The Dogmother Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Oh no Lesley What a bummer! Can you put mesh under the quail pen? It's quite small, so it might be do-able. Shall I bring my shovel over? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Oh no Lesley What a bummer! Can you put mesh under the quail pen? It's quite small, so it might be do-able. Shall I bring my shovel over? Is there not a chap with a couple of terriers in the area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I think they were looking. A chap next road to mine has working terriers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 How awful Lesley Do the terriers come along for the day or stay a few days? Silly question I know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I understand that you need to have them and their owner for a couple of days - depending on the number of rats you have. Lesley will probably know more than I do though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Shame about the quail. You know where to come for a replacement or 10! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 2, 2007 Author Share Posted November 2, 2007 Thanks Martin What does the terrier do to the quail/hens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I understand that you need to have them and their owner for a couple of days - depending on the number of rats you have. So when should I move in with my bears Lesley! Poppy & Teddy give the cats and squirrels a run for their money so rats shouldnt be a problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 4, 2007 Author Share Posted November 4, 2007 You can bring them round anytime Emma! - Jazz needs teaching some manners as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 You are expecting Poppy to teach Jazz manners - Lesley please step off cloud 9 and return to earth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 4, 2007 Author Share Posted November 4, 2007 - well it was a good try! I could stick them both by the wasps nest Jake discovered yesterday, that would sort them out Jake poked an old straw bale with a stick - and out flew all the wasps I was stung twice on my wrist and one got stuck on my jacket - I threw the jacket off and the wasp flew into my daughter's hair She was stung about 10 times before someone could get the wasp out. My son came over to help as I couldn't run away as the ground is too rough for me to hurry - he is allergic to wasp stings...... and he was stung on the side of his face. I had visions of ending the day with an ambulance but luckily, although it swelled, he was OK. Ginette knows all about wasp stings - thankfully, we weren't stung as much as her daughters were last year. We have 4 wasps nests that we know of - but we don't usually go poking them with sticks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Now that is a lucky escape! Im sure you put vinegar or bi carb on wasp stings or is that bee stings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 I remember this one - its V (vinegar) for a W (wasp) A (ammonia) for a B (Bee) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 - well it was a good try! I could stick them both by the wasps nest Jake discovered yesterday, that would sort them out Jake poked an old straw bale with a stick - and out flew all the wasps I was stung twice on my wrist and one got stuck on my jacket - I threw the jacket off and the wasp flew into my daughter's hair She was stung about 10 times before someone could get the wasp out. My son came over to help as I couldn't run away as the ground is too rough for me to hurry - he is allergic to wasp stings...... and he was stung on the side of his face. I had visions of ending the day with an ambulance but luckily, although it swelled, he was OK. Ginette knows all about wasp stings - thankfully, we weren't stung as much as her daughters were last year. We have 4 wasps nests that we know of - but we don't usually go poking them with sticks Horror! Poor you. At least there weren't too many wasps left at this time of the year, otherwise it could have been much worse. Being attacked by wasps is horrendous and very frightening. There is nothing you can do except spray them with water. Glad you're all OK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGirlsMum Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 Fantastic reading as always Ive been away so had 4 pages to catch up on. You are a good role model for our dream when OH retires from the Navy in 2 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 11, 2007 Author Share Posted November 11, 2007 (edited) I don't think I've ever been a role model **The following may upset some people** We had a very interesting afternoon yesterday, AnnieW and her OH were popping in to see us as they were going to be in the area and they'd offered to help out if we were busy. We usually say no, and take some time off if people call in - it does us good to have a rest occasionally Yesterday was different. About 21 months ago AnnieW and OH (D) asked us all about the table birds and pigs, then quietly went off and found somewhere to keep a few pigs and rear table birds. She's not on forum very often but we've kept in touch and swapped stories. Everything has come full circle and they have now done more than we have in some ways! D recently acquired a deer from a registered deerstalker and butchered it himself and made loads of sausages! They were joined by another couple local to where they live to rear the table birds and the other couple bought a Cone Despatcher - Annie and D used it to despatch theirs as well. We've recently bought a Cone and a small plucking machine so with the offer of help, we decided we would have a demonstration of how to use the Cone properly. (I'm amazed at how these lethal things are sold without any proper instructions The wall despatcher we started with still comes without any and prompts many complaints over on RC or P.P forums - the Cone is no different) We had two cockerels whose time was up and so we let D demonstrate the Cone - it was very quick and clean. The Cone prevents all the flapping and protects the wings. We've always hung ours to bleed into the broken neck cavity, but D slits the throat and drains the blood into a bucket, so we did that. The plucking machine is a monster! It has a set of big rubber fingers which detach the feathers - the only diagram shows a line drawing of a man holding the chicken upside down near the 'fingers' We put the cockerels into a bucket of hand hot water and Carl started very warily! We were impressed!!!! It did a fairly quick and clean job and just left a bit of hand plucking. We weren't sure how the machine was going to spit the feathers out so we had moved the machine to the middle of the drive - it wasn't as bad as we thought and now we know, we can place a box lined with a bin bag and a flap of cardboard in a strategic place and we should be able to contain most of the feathers. Edited November 11, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 Fascinating. It is useful to read about the "grittier" side of self sufficiency. It is not all fluffy chicks and wobbly legged lambs. You should run a course.....as well as writing the book.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 You should run a course.....as well as writing the book.! And starting a blog........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 11, 2007 Author Share Posted November 11, 2007 yeah yeah!! I've got plenty of time I've added photos now....... they are supposed to be resized to fairly small I've done them twice now and they keep coming out bigger than I wanted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 Gosh - that plucking machine looks like a scary piece of kit Do you do anything with all the feathers Lesley? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 Maybe you could resize them in Microsoft Picture Manager and then upload them again to photobucket, and then resize them again....with you having all this spare time. How long does the plucker take in comparison to doing it the old fashioned way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 11, 2007 Author Share Posted November 11, 2007 erm...... they were wet...... and all over the drive...... I'm still checking to see how you are legally supposed to dispose of them. You are not supposed to add them to the household waste......... and I expect you're not supposed to burn them..... Dry plucking - which we've always done before - means you can save all the nice downy feathers if you want to - but I'm slightly allergic to feathers so there would be no point in me keeping any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 Great news, and glad to hear that it went well Lesley. I can see what looks like Tom watching the cone warily! I undrestand that feathers are brillinat soil conditioners, can't remember now what they add to it, but you're supposed to add them to the compost or bury them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 Sorry to hear about the wasps Lesley - but as usual your posts have made excellent reading. Also I am in awe of You and Carl,still, as you demonstrate the perfect life . I still cannot beleive the transition you have made form vegetarian to "DIY" - and am as ever, very impressed Best wishes - and a good pat on the back for all of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 Thanks Sarah We just feel as if we stumble from one cisis to the next sometimes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
