hasn't made it to the house since we moved. Had to have it but never really used it. I do have a couple of pressure canners but they are too big. I guess the kids do help but when I had them home I had so much more to do so it evened out.
I udnerstand what you are saying about the house not being what you want. My favorite house was the over 100 year old house we had in town, but it was intown. This house, its' not efficient at all. I used to get up before the kids and get things ready before their feet hit the floor, I can't do that here at all. If I get up early so does everyone else so I can't get a head start. There isn't enough rooms here, there would have been in the other house. I wish we had that house on this land, that would have been amazing! It was my dream house, I LOVE old houses.
Same here. The house I just sold was my dream house even though I never got all the remodeling done. It was an old Queen Anne Victorian built in 1860. It had 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 living areas, a den a dining room, kitchen and utility room and was about 3000 square feet. Huge rooms that were very open,(sliding doors that were big enough you virtually opened the wall) lots of really tall windows, etc. I could put my living room here in just the dining room there. It had 10 foot tall ceilings as well which made it seem even bigger. I loved my old house. But like you it was in town and I drove 160 miles a day back and forth to work for over 20 years. I NEEDED to be closer to work and in the country bad.
Danz, how on earth did you get it moved by yourself? I'm stiill trying to figure out what to do with our turkeys. I want to make them their own space.
I cheated. I pushed it with the tractor.

Some of them are super fine like thin hair, some are like just the base of the feathers stuck in there. Some are nearly impossible to get out. I'm sitting there with pointed tweezers.

I always singed the little hair like ones off, pinched the dark pin feathers, and if I didn't get them all they disappear when you cook them. I never eat the skin anyway. For some recipes I like to cook with it on though for the flavor, then remove it before we eat it.

Josie, I had enough milk to feed several children, when my children cried, or anyone's children cried my milk would drop and I'd soak right through bra pads & my shirt, I'd start to feed them and give them a milk shower milk would be dripping of their little eyebrows and eye lashes, but I couldn't pump much. I tried and tried but pumping wasn't much of an option for me. It took so long and what I did manage to pump was "liquid gold". I had planned to pump regularly...changed plans.

Me too. All I had to do was here a baby cry..any baby or accidentally bump myself and the pumps were running. Of course that was always to begin with. It all adjusted after a few weeks.
Agreed. Do what you want and forget what any one says.I'd sure recommend it though, even if it is for just a few weeks.

Wow it was so cold today and I dont have all of my medicines so my body is in lots of pain. I barely got chores outside done. The birds stood staring at me because I didnt chit chat with them like normal. lol
Everyone keeps talking about not getting eggs anymore, I am getting 6 a day. My girls just started in oct but they sure are rolling them out. I have 2 18 pks and a 12 pk in the fridge just waiting to be used.
This morning my 2 toms were talking to 6 wild toms. They were about a half acre out, of course once they noticed me they scattered and my boys stood in the yard gobbling their heads off trying to hear from their friends again. It was so neat to see.

My birds are back in business. I have 3 bucketfulls since Thursday. Sorry you are hurting. This cold weather does a number on us.
That's my excuse for not getting more done right now too.

 

[mommahen10]

Kansas Prairie, I was the same way. I could drown my babies but couldn't pump at all. Not even with a good pump. It was a major pain in the you know what when I had a premie and they wouldn't let him just nurse because they wanted to measure how much he was getting and I just couldn't. They got their lactation consultant in there and they couldn't even help me. They were rude at the NICU, like I was doing it on purpose or something. They told me they were going to let me just nurse him but they were going to pump it out of his stomach to measure and put it back. They didn't though. I kept trying, seriously bringing 2 or 3 ml at a time. I couldn't do better than that. It didn't help that I was so swollen from his birth too though. He's so healthy now, you'd never guess that boy had a rough start. Even with the other kids, I would let my hair down to cover up the leaky mess.

 

[Trish44]

got an incubator ? is a still air or a circulated air best and what brand should i go with

I agree with Danz, i would never use a still air incubator, you need that fan to circulate the heat. I love the Brinsea Eco 20 for starting out if you're not going to hatch a lot. It's a little more expensive, but you get what you pay for. I use my styro incubator to hatch in, but never to incubate, it's too unpredictable with temps & humidity.

That wind today was just horribly cold, it just cut right though you. Today I decided I want to go buy myself some insulated coveralls for winter. I never thought I would want any, but with having to go out & feed & water with all the pens I have now I changed my mind. I noticed Orschelyn's is having a sale on them, so I need to get down there & get some. Then I need to find the water proof gloves I bought last year, i put them away somewhere & I need to figure out where they are. I really hurried through feeding tonight, my hands were just hurting by the time I got in from the cold.

