Even the most experienced woodsmen can lose their way. Often times everything looks the same and it’s easy to go in circles. The old method was to use stones, or to break twigs as indicators of where you have been.
Now they offer Biodegradable Trail Marking Tape, and we think it’s a neat idea for those less experienced at marking their way
Available from several manufacturers like HME, Primos, and even Coghlans
When SHTF, money is low, or you’re just looking to be really frugal and repurpose materials Pallets are a pretty cool solution for building things. We thought this collection of shelters and homes that used pallets or pallet wood might be good inspiration for your own project. Always make sure your pallets are bug and debris free, and it’s a good idea to hose them down to remove an pesticides or chemicals on them as well. We’d also spray coat or seal them with either primer or a sealent.
If you’re ready to start your flock the first thing to do is decide what kind of chickens you want.
• Meat birds
• Egg layers
• Dual purpose (good for meat and eggs)
• Weather tolerant in your climate
• Fancy breeds (colorful and or unusual)
• Egg colors
• Temperament
• Broodiness
• Self-reliant (good foragers)
If you’re raising birds for meat, the Cornish Rock types develop amazingly fast and are ready to butcher by 6-8 weeks. They’ve been bred to eat constantly and develop large meaty muscles in a short amount of time. If you let them grow much more than 3 months, they will not be able to walk, and will die of heart attacks.
Most people want dual purpose breeds, which are good egg producers but are larger bodied. Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Orphingtons, Brahmas, Delawares, Austrolorps are a few examples. Want really good layers? Leghorns, Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks and other breeds can produce up to one egg a day. A more average rate is on egg every two or three days. Laying usually slows down during molting and winter months. You can force your hens to lay in winter if you put a timed light in the coop.
Some birds tolerate heat and humidity better than others. If you live in a cold climate make sure your birds are cold hardy. Small wattles and combs are less susceptible to frostbite. Large bodied birds withstand cold better than small or slight birds. Bantams (the minis of the chicken world) need special treatment in the winter. They look cool but more often than not you’re sacrificing looks for performance. Most fancy, colorful breeds are not good layers, not cold hardy and are slower to mature.
If you want particular egg color and size, you can select for that too. For example, Amaraucanas lay eggs that usually range from blue to green to olive. Marans lay darker shades of brown. Some breeds lay white eggs and others different shades of tan. Family friendly, easy to handle birds include Orphingtons, Australorp, Rhode Island Reds, and Delewares. Some breeds are better at foraging than others. Some are better at sitting on the nest once they have a clutch off eggs (this is called being ‘broody’) and raising their babies when they hatch.
You can find more specifics about breeds at these websites, or look for breeds on hatchery websites.
http://www.eggzy.net/breeds
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html
http://www.wilkamdai.com/poultry_chicken_breeds_of_Interest.html
When you choose what you want, make sure you have a few backups that fit your criteria. Some breeds are just really hard to find, and some have off years that they don’t produce as well at the hatcheries. I’d suggest mixing it up at first and trying a few different types to discover your favorites.
You can order fertilized eggs and incubate your own, order day old chicks, order partially grown birds, or adult birds from a local breeder. Most people order chicks, so I’ll address this. When you’re ready to order them from a hatchery or pick them up from the feed store, you’ll probably want most if not all females (pullets). A small local breeder won’t be able to tell you if a chick is male or female until it starts to get its adult plumage, around 6-8 weeks. Sexing chicks is really hard to do, and even the hatcheries don’t always get it right. Even if they are advertised as ‘pullets’, there is still a chance the chick is a male. You’ll need to decide ahead of time what to do with it if you end up with a rooster if you don’t want to keep it.
You can order your chicks in the mail from a hatchery. Usually there is an order minimum. The chicks will be mailed to you and this minimum order size ensures that they produce enough body heat to keep each other warm. The ordering season is late February through early June, when temperatures are more ideal. If you buy them at a local feed store, look for chicks that are not scrawny or lethargic, with no discharge in eyes or nostrils. If there is a lot of fecal matter stuck to their vent it can block up and they can die from it, so avoid this. If you only want females, don’t pick the biggest chicks from the bunch. The males tend to be slightly larger than the females. Regardless of where you get your chicks or hens, always pick the healthiest, most active ones from the bunch.
