Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[DoodlesDuckies]

We bought a 1/4 beef from a co worker-Angus- this past spring. It was $3 a pound to him then another $175 to the processor. We didn't get anything fancy made. 15 lbs of beef sticks, otherwise standard cuts. In the end, it came out to about $4-5 a pound for all across the board. Which is a good deal considering the price of steaks/roasts in the store.

I could not raise anything to eat. It would break my heart into a million pieces to raise something from baby and butcher it. Ok, maybe chickens I could. Was just curious on the cost savings, if any, to raise meat chickens.

I have found it interesting in my area...I have been in AG for 17 years and have seen farmers ship their calves to raising facilities for years to now back to raising their own due to the cost of heifers being SO high. Funny how markets and things shift.

Renee

 

[jvls1942]

many years ago when the kids were not quite teenagers, we butchered 2 steers, Chunky and Pokey. My sister and her family came for Sunday dinner . just as we were about to start, my 9 year old daughter asked. who are we eating today > Chunky or Pokey ? my sister would not eat any meat . lolol
fyi: yesterday i turned 83. only 17 years to go and i can retire.
my late oats are near 8" tall. i decided to not plow them under this fall. they should lie down from the show and make a good mat to hold the weeds down until i plow next spring, if I decide to plant corn, that is.
today i am taking the borrowed box blade back. the driveway is much smoother. i am still not thrilled with the rolling hills in it though.
i will put my back blade on and see what damage i can do with it.
i fried up about 9 radishes for my first attempt ever. just salt and pepper, got really soft and didn't taste too bad. i ate all of them to see if i would burp all day. nope, not one burp. no ill effects. next i am going to boil some. maybe they will be a good addition to soup or stew ?

 

[saysfaa]

.... next i am going to boil some. maybe they will be a good addition to soup or stew ?

Yes, they do... in my opinion; not so much in dh's opinion.

 

[Debbie292d]

Good morning, I'm in Stoughton. This will be my first winter with chickens. What type of heated bowl should I look for? I tested 2 recently but there was no apparent heat generated. Any suggestions are appreciated. Michele

In the coops, we just use 5-gallon nipple buckets as the coops are heated to above freezing, around 45°F.

In the growout pens, we use those 2-3 gallon plug-in nipple waterers. Last time we bought them and got a deal on two at Farm and Fleet or Fleet Farm if shipped, and shipping must've been free or cheap as I don't usually pay shipping anywhere.

So then yet one more pen we did not have a heated waterer for, we tested a fish tank heater. On the positive side, it worked great. On the negative side, it runs constantly, but it's only 25 watts, so we guessed a dime a day to run it.

For the ducks, we went to pick up one of those green heated buckets like we have for our dogs, but TSC was out so I have to order one. We're new to ducks this year, and just have two female buff orpington ducks.

 

[EagleEyes]

Farm Innovators
Electric Water Heater Base
$45
This is what i've been using
Farm and fleet sells this.
Prior to this, I made my own with a cookie tin and a forty watt light bulb.I had to use a sixty watt when it got down to 0 though

 

[bigzio]

Good to see everyone is doing great.
Pullets will be 16 weeks old this Thursday. Amazing how fast time flies by.
Nice to see you stop by BBP. Hope all is well by you too.

Stay Safe ... bigz

 

[jvls1942]

I used a 3gal waterer. no heated base. instead i had a small electric heater with a fan. i directed the fan at the heater. the heater kept the water from freezing and it also kept the coop from getting extremely cold.
for my ducks and geese, i watered them outside in all types of weather and cold. i used a 2'x3' cement mixing tub. they would all take turns in the water once a day. no matter how cold it was. remember, at twenty below, their bath water was about 50F out of the faucet. they loved their daily baths. i provided a large coop for shelter. the geese never went into it. the ducks went in only if i put them in. muscovy ducks are not equipped for extreme cold temperatures. all the other types of ducks do OK
do not water your ducks inside a coop . they splash all the water out of any waterer. makes the coop too wet and messy. causes ice on the floor if it is cold out side.

 

[Debbie292d]

do not water your ducks inside a coop . they splash all the water out of any waterer. makes the coop too wet and messy. causes ice on the floor if it is cold out side.

They do have their own house and pen we lock them up at night. Since their plastic turtle sandbox we use as a pool now for them we won't in the winter, that bucket will probably be their only water source all winter. I suppose we could put it right outside the pen as you bring up a good point with ice.

This is their duckhouse inside of a pen. The pen is divided in half, and the chickens get the other half. We have the doors to both sides shut at night, open during the day, so they all can go free range.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

Mine have a pool in their hut for the moment but that will all get taken away when the weather cools off. They will get outside pools till it REALLY freezes. Then it is me taking out a 5 gallon bucket of water morning and lunch time when I swing in from work.

This is my hut, when I first got it. Ducks go in here at night. It is 6x12. 8" Pea gravel and river rock for floor. drains great. In winter I put plywood sides on and pack it full of straw for insulation. Geese have a small insulated play hut they go in. No food or water in either shelter. I fence them in winter-they are out 630am-dark. Get put in at dark. Worked last year. Thought for sure I would lose one in the -30 weather. Everyone made it.

You have a good set up. They are so much stronger than you think for winter. Have wind protection.

Renee

 

[jvls1942]

is everyone enjoying these nice wisconsin temps as much as i am>?
although i could use a nice rain during the night,.
the puddles in the driveway help me locate the low spots that have to be filled.
the tomatoes are all done. waiting for after a frost to dig the carrots and beets.
will be picking all the peppers soon.
going to try pickling the jalapenos.