Josie, I hope you're feeling better, it's miserable enough to have food poisoning anyway, but while you're pregnant, ugh.

Has anyone heard from KarenS, is she doing OK?

 

[JosieChick]

Congrats on getting your horses moved! You will love having them home with you. It is so much fun to see when they lay down to sleep and when they tear around like maniacs bucking and tossing their heads. And it wouldn't be right if they don't get loose at some point! Just get them used to a "magic bucket." We have two mini ponies and one of them is quite the pistol. When he gets loose forget about getting anywhere near him!! BUT, he knows the magical grain bucket and comes right to it. I bring it out to the pasture with treats and tid bits of grain on a regular basis so when they see me coming with the bucket they come running, even if they were tearing around the property loose.

They are lovely horses!

I just got back from vacation yesterday. It was our Summer/Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year's vacation. We FINALLY were able to bring my horses back with us! They are FINALLY on OUR property!!! This is a huge relief as we've worked VERY hard all summer and then some to get everything ready for them. However, it is also somewhat stressful as horses are a big responsibility. I went out to check on them multiple times last night before I went to bed. One of those times, I managed to not latch the gate and woke up early this morning (2AM) and remembered that I hadn't latched the gate. My DH was still awake (he's transitioning to start working midnight shift) and he went out and checked. Sure enough the gate wasn't latched. The chain was barely draped over the gate. That one was TOO close of a call for my comfort, and I had barely had the horses on the property for 6 hours... GRRR!!! Thankfully, the horses didn't notice, and everything is going well. Anyway, I thought I'd share some pictures of my horses!!!

Here they are in the newly finished "barn" (a.k.a. run-in shed). Gabby is on the left, Montana is on the right.


Here they are begging for treats: Montana is in front, Gabby in back.

That is what I was thinking. The canines are just too narrow for a coyote. When my first goose was attacked last year his puncture wounds were much deeper and further apart. I can't imagine a fox getting in his head that catching a goose was a good idea. They are big and strong and he stupidly went for a smooth feathered one that can really give you a wallop. Poor guy, I have to go get him and bring him in the house for the night. He is still really sore.

Awesome deal on the roof!

That description of the bite marks makes me think fox. After our attack I read up on the fox as a predator and they are most likely to kill by biting into the neck and back. That certainly seemed to be the modus operandi for ours as the only birds still clinging to life after the attack had broken necks and backs, and the only actual survivor had puncture wounds on each side of her spine also. Good job Molly!

I can't believe that coyote came up to the front in broad daylight like that. I haven't seen a coyote here at all since we've been here, but yesterday morning a huge buck with a huge rack trotted across the backyard and jumped a 4' fence with ease - that was a beautiful sight.

I was just about to ask about the house - what great news about the roof! We had the same situation here, where the new roof was covered during the transaction. We had agreed to pay the deductible since we were the ones to benefit from the new roof, and that was supposed to be $1000 but when all was said and done and the paperwork turned in, we ended up getting a check from their insurance company for $148 instead. I guess our roofer did the job for less than they had quoted so we got the balance. I'm not exactly sure how it worked - I decided not to question it in case they changed their minds!

I wouldn't go overboard on buying bottles and that equipment. With mine, I had the idea that I could express and let others feed the baby via a bottle so that I could leave baby if needed, to run errands etc. In reality, neither of mine would accept the bottle, even when it contained breast milk, and even when we tried to get them accustomed to it from the beginning. I actually wasn't that devastated as bottles are a pain in the you-know-what, with all the sterilizing, reheating etc. So much easier to nurse and not have to mess with all of that.

I don't think buying chickens is reckless!! I don't know if you will ever get back to pure lavender with the buff/lavender cross. You will get some second generations that are isabel I believe. If you want lavender though you will want to breed to lavender hens. You could have a mix of both running in with your roo. Just keep in mind that most standard roos will cover all the hens but you might has slightly lower fertility if you have a bunch of hens. I know most breeders usually have 8-10 hens max per roo. Danz can probably comment on roo to hen ratios in large breeding pens.

You all crack me up with the Mildren and Milton thing, that's so funny.

So if I put the buff orps in with Toby then could I put a few more lavender girls in there too or would that be reckless? If I just go with buff orps and Toby then it'll take a couple of years to get back to lavender I'm guessing. I don't really know. I will be sure to tell my dh if he does it to get the info, I still don't feel so good about the idea.