Check back for the next article about chickens, Setting Up Your Brooder For Chicks
Medicinal Properties of Pineapple
Pineapple is not just for drinks and desserts. Rich in the enzyme bromelain, research has shown that pineapple can be effective in treating lung inflammation that can be caused by excessive coughing, suppressing the urge to cough more, according to the National Library of Medicine. This study also indicates that the bromelain naturally present in pineapple may provide similar effects if the cough you suffer from is due to asthma. Pineapple juice has also been used to treat other respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, hay fever, asthma and pneumonia. It’s being tested as a possible treatment for cancer and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus-
Also when it comes to colds You Need Vitamin C to Boost Your Immunity System
Orange juice and grapefruit juices are the leaders when it comes to fruit juices that contain Vitamin C. Still, pineapple juice is packed full of this valuable antioxidant as well. One cup of orange juice provides 120 percent of the Daily Value (DV) of Vitamin C. One cup of pineapple juice provides 100 percent of the Vitamin C you need every day.
Choose Fresh Pineapple Juice Over Canned or Frozen
To get the most health benefits from pineapple juice when you have a cold, fresh is the best choice. Look for ripe fruits that have a vibrant color and deep green leaves.
Processed pineapple juice still contains the bromelain enzyme, but it contains less than fresh.
Catch a glimpse of what it’s like walking across America with the first video compilation of my adventure!
Introduction
My name is Edward Mjelde, I am a 24 year old recent college graduate from sunny San Diego, California.
This is my story about how I gave away and sold nearly all my possessions and left home with a backpack to walk coast-to-coast across the country following the 5,100 mile American Discovery Trail in pursuit of beauty, truth, and a life of risk and adventure.
My goal is to share the stories I have gathered from my adventure in hope that it will inspire people to take risks in order to chase their own dreams and aspirations.
I have dubbed my epic adventure as WalkUSA, ”A Walk to Discover America and its People”.
Summary: In this article I introduce myself and share the story on how I came up with this cross-country backpacking adventure, explain how I physically prepared for my journey, and at the bottom share some tips that helped me achieve my fitness goals that might work for you.
Welcome to the adventure!
The Birth of The Idea
I had announced it November 2011 to my friends and family, I had decided I was going to walk across America after college. At first my mom didn’t believe me, my dad thought I was crazy, and some of my friends rolled their eyes, gave me a face palm salute, and said “Good luck!”.
They hadn’t yet seen the fire I had burning in my eyes.
This idea to walk across the continent was born inside me on a rainy day while I was in a state of primordially ooze, stressed and weary eyed, after I had just finished a late night/early morning college paper. I was feeling a bit overworked in life managing over 20 units in college, running my own college marketing organization, and working the graveyard as a server at the local Denny’s Diner.
Being the Founder and President of the Marketing Society was a major challenge and time commitment. Though it was hard work, it taught me how taking big risks can provide beautiful rewards.
I was awakened that night when I was sitting at my desk chair starring at my computer screen with a wide drooling mouth totally burnt out, knowing I had more to go. I sat there and must have had my eyes glued on the glowing computer screen for over ten minutes, the screen saver had come on. It started to float through images at the most melancholy pace that I felt my heart dip and slowly carve at my chest.
I was feeling the feels while starring in front of me with a cow’s gaze at the images tumbling in front of my eyes. America’s heartland, mountains, rivers, oceans, cities, and towns were the subject of my attention.
I loved where I was in California, but my heart started to make increasing scoops at my chest, I knew what it meant, my heart has told me this for quite a while… I really wanted to experience more.
It dawned upon me that it was a priority that I take the trip I have always dreamt about.
“Priority”… When I had this epiphany my eyes widened, my heart started beating madly, my head started running, and I knew the idea had hit.
I had already dreamt about traveling by foot, at one point I moved all my belongings into a storage unit and lived out of my car in order to try and save money in hope that I could make a journey happen. I set up a cot on the beach and spent my nights sleeping beneath the stars. I took showers at 24 hour fitness, hung out at the local coffee shops, and at nights listened to the waves crash against the cliffs just missing me in its spray. I fell in love.
