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Post by ☼ ЯÏĊk ☺ on Oct 27, 2010 9:04:47 GMT -4
Chicken grain just went from $11.50 to $13 at the local grain mill. That means I have to raise my egg prices to make up for it. It wasnt too long ago I remember paying $8 for the same grain, while still getting $2 a dozen. Maybe its time to get out the chopping block and thin the flock. I dont have the freezer space so canning is my only option. It's alot of work for one person, unless I just do a few at a time. Bah! I'm just grumpy cause my gf of 4 years moved out on me. I need to find a good woman with bad eyesight and low standards!
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Post by capecmom on Oct 27, 2010 11:39:14 GMT -4
Aw Rick, I'm sorry! That just stinks! Can you let your chickens free range to cut down on food costs?
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Post by ☼ ЯÏĊk ☺ on Oct 27, 2010 16:11:13 GMT -4
Thanks. They are free range, as the poop on my favorite chair will attest to! Its just frustrating, not only for me, but everyone. Times are really tough. I just hope it doesnt get higher. Grain, not polititians. Their all on crack, i think.
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Post by nhlivefreeordie on Oct 27, 2010 19:25:58 GMT -4
Rick, Does your feed store have a monopoly in your area? Perhaps buying bigger quantity from a busier area would help? I have no idea, but I do know Maine, being from the Winnipesaukee area, I understand how this could be possible. I get my eggs from a nearby Amish Farm for $1.00 doz, raw milk is also only $1 a gallon.
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Post by ☼ ЯÏĊk ☺ on Oct 27, 2010 20:41:22 GMT -4
Nah, its ok, just me being pissy. Sorry. Im usually full of mischief... Along with other thingamajigs. Id have to go in with other folks because dry storage is an issue for me. Hell, theres. Flippin rat living in my old van i use for storage! Chewed a hole in the rust, then proceeded to eat the interior. I just hate that someone can yank me around. If i had some land cleared to grow grains.... I can dream, cant i? I do love apple smoked chicken finished off in the crockpot. Can the extras. Mm...
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Post by nhlivefreeordie on Oct 27, 2010 22:17:52 GMT -4
Rick, where in Maine are ya ayuh.... Like I said, I am from Laconia, but now in PA until the better half retires from Penn State in 3 years, then we are off to our land in North Haverhill NH, and there we will stay.
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Post by ☼ ЯÏĊk ☺ on Oct 29, 2010 20:58:36 GMT -4
I'm in central Maine in the Newport area. In between Waterville and Bangor. Great area. People are nice for the most part. Used to pass thru haverhill alot travelling from framingham mass to ossipee. Took me 3 years to learn rte. 16 was faster. Nice ride, back when I rode.
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Post by nhlivefreeordie on Oct 29, 2010 22:30:00 GMT -4
We are in a different Haverhill, over on the NH/VT border. But I know the area you speak of well. My old Fedex route covered Sanbornville, Milton, Ossipee, and Freedom. I worked for Waldrons for 17 years back in the 70s and 80s. In fact he is still friendly with me and just today was trying to coax me into a partnership with him over to Maine. He is opening a new bait and tackle shop in Oakland ME. But we have already put a couple years work into developing our land in north Haverhill, and I feel a strong connection with that community already, in fact I always have, weird I know, I can't explain it, but the first time I ever set foot there it felt like I was coming home.
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Post by ☼ ЯÏĊk ☺ on Oct 30, 2010 19:40:40 GMT -4
Ima dope, that was haverhill mass. Next to plaistow. I'm a flatlander still, though my kids a mainuh. I love all the seasons, so the northeast is my favorite. Been in Maine since 92. Guess theyll let me stay. On the chicken note, i went to the fake bread store and got a shopping cart of dark bread for$8.00. Hopefully a few slices a day will save some grain for me. I think i have around 60 birds or so. I think i'll thin out the 1 1/2 old hens.
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Post by nhlivefreeordie on Oct 30, 2010 22:24:48 GMT -4
You are doing well to keep them protected from all the Fisher, Weasels and Coons.
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Post by nhlivefreeordie on Oct 30, 2010 22:29:24 GMT -4
May be up your way in the spring Rick, I am doing an article on Belted Galloways for our next issue, it just so happens that the president of the US Belted Galloway Society is in Rockport Maine, during e-mails back and forth he invited us up to tour the farm, it was the first in the US to import Belties from Europe.
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Post by ☼ ЯÏĊk ☺ on Nov 4, 2010 8:48:46 GMT -4
Kinda weird, but i pee in old milk jugs and set them out a ways. I scatter all my neighbors dog hair they save me when brushing them. So far so good. Plus I'm well armed. Funny thing, i had a skunk under my shed and he didnt spray much, just a lil fart once in awhile. I poured a lil bleach down a crack in the floor boards. I won that housing issue. Ive always wanted to start a small herd of oreo cookie cows. An investment beyond my means. My brother married a doctor. Lucky barstid.
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Post by azlonerider on Dec 30, 2010 11:03:20 GMT -4
Rick, feed went up here too. Not only that, but feed stores are selling out of feed quickly. I think people are expecting prices to go up so their buying in bulk and stocking up.
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Post by leatherneckpa on Dec 30, 2010 11:29:38 GMT -4
Hmm, there's something I never thought of doing. I'm going to have to start a little book to track feed prices for all the critters. Sad to say but I really don't know how much it's gone up. I just go in and pay whatever they ask. Not like I have a choice or anything.
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Post by ☼ ЯÏĊk ☺ on Dec 30, 2010 13:13:48 GMT -4
Chicken grain was $13.50 two days ago. The feed store folks see me coming and cringe. I asked for the "Bend me over layer mash special." My brother just left after dropping off 40 loaves of dark grain bread. Been a huge help, plus it keeps them busy in between the 3' snowbanks. Not good scatching, although they still try, the little bird brains.
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