Josie, food poisoning is miserable but on top of being pg, bleh! My pg dd just had a round with food poisoning from a restaurant too. She was miserable and it took her a couple of days to be able to eat again. It bothers me when people act like breastfeeding is so different. I mean if they were acting that way to someone on the fence about it then it could push them into not even trying it.

Hi Lizzy! Your horses are beautiful! I'll bet you are glad to finally have them. I'm sure you're going to enjoy them despite the work.

I have a friend hatching eggs for me and she said that 2 of the eggs have become rough on the surface. Does anyone have thoughts on that? Danz, do you fill your chick feeders and waterers and take them outside to them? I need to come up with a more efficient system. It's way too cold out to get your hands wet filling them, yet I don't like carrying glass outside. What if someone slips with them, ya know? I'm going to get plastic containers to go on them metal bases for sure this pay day. I'm trying to figure out how to carry it all outside too so we don't have to go in and out so much too. There has to be a better way. My EEs went without their light last night, they seem just fine. I think I'm going to put tarps up on some of the fences to block wind for the older chickens too. The roosters are hanging out in their pen and the little BOs in the pen directly next to them come out more I'm pretty sure because I have a wind break on the EEs that also breaks the wind for them in places. I'm still trying to figure out how to rearrange everyone too. I have this hatch along with the BOs, the BOs are definitely going in with Toby and I should just put the others somewhere too so I can give the EEs the bigger pen and move the 4-5weekers to the EE pen, they've never touched the ground poor things. As Josie put it, we have some boys going to freezer camp today. The boys set up a place in the barn to work on it so they're not freezing. If they look big enough all cleaned up I may just clean house over there. How old do you all normally butcher them? Also, we've just been doing 2 at a time and leaving them in the fridge for a few days before cooking. In this case, I want to put 2 in the freezer. Do I still leave them sit in the fridge for a few days or should they go directly to the freezer? Refrigerator space is an issue, I told them I only have room for 4. If they can go directly to the freezer I'm thinking we should do about 12 of them. It seems they grow so much up to about 4 months but I'm not so sure there is enough difference between 4 and 6 months to justify feeding them 2 more months.

I am going to try to post without multi-posting so forgive me for those I forget. Mammahen I don't know how you keep up with all that cooking and all those kids. I have a lot on my platter but I let so many things go. I spend most of my time taking care of birds. I really used to enjoy canning and had every intent of doing it this past summer but since it never rained I had nothing to can. At least the birds got some benefit from my gardening though. I think I saved money and put them in better health that way.
Josie since that scroungy coyote was out there I would almost guess that is your predator. I was thinking fox as well until you said it was out there this morning. That's so great you are getting a new roof. That is one major expense you won't have to deal with for a few years.
That is what I thought too but I think the teeth marks are too narrow. Plus the coyote came from the opposite direction and I know this sounds crazy but our predators seem to have very distinct territories and the coyotes that live in back probably wouldn't tolerate this mangy thing in their territory. Plus I had something getting in my pens that would kill and eat a duck in the pen. It usually ate the head and guts out and left the carcass. I assumed it couldn't fit back through the fence with the dead bird. So my guess would have to be coon or fox. Something agile enough to jump into a pen but small enough to fit through a cattle panel. Plus we have been running the electric fence so a free ranging goose would be a much easier target. Ugh. I hate predators.
I'm envious. I really don't like my house but I love my little farm. I had looked for months and could find nothing that I wanted before I found this place. I had great plans for remodeling and have done tons but have so much more to do. It will never be the house I want but I've learned to settle for less.
The chickens took my remodeling budget and my time.
I am afraid the birds are going to take our remodeling budget too. I am going to miss this house desperately but I am glad we are moving to another cool old house with a lot of character.
ppmif, I would never use a still air incubator. There is just too many temperature variations to deal with. You obviously get what you pay for. But regardless having a fan and a turner are two big helpers. A lot depends on what you intend to hatch and how much. If you are just doing some hobby hatching you don't need an elaborate set up.
My daughter has asked me to build her an incubator and tell her how much it would cost. I am sure I could build her a very nice one but I don't have time to price parts right now. I can copy the GQFs to a tee or go smaller.
I'm a champ at misspelling. I do know how to spell other than those few words I have always misspelled and can't remember to do it right even when I know the right way. Most of mine is typos and I never proofread so I am sure lots of stuff I write makes me look like a total idiot.
Lizzy I am so glad you finally got your horses. That's awesome. My DIL gave me a LONG speech on Thanksgiving Day about why I shouldn't get horses. She saw a bridle and lead I had bought at an auction and got suspicious. Horses are total money pits! I can't believe how much our horses cost sometimes but I still love them. I think I will always have horses and geese. They are so much fun to watch. Our gang took off tearing across the pasture this afternoon, spooked from who knows what! They are so silly. Snorting and tossing their head. The ponies especially crack me up running as fast as their little legs will take them to keep up with the bigger two. I am so glad they have several acres of open pasture to play in. On my way home the other day I noticed a horse on someones property that I had never seen before and it was down in a tree line in this tiny pen, barely big enough for it to move never mind kick up it's heels. Poor thing.
Kansas Prairie, I had to laugh at your reference to the energizer bunny. Yes in the past I think I was very much like that. Now only my mind goes like that....the rest of me just thinks about following.

