Recent content by pv74

I made mine out of old chain link dog run fencing panels. I strung old chain link and horse fencing on top. Dug hardware cloth 1' into the ground...surrounds the entire run for the first 2-3' in height.

I use hardware cloth dug 12" into the ground, overlaying the first few feet of fencing. I tie into the chain link using cheap steel safety wire. Two years and I haven't had a predator problem...knock on wood. Galvanized hardware cloth is pretty tough stuff...but it's not as cheap as chicken wire.

I had my little daughter stand in front of the tunnel from the run to the coop, then I placed each chicken in the back of the coop, one at a time. When they tried to crawl out, I had her crawl into the tunnel into the coop and place each chicken on the middle roost bar (The established flock...

I have a chicken coop that I built with plans from Purina. I has a multilevel roost and can accommodate up to eight full sized chickens. http://www.salemchickens.com/Purina_coop_plans.pdf I may try putting them in by hand just before it gets dark...but I'm afraid they will just fly out into...

That's the problem I'm having...and they are all ready bigger than my older flock!

I bought some Orpingtons this spring. They are very docile in nature and are HUGE compared to mixed flock of Barred Rocks, Leghorns and some other variety I don't remember off hand. The 1 year old hens are very aggressive and keep the Orpingtons from going into the coop to sleep. Instead, the...

The heritage varieties grow slower...you may want to try keeping some longer, say over the winter...they will live for 7 or more years from what I am told. I culled one of my sweetgrass toms for xmas and he was at least 16lbs...seemed to be plenty of meat for 6 kids and 4 adults. He was very...

I've gotten within 10 ft of wild turkeys more than once while living in Nebraska of all places. In fact, we had turkeys at the 200 yard line of a gun club I belonged to and had to stop a match until they cleared the area (happened more than once). I've never actually hunted wild turkeys...

I don't know about turkey night vision, but the only time I brought my turkeys inside was when they were still little (I would let them out in the pen during the day, then they would follow me (marching single file) into the garage for the night where they roosted on an old livestock tank...

I've been told that with heritage turkeys it doesn't matter if they are 3 or 4 years old, the meat is still just as good. Never put that theory to the test though as this is the first season I've raised turkeys. I did have one sweetgrass tom for Chirstmas (about 8 months old) and he was very...

I cobbled together a bunch of old chain link dog run fence panels. I ran hardware cloth 1.5 ft into the ground and wired it the fencing. I then stretched sections of chain link and /or horse fencing over the top (used fence tubing and clamps that I bought a Lowe's to hold the weight of the...

I raised a hen and two toms (sweetgrass variety) through the spring and fall... When I first caught them neck wrestling, I called the breeder I bought them from..he told me that it's natural and to just let it happen. So I did, turned out that it wasn't a problem..every now and then they would...

Check out Squaw Butte Poultry in New Plymouth...Google it. You will also see adds in the Boise Craigslist this spring for his turkeys. This guy is on a 5 acre farm between Emett and New Plymouth and specializes in heritage breeds. He really knows his stuff about turkeys. I bought a few...

Check out this guy... http://squawbuttepoultry.weebly.com/sweetgrass.html He has a small 5 acre farm and specializes in the heritage breeds. He's around New Plymouth if I recall...worth the drive just to meet him...he knows a lot about raising turkeys. You should see adds for him in the...