Maine

[Widget]

Not sure if I could sell the husband on that one. Another chicken could sort of sneak in unknowingly. I think he'd catch on if one of the "chickens" quacked or was Godzilla sized lol.

Just tell him they are dressing up for Halloween and learning a new language at the same time.

 

[Jazor]

I buy vanilla bean pods on ebay, and they'll throw in some already split "extract grade" beans for you. Throw them in a vodka bottle with about 1/3 to 1/4 of the vodka gone. Shake daily for a few days.
Mine is delicious.
This was only 2 or 3 days after I started it:

<<Removed photo to save space and bandwidth>>

And it's fabulous, now. Super easy.

To bring up this older point--I ordered some high grade Madagascar vanilla beans to do this with. I had roughly half of a half-gallon bottle of clear rum sitting around. I rarely drink rum, let alone clear rum, so I figured what the hell.

I am realizing now (about 2 weeks in) that I need to add more of the beans--or this will take years to complete. I did some more poking around and it seems that 5 beans per 8oz of alcohol is kind of the average, so I'll be adding the remainder of mine to the collection. I'll let you know how it comes out!

Anymore homesteading ideas out there?

 

[ashandvine]

Still fighting to keep Orloffs here. Frustrating.

 

[Widget]

Still fighting to keep Orloffs here. Frustrating.

Reminds me of the saying If it werent for bad luck I wouldnt have any luck at all. Hope your luck turns around soon and the Orloffs start to thrive.

 

[lazy gardener]

Here's my newest bunny trail to add to winter prep for the girls: I'm going to dig a bunch of dandelion roots, and pack them in some small buckets with sand or soil, store in the garage, then bring out a bucket at a time and sprout them before dumping into the pen for the girls. I have a few empty Folgers coffee tubs, and can get plenty more. They should be just about the right size.

Was at Lowes, buying lumber to make several fire wood racks today, and spied a "sticker" laying on the floor. These are freebies. So I brought home a pretty good sized pile of them. Some of it was oak! With the routed area down the length of each one, they'll be perfect to use to join my 2 ends of cut cattle panel together to make it back into a 16' panel for the girl's sun room. I'll add some saw kerfs to account for the crossing wires, then bolt the panels between two stickers! I think it'll work better than super-glue!!! (ha-ha) They'll be great for making the added chick loft in the hoop coop for this spring. Oh the projects I can come up with using these stickers. I can just hear hubby rolling his eyes now!!!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

To bring up this older point--I ordered some high grade Madagascar vanilla beans to do this with. I had roughly half of a half-gallon bottle of clear rum sitting around. I rarely drink rum, let alone clear rum, so I figured what the hell.

I am realizing now (about 2 weeks in) that I need to add more of the beans--or this will take years to complete. I did some more poking around and it seems that 5 beans per 8oz of alcohol is kind of the average, so I'll be adding the remainder of mine to the collection. I'll let you know how it comes out!

Anymore homesteading ideas out there?

Yeah I shoved about 20 beans in mine.

 

[Mick820]

looking to add a couple more silkies to my crew I bought a beautiful Buff girl at the bird show in Windsor from a little boy on the back of a truck it is sweetest silkie I've ever had I wish I had got a couple more from him if anyone knows who I'm talking about could you please let me know information or if anyone else has any silky hens pullets let me know I'm in Alna the mid coast thank you

 

[MEMama3]

looking to add a couple more silkies to my crew I bought a beautiful Buff girl at the bird show in Windsor from a little boy on the back of a truck it is sweetest silkie I've ever had I wish I had got a couple more from him if anyone knows who I'm talking about could you please let me know information or if anyone else has any silky hens pullets let me know I'm in Alna the mid coast thank you

I've been hunting for birds on craigslist and there are many silkies available throughout the state. Various ages. I'd check it out.

 

[buckabucka]

I'm trying to do a few things to get the chickens ready for winter. The hoop coop will have plastic on the ends in the winter, but right now the ends are wide open (covered in hardware cloth). The hoop-shaped roof is corrugated metal on one side, and corrugated clear on the other. When DH built it, he had started to line the metal part with a silver bubble-wrap-type insulation, but never finished. We had a rooster with frostbite, but otherwise everyone was fine.

We still have the roll of silver insulation, so I decided I would try to finish lining the ceiling last weekend. I did not finish. This morning I looked out and things were quite frosty, but the roof of the hoop coop looked like patchwork. Every where there was insulation was covered in frost, and everywhere else, the heat from the chickens had melted the frost away. I was pretty surprised by this. The ceilings are 10 feet high and the ends are open to the air, but apparently the chickens give off quite a bit of heat! I was thinking putting up the insulation was pointless, since the other side of the roof is just thin plastic, but now I am inspired to finish the job. I'm hoping the new rooster can get through the winter without frostbite.

Lazy gardener, I think you might need to change your name to hardworking gardener. Your chickens are lucky having someone dig up dandelions for the winter! I still haven't even dug my potatoes or carrots. The cooler weather that's coming ought to get me moving.

 

[hoppy]

for anyone looking to buy or sell, there are swaps still going on. this weekend on saturdy oct 26th is the Augusta Swap. 8:30-1. still having a pretty good turnout and we will continue next month as long as the weather holds.
come join us. it' free to set up, just make sure what you are selling is legal and not sick. if you are in doubt, leave it home or call the AG dept regarding legal sales.
oops, probably should say where it is 420 civic center dr augusta at the tractor supply in the parking lot.