I got the birds fed and watered and managed to move the housing I rebuilt yesterday over by the pen I plan to put the turkeys in. I can't get it through the door though by myself so it is just going to sit there until DH is home to help me.
Then I came in and got busy in the kitchen. I am trying to get a roast cooked in time for dinner tonight. I also put a tongue on for the dogs. I am out of dog food, so I am cooking them tongue, veggies, and rice for dinner. I'm sure it will make them happy but it sounds sickening to me. I was behind getting things on cause the meat was frozen so I'm going to have to speed it up a little.

They won't go away but you could skin them after you cook them. Or just cut out the parts that are the worst?

They dunked them and the feathers are mostly removed but there are these broken looking feathers, and little pieces beneath the skin. How do you get them out? They make it look yucky. I'm debating on skinning them so I don't have to deal but I'd rather not. Will they just cook and go away?

Thanks! I am not sure how pumping and bottles will go but I am hoping it will work to some extent so I can work a day or two a week while DH is home to watch the little one. That won't be at least until the baby is 8-12 weeks old and we have firmly established breast feeding too. I guess we will see how it goes! It is so hard to know what you need and what you don't need. We were registering and of course they give DH the gun to scan things so he wants to scan everything in the store!! I told him no to several things that I felt we really didn't "need." If you have an endless supply of wealthy family members maybe you can afford all these luxurious items but I kept telling him I would rather register for things I think we truly need. Of course he still scanned a boppy pillow while I wasn't looking!! I told him I would just use a regular pillow for nursing instead of spending $60 on this special pillow that we really don't need. I did let him choose several items so he felt important though. He picked out the bouncer and several other things like a swaddle wrap in a pattern he liked etc. I don't want him to feel left out and I can see how that could easily happen. He is dying to feel the baby kick and I will be glad when he can feel too!

Josie, I had enough milk to feed several children, when my children cried, or anyone's children cried my milk would drop and I'd soak right through bra pads & my shirt, I'd start to feed them and give them a milk shower milk would be dripping of their little eyebrows and eye lashes, but I couldn't pump much. I tried and tried but pumping wasn't much of an option for me. It took so long and what I did manage to pump was "liquid gold". I had planned to pump regularly...changed plans.
Everyone has their priorities, just do what is best for you, your baby and your husband and don't worry about all of the advice you get. I did learn from some women, and others I accepted their advice, thanked them and went on. You may change your mind and do some things different than you planned, that doesn't make you any less of a mother, just means you are doing what's best for your little family! Just love your baby, take good care of yourself and your DH and that little bundle will change your life in ways you can't imagine.

It was freezing cold today! Yuck! Funny turkeys, we don't have wild turkeys here because the dogs bark at them.

Wow it was so cold today and I dont have all of my medicines so my body is in lots of pain. I barely got chores outside done. The birds stood staring at me because I didnt chit chat with them like normal. lol
Everyone keeps talking about not getting eggs anymore, I am getting 6 a day. My girls just started in oct but they sure are rolling them out. I have 2 18 pks and a 12 pk in the fridge just waiting to be used.
This morning my 2 toms were talking to 6 wild toms. They were about a half acre out, of course once they noticed me they scattered and my boys stood in the yard gobbling their heads off trying to hear from their friends again. It was so neat to see.

So I am trying to come up with a moderately economical solution for our chicken housing needs. I am thinking of having a long metal three sided run in built and dividing it and covering it with welded wire fencing and sheet metal along the bottom front. So each "coop" would have it's own door to the outside and there will be electric to it for winter and lights. The front would face to the south and at first we were going to do individual covered runs for each one but money is tight so I was thinking of having one big yard and rotating who free ranges each day. That way I can have enough pens for birds for breeding and we wouldn't have to worry about opening or closing them up when we are gone because they would be kind of self sustaining in their three sided pens. Here is a link to kind of what I am thinking. http://speedkin.com/2010/12/08/the-new-fresh-air-chicken-coop-2/ Any advice would be much appreciated!!!

