Wednesday, 29 April 2015

DIY Brooder Box Herbal Sachets


When chicks or ducklings are hatched in an incubator and then brooded in a brooder instead of under a hen or duck, many of you like to put bean bags, stuffed animals or eye pillows in the brooder for the babies to snuggle up against.  


They really do seem to enjoy a soft bean- or rice-filled pillow to snooze on.  Instead tho, why not combine the security and comfort of a soft pillow with the health benefits of fresh herbs and make some brooder box herbal sachets.
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Tuesday, 28 April 2015

Now Is the Time

The cats may be thinking its time to take a break and just enjoy the sun, but for the rest of us, now is the time to DIG! Although spring has begun, were still getting snow off and on. But in between are beautiful days and plenty of sunshine! Just what Ive needed to cure those winter blues and get some vitamin D, while getting a jump on my garden! Amazing what a few hours outdoors does for the spirit!



If you plan to move any plants around your yard or garden, plant trees or shrubs, add fencing, or change the terrain of your land, now is the time to do so while the ground is moist and soft! In fact, its so soft at the moment, even in our High Desert Mountain range I can easily slip my shovel down into soil that would normally be hard as a rock!


week Ive already started digging out a trench to build a retaining wall in my terraced vegetable garden, planted four trees, and Im about to plant 8 more. Next I need to dig some post holes and add some fencing for some berry plants and transplant them from their original home (which will now be the new goat yard). I have a couple of blueberries to plant as well. And before its all said and done, I think Ill move a couple of perennials that would do better in a different location.

One of the things I did this winter was to save a bit of money aside for my garden. That way, when my local nursery got bare root fruit trees and other items in stock around January and February, I could purchase a few at a much better price. Some of these were planted in a large plastic container until I was ready to get them in the ground. My nursery also held on to some that I paid for until I was ready (all you need to do is ask; my nursery was more than willing!). 


If you missed bare root sales at your own nursery, add a note to your calendar or tickler file to remind you next year to plan ahead, because immediately following bare root sales is soft dirt season in the garden! Time to plant!

And if Im AWOL from my blog, youll know Im out in the garden!

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Healthy Chicken Treat Guide


Chickens are true omnivores. They are not vegetarians. When left to their own devices as they have been for generations on family farms, they will seek out a wide variety of weeds, grasses, seeds, grains, fruits, vegetables....and yes even 'meat' or protein, usually in the form of bugs, slugs and worms. But woe to the lizard, snake, mouse or toad that ventures into a chicken run. Farm chickens have also been known to drink fresh cow or goat milk.
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grayling

Fish in the news! The NY Times has a story about grayling in Montana suffering from warming stream water. Up here, these are beautiful fish, and dumb enough, or naive enough to humans, that you can catch them with dental floss, a hook, and a bit of tin foil -- or so I hear. Ive caught them with lures, but I wont tell you which ones.
Oh, and Deborah Williams, head of Alaska Conservation Solutions, had a column in the ADN calling for passage of the renewable energy bill, HB 152, and SB 289, which helps implement the weatherization and energy efficiency programs already funded in a budget bill.
On another note, it looks increasingly like the Legislature isnt going to do anything this year with the recommendations of the AK Climate Impact Assessment Commission. The sessions only 90 days, and there are less than two weeks left.
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NASA focus

In his talk last week to the Fairbanks chamber of commerce, University of Alaskas Buck Sharpton gave a broad overview of and outlook for research funding. NASA, he said, has "reduced dramatically" its support for scientific research in favor of a push to put a man on the moon in 2018.
In other NASA news, theres apparently a difference of opinion between NASAs head and some of its researchers on climate change, which NASA studies along with space. Heres the enviro rag Grists take on the subject.
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Monday, 27 April 2015

chickenhouse

chickenhouse


While looking for any workable chicken house plan, there are many other factors that youll want to consider.

