Chickens

Prairie Son #2 - 2 1/2 years old

PS2 is shown here giving a tour of the newly repaired chicken coop.  We haven't used it in over a year because it was in a sad state of disrepair, and the dog kennel (supposed to be chicken coop) had been built around it.  The coop weighs at least 400 lbs, and was very difficult to move out of the kennel area to it's new home under a tree. 

We put a dozen eggs in the incubator yesterday, so it will be around August 13th when we expect a hatching.  We are praying that most will hatch out, and that we will get a good division of hens/roosters.  We plan to add the hens to our laying flock, and butcher the roosters.

We hatched out two little chicks a couple months ago.  It wasn't a good hatch rate, but it was our first incubation experiment.  This time we have an egg turner to turn the eggs for us, and we don't have to do it by hand ;-)  So much nicer.  I continue to monitor the temperature and humidity, making adjustments when necessary. 

I am inventorying my pantry and working up my grocery list.  The "plan" is to make a grocery run next month.  I haven't been for a couple of months.  Due to building our house, I have slacked off on replenishing our pantry, a bad "no no".

PD2 made the comment to me yesterday that she doesn't think we'd be able to eat out of our pantry for a year.  She was worried about it, and asked me what we were going to do.  This makes me smile, as she has been learning something after all!  She will be 14 soon, and so far she still thinks "I know it all" or maybe she thinks that I am a "Know It All".  Not sure which LOL!

She also asked me today if I was the only one who thought the way I do, about prepping.  I told her NO!  There are people more prepared, and others not as prepared.  She asked me why.  I had to be honest with her and tell her that many people like to hide their heads in the sand, and while they may be Christians, Christians are human.  Obedience is a struggle for all, though some find it easier to obey. 

Unless you think I am being "self righteous" like the Pharisee, that is not the case.  I firmly acknowledge that I struggle with obedience.  Most of the time I am not aware that I am needing to obey on some issue until it is brought to my attention.  Once I am aware, I struggle to comply.

We talked about the end times, and she mentioned that she is scared to die.  I told her we all are, but while being scared of pain and death is natural, she needs to make sure of her salvation.  I encouraged her to ask me, our Pastor or a good friend of ours for advice.

Keeping with the theme of Chickens, we had Chicken and Dumplings for dinner.  I am so proud of myself.  On Friday, I roasted the chicken for the girls dinner.  On Saturday, PD1 ate more chicken, PD2 ate tortillas we made, and PH and I had chicken ranchero tacos on homemade tortillas.  Today, I boiled the carcass, adding another 1/2 gallon of chicken stock I had put up last week, and we had some great chicken and dumplings.  PD2 helped with cutting the dumplings (she turned 8 on Friday).

Chicken Ranchero Tacos

Cut cooked breast meat from chicken.  Reheat in cast iron skillet (use a little olive oil), add homemade salsa (amount to your taste), stirring to heat salsa and coat chicken.  Take a couple handfuls of  cheddar (we use organic white cheddar) and place on top of chicken and salsa mixture.  Let melt.  Scoop onto flour tortillas and enjoy!  Add tortilla chips and more salsa to plate or make Spanish rice and you have a great meal.

We use the tortilla recipe off of the Hillbilly Housewife website www.hillbillyhousewife.com

Building and Preparing

PH and I are starting to build our house.  Well, no building has happened yet, but the dimensions for the house has been laid out with string, squared and 20 holes for the pier and beam foundation have been dug.  PH is scouting the best price for the posts he plans to use.  We will be getting them and the concrete this next week.

We are feeling some urgency to get more prepared food wise/self sufficient wise.  I've been too complacent the past year or so, raising a baby takes the focus off sometimes, the lack of sleep I suppose.  Being in my 40's with a baby doesn't help, I feel the brain drain ;-)

I re-organized my pantry this week, cleaned out old items (not many Praise God), wiped them off, and took a stock of what I need.  I have let things get seriously low (though my family still believes I am a food hoarder LOL!)

