Hi Everyone!
Glad to see some familiar friends finally return to the Okie thread. Missed you all a lot.
Lynn, sorry to hear about the job. Have you thought about checking into voc-rehabilitation for some training or to continue your education. That's how I got through college. PM me if you want more info on it.
Well the mini rooster finished out his first week at school. What surprised me is how many of the kids have never seen a live chicken before. Even more surprising how many did not know that chicken is where their chicken nuggets and strips come from. Sad how far people have come from their food. Monday starts rooster booty (that is what I call him since he doesn't have a name yet) naming contest. I am kind of scared what names some of these kids are going to come up with. My assistants and I decided we will let all the students summit a name, we will pick 3 names and then the kids will vote on one of the three names we pick.
Not sure what we are going to do for the winner. I was thinking about taking the student's picture with the rooster, having it framed with a little card with the rooster's new name and the date, etc. Any other suggestions are welcomed.
So I am trying to get ready for winter and feel like I am running in circles. Trying to get some electric pipe wrap and a tank heater for the waters and still can not find my water pan warmers I made last year.
Also got the stuff to finally get my water spigot installed. That way I can still access water outside because water does not stay in the pipe to freeze and the line is buried 2 feet down. Slowly but surely I am working towards winterizing my chicken yard. Very slowly.....
The goal is no hauling water from the house, breaking ice from water bowls or having to put out water two or three times a day.
Sometimes I feel like the last person on the planet still working on getting ready for winter. Actually, I bought the stuff to get several projects. Several little projects, like installing a shut-off valve to the back bathroom so I don't have to worry about pipes busting since I don't use that bathroom. Fixing several hoses that some how (clumsy llamas and a chewing dog) need to be repaired. But the big priority and project is the wood burning stove, that will save me a lot of money in propane having that as a back up. Still do not have everything I need.
It seems so hard to find stuff for wood burning stoves in this state. Oh well a little at a time. Yes?
I have a question or need advice. On
ebay they are selling submersible 50w aquarium heaters for really cheap, supposedly it will heat 50 gallons. My water barrels are only 35 and I do not need the water really warm. It is kind of rod shaped so I could use it in the blue water barrels that just have the bung whole on top. Do you think this would work or do I need to buy the trough heaters? I thought I could buy one of those thermo cubes so the heater will only kick on when it drops to freezing. Just worried about spending the money and it not work. Let me know what you all think. Once I get this all ridged out I will take pictures, so you can see what I have done.
The system is kind of elaborate. I have two plastic barrels that already have the spigots on them with screw top lids. Using garden hoses connected to the spigots are also connected to float valves in modified plastic square buckets. I am wrapping heated pipe wrap around the garden hoses and have home made heaters (if I can find them) under the buckets. Since I have two barrels ready and the stuff to install faucets on two more, one I am going to use as a back-up water source for the house. I think I could probably go two weeks without having to fill them maybe three weeks if all barrels are going to be used. Barring a power outage the chickens should be all right on water this winter. If I can get this all done, in time.
One last thing, a friend of mine is a nurse and I was telling her about the icky green algae that grows in my waters. She recommended using a little vinegar in the water, so I did and it works great. Supposedly it also helps with intestinal parasites, balances their ph levels and improves their kidneys and liver function. I just used regular vinegar. After 3 weeks they all seem healthier and more active. Of course the frisky business could be because they are cold. ???? Anyway just thought I would share.
