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Post by leatherneckpa on Nov 6, 2011 8:15:21 GMT -4
Here it is, November 6th, and nobody had created a November thread yet. The board sure has slowed down since the cooler weather hit. Stiff frosts last two days here in PA.
We've had the kerosene heaters going the last few days. Cindy has dashed my hopes and told me the wood stove has to wait until we get our tax return. That's going to be at least February.
Widening the slot for the feeder didn't help the mash fall anymore freely than before. I have switched back to the crumbles. I did the calculations and it's going to cost me $10 more per month to feed the crumble than the mash. However, the fellas at the mill tell me there is much more waste with the mash, because it is ground so fine. So perhaps it will come close to evening out.
Today's job, replace the broken handle on the wheelbarrow. Not glamorous, but necessary. I think I might also try to get an accurate headcount on my chickens today. That's not as easy as it sounds. There are somewhere around 30 of them. And when they all get to milling about it gets confusing as to which ones I've already counted. It's not like I can blow a whistle and get them to all stand "on the line" for a head count. I figure it'll take Cindy and I both, a clipboard, and a little time. We'll throw some scratch grains just to get them out where we want them. Cindy will clear the stragglers out of the hen house. And then we'll count and compare numbers by breed. Thank goodness they aren't all the same type!
We're getting up to our ears in eggs each week now. The girls are laying anything from 18 to 26 eggs per day.
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Post by azlonerider on Nov 6, 2011 11:06:06 GMT -4
I posted this in the October thread yesterday...
Today we spent the day at the farmers market. I'm looking for other venues to sell at, we're just not selling the volume I want. While we were selling today I had 3 people look at the quality of my pens and tell me that based on the quality of the pen and the work I did on them I should make knives. So, we're also kicking around the idea of making high quality hunting, skinning, and fillet knives and selling those as well. Currently I'm in over drive researching blades and blanks and material. If we don't make the blades we will only deal with blades that are made in America. There are a lot of off shore manufacturers that make blades that aren't quality.
Today after we got home from the market and got unloaded we decided to pull all the green tomato's, peppers and a watermelon off the plants as it's supposed to turn cold and get down to freezing tonight and maybe a couple of other nights this week.
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Post by leatherneckpa on Nov 6, 2011 18:57:22 GMT -4
It took two trips to Lowe's but I got the wheelbarrow fixed. Did you know they don't even pre-drill the holes in the handles any more?
Further evidence that there is just nothing like having the right tool for the job. Everyone of the old bolts was seized and, of course, they were carriage bolts so there was nothing to grip on t he other end. After getting a little frustrated I just broke out the reciprocating saw and cut those buggers out. I LOVE being a tool-junkie!!
It was getting dark as we finished the wheelbarrow so we weren't able to count the hens tonight.
Supper, got to go!
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Post by nhlivefreeordie on Nov 6, 2011 19:33:03 GMT -4
Sounds like a lot of fun Mike! Don't know as I would have the patience to count chickens if they wouldn't stand still.
Just got back from another 5 hours our metal detecting around the old CCC camp S-113 in Lancaster Valley. Didn't find a lot of value, one old penny and a solid silver cuff button, The complex is huge, we just have to find out where they hung their clothes to dry and we will be in business, 200 guys HAD to have left coins in their pockets and had them fall out into the grass. I will do more in depth research tomorrow at the library.
Andy, we were at a Farm to Fork supper last night out in the valley and over dinner a guy was talking to me about the paper and I was tyelling him that we are planning a big shin dig here next summer for the community to "Meet the Writers" with food a band etc. The guy told me that he hoped you would make it, His exact words were, "That guy is a hoot, I would love to sit down for a few beers with him."
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Post by azlonerider on Nov 6, 2011 23:52:27 GMT -4
Wayne that sounds like a good time, glad to hear the Paper is getting all the great feedback!! Below are some pictures of my day: First Breakfast, wheat pancakes with drunken apples and whipped cream.. under the whole thing are 2 eggs. Then we pulled weeds. We didn't get pictures of that. Once that was done we finished the fence around the milking area and the alley to the goat pen gate. Now when we open the gate the only place the goats have to go is to the milking area. Once that was done we finished putting up three of the winter walls. I have to put in the fourth, but we ran out of daylight. In the summer we'll take the siding off the shed for air flow in the heat.
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Post by Martin on Nov 7, 2011 0:54:45 GMT -4
It's not like I can blow a whistle and get them to all stand "on the line" for a head count. A hawk screech will work, for a few moments....LOL Cantcha count them on the roost at night? That's the easiest way. ~Martin
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Post by Martin on Nov 7, 2011 0:57:43 GMT -4
Whoa Andy! Those hot cakes look delish!!!
