Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

[Baymule]

Watch Craigslist for utility poles. I see them on there from time to time. Call the light company to see if they have any, ask what contractors they use to change out poles if they don't do it with their own crews. As you know, I am quite the scrounger. Every time you go to town, slide by Lowes and check out the reject rack. Cull lumber will build just as good of a barn as primo #1 stuff and costs WAY less!

 

[Bruce]

Isn't "cull" lumber usually twisted or curved or split or cupped or etc, etc, etc?? There is a reason it is in that rack!

 

[Alaskan]

Watch Craigslist for utility poles. I see them on there from time to time. Call the light company to see if they have any, ask what contractors they use to change out poles if they don't do it with their own crews. As you know, I am quite the scrounger. Every time you go to town, slide by Lowes and check out the reject rack. Cull lumber will build just as good of a barn as primo #1 stuff and costs WAY less!

I love the construction trash area at the dump. A gold mine.

as to goats..


Dang... my poor milk goat.

That girl is producing so well that she is way thinner than I would like. She is up to all she wants to eat at the night milking, 2 big scoops at the morning milking, all the hay she wants 24/7 and free range browse all day. I decided today to add a scoop of alfalfa pellets for "lunch".

Her color is good...so she hadn't been wormed. ..but I went ahead and wormed her yesterday. ..and gave her Bs and probios. She gets selenium and E once a month.... and her copper....

Most of what she gets morning and evening is COB.

 

[Bruce]

I hope she get some weight on @Alaskan though from some pictures I've seen, a healthy dairy goat can be pretty darned scrawny looking.

 

[Alaskan]

I hope she get some weight on @Alaskan though from some pictures I've seen, a healthy dairy goat can be pretty darned scrawny looking.

yeah...I keep reminding myself of that..and she is a Saanan... so she will never bulk out... but I need more meat on the girl going into winter, and I don't want to dry her up. She is such a champ. .. no decrease in production, AT ALL, and she kidded back in March!

So, I am hoping the 3 meals a day will help, I am also going to add some more vitamins and such, see how that helps.

 

[Mini Horses]

Isn't "cull" lumber usually twisted or curved or split or cupped or etc, etc, etc?? There is a reason it is in that rack!

Yes & no. And sometimes depends on the store.

Sometimes they change suppliers, short stock left- sell off. Or, no longer carry the size, color, etc. Move it for the space to place new items.

When a 16' board has a small chunk off at the end, I have 15' good. The 4x8 T-lll had chips on one end from strapping. I only needed 7'...got it for 1/2 price. I was going to cut off a foot anyway. You have to look at it and decide where you are using. But, like Bay, I've found some great stuff, good price. Lowe's is good for this. Barns, huts, fences, these are more forgiving than a $500K house.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Very true! We could get 16 ft boards, some over an inch thick and 4-8 inches wide depending on the board. For $1 each. It was good, strong wood and while some wasn't usable it worked our great.

If you are on FB join local sale groups for your area. I just got two 10ft tube gates in great condition with all hardware and wheels for $25 EACH!

 

[Goat Whisperer]

If you scroll through the first 3 pages you can see the "barn" we built. We added on to it but it gives an idea. https://www.backyardherds.com/threads/southerns-southern-by-choice-journal-flooded.31367/

 

[Bruce]

If you scroll through the first 3 pages you can see the "barn" we built.

Um, I'd hate to see your "non temporary" barn. That is seriously well made and made to last.

When a 16' board has a small chunk off at the end

Pretty poor business sense. They sell boards from 8' in 2' increments. Sell a 16' with slightly damaged end cheap rather than cut 2' off and sell a full price 14' board?

 

[HomeOnTheRange]

Today I went and bought 6 bales of Orchard/Alfalfa (~25/75%) shipped here from NM

I was wondering where all that hay was going to. Of course it is hard to find here as they can get better prices in TX, AZ and CO.