The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[RedRidge]

No white stuff here but I couldn't plow the garden if I wanted to... ground is frozen solid. And now single digit temps for the rest of the week (yes that is cold for us southerners).
If any of these crazy ewes lamb when it is only 7 outside I'm gonna have to name her babies "Polar" and "Vortex".
FYI... I am not smiling.
LM, I need your link to all your good emoticons... There has to be a "worried look" in there some where.

 

[aoxa]

ok I missed the mean part from kass... unless you mean her comment about warm and dead... and it's true. ems will (should) keep on working until the body is back up to reasonable temperatures and there's still no response.

oh nevermind... I see what kass was mean about. LOL temps. yeah that is a bit cruel. LOL

No excuse for the warm weather talking.

 

[aoxa]

I can't wait to have more of these fluff butts in 3 weeks. First batch of EE eggs in the incubator. Along with the Peafowl eggs, a couple Barred Rock, Silkies, Buckeyes, Houdans and Naked Necks. it's not a large hatch.. well not to me, probably to you guys. There are 6 dozen eggs in there.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: If I went to the bait store, about how much would I expect to pay for minnows/crickets, etc...and what amount would that give me?



And, yes...unfortunately I called several bulk distributors of DRY mealworm that do them in larger quantities (like 5 lb, 10 lb, quantities) and I was told in no uncertain terms that there are no DRY mealworm suppliers except in China by every company I called.

Now the LIVE mealworms are grown in the US in various places and various substrates.


Thank you - @fenwickchic for checking w/your supplier. I'll be waiting to hear what they say.

Sometimes they will buy them from a US distributor but the distributor gets them from China. If I can find a US source they will get my business.

 

[Leahs Mom]

LM, I need your link to all your good emoticons... There has to be a "worried look" in there some where.

Here you go:

http://www.sherv.net/nervous-emoticons.html

 

[ki4got]

Quote: If I went to the bait store, about how much would I expect to pay for minnows/crickets, etc...and what amount would that give me?



And, yes...unfortunately I called several bulk distributors of DRY mealworm that do them in larger quantities (like 5 lb, 10 lb, quantities) and I was told in no uncertain terms that there are no DRY mealworm suppliers except in China by every company I called.

Now the LIVE mealworms are grown in the US in various places and various substrates.


Thank you - @fenwickchic for checking w/your supplier. I'll be waiting to hear what they say.

Sometimes they will buy them from a US distributor but the distributor gets them from China. If I can find a US source they will get my business.

best supplier I've found for live bugs is www.lllreptile.com but any reptile supplier will have usually pretty good prices since reptiles need to eat too.

 

[delisha]

Quote: If I went to the bait store, about how much would I expect to pay for minnows/crickets, etc...and what amount would that give me?



And, yes...unfortunately I called several bulk distributors of DRY mealworm that do them in larger quantities (like 5 lb, 10 lb, quantities) and I was told in no uncertain terms that there are no DRY mealworm suppliers except in China by every company I called.

Now the LIVE mealworms are grown in the US in various places and various substrates.


Thank you - @fenwickchic for checking w/your supplier. I'll be waiting to hear what they say.

Sometimes they will buy them from a US distributor but the distributor gets them from China. If I can find a US source they will get my business.
Minnows are $3.00 a dozen here..my bait guy gives me all of the old minnows for free. I toss them in zip lock bags and freeze them.

 

[RedRidge]

Ummm....BSF are free...

 

[Leahs Mom]

Ummm....BSF are free...

But...they don't grow up north.

I'm right on the line of their habitat. I "think" I may have seen one possibly so I may try and see if I can get 'em this summer.

Could you please post photos of your trap/composter that you use...and if you use several different kinds, post them all...and give us a little tutorial again here so folks can see what the procedure is?

 

[RedRidge]

I have several friends up north who raise them in green houses... year round. You just need temps above 50, 70-90 is ideal. If you order some live babies you can raise them anywhere warm enough. I will forward some links later. My small bin is empty right now for the winter but the large bin is in pieces reworking the ramp and drain. Will post some pics that may help.
I don't try to perpetuate them here over the winter, instead I send my colony to a friend down the road who has a green house. Then I get a colony back each spring to jump start. She wants to raise then year round... I have so many during the summer I don't feed that I just freeze mine and feed them in the winter. Here are some of my frozen bags.
When I get on the computer again I will forward some good links (i do most everything on my phone these days so am only on the computer about once a week)