 

[ppimf]

I agree with Danz, i would never use a still air incubator, you need that fan to circulate the heat. I love the Brinsea Eco 20 for starting out if you're not going to hatch a lot. It's a little more expensive, but you get what you pay for. I use my styro incubator to hatch in, but never to incubate, it's too unpredictable with temps & humidity.
That wind today was just horribly cold, it just cut right though you. Today I decided I want to go buy myself some insulated coveralls for winter. I never thought I would want any, but with having to go out & feed & water with all the pens I have now I changed my mind. I noticed Orschelyn's is having a sale on them, so I need to get down there & get some. Then I need to find the water proof gloves I bought last year, i put them away somewhere & I need to figure out where they are. I really hurried through feeding tonight, my hands were just hurting by the time I got in from the cold.
Josie, I hope you're feeling better, it's miserable enough to have food poisoning anyway, but while you're pregnant, ugh.
Has anyone heard from KarenS, is she doing OK?

ty i got 5 girls i'll be hatching there eggs from this year and i would like to hatch the same time so they can all be the same ageis a hovabator 2363N with turner ok to use ? this will be my first hatching so i might need alittle help

 

[HEChicken]

Josie, I like the look of that coop. I would be inclined to put up a sheet of plywood to cover half of the front though, since a lot of the winds we get through this direction are from the south. (We get south winds in summer to bring up the heat from the south and north winds in winter to bring us the cold air from the north - wouldn't it be great if it worked the other way around?) If you put the plywood on one half, they have the option of sitting in front of it to block the wind, or sitting where they can get air (and you can see them), without giving up the open air concept. I like to always give them options and that coop does not have the option to escape a wind coming from the direction that is open. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Trish44]

Josie, that link didn't show anything, it had an error on the page. Will you have any buildings on the property or do you have to start from scratch? I have had to use dog runs for separate pens for different breeds. I am presently looking for another one so I can put my other set of Ameraucanas in there since I got this new roo recently. I still want to build another hoop coop in the spring for the turkeys, but for now they will stay where they are. Anyway, I like the pens that Danz builds, so you might have her send you some pics of hers. I wish I could do that here, but I just don't have flat ground here to build continuous pens. I have to fit them in where I can. I still haven't figured out exactly where I'm going to put this other dog run & still have the room for the hoop coop I want to add later. Josie, breast feed as long as you can, it's a lot better for the baby. I had to quit after 3 months with my son because I was going through a divorce & was kind of forced to quit due to visitation demands. Breast feeding wasn't really popular back then either, a lot of people looked down their noses at me for it, including my own sister.

 

[mommahen10]

Josie, you don't need hardly any of that fancy stuff. A carseat is important, I know a lot of people don't want used ones but if you know where they came from I say go for it. The infant carseats they really aren't in them long and as tiny as you are I think you'll get worn out carrying your baby around in it and go for a bigger carseat sooner. I use the infant seat for about 3 months, 4 top. They're just too big, bulky and heavy. Baby will be in the toddler seat the longest, that is a good investment. I like the Combi Zeus, it turns and is easy to buckle baby in but not easy to buckle into the car. So, once it's buckled in, it's there until it HAS to be removed. A high chair is essential, the Boppy and Bumbo are fun to have but not 'NEEDS'. I have an empty shell of a real Boppy to use as a pattern if you would like. They are nice to prop baby when they're learning to sit but they're still not a need. Pillows work the same. I really like the baby swing, again not a NEED but it's very helpful. Baby gyms aren't necessary, hang toys from the side of the swing. They don't use those for long either. Bassinet are a waste unless you buy them used, they're not in them long at all. I know you got a used one, YAY! A stroller is very helpful, a Snugli type carrier is nice, look for one that opens to get baby in and out or use a sling instead. You can make those too. I always had a little crib, they're great for storing toys or the infant carseat, my babies slept with me, rarely did I actually put the baby in the crib. The co-sleepers are cool, I never had one, I used a portacrib the same way. My dd was looking for a portacrib, she checked out the co-sleepers and said they're small like a bassinet but she can't find a portacrib like ours. She's going to take ours when she comes back home. I'm thinking. A nice diaperbag is useful, you're going to be carrying it around probably for 2 years. I like to have a big one and a small one. One for all day trips, another for going just to town to pick up a few things. I always repack them whenever we went out, just after baby went to sleep. You'll learn a routine. You're going to need a diaper pail or a 5 gallon bucket for cloth diapers. If you keep your house cool a wipe warmer is awesome, I stuck the lotion in there too. That's a treat. I made a bath cusion out of those tiny styrofoam beads that go inside of a bean bag chair. I sewed a loop on the end to hang it. I used it to help support a tiny baby in the tub and it because a nice pillow for relaxing in the tub later. They say walkers are outdated, now it's the Exersaucers. I agree, but if there aren't any stairs to worry about then I don't see why it matters. I read about the walkers keeping baby's legs behind them and not being good for teaching them to walk. You also see that some babies are left in carseats too much and their heads get mishapen. It's all common sense stuff. The bouncies seats and walkers, exersaucers, all of that isn't a need but they are helpful. I liked to have a different baby activity thing in each room. I kept the bouncy seat in the bathroom for when I needed to take a bath, the walker in the living room, of course we just used the highchair in the kitchen, the Boppy got carried around, for 2 babies we had the Bumbo and that got carried around. Anything other than the carseat and highchair, they're just not in them that long, and if you get them new you'll feel a cringe when you put them away because it's money sitting there you won't be using anymore until you have another baby. Even then, you can buy several used ones and not have to store all of that stuff. A stroller is a good investment. Sorry to ramble, I really think there is a lot of hype to have the latest and greatest baby things and really all baby needs is to be fed and warm and loved. You can do all of that without all the stuff.