Inside my Backyard
Although you may need to raise chickens for many reasons, you will have to check out precisely how realistic the theory really is. First as well as foremost youll want to make sure that your city even enables for raising chickens. Not almost all towns perform! You will need to look at your local laws and rules regarding elevating chickens.. You may have to acquire special makes it possible for to meet health and/or zoning rules. You do not want among the local tin gods via city hallway paying that you simply visit...........penalties, etc. Oh yeah boy, thus not well worth the hassle!

Then theres the sound factor. If anyone plan to have a rooster as well as two, therell be some crowing" happening in the pencil. So you need to be certain that youre not only achieving your local sound ordinances, yet meeting your personal and possibly the neighbors noise limits. So where you track down the chicken coop or even house is very important. You wouldnt like your new activity to annoy friends as well as neighbors, and also yourself. Of training course letting other people know that refreshing eggs could possibly be in their upcoming, maybe even totally free eggs can soften their own concern.

The amount Is Planning to Cost Me?
Its not a factor being taken softly. Even wood is not cheap nowadays! (I know is not aint inside the dictionary ...yet sometimes it simply seems to match!) Yes, your initial costs for development materials, chicken nourish, the chickens themselves as well as maintenance items may be a considerable sum, for the way big the coop an individual plan to have.

chicken house plans



But when the little buggers (what a technical expression for those of us in the industry!) start installing those plantation fresh offspring, and delivering incredibly refreshing meat, these types of costs can be insignificant. doesnt include however the fact that your current flock will provide you with more rich garden soil and they keep farmville farm pests from exploding and your your lawn trimmed!

What number of Chickens Do I Need to have?
Well, that is obviously an essential question to reply to. What are you about to do with your current chickens. Hobby? For the family? Are a person planning to offer the products for extra cash?

Whatever your reason, you must learn that chickens tend to be social creatures (another technological term), and also you must have at the very least two hen chickens in order to keep these people happy. And naturally the more your merrier as much as the chickens are concerned. The rooster wont mind both, if you get my personal drift.

Should your family enjoys eggs, the general rule is two birds per loved one. If you plan to present some apart or market them, you will require even more hen chickens.

Now for the current Stupid Chicken Ruse!
Why do the chicken result in the broth ?
Because it leaped out of cluck !

Remorseful about that one particular!

Ok, ample for today. I expect this article has made it easier for to make deciding on a chicken house plan a little easier. In the subsequent article I am going to discuss what kinds of chicken you should purchase.
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Join The Great Bee Count This Saturday!

For all of you who ever thought about beekeeping...

For all of you who wished you could...

For all of you who are newbie apiculturists...

For all of you who love bees and want to seem them flourish...



Saturday is The Great Bee Count of 2012! Produced by "Your Garden Show", this free online video broadcast includes a Q&A session followed by a series of interviews with bee experts.



When should you tune in?

7 am - 10 am US Pacific

8 am - 11 am US Mountain

9 am - 12 pm US Central

10 am - 1 pm US Eastern

2 pm - 5 pm GMT

4 pm - 7 pm Italy


And... The Great Bee Count contributes to the Great Sunflower Project, a national bee census. More than 100,000 people have committed to spending 15 minutes in their backyard and gardens counting bees!



If you would like to participate in the count next year, take a few minutes to read over the requirements which include planting a specific sunflower variety that produces a good amount of both pollen and nectar. That way youll be familiar with what to expect next time. Then you can record your findings in two 15 minute segments on a sheet like the one below and report in on the Bee-o-Meter!



Link Up Your Bees!

In celebration of The Great Bee Count, Im inviting everyone back to Homestead Revival on Saturday For a BEE PARTY Blog Hop! Take a photo of your hive and upload it on my blogs Linky. If you dont have a hive of your own, just snap a great shot of a bee visting your garden. After all, youre helping out our bee friends by offering pollen and nectar!

I cant wait to see all your bees!

Viva le api!


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