A few items on my list so I won't forget:

chocolate chips
baking powder
baking soda
powdered milk
milking bucket
strainer
cheesecloth
rennet
canning lids
flour (100 lbs on hand)
wheat berries (only 300 lbs left)
sugar (35 lbs)
cornmeal
shampoo
bleach
sewing needles
dental repair kit (6 of them)
herbal meds
firewood (only 3 cords)
new jar for churn
wash board
lye (I guess I could make my own)
shoes/boots
more seeds (never enough)
roofing nails
more tools
incubate more chicks
extra blades for bone saw

I've canned for awhile but only ever jam/jelly and pickles, sometimes tomatoes.  I have branched out this year, and have 3 quarts of pinto beans (LOL).  I use the pressure canner for the first time the other night.  Hoping to start canning some meat soon.  We'll be butchering another goat, and I plan to take the meat and get it made into ground meat.  I'll then brown it and can it.  I am not a big freezer person.  I have had one for only two years.  I'd like to stock it full, but realistically if I don't get most of it canned, I anticipate it going bad if I ever lose power.  It is something I think about every time the power goes out.  PH never has enough fuel for the generator.  That is our one prep area we disagree on.  He doesn't want to store fuel, and I do..So guess what, we don't (sigh).  PH needs a smack on the head. ;-)

Our congregation is working towards preparation, and using our land as a retreat if necessary.  I'll lay out the plans more in the next few weeks as we finalize goals/plans.  This is a big step for our congregation, as most have not supported the need for preparing, no matter that Proverbs 31 tells us to do so.

We've enlarged the pond/water holding area, so that there is water in each pasture now for the animals.  I don't know if I mentioned this before, sorry if I am repeating myself.  Living on the prairie in the hot, Texas sun is addling this Prairie mama's brain at times.  Ordering fish to stock the pond is on the list, and will be accomplished as we approach the fall.  Too hot now, and we want to give the little feeder fish a good start during cooler weather.

PD#1 has been working closely with me in the kitchen lately.  Part of her schooling/homemaking class.  We will start more intensely in the Fall.  I am ordering a new curriculum for her called "Above Rubies".  There is another prepping curriculum I am ordering too...

Off to work on my lists: clothing, tools, food, fuel and MORE...

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day!  I am so thankful to live in America.  Even with all of our governmental problems, this is a great country, made great by the Constitution and our wonderful citizens.  This evening PH cooked on the grill.  I had planned a simple meal for us, since we were staying home, with no company coming over.  Due to the burn ban we were unable to do our annual firework get together, and there weren't any displays allowed in the state as a whole from what I gathered from the news.  Kind of sad really, but safer, fire wise.  Today's menu looked like this:

Grilled Chicken
Hamburgers with homemade buns (lettuce, tomato, mustard, ketchup)
homemade bread
homemade dill pickles
home grown watermelon fresh from the garden
Blue Bell Ice Cream (It's a TEXAS thang!)

I didn't have to go stand in long lines for any of our meal items, other than ice cream, we had everything on hand to make.  The buns took the longest as I had to let them rise TWICE!

This weekend was a great weekend, very relaxing for our family.  PH was off from work today, but was still up early to mow the front field.  Yes, we could actually mow!  We've been a drought since like forever, but received 2 inches of rain two weeks ago (about that), and the pastures are looking great.  PH and I had been watering like crazy people, and our electrical bill shows it.  I am thankful we don't have to pay a water bill, because our electric bill was high enough  I am trying to save my pennies for a solar jack pump, but it seems like I need more and more pennies lately, and I need to divide them among a lot of projects.  (sigh)

Project 1:  House
Project 2: Fencing
Project 3: Well/Pump
Project 4:  Pond Expansion
Project 5:  Water Catchment
Project 6:  think up new projects

I have been on a kick to only cook from my food stores.  It makes it very difficult when PH and the Prairie Kids (PKs) are fast food junkies.  I can no longer eat fast food as I get sick every time.  I wonder if it comes from eating healthier, organic food?  My body just can't process the "yuck" anymore.  Oh, it's a good thing (for me) but it makes it difficult when my spendthrift Prairie Family wants to eat out.  This normally amounts to once a week, when PH gets paid. 

Anyway...this weekend I have been trying new bread recipes.  I am on the never ending quest for "the" perfect sandwich bread recipe.  I've also made homemade doughnuts for breakfast, drop biscuits and canadian bacon, made hamburger buns for our lunch today along with a small mini loaf of bread.  I only made six buns because the PKs don't eat (or won't eat) hamburger, and one PK has to eat gluten free.  So, I had PH take the bone saw and cut an organic, pasture raised, locally grown, roasting chicken in half.  I rubbed each side with Olive Oil and PH cooked them on the grill.  I made 4 hamburgers with 1 lb of organic beef.