Clothing doesn't have to be fancy either, but it's fun. Onesies, blankets, socks, gowns or sleepers. By 3ish weeks they kick their feet out of the gowns but they are so much easier to put on than a sleeper when baby's legs are still all tucked in. I like sleepers with snaps and down both legs. The ones with snaps down one leg makes you have to push on their leg harder to get the unsnap side in. I always do snaps rather than zippers, the tab on the zippers kinda poke them in the chin and only open one leg. I like 2 piece outfits that have the shirt that snaps and stretchy soft pants. I like one piece outfits with snaps, again down both legs. I avoid scratchy laces. I avoid denim that is rough or bulky. I avoid shoes that don't let them move their toes, and the soles have to be able to fold in half in my hand. I like the cheap white bobby socks, they stay on and are soft and don't cut in as badly. They all seem to look like they're cutting in when they're super tiny and their skin is so soft. I like soft flannel receiving blankets, store bought ones are not useful for long, they're too tiny. Opt for a yard of flannel hemmed/serged, they're useful for a long time. I used a clean receiving blanket every day and also used the corner as a burp cloth. Breastfed babies just don't spit up that much usually. I used them for nursing covers but I hear that most people swear by the nursing covers that attach to your neck. I haven't tried those. Bibs and baby spoons are handy. I would get some type of mini-chopper or blender to make baby food. Ice cube trays work great for freezing baby food, I saw those baby food systems, they do look cool but again, probably not necessary. There are these things that are kinda like a mesh bag that is small and it snaps closed onto a base and the baby can hold it like a popsicle. Those are great for putting fruit in and making sure baby can't choke on them. I liked putting frozen fruit in them for teething babies, I only had 1 of those for each baby and that was enough. A baby monitor is cool, my sister has an APP on her iphone that looks really cool. It uses a camera, I haven't checked that out we had a usual one and even with 10 babies we've only had 3 in total.

I'm sure there is more baby stuff, that's about all I can think of at the moment. It's fun to buy baby stuff though, they're so cute and sweet and somehow buying things for baby just gives us all something to do while waiting.

 

[PrairieChickens]

Yeah, me thinkest it time to reattach my lining to my coat. Brr.

 

[JosieChick]

Josie, I like the look of that coop. I would be inclined to put up a sheet of plywood to cover half of the front though, since a lot of the winds we get through this direction are from the south. (We get south winds in summer to bring up the heat from the south and north winds in winter to bring us the cold air from the north - wouldn't it be great if it worked the other way around?) If you put the plywood on one half, they have the option of sitting in front of it to block the wind, or sitting where they can get air (and you can see them), without giving up the open air concept. I like to always give them options and that coop does not have the option to escape a wind coming from the direction that is open. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks! Yeah I am thinking we might do a sheet of metal along the front to block the wind and deter predators. I have seen some that are about 3 feet up that are mean't as predator deterrents. The other thing I forgot to mention is that I am tentatively planning on building the three sided horse run in in front of this also opening to the south and putting the free ranging pen between the two buildings. So the horse run in would act as a bit of a wind block to the south. We put our run in up here for the horses opening to the east at the recommendation of our neighbors and guess where the horses stand during the winter? On the south side, outside the run in, with their butts up against the building in the sun!!! Stinkers.

