Nevadans?

[SunnyDawn]

That makes me feel better. Thanks! I am glad you still have heat lamps for the chicks because I forgot to tell you I am still using them for mine.

Quote:
I imagine it's still pretty cold where you are too. How are you feeling today? I hate getting sick. I had my flu shot but still keeping my fingers crossed since it doesn't hit every strain in a season.

Quote: I'm with Sunny - I never use medicated. Purina Flock Raiser is the best! One thing I don't do and probably should is supplement with vitamins.


I only use the vitamins for the chicks cause the older chickens get to eat bugs and stuff. Although thanks to Genny I now have mealworms for the chicks. They love them!

Ron you probably missed Daniel's post about being ready to offer a demonstration on the rocket mass heater. Steve and I are very excited to see how it's done and ready to get muddy. I know you were interested too so you might want to pm him. He hasn't set a date yet. He wanted to know how many folks were interested.

 

[NevadaRon]

Thanks Sunny I will!

I need to get mealworms, too. I've been buying them from PetSmart but they're very expensive there.

 

[americanvalkyrie]

Great news! I'm so glad she recovered. I guess you never know with chickens.


It's probably worth a shot since you don't have to put out much more money to do it. Do you have you flats set up with lights, etc.? I'm cleaning my home office so I can start my seeds in there.

I'm going to have 2 areas... inside I'm going to have shelves with UV lights on them. But this weekend I'm going to build 2 portable greenhouses with some recycled racks I have, and that should make a LOT more space when these get transplanted into cups. The seedlings can go outside right when they come up once I have the greenhouses built... save on them getting too leggy.

 

[sherylreno]

Thanks Sunny I will!

I need to get mealworms, too. I've been buying them from PetSmart but they're very expensive there.

Ron, if you are buying live mealworms from PetSmart then you already have started. All you need to do is get a container and fill it with grains such as oatmeal, bran or anything you prefer. Make sure there are several inches in there. Slice a potato and place it in there for the moisture they need to strive and your done. Just add a slice of potato about once a month. The worms will go into a larvae stage and then will emerge as a beetle. Once you get 2 beetles then they will start mating and the process will start all over again. I was buying them from PetSmart too and then when I went to Genny's she got me started with all stages going on. I'm now on my third generation and a beetle just hatched yesterday and I put it with the other ones for the mating. I keep 1 set seperated from the beetles because sometimes they will eat the worms themselves. Don't get the super worms though their life cycle is too short for the breeding process and the smaller beetles will eat them.

 

[chickee]

I'm starting to feel better today. Funny but the last two years that I got a flu shot I ended up getting the flu that year. I hadn't gotten the flu for years before that! Could just be a coincidence.

Not real cold here, but I like to give my chicks the option of some heat until they act like they don't need it anymore. Yes, I baby them

 

[NevadaRon]

Ron, if you are buying live mealworms from PetSmart then you already have started. All you need to do is get a container and fill it with grains such as oatmeal, bran or anything you prefer. Make sure there are several inches in there. Slice a potato and place it in there for the moisture they need to strive and your done. Just add a slice of potato about once a month. The worms will go into a larvae stage and then will emerge as a beetle. Once you get 2 beetles then they will start mating and the process will start all over again. I was buying them from PetSmart too and then when I went to Genny's she got me started with all stages going on. I'm now on my third generation and a beetle just hatched yesterday and I put it with the other ones for the mating. I keep 1 set seperated from the beetles because sometimes they will eat the worms themselves. Don't get the super worms though their life cycle is too short for the breeding process and the smaller beetles will eat them.

Sheryl - what are the environmental considerations (heat, light, etc.)? Do you have to keep them indoors? Do you have to keep the beetles confined somehow?

 

[NevadaRon]

I'm starting to feel better today. Funny but the last two years that I got a flu shot I ended up getting the flu that year. I hadn't gotten the flu for years before that! Could just be a coincidence.

I don't know about your case, but about 10 years ago (right after I moved to N. Nevada), I got a really bad case of the flu. I had never had a flu shot before, but I decided I had had it with getting the flu. I have gotten a flu shot every year since, and have not had the flu again! 10 years of freedom baby!

I usually get my flu shot as soon as it is available - early Sept. I've noticed that I don't get colds as often either and when I do, the severity and duration are lessened.

 

[sherylreno]

You need to keep them inside during the cold times but in the summer they will multiply as fast as they can. There are not any requirements though, no light, no heat or anything. Just something that will hold them in. The beetles don't fly so you don't need to worry about that at all. Genny said there is a school teacher who keeps hers under the kitchen sink. They can't have direct sunlight.

 

[NevadaRon]

What about using them in the garden? I hear you are supposed to use the "castings" - what are those and how do you collect them?

 

[sherylreno]

They work great in the garden. The casings are the skins they shed when they grow bigger. It's time consuming for some people but I go through and pick them out and I put the casings in the third bin, I have a 3 drawer doo hickey with wheels. I've did post some pics of it a while back but you can look at them in my pics if you want to.