Putting a pump on a well

I recently bought a house in Elkhart, Indiana. It had a well. Is there a way I can get it open it and put a hand pump in it? I have a generator and will have an electrician friend get the wiring done to use it for my tiny house. I want a structure on my patio to keep in ready to use, not in the garage behind a bunch of stuff that has to be moved to get it out.

Becky Chinn
Elkhart, Indiana

Yes, you can easily remove the cap over your well casing to insert a hand pump. The most common well caps over a steel casing have set screws with bolt heads around the top lip of the cap. Simply remove or loosen them and the camp should come off fairly easily. Be sure to seal your well after putting in a hand pump so that dirt and debris doesn’t fall into your well and contaminate it. Any welder can easily modify a well cap to accomodate your pipe on the hand pump for very little expense. — Jackie

Tomato hornworms and bent toes on a chicken

My tomatoes this year have hornworms terrible. Way to many to pick off-we applied BT dust all over plants-is that ok? Next, I have a rooster that has 2 toes that are completely bent to the side. I have no clue what happened-if its been like that or just happened. Got him with my hens as baby chicks in April. Should I worry about this? He seems fine. Last, can I use my chickens shavings as compost-the coop always has their seed mixed in and its organic. If I use as compost will the seeds sprout in the garden beds?

Jacqueline Wieser
Sidney, Nebraska

Yes. Bt is fine to use for all chewing caterpillars and is safe for butterflies, pets, good bugs, and you!

Bent toes is a genetic defect in chickens. It is usually a disqualification to show birds but doesn’t harm homestead chickens. I would probably consider using a different rooster if you plan on hatching any eggs from his mating. The defect is hereditary.

If you compost your chicken litter well, the leftover chicken seed (probably millet) will not sprout in your garden. The heat generated during composting will cook the seeds. — Jackie