Josie, that link didn't show anything, it had an error on the page. Will you have any buildings on the property or do you have to start from scratch? I have had to use dog runs for separate pens for different breeds. I am presently looking for another one so I can put my other set of Ameraucanas in there since I got this new roo recently. I still want to build another hoop coop in the spring for the turkeys, but for now they will stay where they are. Anyway, I like the pens that Danz builds, so you might have her send you some pics of hers. I wish I could do that here, but I just don't have flat ground here to build continuous pens. I have to fit them in where I can. I still haven't figured out exactly where I'm going to put this other dog run & still have the room for the hoop coop I want to add later. Josie, breast feed as long as you can, it's a lot better for the baby. I had to quit after 3 months with my son because I was going through a divorce & was kind of forced to quit due to visitation demands. Breast feeding wasn't really popular back then either, a lot of people looked down their noses at me for it, including my own sister.

Bummer. I will have to see what is up with that. Weird it worked for HEchicken? We are planning on starting from scratch. There is a large original barn but it has a poor foundation and the metal siding is a mess. The doors are in now way predator proof and I think we would spend more time and money trying to retrofit the original barn than we would if we just had a metal building put up. Plus if the building is nice and functions like I want it to we should be able to go out of town without the chickens being a giant chore for someone to care for.
How sad that you had to quit breast feeding and so many people were unsupportive. That is such a bummer. We plan to as long as baby wants to which from my understanding babies who are breastfed on demand actually do really well and are much healthier for it. I am sure my MIL will give me a hard time for "spoiling" the baby but I already have prepared myself for that!!

Josie, you don't need hardly any of that fancy stuff. A carseat is important, I know a lot of people don't want used ones but if you know where they came from I say go for it. The infant carseats they really aren't in them long and as tiny as you are I think you'll get worn out carrying your baby around in it and go for a bigger carseat sooner. I use the infant seat for about 3 months, 4 top. They're just too big, bulky and heavy. Baby will be in the toddler seat the longest, that is a good investment. My girlfriend in RI is sending me her gently used car seat and two bases. They are really nice and I am so lucky to have them. I like the Combi Zeus, it turns and is easy to buckle baby in but not easy to buckle into the car. So, once it's buckled in, it's there until it HAS to be removed. A high chair is essential, Have a really nice used one from craigslist the Boppy and Bumbo are fun to have but not 'NEEDS'. I have an empty shell of a real Boppy to use as a pattern if you would like. They are nice to prop baby when they're learning to sit but they're still not a need. Pillows work the same. I really like the baby swing, again not a NEED but it's very helpful. We thought it would be nice to have, I loved my swing as a baby and my mom did too!! Baby gyms aren't necessary, hang toys from the side of the swing. They don't use those for long either. Bassinet are a waste unless you buy them used, they're not in them long at all. Have a used craigslist bassinet too! I know you got a used one, YAY! A stroller is very helpful, Really nice Graco from craigslist that adjusts as baby grows from infant to toddler a Snugli type carrier is nice, look for one that opens to get baby in and out or use a sling instead. Hawkeye is supplying us with both types of carrier! You can make those too. I always had a little crib, they're great for storing toys or the infant carseat, my babies slept with me, rarely did I actually put the baby in the crib. The co-sleepers are cool, I never had one, I used a portacrib the same way. My dd was looking for a portacrib, she checked out the co-sleepers and said they're small like a bassinet but she can't find a portacrib like ours. She's going to take ours when she comes back home. I'm thinking. A nice diaperbag is useful, you're going to be carrying it around probably for 2 years. I like to have a big one and a small one. We have registered for a big one that is a messenger bag so DH can carry it too. One for all day trips, another for going just to town to pick up a few things. I always repack them whenever we went out, just after baby went to sleep. You'll learn a routine. You're going to need a diaper pail or a 5 gallon bucket for cloth diapers. Got a used diaper pail with one of the sets of cloth diapers. If you keep your house cool a wipe warmer is awesome, I stuck the lotion in there too. That's a treat. I made a bath cusion out of those tiny styrofoam beads that go inside of a bean bag chair. I sewed a loop on the end to hang it. I used it to help support a tiny baby in the tub and it because a nice pillow for relaxing in the tub later. They say walkers are outdated, now it's the Exersaucers. I agree, but if there aren't any stairs to worry about then I don't see why it matters. I read about the walkers keeping baby's legs behind them and not being good for teaching them to walk. You also see that some babies are left in carseats too much and their heads get mishapen. It's all common sense stuff. The bouncies seats and walkers, exersaucers, all of that isn't a need but they are helpful. I liked to have a different baby activity thing in each room. This will definitely be my goal. I was thinking if I had a quilt to lay down I can get one of those jungle gyms used for really cheap and move that around too to keep baby busy. Hawkeye also gave us a really nice pack and play to use that has some super cute toys built into the sides and a mobile type thing that goes across the top so that will be nice even for at home. I kept the bouncy seat in the bathroom for when I needed to take a bath, the walker in the living room, of course we just used the highchair in the kitchen, the Boppy got carried around, for 2 babies we had the Bumbo and that got carried around. Anything other than the carseat and highchair, they're just not in them that long, and if you get them new you'll feel a cringe when you put them away because it's money sitting there you won't be using anymore until you have another baby. Even then, you can buy several used ones and not have to store all of that stuff. A stroller is a good investment. Sorry to ramble, I really think there is a lot of hype to have the latest and greatest baby things and really all baby needs is to be fed and warm and loved. Totally true, I can't believe how much stuff costs and all the "stuff" they say you need!!! I told DH in the store as a joke that I wondered what on earth babies did before all this junk was invented! You can do all of that without all the stuff.

