INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[SallyinIndiana]

Does anyone in the Indianapolis area know of a source for pallets? I've seen some great ideas on BYC for building coops and runs out of pallets, and I'd like to try my hand at that. I don't mind the work of tearing them apart, and the free wood aspect is very attractive.

I hope you find some. I would like some too, I'm closer to Franklin though.

 

[animallover2202]

Does anyone know how much owning a dairy goat cost??? My dads thinking about getting one

 

[animallover2202]

Does anyone know how much owning a dairy goat cost??? My dads thinking about getting one

 

[animallover2202]

Does anyone know how much owning a dairy goat cost??? My dads thinking about getting one

 

[Quinstar]

Does anyone know how much owning a dairy goat cost??? My dads thinking about getting one

Don't know much about the cost, but you are supposed to mile them every 12 hours. After learning that we promptly stopped looking into getting one ourselves. Just don't have time for that in our lives. Sorry, that's probably not much help.

 

[Old Salt 1945]

I hope you find some. I would like some too, I'm closer to Franklin though.

The best plan is to look at small manufacturing companies' back parking lots to see if you can find a stack of pallets. Then go in and ask if you can have them. They usually have to pay to have them hauled off, so they should be free.

I once piled up way more than would fit in my truck. I lived nearby, so I hooked a chain to the stack and dragged them home. Lots of sparks from the nail heads. I wouldn't recommend that. Cops don't have much of a sense of humor these days. The ticket could be expensive.

You will need a crowbar, cat's claw nail puller, superbar, large pair of channel lock pliers (or better yet, a good pair of fencing pliers), and the kind of energy that I had 30 years ago.

Don't forget a good pair of leather gloves. Wood used in pallets is usually of low quality hardwood, lots of knots, splits, cracks, and SPLINTERS. Disassembly will create more splinters.

From my past experience, you will save some money if you don't have anything else to do with your time, and if you already own all the tools. With the price of fuel, if you have to do much driving to get the pallets, you can end up in the red on your project.

I still have wood from the pallets I disassembled back then and, occasionally, it comes in handy.

Since the slats on a pallet have nail holes on both ends and in the middle, what I finally settled on was to cut along the edge of the outside 2x4 supports with a saw. This cut off 2" on each end of the slats, but removing them whole usually resulted in accidental splitting of the slat end, so I thought I came out ahead. Then I used a piece of hardwood 2x4 as a buffer to the slat and pounded off the slats from the center support with a 2 pound sledgehammer.

By hitting the buffer instead of the slat, the slat is MUCH less likely to split.

To salvage the 2x4 support pieces, you can remove the nails, or cut them off flush with a good sawsall blade, or split the 2" slat stubs off and then pound the nails down into the 2x4's.

When you go to use the lumber, don't forget that the salvaged lumber can have nails imbedded in it. Don't use an expensive blade to cut it.

Good Luck,
John

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: I looked into it. In fact I got an email today from the farm below. They have 2 female not fully grown goats for $150 each.
Goat's Galore Farm's
765-346-2215

 

[Old Salt 1945]

I have used Sevin dust for everything over the years. When I bought my 7 week old lab puppy, she was covered with fleas. I got out the bag of Sevin dust, dipped my hands into it and rubbed it all over her, except for the face. When I got done, she looked like a well powdered powder puff. I put her into her crate so she would shake off the excess onto the crate rug. A couple of days later, there was no sign of fleas. Gave her a bath and a piece of cheese. Good girl!

Today, I noticed quite a few gnats in the hen house, so I sprinkled Sevin all over and put on another light layer of hay. A couple of hours later, I noticed a large reduction in gnats. I sprinkled it in the chick area, dusting several chicks in the process.

If they are all dead in the morning, I'll let you know.

John

I checked, and all the chickens are alive and well.

Things aren't going that well for the flies and gnats. Their survival rate is not looking good. The good, they die young.

I put out 2 varieties of fly trap I got from TSC a couple of weeks ago. Neither is worth the money. One has a few gnats in it. The other a little better, but not good.

My dog snatches more out of the air than these things did.

I got some of the old-fashioned flypaper things and hung them in the hen house and caught a bunch in just a few days. The goo is hard to get off your hair and ear when you forget about it, though.

I had a hard time finding the Sevin dust. Mostly, they have the granular form. I would be concerned that the chickens would eat it. Too much of the stuff could have bad effect. Heck, too much water can kill you.