In case I haven't shared about our new eating habits.  We have been working on our long term storage pantry since 2006, but recently due to health, financial, political, religious (okay really ALL kinds) concerns we have switched to eating healthier.  We buy local from friends and area farmers for our beef, honey, and poultry.  I purchase raw milk from the local dairy and we make our own butter from the cream.  This tired PW has been canning up our harvest.  It has proven difficult to get all the vegetables we wanted canned due to the drought, but every little bit helps.  In the past, we stored up using store bought canned goods, though I did make wild mustang grape jelly every year, as well as, strawberry jam.  This year I canned up 2 dozen quarts of a seasoned tomato sauce, 2 dozen jars of dill pickles and 2 dozen jars of sweet pickles.  I also canned about 5 quarts of jalapeno salsa, and put a bushel of corn in the freezer.  All in all, I have far short of the number of quarts I wanted to put up from the garden.  Our green beans did NOTHING.  We are getting ready to plant our second garden, so we will see how it turns out.  Next on the agenda is to begin canning meats. 

**WARNING BUTCHERING PICTURES COMING UP**



We butchered our first buckling this weekend.  He was a little young (4 months) but one of our dogs attacked him and damaged his mouth beyond fixing, so we didn't want him to go to waste.  PH followed a YouTube video to get the job done.  We are such high tech, red necks! Ha, ha, ha...
After hacking the carcass into 8 different pieces, I wrapped up each piece in white butcher paper in placed in the freezer.  I'd like to make some stew from the meat and can it, but I am still working on the logistics. 

Our little prairie cabin isn't getting any bigger, and large canning processes will need to take place out of doors.  PH helped get me started on my outdoor kitchen today by moving one of the HEAVY metal picnic tables behind the cabin/container, arranging the gas and wood grills plus additional prep tables in the shade. 

More later! 

Prairie Chickens and Produce

We have new additions to the homestead.  I have had chickens on a regular basis, but our "lovely" Pyr likes to kill them.  He is contained now, and I am again free to have chickens.  Prairie Husband (PH) and I will be raising chickens to butcher.  Like a good little PW I have been wanting to do this for awhile.  With the rising food prices, it is proving to be a must at this time.

We bought an incubator today to hatch out some chicks.  We have an assorted flock of Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpingtons and two little bantys.  The "plan" is to hatch out the chicks, raise them to a good size, then butcher and can the meat. 

Our birds currently free range.  That wasn't in the "plan", but they escaped from the original coop, and I haven't caught them yet.  Trying to lure them into the new coop is proving to be a comedy of errors.  Two hens will go in the coop, but the remaining hens and rooster, sleep nearby.  This is preventing me from locking them up.  I need to consult my "Super Prairie Wife Guide to Tricking Chickens" to find out how to get these little buggers in the coop.  I'd love for them to free range, but too many critters around here like the taste of chicken (dogs, possum, racoons, badgers, and cats (not the local mountain lion, I think they like bigger prey).

PH is taking over the garden this year.  Which is a big relief, because this PW has a black thumb.  Black Thumb is highly contagious, especially to vegetation that we would like to eat.  Black thumb normally causes produce related vegetation to wither and die, with no hope of resucitation.  Since we plan to can a lot this year, to keep us in food this coming year, something drastic had to be done.  So, the garden was turned over to PH, who is a many generation farmer (at heart), and a certified horticulturist from a college and everything!

Our eldest PS (Prairie Son) has luckily inherited his father's gene's, and is learning at the feet of his PP (Prairie PaPa).  My FIL grew up on  a farm in Alabama.  His father grew cotton, plus they had the house garden that they canned up. In the 30's and 40's, if you didn't grow it or raise it, you likely didn't eat it. 
My FIL is a wealth of knowledge, which I try to tap, but he isn't too forthcoming. 

PS1 is currently living with his grandparents and caring for them in their later years.  He planted a large garden for me there, as they don't have goats.  So my main food source is about 10 miles from here.  We planted potatoes here, as well as, two different types of green beans, cantalope, cucumbers, and mescullin.  PH and I will be adding additional items, and planting subsequent crops this year, all in the hope of canning at least 200 quarts of food.  I'll let you know how THAT works out. 

Being Your Own Doctor and Stocking up on Medicinals

"Legally" I am supposed to state that any medical advice you find here, or online, shouldn't be used without the advice of a "real" doctor.  So, if you have one of those, please talk about it with him.  Personally, I don't use doctors, unless for something serious, like a missing limb, heart attack or snake bite. 99% of illnesses and injuries I take care of...

Oh, there are lots of books and blogs around, especially on self reliance, self sufficiency, homesteading and the like.  I really strive not to imitiate, but to share my perspective of what I learn and find.

I like any of the herbal medical books by Penelope Ody, "Where there are no doctors" and "Where there are no Dentists".  So far I have managed not to poison myself.  I normally test everything new out on myself, and record results.  I tell my family what I have taken "just in case".  I don't do things arbitrarily, but really research symptoms, diseases, and treatment.  I have also been taking an online herbal medical course that helps provide the necessary information on treating self and family for most illnesses.  Other than having my 2 year old at the hospital, we haven't been to the doctor much in that time.  The kids not at all, and I have been to the chiropractor, and to the GYN (kind of hard for me to see that part of my body, so I do go to the doctor once a year), but other than this..I doctor the family. 

