Recent content by FrugalmamaTx

  1. FrugalmamaTx

    Is this too small for a chicken tractor?

    They are a pretty bonded flock, so I hate to split them up. I'm using 1/2" hardware cloth - would that be small enough? Will have to see what I can do - maybe I can make the tractor bigger than the beds so it goes over and gives a bit of space around.
  2. FrugalmamaTx

    Is this too small for a chicken tractor?

    In your opinion, is a 6'x3' chicken tractor too small for 6 hens? Two may be roosters, in which case we would be going down to 5 as we'll rehome one. I had to scrap my plans for the coop & attached run that I was working on as I discovered when we get larger amounts of rain that part of the yard...
  3. FrugalmamaTx

    Homesteaders

    Update on my urban homestead :) Everything has been on hold due to weather - we've had a TON of rain the last few weeks, and hail as well. I'm glad I hadn't finished my coop yet, as it turns out the place I was planning on putting the coop and run gets pretty soggy with larger amounts of rain. I...
  4. FrugalmamaTx

    Black Solider Flies - can I feed them to half-grown chicks?

    I have black solider fly larve in my compost bed {Yay!}. Can I safely feed the harvested larve to my chicks or do they have too much calcium for them? My chicks are about 4-5 weeks old and feathering out. I'm feeding starter feed but supplementing with lots of bugs as they love them and I love...
  5. FrugalmamaTx

    Homesteaders

    Thyroid will do it too - I deal with thyroid issues too. They stink. On the Vitamin D if they ran your levels ASK what the number result was. Too often doctors will see a number of 29 or so, say well 25-100 is normal, and give you the canned "well you're fine" speech. Even though most folks do...
  6. FrugalmamaTx

    Homesteaders

    Trying something new for bedding in my brooder - chipped / shredded cardboard. I was googling for a low-dust option for the coop as the dust from the pine shavings was making my asthma flare up. Also needed to be low-cost and easily available. Found a few reports of folks using shredded...
  7. FrugalmamaTx

    Homesteaders

    Have they checked your Vitamin D levels? I know personally I become anemic, depressed and pretty near non-functional when my Vitamin D levels are too low. I now take 5000 iui daily to keep it {mostly} in check. RIF = Reading is Fundamental :)
  8. FrugalmamaTx

    Homesteaders

    Rancher Hicks - I had no idea there was an endangered breeds list. Thanks! Worked on our chicken run and coop today - it's coming together nicely. I found a bunch of rebar that the previous owner left along the back fence {buried under the leaves} and it is completing my run nicely. I had...
  9. FrugalmamaTx

    Urban Homesteaders

    Worked on our chicken run and coop today - it's coming together nicely. I found a bunch of rebar that the previous owner left along the back fence {buried under the leaves} and it is completing my run nicely. I had to do some figuring to get the pieces to work as I didn't have anything to cut...
  10. FrugalmamaTx

    Urban Homesteaders

    Well we're home 90% of the time, so they'd have to get past us AND the neighbors dogs that bark at anything that moves. That being said, I'd probably fence in the front yard and put no traspassing signs up
  11. FrugalmamaTx

    Peanut allergic child and chicken feed

    I'm not sure where you are located, but we use Ful -O -pep started feed and it is safe for peanut allergies. Both daughter and I are highly allergic and have had NO reactions. I think the brand is only available in Texas though, but maybe you could find somewhere that would order it for you...
  12. FrugalmamaTx

    Homesteaders

    Hmm....I will pull up the list of recommended varieties again and see what it says before I go shopping. I was planning on just waiting for the annual free fruit / nut tree giveaway in January that our city parks and rec does - all those are vetted to do well in our area. But the temptation of...
  13. FrugalmamaTx

    Homesteaders

    Good to know on the Walmart tree and growth in the hardiness zone you're aiming for. Does that reverse apply as well - for instance I'm in zone 9/10 {right on the line} - would I have trouble with a tree grown in zone 4? Got our chicks today - so cute! 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Rhode Island Reds and 2...
  14. FrugalmamaTx

    Homesteaders

    FYI if anyone is looking for fruit trees, check Walmart. Our's had them on clearance for about $10, along with all their seed plants and slips. Going back tomorrow and hopefully they have some left, as i crunched the budget and we can swing a couple fruit trees. Getting our chicks today, as...
  15. FrugalmamaTx

    Urban Homesteaders

    Peeking my head in here - is this thread still alive? Anyone still around? Newbie here, just starting my urban homestead. I'm in San Antonio TX and have a small lot - just .17 acres- so space is at a premium! Last summer we started with compost, and this spring we started planting with...
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