Looking back over the past year is always interesting. Or depressing. No, interesting. When we look at the major activities accomplished, we shake our heads and wonder how we had time to make it all happen. And this list doesn't capture other activities like classes taught, consulting or public presentations. ![]()
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Compared to recent years, this one wasn't as busy with respect to output. Interestingly, it's the first time in several years that the farm actually made money. The last line (Hourly Income) assumes that we both work a 40-hour week. Any farmer will tell you that's a joke; it's probably 60-80 hours per week, with no days off. But assuming a standard work week has us earning 33 cents per hour EACH! So the next time someone complains about the cost of eggs, meat, or honey, we'll tell them we're working on a pay increase to $.35 per hour!![]()
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In all seriousness, we LOVE what we do, and are grateful for every customer and follower. Whether you are local or live far away, THANK YOU for following us in our homestead education journey! We look forward to another busy year, and hope to see you at the farm.
It's fun to make old equipment come to life again. But with old equipment there are several problems to find. This video details fixing an old backpack blower engine. When one problem was fixed, another one emerged. But when it was done, the engine roared back to life. ![]()
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The steps in this video can be applied to nearly any 2-stroke engine. Just remember FACTS: Fuel, Air (& Exhaust), Compression, Timing, and Spark. Use it to diagnose your issues and you'll usually find the problem.![]()
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Repairing an Old Backpack Blower
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I love to make old equipment come to life again. But old engines have old parts, and often more than one problem. Every time I fixed one problem, I discove...
Some people think roosters are mean, but some are friendly and adorable, like Mack Daddy.
When fans stop moving, it's often a dry bearing or dry shaft in the motor. But they are incredibly easy to repair. Open the motor and you'll see where the shaft or bearing should be moving. If it's not, then that's your problem. Add grease, but don't get any on the copper windings. Reassemble and you have a working fan again. In this case, a dab of grease saved me $90!![]()
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When fans stop moving, it's often a dry bearing or shaft in the motor. They are incredibly easy to repair. After you open the motor, you'll see where the s...
Growing your own food is homesteading. How many hands touch your food before you eat it?![]()
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A big part of homesteading is shortening the distance between food production and food consumption.
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School teachers and homeschool teachers often want to teach embryology while hatching eggs, but they run into 3 problems:![]()
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1. Where to get fertilized eggs.![]()
2. What to do with the chicks when the class is done.![]()
3. Where to get a complete incubator & brooder kit.![]()
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Happy Wife Acres has a solution! On Saturday, 29 March, we will hold a workshop to build a brooder by modifying a storage tub. Then you'll take home a kit complete with incubator, brooder, heat lamp, hygrometer, candler, waterer, and feeder. After the class, you'll receive free fertilized eggs for life, as long as you return the resulting chicks. During the workshop, we will discuss tips to successfully hatch and raise chicks.![]()
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There are only 4 slots available, but an additional workshop will be added if there is enough interest.![]()
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If you want to simply purchase the kit without attending the workshop, there is also an option at the link.![]()
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For more information, go to www.happywifeacres.com/workshop-build-a-hatch-kit/![]()
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Please share this post with other educators or homeschool groups who may find this information useful. Thank you!
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Water Belly usually occurs in older chickens. It's a sign that your chicken's life is ending. The scientific name is Ascites, and its cause is hypertension, when the heart can't circulate oxygenated blood as quickly as it should. The heart tries to compensate, which puts extra stress on the liver, causing it to excrete fluid into the abdomen. The fluid presses on the lungs, making it hard to breathe, and will eventually cause the bird to suffocate.![]()
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It is NOT a disease, and won't spread to other birds in your flock. There are causes like nutrition and stress, but most of the time the cause is simply age. ![]()
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If one of your birds has water belly, you'll spot the issue right away. It will have an odd posture, like it is squatting to lay an egg. It will be lethargic with labored breathing, and when it walks, it will waddle. Most birds will have a pale or even blue comb & wattle. The belly will be swollen and squishy, like a water balloon. ![]()
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There is no cure. Old animals die. But you can relieve the labored breathing by removing the water. We make a small slit in the abdomen with a sharp razor blade. Make a shallow cut on either side of the center line. The yellow liquid will stream out. Some use a needle and syringe to remove the water. And some people just dispatch the chicken.![]()
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The chicken will die. Sometimes they last another day or two, sometimes they last for a couple of months. But there's no reason to let them suffer. Older chickens, like humans, have lower immunities, and are more susceptible to infections and parasites, internal and external. When chicken owners say they let their chickens "live out their natural life," it can mean inhumane suffering without additional medical attention. So if you're going to let your animals live long past their prime, give them the medical attention they deserve. And be prepared to dispatch them before they suffer.![]()
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Water Belly usually occurs in older chickens. It's a sign that your chicken's life is ending. The scientific name is Ascites, and its cause is hypertension...