School and life got in the way of my previous attempts but with graduation around the corner I knew it was time to get my plans in gear again.
The Need To Start Training
Where I sat till my friend picked me up, after admitting my defeat, unable to complete my planned 40 mile practice walk.
I will never forget leaving my apartment on a warm morning with tight jeans and my old unfitted backpack. I had stuffed it to the rim with a mixed batch of thrown together gear and way too much food than I needed for my two-day-40-mile practice walk from the door step of my apartment in to a nearby mountain.
I had been already telling people that I was going to hike across America after college, when they asked how I was going to do it I would say “I have no idea, but I am going to find out.”.
It was spring break and I was ready to get my feet wet again and rediscover what backpacking was all about. I wanted to find what it took to walk 20 miles a day, so I planned this walk to build that perspective.
The first day was invigorating, winding myself on backcountry roads, discovering places I hadn’t known existed. By the end of the first day my legs were overworked and in pain, but I had achieved my goal of walking 20 miles and landed myself in a baseball park for the night to sleep. I remember optimistically thinking, “What a success!”.
The following morning, I woke up to discover my legs no longer worked. I tried to get up but my muscles were so tight that every movement brought pain down to the core of my bones. I tried stretching, and it helped, but it didn’t help on beating the pain. I had 20 more miles to walk till I could go home, but I could only put in less than 10 painstaking sloppy-foot-pride-filled miles before I called my friend and had to ask her to pick me up, I had been defeated.
It was easy to see that if I was going to do this I would need to get in shape.
Working Out
My results from beginning to end.
I didn’t waste time, I knew I had to get to work on my body. I had been to the gyms before and I realized it wasn’t for me. I needed something I can do easily, on my own time, that didn’t require having to drive somewhere to get it done. I decided to try out P-90X, an intense home workout program which requires about one and a half hours of devotion everyday for 90 days with the promise of getting amazing results.
The results were truly phenomenal; the work outs were long and strenuous, but easy to do. The only work out gear I used included a pull up bar and 4 sets of weights up to 25 pounds. I feel my results are a true testimony that you may not have to get a gym pass to get your body in amazing shape.
My older brother and sister decided to join me on my challenge to complete a half marathon. As always my parents were around to support!
After a month of P-90X I started including running and sprint training into my work out. I went from not being able to run a mile, to managing one with over a 10 min mile time, to my quickest single mile in my life clocking in at 5:51 seconds.
I loved incorporating running into my regiment and decided to make the leap to train for a half marathon. In January 2013 I completed the Carlsbad Half Marathon in just over 2 hours before I left for my walk in March 2013.
I became physically prepared to take on America.
Tips on Achieving Fitness Goals
Variety is the spice of life. One of the goals I had when running was to explore new terrain. Creating new challenges may keep fitness interesting.
Some people have found my results to be inspiring and have asked if I had any tips on getting in shape. From my experience I offer these words of advice:
Find a workout program that works for you. We all have different fitness goals and there are many ways to achieve them. For me gyms were too much of a hassle to get to during my day, working out at home was a solution which allowed me to avoid excuses.
Keep records on what you are doing. You don’t know what to do if you don’t know what you have already done. Keeping detailed records allows you to create goals.
Example: “ I did 20 push-ups last week, this week I am increasing to 25”.
Reward yourself with something you like. You might find that it’s fun to reward yourself to keep motivation high. Find rewards that keep you energized and only reward yourself when you deserve it. For me I enjoyed a happy helping of beer “typically a training no-no, but lets be honest” ,fresh fruit smoothies, and lox asiago cheese bagels .
Keep at it. No workout program was a success in just one day. Even if you just do small things everyday, the work you put in can amount to grand results.
Create a larger goal. There is an old quote by Daniel Burnham, an amazing architect and city planner:
“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably will themselves not be realized. Make big plans.”
Find something that you can aspire to. It can be a bet with a friend on who can do more push-ups at the end of the month or a future organized run you can participate in. Anything that is big enough and meaningful enough to get you going and keep you motivated.
Start. You can’t get there unless you take the, often painful, steps of beginning. The first days may be challenging but as you stick with it, it becomes routine, it truly does get easier, and you start to see results.