After reading another blog recently, it reminded me that I need to re-stock my herbal medical cabinet.

Cloth Diapers

I have read a lot of blogs that talk about cloth diapering, and all these fancy, schmancy types of cloth diapers.  I am just a diehard, old fashioned gal.  I cloth diaper due to economic reasons, not environmental.  Basically, this Prairie Mama is CHEAP. 

With my first child, 22 years ago, my mother in law talked me into using cloth diapers.  I really didn't want to, but I was only working part time, and my husband only made minimum wage ($3.35 at that time - yuck)!  Anyway, the diapers available at that time were either these long, thin ones you had to fold to the size you wanted, or the rectangular style with a thicker middle.  When my son was an infant (he was a 3lb preemie) I used Cabbage Patch diapers, because I wasn't able to fold the cloth diaper small enough.  At that time (1989) preemie diapers were not sold in the store, but only to hospitals.  My mom and I scoured the Toys R Us stores for the Cabbage Patch ones.  They were the size of one of those small pocket Kleenex tissues.  Anyway, I didn't have a washer and dryer at first.  I had to soak them in the bath tub for a day, then I scrubbed each one, while bending over the tub.  Then I rinsed them, wrung them by hand, and hung them on the clothes line.  It was a lot of work, but it saved me a lot of money.  While I hated it, I am thankful to my mother in law for telling me about cloth diapers.

With each child I have had, I used cloth diapers, even when putting my second child in daycare.  There isn't a law against in Texas, so that is good.  As long as I provided enough diapers and a large container with a lid, and took them home every day, the daycare was fine with it.  I did have to go in for a training session and teach the caregiver how to use them. 

With my third child, I stayed home full time, and was able to wash diapers on a regular basis.  I had two washers at this time.  I used one just for the diapers.  I would empty soiled ones into the toilet, and then toss into the washer, when the washer was half full, I ran a load (normally about two days worth).  I never used a diaper pail.  PH was okay with the cloth diapers, as long as, he didn't smell "diaper" when he walked in the front door.  I couldn't use bleach with any of the kids as they broke out in rashes.  I washed in cold only, using homemade laundry soap, and hung all my clothes out to dry, except on rainy, winter days.

With the fourth child, I began to notice a trend.  My diapers weren't holding up.  Previously, I always bought about 5-6 dozen diapers, assorted sizes of rubber pants, and lots of pins.  I still have diapers 22 years old, that are in great shape, but the 2 year old diapers I can't even use to polish the furniture.  It was quite shocking.  I did write the diaper company and complain, but they didn't really care...anyway, I digress (this happens a lot here, so be prepared).

Frankly, I don't know how young couples can afford disposables, especially if on one income, and more than one in diapers.  It's shocking the cost of them.  I do use them on occasion, but wouldn't have been able to when younger.  In addition, I don't consider all these fancy "new" styles of cloth diapers, REAL cloth diapering.  I am a purist.  I go for cost first, and if you spend $25.00 on 3 diapers with fancy covers and velcro, it isn't cost efficient enough for me.

So, what I have learned is if you are willing to put a little work into it, and get over the yuck factor (which will happen sooner or later), you can save LOTS of money by using cloth diapers.  And when the kids are potty trained, you have a bunch of great cleaning cloths!

I have also learned when you run out of diapers, and haven't had a chance to wash that old towels, tshirts, and flannel fabric are great substitues as diapers. 

Neighbors, Goats and being your own vet

Living out on the prairie, it is easy to forget you have neighbors.  I know for some people the idea of living out so remotely is scary, for others it is a dream.  I love living out here, and I like not having CLOSE neighbors, but neighbors can still be a wonderful thing (mostly).  Out in the country most everyone is willing to help if asked, and it's nice.  For instance, if a neighbor has cows loose in the road, passers by all stop and block the road with their trucks, and herd the cattle back where they should be.  And the local taco hut will let you bring the money back if you discover you have left your wallet at home, after ordering your meal.  After all, we all live in this small community, and need to trust each other on some level. 

On occasion we have rescued horses, and twice our old donkey Jack got out, and we had to chase him about a mile before someone came by and stopped to help. 

What I have learned is that it pays to be helpful, to accept help, and to learn how to care for your animals medical emergencies if there isn't help around.

