Montana

[Chick N Haus]

We have about 5" on the ground. Had a few single digit nights, but the days have been in the 20's. Lightly snowing on and off for the last few days. DH belongs to local FD and they have been busy with slide off's and misc. medical calls. Other than that, just trying to plan what chix we want for spring. Merry Christmas to all.

 

[Bitterroot]

So much for my quiet time. I'm ready to have a coronary right now. The propane company just stopped by to fill our tank, and left me a nice little present of a $441.54 bill. In five weeks, that's how much propane we used for heat and cooking. We moved in first of October, and since then have paid these propane folks a total of $1273.54. YIKES. Does anyone else use the stuff and have bills like these? It's definitely unexpected for energy costs to be so high, and we can't continue like this. The piddly veteran discount they give me doesn't amount to much, but I guess I should be happy to even get that break. Our home is well-insulated, and not that old, plus I keep the thermostat set low, IMO, at 66.

So now I'm headed over to the home depot, sears, etc sites to look at electric, ceramic cooktop stoves, because that's the first thing that's going. But of course, there will be massive fees added on to the cost of the stove for the gas company to come out and cap the gas line, and for an electrician to run a wire for it. We can't win.

Before we moved in, we replaced the hot water tank since the one that was here was 15 years old and in need of it. I'm going to have the gas line to the fireplace capped too, since I never light the useless thing and that pilot is wasting this propane that is apparently worth its weight in gold.

Much as it doesn't quite need to be replaced yet, it's looking like we're going to get a much more efficient furnace asap and might as well put in A/C too while they're at it. Ugh, I'm sick to my stomach. Going to get a bigger propane tank as well, so hopefully with just the new, efficient furnace and water heater on it, we can get through with just one fill a year at summertime rates.

Sorry for the rant. This just makes me heartsick and I'm hoping other Montanans can make me feel not-so-alone on this. I was so excited to move here last year, and then I saw the real estate and energy rates - took a while for that stuff to sink in. What we pay just for property tax per year here would have paid our mortgage for 6 months in WV. I know I should be grateful that we haven't felt the sting of the economy issues, but I can't help but wonder how anyone manages to live out here if they're not pulling in well into six figures. I'm gonna have to get a job, just so we can stay warm at this rate.

Gonna go write some checks and cry ...

 

[RoyalT]

Hey Bitterroot! It's NOT the cooking that's eating up your propane! It's the heating the air in your house! I'm going to call you before you buy a new cooking stove for nothing =/

 

[karlamaria]

Hey girls !! good morning. the bunnys are adorable, im sorry if anything happened, hope all is well. we got an inch of snow, ugh we need more. oh and that propane, I say get a wood stove. it will do more for you then anything, heat, cook on in case of any disasters. I want one, but I rent and can not get one but I truly wish I could. with a wood stove you can cut your bills down to more then half. 2 cords here is 139.00 .
christmas was quiet, glad its over waiting for spring lol. someone at the door again ugh. be right back

 

[Bitterroot]

Hey Bitterroot! It's NOT the cooking that's eating up your propane! It's the heating the air in your house! I'm going to call you before you buy a new cooking stove for nothing =/

You guys are way too sweet, taking time out of your day to talk me off the tower. Hubby is at work, but we just talked briefly and have nixed the idea of a new propane furnace altogether. Even with the newer more efficient stuff, energy costs are still going to rise with no end in sight. With a wood stove, aside from initial installation it's practically free and I could use a couple acres to grow my own wood if I wanted to go even cheaper for fuel. (Not that I have any inclination to be a lumberjack at this point) We're going to try the experiment with the space heaters and see what happens.

It was nice to talk to you.

Shame we don't live closer. I'd love a buddy to chat with over some hot tea at the kitchen table.

 

[karlamaria]

My brother lives out in the country, he had both propane and wood stove. He said its impossible to live in the country and afford only propane. He even cooks on top of his wood stove. He uses propane not for heat but other things that run on propane. The wood stove heats his whole house. Even my elderly parents use a wood stove. They use split logs during the day,and logs at night that burn twice as long. They have a real nice stove that they can even put a pan or two on . In case anything happens with the power.
Anyhow here is my night last night,.... I decided the girls needed more light to lay eggs, so I turned my garage light on that looks down on the pen and coop. It's super bright so I thought why not. Well around 7:00 I thought to my self hum wonder how my girls are doing ? Then I realized that the chicken door is set to close at 5:30 :0 my girls are locked out ! So out I ran and yep 7 of them were in the pen still . I opened the door and they went right to bed. Lesson learned lol
It's snowing a bit today, hope it continues! I love lots, we need it badly. Gun show is coming here in about ten days, looking for a nice 22 Lr that fits me. I actually need a kids 22 lol my arms are to short . I really want a Henry Lever action rifle. I have 1,000 22 bullets might as well have the gun for them lol, I have a savage bolt action 410 that I can not use. I'm left handed and can not work the dang thing. Lever action is for right or left hands . Any of you run across a henery lever action you want to trade for or sell please let me know !
How's the baby rabbits ?

