Surviving Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

Do you buy the lye or make your own?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Ralphie you'll do well.

 

[holm25]

I have no idea where Rothsay is, How could I go to it?

Search it on your GPS! U have an Iphone dont u? If so Siri will do it all!

 

[KlopKlop]

Sorry u lost another chick Klop. Hybrids dont seem to fair as well for some reason.

Sorry u lost another chick Klop. Hybrids dont seem to fair as well for some reason.

This is just part of doing CXs. I try my hardest to make sure they have the best life until that 'one bad day'. they are such a fragile bird in the beginning. So far losing only 2 is probably my record for keeping them alive. Last year i think i lost 8? but i was also having smothering issues due to temperature swings in the weather.

I usually give them 2 days of full feed before i start limiting them. They get stronger each day and their survivability increases drastically. I follow a fairly similar regiment to @duluthralphie and find I have had zero loses once they are past a week old.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Do you buy the lye or make your own?

I buy it in the cleaner section of the hardware store. I've watched a video on making your own from wood ash...that's just crazy. One day I will try it though...just to see what a settler had to do to get soap. That may be a good pairing with the venison lard.

 

[scandiafowl]

Here's the lavender soap in it's loaf mold. I did an ombré design with the colorants. The fun nest part is cutting the bars. You never know what you're going to get sometimes.

So beautiful!

 

[scandiafowl]

@KlopKlop

Sad about your hens. It's just no fun.

 

[lvie]

Quote: Its Red Devil Lye - the drain opener in the plastic container with a red cover. It is mixed with water (not the hard water that comes from our wells) and then that has to cool down to a certain temperature. Meanwhile the oils are heated on the stove to a certain temp. The two are mixed together when the temps are close to the same and then any additives - then it is poured into a mold or container which is covered for the first 24 hours. Then it sits for at least three weeks so the chemicals change into soap. It can't be used right away as the lye is still active. It has to have time for the chemicals to change. Can't remember the name of that process right now.

 

[duluthralphie]

I buy it in the cleaner section of the hardware store. I've watched a video on making your own from wood ash...that's just crazy. One day I will try it though...just to see what a settler had to do to get soap. That may be a good pairing with the venison lard.

I keep thinking of making my own...someday maybe..

 

[jerryse]

Tomato plants . Going to re pot them
. Signs of spring . Invasive bush honeysuckle .