Very different from chickens. Much smarter for one thing.
I recommend this book for a basic over view on raising homestead animals and choosing what breed to get.
Posted on 03/11/2016 4:54:31 PM PST by TMSuchman
Very different from chickens. Much smarter for one thing.
I recommend this book for a basic over view on raising homestead animals and choosing what breed to get.
well, it i could count on some summer thunderstorms, i wouldn’t need so much storage and get a way with a barrel.
Only for the cats (and cinnamon). Is cayenne supposed to work on mice?
Thanks for the tips. I grew catnip in my indoor herb garden (kitchen sill) and my indoor cats loved it to death. The catnip, not theirs. :)
I have one outdoor cat who, based on her past experience with the neighbor’s dogs, won’t go anywhere near dogs anymore. Mine run in the back yard where the garden is so she won’t go anywhere near that. Same thing with other cats.
As for peanut butter, my mutts would find that in a heartbeat and I’d be afraid of what the aspirin would do to them. However, they won’t eat peanut butter from mousetraps after the first couple snaps or so...
Two years ago, I laid out a dozen or so traps around the 20’x30’ garden baited with peanut butter and the mice ignored those for the sweet shoots.
My outdoor cat is the ‘shop cat’. She showed up about two years ago and I made a deal with her. She could stay in the garage and I’d feed her if she kept the mice out.
She’s done yeoman’s work in that regard. I don’t know how many mice she’s gotten, but one day last summer she laid out three in a line right where I walk through the garage to make sure I’d see them. The others she pretty much eats.
She’s chased out at least one fox, and a couple other stray cats.
When she was on walkabout in the neighborhood, my neighbor’s two Weimariner hunting dogs cornered her. When she got home, she had three nails. All the others were left in their noses. My neighbor and I are both hunters and get along. When I saw him, I was ready to pay some vet bills because the shop cat shredded their noses. He was worried about the cat and was thinking the same thing! We called it even and all the animals learned a good lesson. heh.
I’m a dog person, not a cat person, but this one has my respect. And I like her.
K
Believe it or not, it is illegal in Colorado to collect rainwater. Go figure.
Just don't get caught I suppose. I've never heard of anyone getting arrested for it.
Bait your traps with cotton, they like it for their nests.
THAT is BRILLIANT!
I’ve never heard of such a thing. You’d think my Granny would have told me about it. I’ll try it.
Thank you!
quail. Live in cages, portable, easy to clean, great eggs, no crowing roosters. About 6 quail eggs equal one large chicken egg. Great for small families/individuals or areas with large predator concentrations (like kitties).
Cyanne is a 'pusseycat' in comparison to the hybrid peppers available now
Don't screw around with cyanne - go for the GUSTO ! ..with Nitril gloves !!
I have grown Carolina Reapers (Hot peppers) and only handle them while wearing nitril gloves .
#1 Grow the peppers from seed (hybrid) for economy reasons, or plants from a seedhouse
#2 Take peppers fruit (while wearing gloves), cut in quarters including seeds and place in 1 quart of water, glass jar ,
and place in the sun for 3 days (to let it work/ ferment) into the water.
#3 Strain out the liquid thru a sieve (no solids) and add 3-6 drops of liquid "Dawn Dish washing Liquid " (acts as a surfactant-> liquid spreader).
#4 With no solids , place the liquid (pepper juice concentrate/Dawn) into a sprayer and apply to surface and under surface leaves of plants and veggies to protect the plants.
The hot in the "hot" peppers is evaluated in "Scoville Units" of heat.
The "Heat is in the seeds, placenta, and meat of the various peppers. See below: www.crazyhotseeds.com/top-10-worlds-hottest-peppers/
Top Ten Hottest Peppers In The World 2016
SHU = Scoville Heat Unit (A measure of Spiciness)
1. Carolina Reaper 2,200,000 SHU
2. Trinidad Moruga Scorpion 2,009,231 SHU
3. 7 Pot Douglah 1,853,936 SHU
4. 7 Pot Primo 1,469,000 SHU
5. Trinidad Scorpion “Butch T” 1,463,700 SHU
6. Naga Viper 1,349,000 SHU
7. Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) 1,041,427 SHU
8. 7 Pot Barrackpore ~1,000,000 SHU
9. 7 Pot Red (Giant) ~1,000,000 SHU
10. Red Savina Habanero 500,000 SHU
Wear nitrile gloves when screwing around with these peppers -> they can hurt you !!
Order seeds to 'grow your own',.. or to sell to others !
I learned about at Scotty’s Castle in Death Valley,
We make gallons of red chile sauce every year and I found out that if you get it on your skin Benedryl will take the heat out in 30 minutes. This year I put the cream on 30 minutes before we started and it worked all day.
Please add me to your ping list.
I live in fla. 95% chance.
Just had all four of my chicks killed. It got thru the big cage and then ripped through the coup. The next few weeks will be spent putting up brand new wire including some buried in the floor. Also put up motion sensors, traps etc.
Baby monitor is on my list too. Motion sensors, tin cans and baby monitor and 20 gauge should do it
Don't forget the lights, for two reasons:
#1) Hens and roosters will avoid any danger that they can see (lights)
# 2) Hens need light as it influences egg laying productivity (lights), preferably a southeastern exposure for the coop.
Consider the 12 gauge/ 20 gauge as 'insurance' for damage control against predators .
Anyone in the southern Wi area:
There is a used freeze-dryer for sale on the UW Surplus auction site:
http://swapauction.wisc.edu/Listing/Details/1619158/Freeze-Dryer-40553
Previous freeze-dryers have sold through that site at around $500. The price of a “homesteader’s” freeze-dryer is $4,000+. This could be an amazing deal, but there’s a catch: This model weighs over 700 pounds.
(Previous models I’ve seen sold through this site were in the 120-250Lb range.)
If you have space and equipment that can handle something that large, go for it! The dryer is at their outlet store near Verona.
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