***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[BetsyOK]

Speaking of spurs, I had a strange thing with them a couple of months ago. My elderly--at least 10 years old--Old English Game Bantam Rooster had spurs that had grown so that they both completed a circle. I'd watched as they grew and knew they would sort of "offset" the tips and they wouldn't grow into his leg, so I left them alone. I noticed an odd thing in the pen--it was a spur that he'd SHED. It was really kinda neat because of it's size and shape. He'd actually shed them both but I never found the second one. I didn't know they'd do that.

 

[NanaKat]

well....after more than a week of working on the deer hide, it is finally out of the tanning bath, neutralized and how drying overnight before the tanning oil can be applied. and then the process of breaking the fibers to make the hide supple.
Frozen, thawed, salted, relaxed bath, fleshed, degreasing, brining, skiving, neutralizing again, tanning bath, basification and now drying....this has been a learning process and a labor of love.

 

[Matt in Okla]

well....after more than a week of working on the deer hide, it is finally out of the tanning bath, neutralized and how drying overnight before the tanning oil can be applied. and then the process of breaking the fibers to make the hide supple. Frozen, thawed, salted, relaxed bath, fleshed, degreasing, brining, skiving, neutralizing again, tanning bath, basification and now drying....this has been a learning process and a labor of love.

This is what my wife made me with one we did

 

[allenw]

Speaking of spurs, I had a strange thing with them a couple of months ago. My elderly--at least 10 years old--Old English Game Bantam Rooster had spurs that had grown so that they both completed a circle. I'd watched as they grew and knew they would sort of "offset" the tips and they wouldn't grow into his leg, so I left them alone. I noticed an odd thing in the pen--it was a spur that he'd SHED. It was really kinda neat because of it's size and shape. He'd actually shed them both but I never found the second one. I didn't know they'd do that.

Might have got caught on something. You can "twist" them off with a pair of pliers, firmly grasp them not tightly and twist the shell will come off leaving a small sump of a spur.

 

[NanaKat]

@Matt in Okla really pretty hat rack! That is a great idea.

The hide has been repaired by suturing the holes closed and has now been oiled, rubbed, stretched and folded flesh to flesh for the next 12 - 16 hours for the tanning oil to penetrate the skin. Then I will begin the breaking process tomorrow. Measured the pelt today 45 x 68 inches and weighs about 12 pounds drained and partially dry. I don't know how the SIL will use his hide yet.

 

[NanaKat]

@BetsyOK ...Do you need more poppy seed? I'm going to have at least a quart jar full!

Working on the hide this morning, Roger came to tell me there was a banty hen with a bunch of new babies hanging around the barn door. When I got out there, she had EIGHT babies that she had hatched somewhere in the barn. I scooped them up with her and put them in a big brood pen with water and baby feed. She went right to teaching them about eating and drinking. Then she settled down on the fresh hay with her babies singing away.

 

[Matt in Okla]

A shirt my kids got me today

LOL

 

[BetsyOK]

Nana, I could probably use some of the purple and pink, but have plenty of the red from last year's plants from your seeds. Thanks for thinking of me.

There's no end to your talents and projects!

 

[BetsyOK]

Nana, thanks for thinking of me. I have seeds from the plants from seeds you gave me last year, but could probably use purple and pink.

I'm in complete awe of your talents and projects. Now tanning hides!

 

[BetsyOK]

Sorry for the double post, but I got a message (both times) in red, that said there'd been a problem with the system and my posts failed, or something like that.

Allen, that's interesting about accidentally twisting them off by catching them in something. However, he apparently lost BOTH of his spurs at about the same time. Might it have something to do with his advanced age?