***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[poultryand bees]

Any ladies on here ever operate tractors? I had said I didn't want to buy a tractor until DH was ready to retire. The guy in town rents his tractor for $25 an hour so I figure that is good enough for as often as we need a tractor. However, some how we are still tractor shopping. My worry is DH will deploy or leave for extended times & I am not certain I will use the tractor. I have mastered the zero turn mower -- at first I was scared to try it..... It is much easier than it looks! I can also pull a trailer (and back it up in an open field). I imagine I can handle the tractor, if it isn't too rough on my back.

Once you learn how to operate the tractor, you will feel incredibly "empowered" because of an ability to do many things yourself.

That said, tractors and the necessary equipment to make them useful are expensive. If you are able to rent one for $25/hour and don't typically spend spend more than $300 per month on rental, it may be less expensive in the long run to continue to rent.

My DH reviews his "TractorHouse" magazine cover to cover when it arrives every 2 weeks and each Spring I hold my breath because he starts circling tractors and even makes some phone calls. We have 2 tractors, one that is 4 feet wide he uses for tilling gardens and moving things around in small areas. The large, Blue Holland, is used for plowing new gardens and moving larger, heavier things like round bales. He probably uses the tractor bucket with a chain to move heavy things as much as he uses the tractors for plowing, moving manure, and brush-hogging.

I was gifted a seed savers exchange yearbook today!! It is a thousand times worse than any seed catalog. I seriously need to close the book & put it away until fall! I am picking out seeds off every page. The book is as big as the Lawton phone book. Any heirloom seed you could ask for is in this book! Oh my..... I could end up in big trouble! At least seeds are small, and more useful than collecting glass figurines or something else that collects dust.

And you can save any seeds that are not planted this year - for future use. Definately a good investment

 

[Oceanseve]

Got my orps yesterday!!!

It seems silly, but I've missed having my big girls around. And there is something awfully cute about a yellow ball of fluff.

Ducks will be in tomorrow! It's a straight run assortment ordered through a feed store, so I'll get to pick my 5 out of it. Anybody want to give me pointers on which ones I should pick out?? Pics would be helpful. We're getting them for my 5 year old, she really wants ducks, so we'll probably eat a few, but keep a pair for her enjoyment.

 

[AnnieOK]

Morning everybody! What a beautiful day it looks to be! Hope all is well with all of you.

Question: my baby australorps are 4 weeks old. They're in the garage, and are not being a problem at all; I can just see that they will soon outgrow their current abode. Was wondering if I need to come up with another larger 'brooder' to be kept in the garage, or just plan on moving them to the chicken coop in another couple of weeks? I've already moved them to a bigger place once.

They are so cute!

 

[Oceanseve]

I'd think if you had a good coop and a heat lamp in it they'd be fine. We did that last time, I think they were 5-6 weeks.

 

[jcatblum]

P&B I agree it is cheaper to rent one, since we don't have to maintain the rental. I am going to talk to DH & see how he feels about a small used starter tractor for minor projects (one we can buy outright) and then rent the larger one for big task. It isn't too often that we need a large tractor. I think it should be workable. If we get a smaller tractor the kids will feel more comfortable driving it as well. Since all teen girls should learn to drive a tractor before a car, right?

So far I have had a busy day, spent the past 3 hours doing dishes, laundry, balancing the check book, and animal chores. I want to try & mow, but only if the grass is dry before the wind picks up. More eggs will go into the incubator tonight, including a peahen egg. Hopefully this one is fertile.

On a sad note, think I am going to have to cull one of our recently hatched chicks. It can't stand on its feet. I tried the usual bandaid fix, but it seriously can't stand, it scoots around on its belly. Its been 2 days & no imporvement. DD said she was keeping a few out of this hatch, she hasn't said how many are a few. I try to make her pace herself but she always seem to have a good reason for each bird she needs. Seems like I look up & she has chicks EVERYWHERE! Right now the older ones are in the chicken shed, she has this wks RIR hatch in the living room & the EE in her bedroom with more hatching next wk!

 

[Ksane]

DD said she was keeping a few out of this hatch, she hasn't said how many are a few. I try to make her pace herself but she always seem to have a good reason for each bird she needs. Seems like I look up & she has chicks EVERYWHERE! Right now the older ones are in the chicken shed, she has this wks RIR hatch in the living room & the EE in her bedroom with more hatching next wk!