~Martin
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Post by nhlivefreeordie on Nov 7, 2011 8:52:25 GMT -4
Nice job on the goat pen Andy, you are looking like a regular farmstead now! Isn't that goat milk a LOT better than cow milk?
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Post by azlonerider on Nov 7, 2011 9:01:33 GMT -4
Martin, they were great!!
Wayne, we love the goats milk. We're getting about 3.5 gallons of milk a week and it seems to be more than enough for the family. We need to make up some cheese and also make goats milk soap with it. I also need to see about getting a cream separator and a churn for butter.
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Post by azlonerider on Nov 7, 2011 22:04:51 GMT -4
Today after work Jake and I put a wall up on the front of the goat house. Now instead of the full seven feet being open there's only a 3 foot opening. That should help keep it warm on those cold winter nights.
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Post by capecmom on Nov 12, 2011 18:10:12 GMT -4
Hi Everyone! ;D
Sorry I haven't been around lately. I've been so busy I guess I just needed a break. Stuff at work really got backed up the time that I was out this Summer. And there are continuing issues there that I am still wrestling with. We got a new Town Manager so I am hoping he will straighten that place out. He seems nice-we'll see I guess! They always seem to start out that way, lol. One thing I did take note of was that before his official first day his wife came with him and he introduced himself and her to us. I thought that was great. May be he's a family guy. I am still contemplating leaving but I tell myself that I am nuts in this economy Sigh* we'll see.
Andy, I've been following your projects on Facebook and you and Jake are doing such a nice job on your projects. I think it would be wicked cool to make knives! I think it's a terrific idea!
Anywho-the chickens are laying great for this time of year. We're getting between 5-7 eggs per day with 8 hens. I am happy with that. They are turning into pets-darn it! We're just having too much fun with them! I've been letting them into the vegi garden now that it's done for the season and they have been having a ball. I try and stay out in the yard with them-it's funny every time I move they follow me. They have gotten tame enough that all but two will let us pick them up and hold them. I'm glad about that because when I am done having them out, it is much easier to pick them up and out them back in their pen than to try and herd them back in there. The coyotes are back in the neighborhood, and my neighbors cat has been prowling around our yard so I can't really leave them unattended. Plus Jimmy saw a hawk in the yard the other day.
We got the wood stove going again for the season-I love getting up to warm house! Jimmy also electrified the shed and put a spotlight out into the yard because now that we have the time change, it's dark when we get home and I need to see the chicken area to close up the coop for the night.
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Post by nhlivefreeordie on Nov 13, 2011 10:25:54 GMT -4
Sounds like a lot of us have been very busy. I am making last minute preparations for Christmas tree sales while trying to keep everything I have to do for the paper on schedule. It is very very hard juggling all of this and I think December is going to be brutal, as I will have to be putting the paper together at night AFTER working at the tree lot all day. I will be ready for a collapse by the end of December, a trip up to the property in January might be in order, I can get a lot of rest burning brush piles in the peace and quiet there. I pulled a 100 or so carrots yesterday and a good bunch of onions. Going to dehydrate all of the carrots and some of the onions for flakes. Don't know if I filled you guys in or not, but our "Understanding the Constitution" writer Dave Molek unseated an 18 year incumbent to win the District Attorney's seat! Corruption out, traditional values in!!
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Post by capecmom on Nov 13, 2011 18:30:47 GMT -4
Wayne, are you starting the day after Thanksgiving? Are you sure you're not doing too much? You're supposed to enjoy the holidays!
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Post by nhlivefreeordie on Nov 13, 2011 19:59:07 GMT -4
Wayne, are you starting the day after Thanksgiving? Are you sure you're not doing too much? You're supposed to enjoy the holidays! Jules, I am actually starting at 5:00PM Thanksgiving Day. I don't expect a lot of tree sales that night, but I expect I will sell some wreaths. Then it is every day till we are out. I can control somewhat when we are finished if sales are strong. In a perfect world I will run out on the 18th or so and spend the next few days cleaning up and getting ready for January deadline.
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Post by leatherneckpa on Nov 13, 2011 22:16:20 GMT -4
Here's my photo for next month's article. I found these two eggs in the hen house today. Not only on the same day, but in the same nest box. And they were the only two in that box. The angle of the photo doesn't do it justice. The BIG one is 3¼" long. It measures 8¼" around the long way and 6½" around the belly. The little one is only 1¾" long. It measures 5¼"x4¾" around, almost round and basically the same size as a golf ball. Nope, they are both chicken eggs. I haven't branched out into larger fowl yet. I'm betting the big one is at least a double yolker, maybe my first ever triple! LOL, I don't even know if a triple is possible. I'll let you all know tomorrow, since that's my omelet in the morning.
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