First sign of spring: incubators. Even though it's January, our winter break is almost over. These quail eggs will begin to hatch 18 days from now (30 January). ![]()
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132 eggs went in. With an optimistic 70% hatch rate, 92 will hatch. They will be about evenly split between males and females, which means 132 eggs results in about 46 females. Why is that important? Because we sell live quail at 3 weeks old, and customers want females to lay eggs to eat and make more quail.![]()
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If you would like to place an order for live quail, go to www.happywifeacres.com/live-quail/. Local pickup only. Although these quail won't be ready for sale until 20 February, we already have orders and will likely be sold out before they hatch. We incubate 132 eggs every two weeks from January until September.![]()
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If you are interested in learning more about raising quail for eggs and meat, we are offering our Raising Quail for Food class at the farm on Saturday, 22 March. Go to www.happywifeacres.com/classes/ to learn more and see other scheduled classes.
A Few Minutes on the Homestead - 11 January 2025![]()
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Today we’re blowing slow and finally removing rabbits. It’s a snowy January!![]()
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A Few Minutes on the Homestead - 11 January 2025
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Today we’re plowing snow. And the chickens appreciate it.
I keep thinking that if I look at his feathers and cross my eyes, I’ll see a 3D image. But no, it’s just a rooster.
It’s 16 degrees. Wanna go for a swim? The ducks do!![]()
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A pond heater keeps the water thawed, but when they get out, it’s still 16 degrees!
Happy Wife Acres is pleased to announce a new class: Introduction to Beekeeping. The class will be taught on Saturday, 26 April, from 9 am to 1 pm. There is a limit of 12 participants.![]()
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If you are interested in raising bees, but feel they are complex and intimidating, then this class will help you decide if bees are right for you. It will make the complex understandable as you learn about the lifecycle of bees, see what goes on inside the beehive, and learn how to handle bees and harvest honey. The class also explores the economics of raising bees for money.![]()
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To learn more and register, visit www.happywifeacres.com/class-intro-to-beekeeping/
Ducks and chickens have very different opinions on winter!![]()
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Farming is experimentation. We’re trying something new to keep the egg box warm in this cold weather. So far it’s working nicely!
If Andrea says this to John, it usually means an impossible design, a combination of parts that aren’t meant to work together, a week of planning, 12 design changes, and 6 trips to the hardware store. But it’s what keeps the Happy Wife happy.
A Few Minutes on the Homestead - 2 January 2025.![]()
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We're getting ready for a cold blast of winter weather! Newer homesteaders worry about keeping their animals warm in the winter. The key is to keep them out of the wind and rain (except ducks; they love the water!). Supplemental heat is dangerous and unnecessary. Did you ever wonder how songbirds and raccoons survive the winter? They come equipped with feathers and fur. Our winter preparations focus on blocking windy areas, and keeping water from freezing. Here is some of what we do:![]()
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- Use heated 1.5 gallon dog bowls for rabbits and occasionally chickens![]()
- Use tarps and plywood panels to block wind blowing through coops/cages![]()
- Search for chickens at lockup time that didn't return to the coop![]()
- Use bird bath heaters for duck pools![]()
- Use radiant heat plates to keep quail water from freezing![]()
- Collect eggs frequently to prevent frozen eggs![]()
- Give extra straw to chickens, and extra hay to rabbits![]()
- Use "Pocket Hose" (lightweight self-evacuating hose) to fill waterers![]()
- Use waterproof gloves when cleaning waterers![]()
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WINTERIZING! A Few Minutes on the Homestead - 2 January 2025
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Today we talk about keeping the animals comfortable during cold weather. Most people don’t understand that animals are built to be outdoors and survive cold ...
Filming our "My Favorite Things" video series created a lot of bloopers. Here they are in one place for you to enjoy. ![]()
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This is a collection of bloopers from the 2024 series "My Favorite Things." We have a lot of fun on and off camera, and we share some of that with you.
This is the LAST video in our My Favorite Things holiday series. John secretly makes Lemon Curd Mini Pies while Andrea is away! Lemon Curd Mini Pies are easier to make than you might think. And making lemon curd yourself is a LOT cheaper than buying it. Use pre-made pie crust to make it even easier.![]()
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Lemon Curd:![]()
1 stick butter![]()
3 eggs, beaten![]()
3/4 cup sugar![]()
3/4 cup lemon juice![]()
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Heat slowly, stirring constantly until mixture is thick and starts to boil. Remove, cool, and spoon into cooked pie crust. ![]()
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Thank you for letting us share our holiday favorites with you. Best wishes for a prosperous 2025!![]()
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If you missed any in our My Favorite Things series, you can see them all at www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLONpgcHRH17tCNXPcib3VM6DG_5HRD7c2
My Favorite Things - Lemon Curd Mini Pies
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This is the LAST video in our My Favorite Things holiday series. Lemon Curd Mini Pies are easier to make than you might think. And making lemon curd yourse...
