Michigan

[vicki2x2]

I think that would be the difference, if you chose to do something like poultry or horses, cattle, etc. Those would run into big expenses, feed, etc. Chickens are cheaper to buy, feed, etc. These would be you big differences in prices.

 

[zephyrcreek]

Good Afternoon!

I sure hope this rain stops sometime soon. If not, I may have to purchase water wings for all the horses! We are at the bottom of a hill and catch all the runoff from the neighbors. Even sections of our driveway are underwater at the moment.

Ellen

 

[miss_jayne]

Quote:
i know! it's a bunch of mini lakes all over the yard!

 

[blueberrylu]

Quote:
Okay--I am picturing your horses with those kids water rings around their necks floating around---it made me smile. We have 4-H tonight and where we board our horses and hold the meetings it is also a muddy mess. I may have to borrow hip waders to go and get my horse Tess out of her paddock for the meeting.

Steve--my kids talk about doing the feeder cattle someday also. I have a friend whose son had done them and made out very well at the auction. It can get expensive getting really serious with showing the larger livestock for sure!!! I have almost wondered if it is just easier to convice the kids to skip the fair and the prep and just hand them a check. After all, as a parent you are paying it all out one way or another.

 

[Steve]

Quote:
I guess my father must have missed that memo.

Here is what he "gave" us. Everyday after school, get out to the fields or barn and work till dark. Homework came after work was done and you better keep good grades. In return for doing chores year round and field work (Incidentally I started driving tractor at the age of 4) you were rewarded with the pick of the calf crop. We had 2,000 acres cash/crops and 300 head of beef cattle, usually 15-20 were picked as show calf prospects and sold accordingly, so I amd my brothers got first pick of those calves (1) and the feed to feed them till show. He also paid me $1.00/hr to bale hay from July till the time to go back to school. He didn't give me anything, I needed to earn it...I figure I paid for my animals and feed by the use of my back and muscles. I did the exact same thing with my two sons.

 

[PattiXmas]

I am whooped. We went out to the new house, kids and hubby built a chicken box (not a coop yet) to put the chicks in the garage. We got 2 heat lamps going and some shredded newspaper and pine shavings in the bottom. So, all the little chickies have a new home. Its a 5 x 5 area, so they are happy (although they will like it more when it gets warmer. Hubby will check on them in the morning after he takes the kids to school. I hope they will be ok. We are heading out now for dogs - today's been the busiest I've been in a long, long time.

 

[wyliefarms]

Steve-

I grew up the same way and raising mine the same way.
We write out loans that are repaid after the checks come in the mail.

Oh and Steve....I was born the year you took Grand Champion at the State Fair! hehehehe

On a side note:

There was mention of saving school projects and entering in the fair. In our county there is a rule saying that is not allowed. Projects must be done for 4-H purposes. I totally agree with it.

Also, which I have to address with our new members, is that the member is to complete the project, with assistance from parents and leaders. Not the adult doing the project for them. We went to a ceramics studio and the parents were working on the kids projects when they got up to get a different paint color and such. It was very crazy in the srudio, the owner double booked, so I was not able to address it at the time.


4-H only costs what you put into it. $10 to join and whatever projects you chose to do.

Sarah

 

[PattiXmas]

Another 4H Family here and I must say it has really changed my kids and has helped them develop better work skills. Some days, they jump right in and the other days, we just yell less

. Seriously though, they are good kids and they do work for other people better, so anyone in Ingham, Eaton or Clinton counties and you need help mucking out this spring, I've got a very strong 14 and 15 yr old

 

[Mom 2em All]

VICKI!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want a skinnypig...you show cavys, right? If you find skinnypigs- please please, I dont know- get one for me.

(Unless they cost a zillion dollars. )


And Steve,

Hubby says to tell you- he has you beat. He spent summers baling for a penny a bale.

Edit:
Just re-read your post, and he says that a dollar an hour probably comes out the same as a penny a bale...lol. He got paid at the end of the summer, too. And once when he was younger, he and his brother got caught hanging on to the hog's tails and being dragged across the yard- he says he wishes that the hog would have been the one to punish him instead of his granny...would have hurt less.

 

[Daycare Mom]

Thanks for all the info on 4-H. I think I will give them a call and see when they meet. She wants to do rabbits. She has a bunny that she takes great care of and I know it woud be good for her.
The only poultry group is a long way from us, so we won't be starting off with that.

Mom2-what is a skinnypig? A different breed of guinea pig?