"Day old corpse" lol That's a good one, I guess. Never heard that expression before.
Reminds me of today when I was trying to explain to my 3 year old grandson that there are NO real monsters in this world. He wanted to argue the point, because gee, how many has he seen on television and videos and on the computer? Finally he said, "Well, are they old dead people then?" Which led me to try and explain dust to dust, etc. How confusing it is for them.
Home made Brooder
I whole sale egs for $2.50, -- retail them for $3, at home ,- and sell them for $3.50 at farmers market, -- the place I whole sale to sells them for $4.99, --
I like to watch the stock market since I have a few tiny shares to play with. Cotten hit the roof, gold up and down, grain is high too. I bought two 50 lb bags of Purina Layeena "on sale" for $13.95 a bag. I'm betting that if the price of corn goes down the price of feed won't. We're easily trained to pay higher prices. Right now gas is $3.19 a gallon here. I have always thought the price of eggs - real back yard eggs - was too low.
You are so right. Eggs are probably the biggest bargain in good food that there is.
For regular gas her it is 3.33 a gallon
I plan to feed a lot of produce, -- as feed is very high priced. --and-- very likely, - to get worse, -- the crops I have planted have a lot of nutrition, -- but all need a slow ramping up time, to be fed mostly produce, -- I use Apple Snails as the "magic ingredient" to make it all work, ---
Apple Snails?
Apple Snails, have the most amazing reproductive rate, -- they can more than doubble their [bio-mas] Body weight, , in a tank in about 3 months, -- --- The Chickens love them, -- and the shells provide the "grit" they want to grind the food, -- -- I just crush them and throw them into the chickens, -- it works very well, -- it provides the protein, ect. -- that is needed to fill out a diet of produce, --
Where do you get the snails and how do you raise them?
You can buy the Apple Snails at Pet stores, or Wal Mart [ in the fish tank section] Some times they call them Mystry Snails, --or other names, -- they are golf ball ,to base ball size aquatic snails, they lay egg masses [one to 3 inches long] about 1 to 3 feet out of the water, they are male or female, so if breeding is the goal get several, -- the males have a wider flange at the shell oppening [slightly], they like warm water, and will eventually die if the water temp stays below 50 deg. My well water comes out of the ground at 74 deg so the small [1/8"] jet of water going into the tank keeps it ,aerated and warm enough.
I raise them in a tank in the greenhouse, [with Tilapia] The Tank is 10x10, and 4 feet deep [with 2 1/2 feet of water in it]
I just toss the weeds, and plant scraps, into the tank, [they eat plants] [and I grow Water Hyacinth in the tank] I scoop out as much snails as I want and toss them to the chickens, and smash them with a piece of wood.
I hope to build a large snail production area out doors, so I can raise enough to feed the new group [200] of chickens, [ and rebuild a mower to chop them up]--[the tank I have now works for 30 chickens] The Water Hyacinth [out lawed in most states] is also great chicken / rabbit food. The Apple Snails wont keep up with the Water Hyacinth once it is established, so when the tank gets too much in it, I toss the WH to the chickens, and rabbits, they eat it all.
I used to "give" them [] to people but after the USDA, and State police raided me, [ and totally tramatized my wife]they told me I would be in very big trouble if they could prove I ever sold any of either the snails or the Water Hyacinth to any one.[ I don't see them closing down Wal-mart] so just be aware that you can buy them at a pet store but can't send they to anyone else. [rant, rant]
if you want to see pictures of them, go to my website and look under apple snails [ www.michaels4gardens.com ]
I have learned several things from your very interesting post.
I had no idea the snails got so big. I have seen small ones at pet stores.
I did not know you raised talapia. Is it for your own use or d you sell them? My cousin raised them as a side business until he was out of town one weekend and his pumps went down. He lost nearly all his inventory and since he was having problems finding good markets to sell them he just shut down his operation. He had one tank that survived and he told my Mom to come get all she wanted so she a bunch in the freezer and brought us some. It was pretty tasty.
I had no idea rabbits and chickens would eat WH. I used to have it in my water garden pond down the bayou. It gave the fish somewhere to hide from the cranes, egrets and cats. It didn't mind the moving water from the waterfall and they are very pretty when they bloom. When they got too plentiful I pulled some out and left them on the ground to dry then put them in the can for the garbage man to take off. Wish I had some now. They multiply like crazy.
I raise the fish for my own use, --I have 4 , 2 foot catfish in the tank to keep the Tilapia from reproducing and crowding the tank, -- when i get the Tilapia eaten I will take the Catfish out and let them build up again, -- I have about 75 Tilapia over 8 inches long in there now [some over 2 lbs] --so it will be a while
I really enjoy reading about your projects and am fascinated with them Michaelp! Sometimes I really envy the growing zones, and talents, that others have.
I so hear that AnnieBBB, but we will have to make do with what we have. :) He is certainly an inspiriation!
