Book idea
Just a suggestion for “Will’s Book.” I am re-reading all of your old Ask Jackie columns and enjoying them just as much as the first time I read them. And as I read over them I come across many areas of where Will is either working on equipment or building something, the latest was putting Old Yellers track back on. This is the type of thing that would be wonderful for Will to put into a book. Just explaining how to go about doing something like this. Most of the guys and gal’s out there would not even have any idea how to start a project like that, let alone how to do it.
Lois Lara
Boring, Oregon
Thanks for the idea, Lois. I know what you mean. The first time Old Yeller threw a track, David and I didn’t have a clue as to how to get it back on. And in the process, we lost the steel ball bearing that controls the tensioner! As Dad used to say, “too soon old, too late smart!” Having some info sure does help at times. — Jackie
Neutralizing urine odor
The weather here finally warmed. Last week our county, Modoc, was colder than Barrow Alaska so my goats have been spending a lot of time in doors. Is there anything I can put on the ground (barn has earth floor) that will neutralize the urine smell.
Betsy Ingraham
Davis Creek, California
Many feed stores carry bicarbonate of soda in large bags pretty cheap. It helps a lot to sprinkle that down after cleaning out any old bedding. Another thing you can use is plain old barn lime, also available at feed stores. Both of these products sweeten up the smell a lot. I throw down a bale of pine shavings early in the winter, on top of barn lime. Then I bed with oat straw all winter, adding more as time goes on, keeping a good layer of straw down. This makes a manure pack that, in our climate, does not smell until spring when I clean out the pen. Then, PEE Yeew! If you clean daily or weekly, just sprinkle down lime or baking soda after each cleaning to keep the pen smelling sweet. — Jackie
Agree on a book for Will. It would be a great resource to have his projects in book, complete with diagrams!!
Good deal! Next spring starts the chicken house. Don’t know about chickens yet until I can talk my hubby into stopping the fairs. But we sell lots of roasted nuts and that will help me on my way to being self-sufficient.
Nancy,
Yes, it does help in the chicken coop. I clean the coop well, then sprinkle either lime or baking soda on the dirt floor, then spread about six inches of new wood shavings over it. I’ve never had trouble with the chickens digging up and eating the lime or baking soda.
I wonder if that would work for a chicken house. I want a dirt floor in my chicken house as I am going to bury cement blocks at least 4 deep to keep our the critters. Will the lime or baking soda be okay for them or will they eat it. Guess I will have to look that up.
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