Hello Everyone, My name is Gordon. I am a county boy living in town, Abilene, TX. I first noticed my problem when I was very young many moons ago. I have kept animals off and on through my lifetime. I have been inspired this time by being introduced to the Jules Dervaes family. They are Urban Homesteaders I came across on the Internet. I was also inspired by the fact that we follow a kosher diet. And to me, the strict interpretation of kosher, or fit to eat, negates commercially/conventionally raised meats, vegetables and fruits. The only way I see of ensuring we ate truly kosher food is to raise it ourselves: humanely, naturally and organically. We will focus on heirloom plants. Hybrids are okay as long as they stay within their kinds. But GMO is OUT. I called our local city officials in charge of animal control ordinances. I found out it was okay to keep a flock of chickens in town. They don't list a number limit like they do for cats and dogs. However, I am sure they would bawk (sic) at 50 hens and enough roosters. We are even allowed to have roosters. But we are not allowed to have a pygmy goat for milk. I am in the process of transforming our back yard into our little paradise by installing raised bed square foot gardens. When I get our dilapidated garage torn down, I will put an above ground pool for our personal pleasure and relaxation. My wife is a city girl at heart. But she sees the smile this brings to my face and appreciates my hard work. And she appreciates the feeble efforts I take to provide for us. There is just the two of us, as my children are all grown up and live back in Southwestern Indiana for the most part. That is where I originally came from and she originally came from Orange Co, CA. At present we have: 8 Ameraucana pullets, 4 Rhode Island Red pullets, 5 Buff Orpington rooster chicks, 1 Ameraucana rooster chick, 7 White Pekin ducks (SR), 1 Rouen hen, 1 Black Cayuga (sex ?), 2 Parakeets (which spend most of the year outside with the chickens, even imitating them occasionally now), 1 medium breed mutt dog (family pet and spoiled to the max but afraid of the new kittens), 3 rescued feral kittens (2 need a new home now), and 1 male Betta fish.
You inspire me. I would love to be self sufficient or at least avoid commercial food/meat. Right now I support local organic farms and eat the organic eggs my hens produce. I have a small raised garden for vegetables but being in the pacific northwest do not have enough light to do much. You should post some pics of your backyard progress.
Welcome! You will need to also find the Texas thread and subscribe to that (see link at bottom of pages) to see who's close to you. I am North Texas, DFW area with a suburban back yard flock of just 5 hens now, looking for a 6th--white-ish silkie hen somewhere as I recently lost my oldest to the heat. : ( But wonderful to read your doings there in Abilene! I spent summers in Merkel with my grand parents while my mom went with my dad on oil pipeline jobs. Made me want to have a farming experience when grown and the hens are as close as I've got. would like to have a goat or two to make cheese, and we have an asparagus garden. Right now, we are battling the heat and no rain--I'm sure you know all about that. I remember west texas as being pretty parched in the summer. Welcome!
Quote:Great that you support local and organic. That is one of the keys to our survival in the coming days. Our problem right now, as another stated, is that we have too much sun. Since the last week of May this year, we have had nearly 40 days of above 100* temps. No significant rain here in Abilene since April 24th. Maybe an inch total since then. Couple that with the normal breezes and you have parched ground. I have pics on my Facebook profile for those of you who have a FB account. Here is a direct link to my Urban Homestead folder. I made it open to everyone. Most of my other albums are open only to friends of friends. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150174579247554.302653.654472553
Welcome...I'm a newbie at raising chickens as well.. Currently in Downeast Maine and loving every minute of turning our 148 acre investment into our new way of life.... we're starting w/ chickens and honey bees..but I can't wait for the day to get a dairy goat...a piggy or two and maybe even a cow.... gotta start small and learn as we go.... We put in one of those above ground pools too...LOVE it!! ENJOY & Welocme!! Ps ...have you gotten one of these yet?
Quote:No eggs yet. Mine are only a little over a month old. Ducks maybe a week or two older, except for the three I just bought. They are less than a week old now.