I cut boards last year to make raised beds, then part of my fence blew down in a bad storm. Fence is back up, and the boards for my raised beds are still leaning against it waiting to be put together. Um, that goes on my "to do list".
I saw a pic of some raised beds made from poured cement, they were beautiful! Of course I'd only use them for flowers, but they were sure nice. I'm soooooo ready for spring it isn't funny!! Oh that reminds me, I bid on some daylilies on ebay and better see if I won or not!
There is a lady here on the seed trading forum who wants to trade day lillies for seeds.
I've never saved seeds before but will now just to give away.
She also sells them. $1 a fan is what she told me. I'm trading seeds for some Cotton Candy ones. Very pretty. They are my favorite flower but I am not big on the yellow Stella D'Oro.
I did get the daylilies on ebay, yay! I can hardly wait until the spring yard work can begin and start playing in the dirt.
Good deal.
That is interesting about the snails. Do you worry about parasites? I read somewhere that worms and snails were a cause for parasites.. But I throw all the snails and slugs to my chickens anyway.. I worm them regularly, so why not give them what they would be eating anyway if they were free ranging all the time!
You have some great ideas Micheal.. Very interesting.. and inspiring.. If I had the land, I'll tell you what.>> LOL :)
the main scare about parasites in Apple snails refers to a tropical, pest carried by Rats, and then infecting the Apple snails, --in a tank Rats will not be pooping in there,[and the other things can't get in either], - even if you lived in the tropics where it was a problem, --
My Chickens have pastured for many years, I do not worm them, some of the girls are still productive at 8 years, -- they eat lots of worms and snails, - I am just starting to add some diatomatious earth [spelled wrong I am sure] to the feed mix, to see if it makes any difference, --
I have only had one chicken get sick and die[ when moulting in the winter], the rest of them have all been killed by predators when they got too slow or unlucky
I worm my chickens once a year when they are molting and not laying much. I hate throwing out eggs.
The DE does help... I've used it and seen results. Don't get me wrong, I'm not over the top paranoid about worms.. LOL I just had a hen that was sooo poor.. I used DE and got a ton of worms out of her, then had to use the chemical stuff.. she is thriving now.. and has been ever since..
That's the only thing I use DE for now..
Your methods/farm/etc sounds just awesome. Two thumbs up to ya!
Where do you get the DE and how do you use it?
You need to get Food Grade DE so it's safe. I ordered mine online.. but when I run out, I'm not getting any more.. Just as easy for me to use liquid wormer.
My flock was ridden with respiratory problems when I used it in their bedding.. horrible stuff to inhale.
They look alot like my golden comets. Mine have not missed a day laying since they started last spring. Very friendly intelligent birds. Mine lay a large brown egg.
This is way too interesting! We are considering converting our old (broken) in-ground pool into rainwater harvesting. considered putting talaia fish in it. Wondering if they would take care of the mosquito problem. We also raise chickens, so the snails would be a good addition -- though it would be kind of tough to get them out of the deep end. So it looks like I need to find a source for the Water Hyacinth.
Thanks so for all the great ideas on this thread. And to think I came to check out the brooder -- we are getting 12 chicks in a few weeks. I must get busy!
I'm real lucky right now, our neighbor sells free range eggs for #1/doz. I feel like I'm robbing him. May have to talk to him about raising his price. More luck -- our gas is still under $3/gal. I'm counting my blessings.
If I were starting a Tilapia system out doors, I would also add some Mosquito fish, -- they eat mosquito larva, and lots of other things, [zoo plankton, and some plankton], - Tilapia do eat a few Mosquito larva, -- but I think is is by chance --while they are filter-feeding for plankton ,etc. --
If the neighbor sells eggs for $1, -- I wonder how much he loves his hobby, -- it costs me just over $1, to feed mine, --
I couldn't sell that cheap for sure. Feed is too high.
Fuel prices are awful. Diesel is a killer. We topped off the tanks on the truck Saturday when we went after a load of hay and it was $90.
Good to know on the DE. I already use liquid wormer once a year and they seem to be healthy. The only problem I can see is that they are not as heavy as I would like them to be. If I use the DE would I have to throw out the eggs for a time? I have also heard that pumpkin seeds will worm a chicken. You guys ever hear that?
Diatomaceous Earth works mechanically (if at all) so the eggs should not be tainted.
Yes I have heard of the pumpkin seeds and have used them in the fall when they are so available.I have never seen worms in my chickens or theer poo,I do use DE in there feed.My chickens are on the thin side this winter to and I give them corn and boss twice a day,not a whole lot because I want them to eat their feed.
Boss?
black oil sunflower seeds
peach leaf also kills some worms, with out tainting the eggs, -- [as well as wormwood, cloves, black walnut and hickory hulls, etc, -- ]
Black walnut? We have tons of those around.
I'm sure you already know to keep the horses away from them.
Yes, indeed! I don't much like the taste of them but I have toyed with the idea of making a dye and dying a tshirt just for fun.
Show us if you do.