Our bodies are all different, but my experience shows that it may be possible to change your fitness level in a matter of months. I challenge everyone to reach towards their highest goals and to persist in finding joy in getting around life’s many challenges.
NEXT ARTICLE:
Be sure to keep your eyes open for my next article where I will be sharing how I planned my hike. My hope is that it may shed some light on how you can plan your own hikes, large or small. Till next time, “Cheers!”.
Check out the Next Article in this series: WalkUSA’s Adventure Series: Planning
Chickens are great for food and self-sufficiency. They are the oldest domesticated animal in the world, which means people have been using them for eggs, meat, manure compost, and insect control for thousands of years. If you’re thinking about starting your own flock, consider the following.
Why do you want chickens? There is an investment of time and money involved, so consider your return. These are the things you’ll have to do if you keep chickens:
Build a PREDATOR PROOF coop and run
Decide what kind of birds and how many
Raise the chicks or buy adult birds
Clean the coop regularly and compost or dispose of manure
Feed and water them
Deal with disease and/or destructive habits
Collect eggs regularly
Winterize your flock
Butcher and process them
If you live in a town or city check city ordinances before you start your flock. Most municipalities will allow a certain number of hens, but no roosters. A rooster is not necessary for your hens to lay eggs, but it is for more baby chickens. Investing the time and money to build a strong, secure coop and run can’t be overstated. It is devastating to work hard raising a flock only to have it wiped out by predators, disease, or cannibalistic habits that arise from stressful conditions.
A word of warning for first-time chicken keepers. Some people get attached to their chickens, and eating your pets gets weird. Do not let your kids take them into your house. They actively carry salmonella and other bacteria that’s harmful to humans. They are not house pets. It may seem silly to bring it up, but people who didn’t grow up in the country struggle with this.
Most people order chicks in the spring for egg and meat production. Chicks need a heat source for about three months before you can put them outside, depending on your climate and when you get them. They’ll require an inside area (it will get stinky and noisy) where you can install a heat lamp and have enough space for quickly growing critters. They need at minimum 1-2 square feet per bird as they grow. They also need constant access to food and water, and daily cleaning. It takes an average of 4-5 months for chickens to start laying eggs. Meat birds mature between 3 and 5 months depending on the breed. On average, after three years, egg production declines and then your hen becomes dinner or a pet.
If you decide you’re ready, check back for articles on the next steps; choosing the right breeds and raising chicks.
Garlic has been used by mankind for over 7,000 years! Garlic tastes amazing, at least to us, but did you know just how powerful this herb is. It does more than just keep Vampires at bay.
Just some of the Uses fr Garlic that have been claimed
In this comprehensive article we will be discussing the top lightweight methods for water treatment while traveling solo or in a group through the back country. After reading this article you will be familiar with many of the popular methods of water treatment including pump filters, point-of-use filters, gravity filters, chemical treatments, ultraviolet light, and boiling. For an overview of conclusions made for each system, scroll down to the bottom of the article.
When weight is a concern it is important to consider different treatment methods and understand the advantages and drawback of each system. The options listed may be up for debate, personal preference, and depend upon the specific requirements for particular trips.
Solo Travel
Gathering water from a stream on the southern end of the Pacific Crest Trail
The following are the top two lightweight options for water treatments while traveling solo in the back country.All treatment systems discussed have the opportunity to weigh less than 4oz dependent upon the amount of water needed to be treated during a given trip.
Ultra Violet Light
Ultra Violet Light is a micro-organism killer. It has a wave length so short that it is able to destroy the nucleic acids in organisms scrambling their DNA so that they can no longer perform vital cellular functions, like reproducing. This James Bond method of water treatment is now available for outdoor enthusiast.
A) SteriPen Freedom B) CamelBak “All Clear” Water Purifier C) Meridian Designs Aqua Star
One of the most popular UV Light products for water treatment is the SteriPen. SteriPen has several different product models weighing under 4ozs with differences between weight, battery, longevity, display, and size. Other popular and great options are offered by Camelback and Meridian Designs.
Advantages:
-It‘s very quick. One liter of water can be treated in only 45-60 seconds.
-It’s very light weight. At under 4ozs its is considerably lighter than many other options
-It’s doesn’t clog up. Pumps and other filtration systems run the risk of building up sediment.
