Washingtonians

[Totalcolour]

Quote:
I forgot about the Wineries. Actually that's quite a good idea. Fresh cheese and of course soap would be a great seller.

My initial thought was to raise farm fresh eggs, lots of people do that here, but then, I found the Muscovy, a bug eating machine! Along with a good meat source as well. There are a small handful of people who have learned the cheese business and have taken their goat cheese to the wineries, farmers markets ect. It does take certification, which I would be willing to do, and learning to make soap to sell at some of these places as well. I don't know that I ever intended to be totally self sufficient, as in my husband would quit his job? He likes it too much. My intent was to make the land pay for itself. My thought was if I raise well bred goats, chickens and ducks, I could maybe make enough to pay for feed, irrigation, up keep. I could be dreaming, or way out in left field, because I am not an accountant nor am I good at numbers. I have tried to keep records of feed and supplies so that I knew what I was spending this year. We get a lot of people through this area that do have money. So, I wanted to tap into part of wine industry, as well as the specialty cheese market. We don't have the high property taxes ect that you have over there, I would consider it reasonable for the amount of land we have. I just know that I want to do something I love and be good at it and make enough to make it work???

I hear you! Me too. There is something else. In France, Barbary (it's what they call a dressed Muscovy) sells very well. Anyone who loves wine, would probably go for Muscovy breast. The problem is, and why we sell to the Asian market, is that you need to be licensed to sell dead poultry (but you don't need a license to sell live birds, and the Asians want them live).

Actually ,there is some problem with Muscovies. but can't find the info just at the moment.

Ah, the Wineries, you actually have a better "Potential" market than I do! Hey, if you need any marketing help in the spring, give me a buzz - I was in a marketing position in a big Biotech before moving up here.

 

[birdnbeast]

Quote:
Ohhh, I knew there was a bit of a discussion with the club initially concerning our desire to have a potluck but in the end we were welcomed AND were allowed a space. Thanks Rustler for sharing and hope you won't be paying a price for it.

Thanks WFF for letting us be there. It was your show and very nice. I think we all had a lot of fun and were educated as well. By letting BYC in and have a potluck it brought more people to the show to learn and hopefully join the club and start showing! It's a win win!

I think Jules =:~) did a membership to WFF and I plan on sending in mine also. Hopeful that she (pettech) will do an entry next year and it was my first time entering. I have been a chicken show stalker for a couple of years and a BYC'r, tho non-posting, for many years. It was the encouragement of my friends and acquaintances on here that helped me through that gate. I was invited even if I didn't get up the nerve to post yet but chose to post first =:~) then p-a-r-t-y. Now, it seems you can't shut me up! The severe Dyslexia and speech impediment hide the gregarious nature of many. Just saying......

cyber hugs,

k/

too little time, too little $$$, not enough chickens

 

[Totalcolour]

OK - I am making MGSU happy. I have just done the first part of processing the rabbit skins for the "Fabulous" bedspread he wants.

Icky work, worse than cleaning chickens if you ask me. However, he did print out a "Mother Earth" article from the eighties, and it seems like a good thing to do. Not wasting stuff, and the hides, if they actually tan well, could be used for so many things. One thing I can think of right of the bat, is an ELMER FUD hat with EAR FLAPS for a certain Rustler chappie.

So, have to wait for 48 hours for the first "pickle" then on to stage 2. We have about 2 dozen skins already, and more babies growing. With three does and an average of 6 per litter and five litters per year, that is, let me see. . . 90 pelts per year. Hmm, that doesn't really sound like much.

BUT, the article says you can tan other stuff too and we are raising goats! I could make "Wineskins" for the wine we make

I may even try tanning chicken skins with feathers on. BYC Chicken hats

I'll keep y'all posted.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote:
Ohhh, I knew there was a bit of a discussion with the club initially concerning our desire to have a potluck but in the end we were welcomed AND were allowed a space. Thanks Rustler for sharing and hope you won't be paying a price for it.

Thanks WFF for letting us be there. It was your show and very nice. I think we all had a lot of fun and were educated as well. By letting BYC in and have a potluck it brought more people to the show to learn and hopefully join the club and start showing! It's a win win!

Yes as far as I know all ended ok with the club.

I even had one of thier people who was partially in charge of the show come Thank me for "what I did" I told him that I didn't do it just shared my space and it was my wonderful Chicken (ok poultry) buddies that did all that.

I can't take the credit but I am (was) willing to take any heat for it.

 

[Chickielady]

Well we have been working all day & cleaning coops & took advantage of the relatively decent day to process more cockerals for the freezer.
All in all, I am once again exhausted!
DH is planning on a road trip down to CA on the 10th & return on the 15th........and I will be either here or at my folks place.
OK, have a great eve peeps!!!!!!!

A closing photo:

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote:
Ohhh, I knew there was a bit of a discussion with the club initially concerning our desire to have a potluck but in the end we were welcomed AND were allowed a space. Thanks Rustler for sharing and hope you won't be paying a price for it.