My Favorite Things - Trinidad Milk Punch![]()
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This delicious will transport you to the tropics! Enjoy it after dinner with friends. And watch the outtakes at the end!![]()
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1/2 cup evaporated milk![]()
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk![]()
1/4 cup lemon curd![]()
1/4 cup white rum![]()
1/2 tbsp lime juice![]()
1/2 tsp bitters![]()
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By the way, when creating this video, YouTube's AI suggested titles. Too funny. Here's what they suggested:![]()
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- I Tried Trinidad Milk Punch and Here’s What Happened![]()
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- The Shocking Difference Between Trinidad Milk Punch and Regular Milk![]()
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- Trinidad Milk Punch Is the BEST Thing That's Happened to My Morning![]()
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- The 5-Minute Trinidad Milk Punch Hack That Changed My Life
My Favorite Things Trinidad Milk Punch
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This is a delicious drink that will transport you to the tropics! Enjoy this after dinner with friends.1/2 cup evaporated milk1/4 cup sweetened condensed mi...
It's that magical time between Christmas and the New Year. Christmas is over and you can finally relax and forget what day of the week it is. So make yourself a refreshing holiday drink and try not to think about how quickly going back to work. ![]()
Here's one to try. It's called the Naughty & Nice Cocktail.![]()
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Ingredients:![]()
2 oz bourbon![]()
1 oz orange juice![]()
2 oz cranberry juice![]()
1 oz ginger syrup![]()
2 oz club soda![]()
Mix and serve over ice![]()
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Ingredients for the Ginger Syrup:![]()
1 cup chopped ginger (put it in the blender)![]()
1 cup water![]()
1 cup sugar![]()
1/2 cup lemon juice![]()
Boil, Strain, & Refrigerate![]()
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My Favorite Things - Naughty & Nice Cocktail
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This is a refreshing holiday drink! You'll want to have a second one.Ingredients:2 oz bourbon1 oz orange juice2 oz cranberry juice1 oz ginger syrup2 oz club...
Christmas may be over, but there's still plenty of time for holiday gatherings. And there's always time for chocolate cake! This cake is delicious and easy to make. Use just one pot on the stove to mix and one sheet pan to bake. It's like fudge on chocolate cake. Thank you Brenda for showing us how to make this!![]()
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Cake Ingredients:![]()
2 sticks butter![]()
4 tbsp cocoa![]()
1 cup water![]()
2 cups sugar![]()
2 cups flour![]()
1 tsp salt![]()
1/2 cup sour cream![]()
2 eggs![]()
1 tbsp baking soda![]()
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Frosting Ingredients:![]()
1 stick butter![]()
4 tbsp cocoa![]()
1 cup milk![]()
1 lb powdered sugar![]()
1 tsp vanilla![]()
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My Favorite Things - Texas Sheet Cake
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This cake is delicious and easy to make. Use just one pot on the stove to mix and one sheet pan to bake. It's like fudge on chocolate cake. Get ready for ...
Happy Wife Acres will be closed on Christmas so that our employees can…YEAH RIGHT! On the farm, every day is a work day. We rounded up roosters for tomorrow’s processing, and de-spurred our permanent roosters. Just another day on the farm. ![]()
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MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Next in our series is a rich and delicious drink, Buttered Rum. Worry about calories in January. Enjoy the holidays with this drink!![]()
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1 stick butter![]()
1 cup heavy whipping cream![]()
1/2 cup brown sugar![]()
2 oz spiced rum![]()
1/4 tsp salt![]()
1/4 tsp Moroccan spice blend![]()
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Moroccan Spice Blend ingredients:![]()
3 tbsp black pepper![]()
2 tsp ginger![]()
2 tsp cinnamon![]()
1 tsp turmeric![]()
1/2 tsp cardamom![]()
1/4 tsp ground clove![]()
1/4 tsp nutmeg![]()
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My Favorite Things - Buttered Rum
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This drink is like liquid candy! Rich and delicious, you'll be asking for more. Ingredients:1 stick butter1 cup heavy whipping cream1/2 cup brown sugar2 oz...
Update: Sunny D has a new home pending pickup. ![]()
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We posted about Sunny D nesting yesterday. She only had 1 baby and it died. This is the second time she only had 1 baby, so are retiring her. We don’t want to eat her, so she will either run the yard with Isabella, or will become someone’s pet. If you are interested in a large pet rabbit, please contact us. You must have all the supplies ready to care for a rabbit.
A Few Minutes on the Homestead - 21 December 2024![]()
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Today we talk about the winter solstice and the effects of sunlight on egg production. Today is the shortest daylight day of the year. Even though we will start having more daylight, it will only increase about 20 minutes in the next month. But in TWO months (21 February), we will have an extra hour and 40 minutes! The laying hens will notice the extra light, and will start laying more. Actually, the production begins to increase in January, but we really notice the difference in February. Yes, in the middle of winter! Production peaks in early May, and steadily drops until October, when it nosedives due to molt and decreased sunlight. So while we enjoy our winter break and the holidays, we look forward to more sunlight and eggs!![]()
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A Few Minutes on the Homestead - 21 December 2024
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A quick look at what is happening on the farm. Today we talk about winter solstice and the effect on egg production.