Disadvantages:
-It’s an electronic. It needs to use batteries or be charged and it can malfunction. Carrying a back-up treatment is generally recommended.
-It’s expensive. Most units cost within the hundred dollar range.
-Limited effectiveness in stagnant water. When water is cloudy and full of debris dangerous micro-organisms may be able to find shelter from the UV light leaving their cellular functions intact.
-May not filter debris or pollution from the water source.
Survival Fact:
Did you know that water can be treated by the sun? UV Light naturally passing through our atmosphere can kill the micro-organisms in your water.
The drawback, it takes very long! It is said that a clear plastic water bottle with one liter of water can take over 6 hours to be treated in direct sunlight.
Chemical Treatments (Iodine and Chlorine Dioxide):
Many chemical treatments come in liquid and tablet form. They are general dropped in dirty water containers and take 20-30 minutes to treat one liter of water.
There are two popular chemical treatments available, iodine and chlorine dioxide.
The once popular iodine water treatments may have started to go out of favor with outdoor enthusiasts. Iodine, even with taste enhancing treatments, carries an unpleasant flavor that may detract from the connection of the natural source that water is pulled from.
There are some differences between the two chemicals. Iodine may not treat water for viruses but chlorine will. Both will treat water of from giardia, a dangerous protozoan parasite, but iodine may not treat water from cryptosporidiosis which causes diarrhea.
A) Portable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide B) Portable Aqua Iodine
Advantages:
-It’s light weight. You can carry what you need.
Disadvantages:
-May change the taste of the water, detracting from the connection from the natural source.
-Longer treatment times than UV light.
-Doesn’t filter debris or pollution from the water source.
Other considerations
The following are the top lightweight water treatments for solo travel, but what about the other options? Why wasn’t boiling water discussed? What about pump filters?
Great questions, let us discuss these other options.
Boiling water using natural fuel in the back country could be the lightest means of water treatment. However, when the decision is made to carry fuel to treat water through boiling, it becomes out of favor from other light weight alternatives.Boiling water: Boiling water is a great light weight option for treating water in the back country. Creating a fire off natural fuel can be one of the lightest options for treating water. However, when the decision is made to carry fuel only to boil water in order to treat it, boiling becomes out of favor. The amount of fuel required to boil a sizable amount of water out-weighs the other suggested options.
Pump Filters: Are you trying to get water from a very small source? Is the water you need to treat stagnant? Pump filters may be the best option in these cases. Pump Filters weight ranges from 7oz and up and can help mitigate these problems in your solo travels.
A) LifeStraw B) Sawyer MiniPoint-Of-Use Filters: Many point-of-use filters have started to get buzz in the market. Popular filters like the LifeStraw have been given a lot of praise in the news for being a solution to the water crisis in developing parts of the world.
Point-of-use filters were once criticized for not being able to treat gaurdia because of its iodine treatment method. Now, many point-of-use filters do not use iodine but rather micro-filtration systems, usually a set of micro-pores that the water must flow through, that can treat water against 99.9% of protozoan parasites.
Point-of-Use Filters may not at once have been a widely adopted filtration system for lightweight backpackers for a few reasons. One being that the flow rate or “suck-ability”, how hard and long it takes to suck water through the system, was strongly lacking making it uncomfortable and slow to pull water through. Additionally Pump-filters and point-of-use filters both run the risk of becoming clogged by sediment over time. They many not treat water against viruses.
However, now point-of-use filters have claims of improved flow rates and streamlined system designs. They are an interesting system to consider with weights from 2oz and up.
Group Travel
Groups of two or more hikers may have different water requirements and needs.
In a group there may be the additional need to fill up multiple bottles for more than one person. Although each individual could carry their own separate treatment, it may be more weight and time efficient to consider alternative systems.
Gravity Filtration:
When traveling with one or more people a gravity filtration device may be your best option. There are several popular gravity filtration systems, such as Platypus Gravity Works and several options that have been developed by Sawyer, all are less then 11oz. Gravity filtration devices work similar to pumps but instead of pushing a lever to pump the water, gravity does the work. Gravity filtration devices have one “Dirty bag” where dirty water is stored and one “clean bag” for the filtered water to flow into.