Thanks WFF for letting us be there. It was your show and very nice. I think we all had a lot of fun and were educated as well. By letting BYC in and have a potluck it brought more people to the show to learn and hopefully join the club and start showing! It's a win win!

I think Jules =:~) did a membership to WFF and I plan on sending in mine also. Hopeful that she (pettech) will do an entry next year and it was my first time entering. I have been a chicken show stalker for a couple of years and a BYC'r, tho non-posting, for many years. It was the encouragement of my friends and acquaintances on here that helped me through that gate. I was invited even if I didn't get up the nerve to post yet but chose to post first =:~) then p-a-r-t-y. Now, it seems you can't shut me up! The severe Dyslexia and speech impediment hide the gregarious nature of many. Just saying......

cyber hugs,

k/

too little time, too little $$$, not enough chickens

Hugs

to ya girly so nice to see ya here. You just go ahead and jabber all ya want now.

 

[ultasol]

Quote:
I forgot about the Wineries. Actually that's quite a good idea. Fresh cheese and of course soap would be a great seller.

My initial thought was to raise farm fresh eggs, lots of people do that here, but then, I found the Muscovy, a bug eating machine! Along with a good meat source as well. There are a small handful of people who have learned the cheese business and have taken their goat cheese to the wineries, farmers markets ect. It does take certification, which I would be willing to do, and learning to make soap to sell at some of these places as well. I don't know that I ever intended to be totally self sufficient, as in my husband would quit his job? He likes it too much. My intent was to make the land pay for itself. My thought was if I raise well bred goats, chickens and ducks, I could maybe make enough to pay for feed, irrigation, up keep. I could be dreaming, or way out in left field, because I am not an accountant nor am I good at numbers. I have tried to keep records of feed and supplies so that I knew what I was spending this year. We get a lot of people through this area that do have money. So, I wanted to tap into part of wine industry, as well as the specialty cheese market. We don't have the high property taxes ect that you have over there, I would consider it reasonable for the amount of land we have. I just know that I want to do something I love and be good at it and make enough to make it work???

I hear you! Me too. There is something else. In France, Barbary (it's what they call a dressed Muscovy) sells very well. Anyone who loves wine, would probably go for Muscovy breast. The problem is, and why we sell to the Asian market, is that you need to be licensed to sell dead poultry (but you don't need a license to sell live birds, and the Asians want them live).

Actually ,there is some problem with Muscovies. but can't find the info just at the moment.

Ah, the Wineries, you actually have a better "Potential" market than I do! Hey, if you need any marketing help in the spring, give me a buzz - I was in a marketing position in a big Biotech before moving up here.

A useful link for you pettec: http://smallfarms.wsu.edu/

and when next we meet we can talk about what little information I have on becoming a small farm processor. It's an inexpensive way to get certified to sell under a certain # of butchered birds a year- but you have to meet certain requirements. Hope some of this helps. Don't forget- utilize your cooperative extension people!

 

[ultasol]

Quote:
Ohhh, I knew there was a bit of a discussion with the club initially concerning our desire to have a potluck but in the end we were welcomed AND were allowed a space. Thanks Rustler for sharing and hope you won't be paying a price for it.

Thanks WFF for letting us be there. It was your show and very nice. I think we all had a lot of fun and were educated as well. By letting BYC in and have a potluck it brought more people to the show to learn and hopefully join the club and start showing! It's a win win!

Yes as far as I know all ended ok with the club.

I even had one of thier people who was partially in charge of the show come Thank me for "what I did" I told him that I didn't do it just shared my space and it was my wonderful Chicken (ok poultry) buddies that did all that.

I can't take the credit but I am (was) willing to take any heat for it.

I don't think anyone was upset about the potluck, if they were I didn't hear about it.

 

[T Hi]

Hi everyone! Welcome any newbie folks!

I have kidnapped my DD's computer for a bit. (she is at cheer)

Sounds like everyone had a great time at the show! Of course! With great BYC peeps and quackers it's always a party! I was bummed out that I couldn't join y'all! It was my twins birthday and they had a few (40ish) friends over.

Hope everyone is well and doing good! Miss you all sooooo much!

 

[ultasol]

Quote:
I don't think there was enough space in the venue for people to have lunch. There should have been a designated eating area. Without your space, we would have been...SOL. Is Monroe better set up for this?

There is limited space and the space, when available, goes to chickens first- social second. They have limited #'s of tables, chairs, etc. They have to buy their own poultry cages, tables, etc. for the most part, and it is all funded by entry fees, membership fees, raffles, etc. and they pay the judges and pay for them to get to the show and stay at a hotel.

So,.. that is part of why there wasn't an eating area. Money goes to facilities for birds first, and with the expanding # of entries and demand for sale cages that can become an issue. For instance, they ran out of LF holes for sale birds and people went home and got personal cages to fill in the gap- which is why at the meeting Sun AM the purchase of LF holes was discussed.