Recently, we have had a spell of animal deaths.  Our beloved dairy goat Dolly was kicked by a horse, resulting in a broken leg.  We tried to see if she could recover, but it was a no go.  What a sad day.  Then Olympia our young Boer goat was kicked too.  She had a hurt leg, but it wasn't as bad, and after a couple of days she was out with the herd limping around.  Then came the day for her to kid.  She struggled from the beginning and ultimately she and her baby buckling died.

What I learned this time is how to turn a kid.  When I arrived home that evening, I could see she hadn't progressed. The kid's feet were in the same position.  I figured the baby was dead after being stuck for so long.  I examined her, and noticed it was only one foot out, I cautiously stuck my hand inside the birth canal and discovered the other foot bent backwards at the "wrist".  I fixed that, and still nothing happened.  I disinfected my hand, and inserted  my hand, to discover the baby's head was bent backward touching the neck.  Once I straightened that, I was able to pull him out entirely.  My mentor, good friend, and local vet "Doc" talked me through checking for a second kid the next day, when she appeared to still be laboring.  The first kid I had to cut the umbilical cord, don't forget to tie it off with string about three inches from the navel before cutting.  Then disinfect the stump all the way to the navel.

Olympia (mama goat) never recovered from the birth.  She would eat if handed the hay, and would drink water if we held the bucket to her mouth, but she couldn't stand.  Doc said she was suffering from pregnancy induced toxemia (http://www.goatworld.com/articles/pregnancy/pregnancytoxemia.shtml) and suggested I give her Karo syrup.  The link I have included has some great information that I followed, but I think I did so too late.  Next time I will give the mama's something immediately after delivery to make sure they have an extra boost (maybe molasses or just Vitamin B Complex).  This being my first experience with this type of event left me feeling very inadequate, but I have now updated my Vet manual with the symptoms, signs, and treatment for what we experienced.  I've also made a list to restock my animal first aid kit that I keep in a 5 gallon bucket in the barn.  With prayer and God's support I hope we don't experience this again. 

I have five goat books, but the best one for information was Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats.  Even if you have a meat goat, this book will be helpful, because other than the milking aspect of the book, the rest of the information can apply to all goats.

Recipe for "Magic"

1 part Molasses
2 parts Corn Syrup (Karo)
1 part Corn Oil

Give about 20 ccs followed by the same amount of water.  Use a large syringe (these can be found at feed stores) about 2 inches in diameter.  Even a turkey baster would work in a pinch.  Place in the corner of the goat's mouth, as far back as possible, and slowly give the mixture/water. 

Place the goat in a shed or barn, something with shelter from the elements.  I recommend lying the goat flat, with the head slightly elevated to aid in the mixture sliding down, if they won't swallow much on their own.  We kept a "hay diaper" (PD word) under her.  This is just a padding of hay that we removed when it is soiled, and then replaced with fresh hay.  Nothing worse than lying there in your own waste, so we tried to make the goat as comfortable as possible.  Even covering her with hay in the evening when we went to bed, to keep her warm.

When doing a vaginal exam of the goat.  Wash your hands, and if on hand, use iodine to disinfect your hands and the vaginal opening of the goat.  Doc told me in an emergency use corn oil as a lubricant, or Dish Soap (Dawn is good).  Dish soap works great from my perspective, not sure how the goat felt, but since she was in pain already, it was probably only a minor irritant.  Upon examinng the mama goat, if she has already had one kid, and you are checking for another, if once inside if the walls of the birth canal close around your arm, and it doesn't feel like a cave, then there isn't another baby.  I had my hand in up to my elbow, and could go no further.  All I felt was smoothness and warmth, so no other baby. 

Other tips:  Living off-grid or with limited electricity can be difficult at times, especially when trying to doctor a goat in the middle of the night.  Taking a kerosene lamp/lantern into the barn can be done, but care must of course be taken to prevent fire.  We have several large battery operated lanterns, but as any one knows with children, these things tend to find legs.  I had a hard time locating my lantern when I needed to doctor the goat.  Very frustrating (this inspired another round of lectures to the Prairie Children in our household about respecting property).  So, having several of these battery operated lamps in the barn already would be very helpful.  I'd love to get one of those small solar panels for RVs, just for the barn.  Only thing is I never remember until I actually need light, then I remember, Oh yeah, I was going to get one....

I'd also suggest running hoses to the barn for water, as it gets OLD dragging heavy buckets around, even in a wagon. 

On my agenda now is to buy several longer hoses to make it to the barn, and several more extension cords so I can use a light OR get the RV solar panel next time I am at Northern Tool or Harbor Freight. 

Well, this is what I learned, and as my Prairie Mama used to say "You learn something new every day, no matter how hard you try not to."