Friday, February 17, 2023

My Frugal Ways and How I Save Money Keeping chickens (plus the chicken feed debate) 2/17/23!

 About two weeks ago:


We went to an estate sale last week in between snow storms. It was half off day and  I found this sewing box for $4.00.  It was packed full of threads, needles, buttons, and elastic.  It was fun going through this to see what I could find that would be useful in the sewing room.  After I emptied it I gave the box to my husband for his garage.  It will now be filled with his stuff.

He found a tiller for $23.   A great project for him.  He loves working on old things.


We went to the library and had a great time picking out some books.   I was going to take a picture of the podcast booth they have and forgot.    It's a neat new resource for podcasters.

Since I've been back:  

I filled up the soap dispensors, both homemade handsoap and dawn dish soap.  

 


Last night we had a ice storm.  It's a quiet but pretty world here. We still have electricity.  For that I'm very thankful!  


Everyday I save leftovers for the chickens.  It really saves on chicken feed.   Today it was Apple peels, apple cores, blueberries the grandkids didn't eat, and leftover bread.  In the background you see I also save their shells and dry them then crunch them up for calcium.  No, I haven't had chickens that eat their eggs by doing that.    

So, addressing the chicken feed debate that has been going on in the chicken world.  We are now getting 3 eggs out of 5.  Just last week we were only getting two.  This happens every winter and I've had days in winters previously that I didn't get any during this time.  It's dark and cold.  When we get more sunlight production will pick up again.  Really, though we will only get 4 out of 5 then because Miss Pretty is getting pretty old.    

How do I manage to keep eggs during the winter?  I preserve some in limewater.    I don't give these away I use them for our household and give the fresh ones to neighbors and family.  I also pickle them.  

How's everything in your world?

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7 comments:

Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden said...

I'm so glad your weather hasn't been too bad, Lana. It really hasn't been a bad winter here but then we get snow and ice storms in between the good parts. A winter we can handle for sure.
Thanks for the prayers!
Vickie

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your interesting posts and lists of free books. I do the same thing to stretch my foaming hand soap. I enjoy hearing about my home state. Our weather has been cold for us in the Phoenix area. We had to cover our young citrus tree and a couple other plants due to overnight freezing temperatures. There were snowstorms and icy roads in the mountains. I'm glad your chickens are producing some and that you have things in place to keep the cost of food down for them.
Happy Weekend!
Elaine

Anonymous said...

I love pickled eggs. My daddy worked at a hatchery and we had all the eggs we wanted or needed when I was growing up. My mother used to pickle eggs frequently. At Christmas she would pickle a gallon jug full for the hatchery Christmas party. There were never any to bring home. She always used - and so do I - just her basic pickling mixture she used for cucumbers. Ann

Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden said...

Elaine, you live in a beautiful area. To have citrus trees would be wonderful. I guess we don't know what will happen anymore with the weather anymore. Have a wonderful weekend too!

Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden said...

Hi Ann, he had a great job that's for sure! I bet your mom was quite a cook. I probably should make-up a pickle mixture but there is a lot of Koegels pickled bologna eaten around here! Have a great weekend.

Belinda said...

We’ve not had any snow this year. I guess it wasn’t meant to be this year. That is great that you are still getting eggs. I loved it when we had chickens and got eggs regularly. Nice set of books from the library. That is one of my favorite pastimes, reading. I hope you have a great week.

Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden said...

Belinda, I remember when we were younger than we had a couple of winters with out snow. We even sold our snowmobiles. Yeah it snowed the next winter. LOL have a great Sunday!