 

[Bitterroot]

I appreciate all this input. Ultimately, the only things running on propane around here will be the water heater and the generator when it's needed. We're already talking with some folks about pulling the gas fireplace and putting the new stove right in there so the beautiful fireplace stone and all that isn't wasted. Just waiting on that kind of money to come rolling in before we can start. Story of my life these last few years.

Bunnies are great this morning. One of the floridas has eyes open already, about a day early. The mini rex are doing well and I'm starting to not hold my breath when I check on them. A bit too early to tell and I'm a newbie at guessing colors on baby rabbits, but I'm thinking I have 4 torts with 3 of them being very light, a sable point, and maybe a black pearl. I'll be sure to snap some pics as they get a bit older.

I keep them in the house at night so there aren't any oopses with moms maybe not covering them enough to stay warm. I take babies out as I'm making my morning coffee, and moms jump right in to feed. I go round them up about an hour after dark and bring them in. It's not much, but it's giving me something to do until I can do more interesting things in the spring.

LOL at your story of the hens waiting there for you, tapping a foot. And good luck with the rifle purchase.

What sort of plans has everyone got for spring?

 

[Azriel]

Hi Bitterroot,
I hope you work things out with your heating. You really do need to get a wood stove. My 1st winter here I had the same problem, I filled my 500 gal propane tank in Oct, and ran out the end of Dec. I was shocked. I was keeping it at 69-70 as I had my elderly parents living with me that winter and they were always cold. But as soon as I saw how much it was going to cost to heat my house (Large 4 bdrm) I got a wood stove. I love it. I keep my thermostat set at 58 now as I'm at work all day anyway, and as soon as I get home I start the wood stove to get it up to 65-68, much warmer than that I'm too hot. I still use my propane cook stove, oven & water heater, but now only fill the propane once a year. I cut and split all my wood myself, and I like the "me" time out in the woods, and I have my own splitter, but you can get a log truck full of logs for about $800. and that should last most people 2 years. You would need to cut the logs to fit your stove and should be able to rent a splitter pretty cheep. I have even cooked on my wood stove when my propane line froze up 2 winters ago, and its great to put a pot of chicken on to make stew out of. it can cook all day and you don't waste your propane or electric cooking it.

 

[montanachicks]

Good morning everyone & Happy New Year to all! I am also getting anxious for spring, had enough of the snow & cold temps for now. We got a light dusting of snow last night but this morning the sun is shining nice. Just went out to the coop to check on everyone, had 9 eggs so far so hopefully today will be a high count day for eggs! The last 3 weeks or so I have been finding dried egg yolk on an egg here & there, so someone is being bad and eating eggs; haven't figured out who it is yet.

I am planning on adding to the flock this spring with about 10 chicks; have not decided what to get yet. Hoping to get ones that "get along well with others" as I don't like having to play referree. the BO's that I got last spring took forever to start laying and even tho they are very docile, I don't want to wait so long to start seeing eggs. I will probably be getting my chicks from Big R, as that is the only place I know of that sells them around here. Any ideas on what breed to go with? -- any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Azriel]

Good Morning all, hard to belive another year is almost over. I know winter has just started, but I'm more than ready for spring. Its snowing here again, but temps arn't too bad, about 25. I might take my dog of a walk after lunch, its been a few days and she is driving me crazy. She loves doing what I call chaseing tracks, she will find deer or coyote tracks and run all over the fields following the tracks, great way to tire her out so she sleeps the rest of the day.
Montanachicks, don't get Production Red, they are nasty and really don't lay that well, I got some from TSC that are going on 2 now, and they have never layed well and they pick on everyone, I should make them into stew, but just too many other things to do. If you would want some nice EE's or Olive eggers, I might even have some pure Ameraucana and Marans in the bunch. I'll have chicks the end of Jan. and they should be laying by June. I'd be willing to meet you part way, I'm always ready for a road trip as long as the weather is good.