Counting chickens

On February 16, 2023 By CarynIn chickens, Coop

I know my chickens and I are spoiled. They have a nice big coop and run with an automatic coop door, and I have two video cameras, so I can count chickens without wandering out in the dark.

There are eight chickens in this picture.

The outside camera has a memory card, so I can scroll back through time and watch them disappear one at a time into the coop. I’ve tried counting them using the inside camera, but there is so much jostling and repositioning that it is like playing a cup game. The inside camera can see them on their roost once they are settled, but the angle is terrible for counting.

There are also eight chickens in this picture

Yay for technology when it is working.

I think he likes it!

On February 15, 2023 By CarynIn Craft, snake

It took a couple weeks, but my eldest’s snake is now using the new basket as a hide! He has crawled over and around it and squished it out of shape, but not crushed it. I’m calling it a successful creation.

Spindle development

On February 14, 2023 By CarynIn Craft

I thought I would share the current spindle development timeline. I started with wooden spindles; the first was shaped with a band sander and hand tools, the second on my lathe and with hand tools. Then I turned to computer design and 3D printing to control dimensions. Third and fourth from the left are printed in resin and very brittle, even more so than wood. The spindles on the right are printed with PETG, which in clear shows the printer pattern and looks cool. Second from the right is a little small, and the last one on the right is a little big, so I need one that is just right.

When photographing, I sent the newest spindle flying off the table and onto the concrete floor. Ouch. I have dropped the smaller one many times without breakage, not so for the larger one. Darn it. Another factor to suggest a scale down.

I glued the head back on and am spinning with it to see if there are any other aspects that need adjusting before I request another print. I am making sure I spin over a cushion or carpet.

Chicken chopped salad

On February 13, 2023 By CarynIn chickens

I was a little enthusiastic buying lettuces, and ended up getting more when I still had some in the fridge. Oops. No worries, the chickens need some greens too. I chopped up the spinach and romain to make it easier for the chickens to eat. Sometimes I will make a hanging bundle so they are able to tear off small chunks themselves, but spinach is easier to just chop. I layered the ingredients, starting with an apple that had a large worm hole. I cut out the decayed part for the compost bin, but chopped the rest. Then in went the spinach, then the romain.

The chickens saw me coming with the bowl and made excited clucks.When I flipped over the bowl in the chicken run, the apples were on top, which I think was a nice turn out. The hens appreciated it.

Hens tucking into a pile of chopped greens

By the next day it was almost all gone, just the largest pieces of romaine remained.

Spinning cinnamon rolls

On February 12, 2023February 9, 2023 By CarynIn Craft

Spinning and cinnamon rolls are two of my favorite things. When I saw a yarn preparation at my local spinning store (we have one now! Squee!) called “Cinnamon Rolags” by The Fiber Bakery by Anniewhere, I had to buy some. This particular preparation has a blend of Merino Wool, Bluefaced Leicester (BFL), Alpaca, Tussah Silk, and Finn Wool. I haven’t spun Finn wool before, so am totally going to count this spin for ticking that box.

Drop spindle with spun and unspun Cinnamon Rolags

The spindle is one I designed and had 3D printed locally by X of All Trades. I’m getting larger ones made, but I wanted to start spinning. I like the rolled rolag prep. The roll fits comfortably in my hand so I don’t need a distaff or other fiber management device. The blend spins up well too; it drafts evenly, has no nebbs or tangled bits, and the spun single has a nice halo on it.

Critters and Craft

Author: Caryn