INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[birdman55]

new peafowl as of today






and one of the new pheasants after I wormed him

 

[SallyinIndiana]

soap update. All of the bars are now un-molded. They are clearly getting harder. They are still quite soft. I tried a completely different soap recipe tonight, it will be a while before I can even try any of these bars out. It will be March before I can start using these homemade soaps. By then I'm almost positive I'll have made several batches just to try different combinations. So far I'm not adding fragrances or colors, that will have to come after I choose a basic recipe or two as a favorites. Then again some of the recipes I'm looking at would just be ones to use up oils I have around the house. Wouldn't it be funny if one of those tuned out to be a household favorite?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Tonight was the night that validated me keeping a chicken first aid kit.

I went out to get the girls in to bed and Violet, my Bielefelder, was tucked in a corner of the coop with goop hanging in her vent feathers. I saw a pinkish hue to it and immediately thought prolapse. Chicken under one arm, I hurried to the house, called to mom for help, and told her to go get the kit while I started to wash Vi off in the bath tub. Easy to locate, clearly labeled, mom had it there in minutes.

As it turned out, it was only a partial prolapse. That was the good news. The bad news was that it looked like she had a jelly egg that burst and was stuck. I washed her rear end off, gloved up, and gently removed what was left of the egg. Before I could get lubricating gel on my hand and ready, Violet fixed the partial prolapse on her own. She then promptly pooped, which I am sure was a relief, as I have no idea how long she was stuck up like that.

I dab-dried Violet's then soggy vent feathers, then sat her on my lap while I tried to dry them the rest of the way with the blow drier. She looked around the bathroom, preened a bit, basically was acting totally fine at that point. Since her rear end was pretty damp still and it's supposed to be pretty cold tonight, Cubby got a roommate. I unfortunately don't have any other pens to use because the duck coop isn't finished (just needs some hardware cloth on the vents), so the ducks are still occupying the spare dog crates I have.

First aid kit supplies used: flashlight, scissors, vinyl gloves, lubricating gel (which was only kind of used). The soap, blow drier, and cloths I used to clean her up and dry her aren't in the first aid kit, but were handy in the bathroom (and Vi seemed not to mind the warm blast of air on her soggy butt ).

That was my excitement for the day.



Edited for wording.

 

[ellymayRans]

soap update.  All of the bars are now un-molded.  They are clearly getting harder.  They are still quite soft.  I tried a completely different soap recipe tonight, it will be a while before I can even try any of these bars out. It will be March before I can start using these homemade soaps.  By then I'm almost positive I'll have made several batches just to try different combinations.  So far I'm not adding fragrances or colors, that will have to come after I choose a basic recipe or two as a favorites.  Then again some of the recipes I'm looking at would just be ones to use up oils I have around the house.  Wouldn't it be funny if one of those tuned out to be a household favorite?

My mom made some with lavender and my neighbor made some with oats but I have no idea their recipes but they were both really great!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
I'm working my way up to the oats. I can't decide if I should put the oats in a super moisturizing recipe or if I should keep looking for a recipe that is made just for the oats. For now I have a bit of caster oil I want to use up and some lanolin. Both are supposed to be on the high luxury end for soap. So I'm hoping the recipe I made tonight turns out great. The best part is I don't have any plans to sell the soaps, taking any pressure out of the situation. I'm just going to use them for family and if they ever turn out good enough then for small gifts.

 

[ChickenLady2014]

soap update.  All of the bars are now un-molded.  They are clearly getting harder.  They are still quite soft.  I tried a completely different soap recipe tonight, it will be a while before I can even try any of these bars out. It will be March before I can start using these homemade soaps.  By then I'm almost positive I'll have made several batches just to try different combinations.  So far I'm not adding fragrances or colors, that will have to come after I choose a basic recipe or two as a favorites.  Then again some of the recipes I'm looking at would just be ones to use up oils I have around the house.  Wouldn't it be funny if one of those tuned out to be a household favorite?

I use a goats milk, oats & honey homemade soap. I love it, I have lots of allergies and it really soothes my itchy skin. I would love to learn how to make it. Good luck with your soap making. I have read on a couple different sites that people recommend freezing the quantity of goats milk needed for your recipe. That way when the lye is added it doesn't scorch the milk. Is that what you do when using cows milk?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I weigh out the milk using a scale and pyrex cup. I then put it in the coldest freezer for about an hour while I get everything else ready and clear the kitchen of all family. It is more of a slushie when I take it out of the freezer. Once out of the freezer the cup is placed in a bowl of ice. I have not put salt on the ice but I suppose I could. Instead of the salt I add the lye slowly allowing the temp to rise and start to fall before adding more lye. Each of the 2 recipes I have made used small amounts of lye and I added maybe a partial tablespoon at a time to the milk while stirring. Once stirred in I would wait. The milk has not gotten above 130 for me. It still turns a creamy yellow.

 

[ChickenLady2014]

I weigh out the milk using a scale and pyrex cup.  I then put it in the coldest freezer for about an hour while I get everything else ready and clear the kitchen of all family.  It is more of a slushie when I take it out of the freezer.  Once out of the freezer the cup is placed in a bowl of ice.  I have not put salt on the ice but I suppose I could.  Instead of the salt I add the lye slowly allowing the temp to rise and start to fall before adding more lye.  Each of the 2 recipes I have made used small amounts of lye and I added maybe a partial tablespoon at a time to the milk while stirring.  Once stirred in I would wait.  The milk has not gotten above 130 for me.  It still turns a creamy yellow.

That's good, lye sounds a little scary to work with, but the soaps are the best.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
The hazards of lye are the main reason no one else is in the kitchen when the lye mixing is going on. Even the measuring of the lye, while easy enough is done with no children in my kitchen. I have a large kitchen so venting is not an issue at all but for the first batch the children were outside the house. I did not have any idea of how strong the fumes would be. For the second batch the children were just fine in the play bedroom. I could hear them and they could see me but they were not exposed to any fumes.
As for the possibility of burns, I keep an open gallon of vinegar with in reach. I have not had to use it but I do follow the safety instructions of goggles and gloves.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hi everyone! Busy last few days, including a great first hatch! I thought they were going to bust through the window of the incubator, lively lil babies! Pictures don't do justice to the color. Just love my lavender orps

Will be offering them in a couple weeks, once I have several saved back for next years breeders.



off to try to catch up on the thread!