A) Platypus GravityWorks B) Sawyer Gravity Filtration System
Advantages:
-Allows quick filtration at a large scale, perfect for those traveling with groups
-No pumping, easy use system
Disadvantages:
-May be difficult to gather water from small water sources.
-May not be the best option for stagnant water sources
Pump Filtration:
Pump filtration usually requires having to pump a lever to pull dirty water through an input hose to pass through a filter before releasing through a clean output hose providing drinkable water. Popular light weight pump filters may include the MSR Hyperflow (8oz) and the Katadyn Hiker Pro (11oz).
A) MSR Hyperflow and B) Katadyn Hiker Pro
Advantages:
-Great for treating water from stagnant sources.
-Great for gathering water from small sources of water.
Disadvantages:
-One of the heaviest systems for water treatment.
-Not as fast as gravity filters.
Conclusion
Choosing the right water treatment may come down to personal preference and depend upon the specific requirements for a particular trip. Each system has its advantages and drawbacks that should be considered.
The following is an overview of the systems discussed, each system is rated on a 3 point scale (3 being highest) for its effectiveness for treating low quality water, its ability to treat stagnate water, its group ease, its general ease of use, and on basis of the system’s weight.
Here are some general rules of thumb:
If the water source you will be pulling from is stagnant a pump system may be the best method to treat water in both a solo and group setting.
If the water is expected to be flowing while traveling solo the lightest weight options will generally be UV light or chemical treatment.
If there are two or more traveling in a party and the water is expected to be flowing a gravity filter may be the best method to accommodate the group’s water needs.
Now they offer Biodegradable Trail Marking Tape, and we think it’s a neat idea for those less experienced at marking their way
Available from several manufacturers like HME, Primos, and even Coghlans
Now they offer Biodegradable Trail Marking Tape, and we think it’s a neat idea for those less experienced at marking their way
Available from several manufacturers like HME, Primos, and even Coghlans
You can find more specifics about breeds at these websites, or look for breeds on hatchery websites.
http://www.eggzy.net/breeds
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html
http://www.wilkamdai.com/poultry_chicken_breeds_of_Interest.html
When you choose what you want, make sure you have a few backups that fit your criteria. Some breeds are just really hard to find, and some have off years that they don’t produce as well at the hatcheries. I’d suggest mixing it up at first and trying a few different types to discover your favorites.
You can order fertilized eggs and incubate your own, order day old chicks, order partially grown birds, or adult birds from a local breeder. Most people order chicks, so I’ll address this. When you’re ready to order them from a hatchery or pick them up from the feed store, you’ll probably want most if not all females (pullets). A small local breeder won’t be able to tell you if a chick is male or female until it starts to get its adult plumage, around 6-8 weeks. Sexing chicks is really hard to do, and even the hatcheries don’t always get it right. Even if they are advertised as ‘pullets’, there is still a chance the chick is a male. You’ll need to decide ahead of time what to do with it if you end up with a rooster if you don’t want to keep it.
You can order your chicks in the mail from a hatchery. Usually there is an order minimum. The chicks will be mailed to you and this minimum order size ensures that they produce enough body heat to keep each other warm. The ordering season is late February through early June, when temperatures are more ideal. If you buy them at a local feed store, look for chicks that are not scrawny or lethargic, with no discharge in eyes or nostrils. If there is a lot of fecal matter stuck to their vent it can block up and they can die from it, so avoid this. If you only want females, don’t pick the biggest chicks from the bunch. The males tend to be slightly larger than the females. Regardless of where you get your chicks or hens, always pick the healthiest, most active ones from the bunch.
Check back for the next article about chickens, Setting Up Your Brooder For Chicks
You can find more specifics about breeds at these websites, or look for breeds on hatchery websites.
http://www.eggzy.net/breeds
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html
http://www.wilkamdai.com/poultry_chicken_breeds_of_Interest.html
When you choose what you want, make sure you have a few backups that fit your criteria. Some breeds are just really hard to find, and some have off years that they don’t produce as well at the hatcheries. I’d suggest mixing it up at first and trying a few different types to discover your favorites.