I did find a quart bottle of Sevin concentrate for $13 that will make 96 gallons of spray. That could last the summer and allow me to hit the walls and ceiling without overdosing the chickens. I'll have to set up a sprayer for that.

If any of the members of this thread who follow "organic methods" have read this far (I wouldn't have, were I you), you are now excused to go take a shower to relieve yourselves of my blasphemous words.

John

 

[racinchickins]

The best plan is to look at small manufacturing companies' back parking lots to see if you can find a stack of pallets. Then go in and ask if you can have them. They usually have to pay to have them hauled off, so they should be free.

I once piled up way more than would fit in my truck. I lived nearby, so I hooked a chain to the stack and dragged them home. Lots of sparks from the nail heads. I wouldn't recommend that. Cops don't have much of a sense of humor these days. The ticket could be expensive.

You will need a crowbar, cat's claw nail puller, superbar, large pair of channel lock pliers (or better yet, a good pair of fencing pliers), and the kind of energy that I had 30 years ago.

Don't forget a good pair of leather gloves. Wood used in pallets is usually of low quality hardwood, lots of knots, splits, cracks, and SPLINTERS. Disassembly will create more splinters.

From my past experience, you will save some money if you don't have anything else to do with your time, and if you already own all the tools. With the price of fuel, if you have to do much driving to get the pallets, you can end up in the red on your project.

I still have wood from the pallets I disassembled back then and, occasionally, it comes in handy.

Since the slats on a pallet have nail holes on both ends and in the middle, what I finally settled on was to cut along the edge of the outside 2x4 supports with a saw. This cut off 2" on each end of the slats, but removing them whole usually resulted in accidental splitting of the slat end, so I thought I came out ahead. Then I used a piece of hardwood 2x4 as a buffer to the slat and pounded off the slats from the center support with a 2 pound sledgehammer.

By hitting the buffer instead of the slat, the slat is MUCH less likely to split.

To salvage the 2x4 support pieces, you can remove the nails, or cut them off flush with a good sawsall blade, or split the 2" slat stubs off and then pound the nails down into the 2x4's.

When you go to use the lumber, don't forget that the salvaged lumber can have nails imbedded in it. Don't use an expensive blade to cut it.

Good Luck,
John

Hi John,

Thanks for the info. It is really sound advice. I already do have the tools. time goes up and down. But as long as I don't get myself in a position to desperately need a new coop, I should be ok there.

Oops - eggs are hatching, that gives me about 4 weeks before I'll need a coop for them, so there goes that.....

 

[Mother2Hens]

Do you want to be listed on the BYC Indiana Members’ List? “Being a member of this thread” just means adding your screen name and flock info, which can be helpful because the list is a spreadsheet format that lets you sort the list by breed, county, or other category. It’s an easy way to find other members who have the same breed you have or who live in a nearby county, etc. Click on the link below my signature to view the list. Just look at the bottom of the list page for sorting options.

If you’d like to be added, send me a PM (personal message) by simply placing your cursor over my screen name: Mother2Hens, and you will see “Send a PM.” A personal message ensures that your info is added. Please send your screen name, county, and city. Also include the following information about each member of your flock: List each species (chicken, duck, etc.), breed (Barred Rock, etc.), is it a LF (Large Fowl) or Bantam? Quinstar actually adds the info, so you can PM her directly, too-- whatever is the easiest for you.

Indiana County Map/ and or Avatar for instant member location
If anyone would like a map of your county, like the one on my avatar, I will be happy to provide one. If someone wants a combo map and a chicken or an animal for your avatar, I can put that together for you, just PM me. When I read posts, many times I think “Now where are they from?” I look at the city and still have no idea what part of the state they’re from. The map icon with the county in red because you could quickly glance and see where the member who is posting is from. These avatars are not required-- they are just a free service if you’re interested.

BYC Indiana Google Map for detailed information
Cluck Acres set up a cool Indiana BYC Google map and posted this info: I have set up a Google Map for just us INDIANA BYC’ers. You must first log on to your Google account or make a Google account. (If you have gmail, just use your gmail password). All you have to do is go to this link....http://goo.gl/maps/UShV6 . Here are the directions. You will see the state of Indiana.. Zoom in to where you live and then click on the red button that says Edit. After you click Edit you will see a hand, blue pin point and a zig zag line on the map. Click the pin point and drag it to where you live on the map. After you have placed your pin point then click on it and you can edit your description by adding your county. If you want to change your blue pin point to another icon or upload your own then up on the right of that box click the pin point icon and choose others or upload your own icon. If anyone has problems with this feel free to ask.