Clothing doesn't have to be fancy either, but it's fun. Onesies, blankets, socks, gowns or sleepers. By 3ish weeks they kick their feet out of the gowns but they are so much easier to put on than a sleeper when baby's legs are still all tucked in. I like sleepers with snaps and down both legs. The ones with snaps down one leg makes you have to push on their leg harder to get the unsnap side in. I always do snaps rather than zippers, the tab on the zippers kinda poke them in the chin and only open one leg. I like 2 piece outfits that have the shirt that snaps and stretchy soft pants. I like one piece outfits with snaps, again down both legs. I avoid scratchy laces. I avoid denim that is rough or bulky. I avoid shoes that don't let them move their toes, and the soles have to be able to fold in half in my hand. I like the cheap white bobby socks, they stay on and are soft and don't cut in as badly. They all seem to look like they're cutting in when they're super tiny and their skin is so soft. I like soft flannel receiving blankets, store bought ones are not useful for long, they're too tiny. Opt for a yard of flannel hemmed/serged, they're useful for a long time. I used a clean receiving blanket every day and also used the corner as a burp cloth. Breastfed babies just don't spit up that much usually. I used them for nursing covers but I hear that most people swear by the nursing covers that attach to your neck. I did register for one of these, they look really nice. And I really want to make breast feeding a priority even when we are out. I haven't tried those. Bibs and baby spoons are handy. I would get some type of mini-chopper or blender to make baby food. We have several nice blenders and food processors so I am sure DH can work his magic with those items. Ice cube trays work great for freezing baby food, I saw those baby food systems, they do look cool but again, probably not necessary. There are these things that are kinda like a mesh bag that is small and it snaps closed onto a base and the baby can hold it like a popsicle. Those are great for putting fruit in and making sure baby can't choke on them. I liked putting frozen fruit in them for teething babies, I only had 1 of those for each baby and that was enough. Good idea! Do you know what they are called? A baby monitor is cool, my sister has an APP on her iphone that looks really cool. It uses a camera, I haven't checked that out we had a usual one and even with 10 babies we've only had 3 in total.

I'm sure there is more baby stuff, that's about all I can think of at the moment. It's fun to buy baby stuff though, they're so cute and sweet and somehow buying things for baby just gives us all something to do while waiting. Yeah, it has been fun and I am super excited to have gotten so many nice items used or donated from wonderful friends! We really have all the "big" items. I was glad when we registered that most of the things we needed were things like crib sheets and a pad for the changing table. Of course DH had to have a baby bath tub! He cracks me up, he gets totally wrapped up in it and wanted every fancy item he saw. They had these really soft crib sheet protectors that lay under the baby to keep the crib sheet clean if they spit up and they were quite expensive and he really wanted those but I talked him out of it. I told him I wanted to buy a couple packs of flat cloth diapers and just use those for burp rags and changing table messes etc. He is too funny! We really did the nursery on a budget though and that makes me happy. It is fun to look at all the stuff they have but it is a bit overwhelming after a while too!

Plus, I keep telling him that we don't have to register for a bunch of bibs for cloths because people like to buy those things for showers anyway.

I feel much better after reading through your list! I have most of the must haves and a few of the wants we have registered for so I think we are on the right track!