You can order fertilized eggs and incubate your own, order day old chicks, order partially grown birds, or adult birds from a local breeder. Most people order chicks, so I’ll address this. When you’re ready to order them from a hatchery or pick them up from the feed store, you’ll probably want most if not all females (pullets). A small local breeder won’t be able to tell you if a chick is male or female until it starts to get its adult plumage, around 6-8 weeks. Sexing chicks is really hard to do, and even the hatcheries don’t always get it right. Even if they are advertised as ‘pullets’, there is still a chance the chick is a male. You’ll need to decide ahead of time what to do with it if you end up with a rooster if you don’t want to keep it.
You can order your chicks in the mail from a hatchery. Usually there is an order minimum. The chicks will be mailed to you and this minimum order size ensures that they produce enough body heat to keep each other warm. The ordering season is late February through early June, when temperatures are more ideal. If you buy them at a local feed store, look for chicks that are not scrawny or lethargic, with no discharge in eyes or nostrils. If there is a lot of fecal matter stuck to their vent it can block up and they can die from it, so avoid this. If you only want females, don’t pick the biggest chicks from the bunch. The males tend to be slightly larger than the females. Regardless of where you get your chicks or hens, always pick the healthiest, most active ones from the bunch.
Check back for the next article about chickens, Setting Up Your Brooder For Chicks
Choose Fresh Pineapple Juice Over Canned or Frozen
To get the most health benefits from pineapple juice when you have a cold, fresh is the best choice. Look for ripe fruits that have a vibrant color and deep green leaves.
Processed pineapple juice still contains the bromelain enzyme, but it contains less than fresh. 
Choose Fresh Pineapple Juice Over Canned or Frozen
To get the most health benefits from pineapple juice when you have a cold, fresh is the best choice. Look for ripe fruits that have a vibrant color and deep green leaves.
Processed pineapple juice still contains the bromelain enzyme, but it contains less than fresh. 
Be sure to keep your eyes open for my next article where I will be sharing how I planned my hike. My hope is that it may shed some light on how you can plan your own hikes, large or small. Till next time, “Cheers!”.
Check out the Next Article in this series: WalkUSA’s Adventure Series: Planning 
Why do you want chickens? There is an investment of time and money involved, so consider your return. These are the things you’ll have to do if you keep chickens:
If you live in a town or city check city ordinances before you start your flock. Most municipalities will allow a certain number of hens, but no roosters. A rooster is not necessary for your hens to lay eggs, but it is for more baby chickens. Investing the time and money to build a strong, secure coop and run can’t be overstated. It is devastating to work hard raising a flock only to have it wiped out by predators, disease, or cannibalistic habits that arise from stressful conditions.
A word of warning for first-time chicken keepers. Some people get attached to their chickens, and eating your pets gets weird. Do not let your kids take them into your house. They actively carry salmonella and other bacteria that’s harmful to humans. They are not house pets. It may seem silly to bring it up, but people who didn’t grow up in the country struggle with this.
Most people order chicks in the spring for egg and meat production. Chicks need a heat source for about three months before you can put them outside, depending on your climate and when you get them. They’ll require an inside area (it will get stinky and noisy) where you can install a heat lamp and have enough space for quickly growing critters. They need at minimum 1-2 square feet per bird as they grow. They also need constant access to food and water, and daily cleaning. It takes an average of 4-5 months for chickens to start laying eggs. Meat birds mature between 3 and 5 months depending on the breed. On average, after three years, egg production declines and then your hen becomes dinner or a pet.
If you decide you’re ready, check back for articles on the next steps; choosing the right breeds and raising chicks.
Here are some general rules of thumb:
If the water source you will be pulling from is stagnant a pump system may be the best method to treat water in both a solo and group setting.
If the water is expected to be flowing while traveling solo the lightest weight options will generally be UV light or chemical treatment.
If there are two or more traveling in a party and the water is expected to be flowing a gravity filter may be the best method to accommodate the group’s water needs.
Here are some general rules of thumb:
If the water source you will be pulling from is stagnant a pump system may be the best method to treat water in both a solo and group setting.
If the water is expected to be flowing while traveling solo the lightest weight options will generally be UV light or chemical treatment.
If there are two or more traveling in a party and the water is expected to be flowing a gravity filter may be the best method to accommodate the group’s water needs.