I love your kid lol, just glad she lives with you!! That's exactly the way I am and I'm in my 50's now. My grown daughter moved back home awhile back and she's the same exact way. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I wonder where your daughter got it....?

Speaking about tractors-my husband is a heavy equipment mechanic and a buddy of his bought a tractor that needed some kind of engine work. He's fixing it right now and they were going to sell it. Sounds like this is the perfect time of year for them to be doing it. We've got an old old blue tractor we got from someone, I think my husband likes the idea of having it more than he does using it. He's always got to have vehicles of some sort around here to tinker with.
This one chain link corner post is driving me nuts! We've reset it and used 160lbs of concrete this last time and it still doesn't feel solid. It's in a real sandy area. Will it ever set? I want to get my 25x40 fence up so I can split it into 3 8x40 runs. But I'm going to have to set even more posts and if this one won't hold tight I'm not going to be able to do it like I planned. And tips on how to set posts in a sandy area?

 

[johnorem]

Thanks for all the tips about bedding. I will get my mini flock in larger quarters this weekend.

Are there any shows or sales near Tulsa this weekend? I'd like to just go and watch.

 

[jcatblum]

I love your kid lol, just glad she lives with you!! That's exactly the way I am and I'm in my 50's now. My grown daughter moved back home awhile back and she's the same exact way. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I wonder where your daughter got it....?

Speaking about tractors-my husband is a heavy equipment mechanic and a buddy of his bought a tractor that needed some kind of engine work. He's fixing it right now and they were going to sell it. Sounds like this is the perfect time of year for them to be doing it. We've got an old old blue tractor we got from someone, I think my husband likes the idea of having it more than he does using it. He's always got to have vehicles of some sort around here to tinker with.
This one chain link corner post is driving me nuts! We've reset it and used 160lbs of concrete this last time and it still doesn't feel solid. It's in a real sandy area. Will it ever set? I want to get my 25x40 fence up so I can split it into 3 8x40 runs. But I'm going to have to set even more posts and if this one won't hold tight I'm not going to be able to do it like I planned. And tips on how to set posts in a sandy area?

I am sure you won't have a problem selling the tractor if you get it repaired & listed for sale in the next few months.
Our area is very sandy & twice our outdoor water faucets have broken off from where they connect to the PVC pipe 3 ft in the gound- since they move so easy in our ground. I guess look on the bright side, it could be solid rock hard clay & then you wouldnt be able to figure out how to get the post in the ground.

 

[Oceanseve]

I love your kid lol, just glad she lives with you!! That's exactly the way I am and I'm in my 50's now. My grown daughter moved back home awhile back and she's the same exact way. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I wonder where your daughter got it....?

Speaking about tractors-my husband is a heavy equipment mechanic and a buddy of his bought a tractor that needed some kind of engine work. He's fixing it right now and they were going to sell it. Sounds like this is the perfect time of year for them to be doing it. We've got an old old blue tractor we got from someone, I think my husband likes the idea of having it more than he does using it. He's always got to have vehicles of some sort around here to tinker with.
This one chain link corner post is driving me nuts! We've reset it and used 160lbs of concrete this last time and it still doesn't feel solid. It's in a real sandy area. Will it ever set? I want to get my 25x40 fence up so I can split it into 3 8x40 runs. But I'm going to have to set even more posts and if this one won't hold tight I'm not going to be able to do it like I planned. And tips on how to set posts in a sandy area?

hm... I'll take more info on the tractor. We need to buy one in the next few months.

 

[Ksane]

I am sure you won't have a problem selling the tractor if you get it repaired & listed for sale in the next few months.
Our area is very sandy & twice our outdoor water faucets have broken off from where they connect to the PVC pipe 3 ft in the gound- since they move so easy in our ground. I guess look on the bright side, it could be solid rock hard clay & then you wouldnt be able to figure out how to get the post in the ground.

That part of the yard is one or the other. Either sand or solid rock. I moved here from Iowa in 82'. We didn't have any kinds of problems like this lol The ground was perfect for anything you wanted to do with it. Course the winters were a little chilly....

I'll ask him what kind it is and what year tonight if you want. I'll also find out what was wrong with it and if they've got it sold and the price. I know nothing about tractors.