guests arrive today and hillary showed up yesterday to bring the house up to parr
it will be slightly complicated arrival because of the "GREAT BEEF EXPERIMENT"
THE MANAGER OF THE ROAST BEEF SANDWICH STORE THINKS WE GO THERE EVERY WEDNESDAY
I WAs not aware that we did every wednesday--- but it is not a bad idea--- and if we can get 80 pounds of beef scraps just for having lunch there-- then it is REALLY not a bad idea.
got to eat somewhere.
so the guests arrive at logan about 10 which with baggage claim etc could put us back at the area of the roast beef place around lunch---
plan is for jade and megan,,, and ?karen and a few dogs to meet us there.
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the great beef expirement progresses-- in an effort to remove the grease- at least til their stomachs get used to more fat.....the plan has been to heat in about 1/2 gal of water on the wood stove... remove the meat chunks and set the pot on the porch in the cold to harden the fat,, then remove it for the chickens ( who love it too)
and that did work--- except
today it is 50 degrees outside now--- so the plan for removal of the fat/grease - did not work today.. it is all still fluid-- with fat floating
so plan B must be devised.--
probably plans C<D<E<and Fwill be devised also
but at the moment the very rich desireable fluid is under a layer of fluid fat...
it is not something you put down the drain--- here in the world of septic systems
putting it down the chickens is far better
even if they do not lay eggs at this time of year with the short days.
we could try and fool mother nature and leave lights on a timer making the days longer
but if you think we could keep all that straight, i have a bridge in brooklyn i'd like to sell you.
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AND SPEAKING OF CHICKENS....
WE will do the chickenpoo thing on jan 8th-- instead of 1/1/12.
partly due to the fact that you all got sidetracked and have not bought your numbers yet
even with the beef--- these guys have to eat in January also..
click away
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now---for the chicken management lesson of the day
our supply of chickens--- and interesting ones--is getting depleted
we are going to need to re supply the bunch..
need to know section-------- or hit that delete button...
there are 2 ways to get more chickens ( THE BOY GIRL PROCESS IS OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR US)
buying pullets ( half grown ready to lay eggs) at the hatchery in essex--- those are all barred rock--- speckled grey/black
or---- and herrrrrrre we go..
strombergs --a poultry supply outfit --- online-- go ahead GOOGLE STROMBERGS CHICKENS---sells day old chicks at about $3 each-- and they have some really wild looking ones
facts
-along with 100 breeds and 2 sexes.. there are 3 types of chickens
1 egg layers--
2 those who grow quickly on little feed-- think fried chicken---
3 and the colorful bunch not known for anything useful
***
they can tell the sex of a chick for the first 24 hours ONLY then not for weeks.
boy chickens in the egg laying breeds are less than useful- either free or cheap..
you can buy females--- males-- or as hatched
YOU MUST BUY MINIMUM OF 25--- and it can be made up of different breeds---with a min of 5 per breed.
the strange looking ones are sold only "as hatched"
all that to explain how we ended up with that rooster from hell who chases and bites everyone
it is a science--- most chicks NATIONWIDE are hatched on a monday... sexed and shipped on a Tuesday -- for arrival at the post office 6am on Wednesday or thursday-
i have never had any problem with this--- in all weather---the po keeps them adaquately warm-- and they can not forget them because they are so noisy.
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we can do that to re-supp;y our bunch
however--- the babies need place to grow away from the rooster from hell--- ?like behind the tee tent??? IN GOOD WEATHER...
and worse-- the first week---- 90 degrees--- and reduce it 5 degrees per week for a few weeks.
thAT IS THE HARD PART.
IT CAN BE DONE--- BUT WILL REQUIRE AN extra EFFORT ON THE VOLUNTEERS-- but weird chickens are amusing to have roaming in that pen ---- under the tinfoil pie plates to keep the hawks away..
RIG HEAT LAMP IN THE LAUNDRY-- OR SOMETHNG
I AM NOT HAVING BABY CHICKENS RAISED IN OUR BATHROOM--- AS I OFTEN HAD TO DO DURING MYANIMAL EPISODE DAYS OF PROVIDING ANIMALS FOR PHOTO...TV... ETC...
SO IT IS YOUR CALL
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MEDICAL UPDATE
PUMPKIN IS LIMPING LESS... YESTERDAY NEARLY CARRYING A FRONT FOOT--- AND A SLIGHT TEMP 103.4
MY UNOFFICIAL DX IS LYME-- SO WE STARTED THE DOXY FOR 30 DAYS
WITHOUT THE TEMP I WOULD HAVE LET IT GO FOR A FEW DAYS AS POSSIBLE NORMAL INJURY...
SHE IS EATING - DRINKING - AND FIGHTING WITH HER SIBLINGS HERE IN THE HOUSE WHERE SHE SPENT THE NIGHT
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MEGAN--- CHORE OF THE DAY--- TAKE EVERYONE'S TEMP--- THEY ALL LOOK FINE BUT IT - MIGHT BE INTERESTNG TO RESTABLISH THE NORM--
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THE NUT HOUSE IS NEARLY READY FOR THE "HATS" TO MOVE INTO THE SUITE "C"
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I HAVE ORDERED ELECT HEATERS-- THE NEW NUTHOUSE IS TOO BIG FOR A MILKHOUSE HEATER- THE SECOND ONE IN KENNEL 9-10
AND FOUND AN ELECTRITIAN WHO IS OF THE CASH RELIGION.
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THE POO REPORT
WHAT I HAVE SEEN SO FAR IS FIRMER
