calling any one from missouri

[5 Acre Rooster]

Wow, 5 Acre Rooster! You have a lot of birds and a lot of projects going on! Sounds like so much fun. Alas this family was not meant for farming, although I've always fantasized about it. I'll be happy with my 4 little's we get this week and live vicariously through you! Do you have a garden as well? I've always wondered if chickens can free roam in the garden to eat bugs and such and if they'll leave the veggies a lone. Probably wishful thinking huh.

Yes we have garden, no our birds do NOT do well in it. Last year they destroyed 90% of everything planted. We put up a small "chicken fence" this yes. Its actually a 2 foot tall plastic barrier. Its made from repurposed materials. Its not chicken proof but deters them enough to keep seeds/plants in and chickens and rabbits (wild cottontails) out.

Believe me wife is NOT farming inclined. Even if she works with hogs daily. Everything we have is my job to make it work. She will foot the bills (Birds and animals, feed etc.) but I do all the raising care and harvesting of everything. She and the kids reap the rewards from what I do, or get lucky and have happen. Happens when we hunt/fish also. They do help with the catch/shoot part. But the dirty work is my job. Which Is fine by me.
Its a pretty much "DO what you want but feed us some" situation. Which keeps the whole family content and feed us home raised food. My kids, all they way down to 2 y/o knows where food comes from and how we get meat. And they are not squeamish when I process an animal. They don't watch me put animals down, but the rest of the process is observed. They help feed the animals, LOVE collecting eggs, and when I can get the calmer animals within reach they pet them with a little awe. Even the cattle. Its the way our family is and everyone is happy, except maybe the 2 littlest when I say "No you can't play with those birds they might peck you." otherwise our family is really country raised and happy.

 

[yopollo]

Hello,
I just wanted to chime in and introduce myself. My name is Lindsay and I am new to chickens. Currently I have two girls a SLW- Miracle and an EE- Biddy Mulley aka Mushy.
I am from MO born, raised and currently rooted here. LOL. We live in suburbia but we make our "land" (neighbor hood lot) work for us

Everything we plant in the yard has a purpose, we grow tomatoes, pepper, melons, rainbow swiss chard, cucumbers, carrots, peas, beans, sunflowers, onions, the list goes on. Even our roses are used for rose water and to feed the wild birds in winter/fall. I think the only thing without a major purpose is the grass. Well unless you count that as part of the chickies food. But you name it and I will probably want it, my garden just keeps expanding. I love the excuse to go outside and enjoy what God has created

My family and I have been slowly expanding our selves in urban homesteading in Central West MO. KC area. We love nature and love how it brings us together and pulls us from the technology warp of today. Farming has been a major part of my life from my very youngest age. Sharing this with my daughter and the younger generations in my family and group of friends has been very important, and will continue to be I am so glad and thankful for an easy access community interested in some of the same things and I look forward to getting plugged in, in our local BYC community too!

 

[potagergirl]

Hello,
I just wanted to chime in and introduce myself. My name is Lindsay and I am new to chickens. Currently I have two girls a SLW- Miracle and an EE- Biddy Mulley aka Mushy.
I am from MO born, raised and currently rooted here. LOL. We live in suburbia but we make our "land" (neighbor hood lot) work for us

Everything we plant in the yard has a purpose, we grow tomatoes, pepper, melons, rainbow swiss chard, cucumbers, carrots, peas, beans, sunflowers, onions, the list goes on. Even our roses are used for rose water and to feed the wild birds in winter/fall. I think the only thing without a major purpose is the grass. Well unless you count that as part of the chickies food. But you name it and I will probably want it, my garden just keeps expanding. I love the excuse to go outside and enjoy what God has created

My family and I have been slowly expanding our selves in urban homesteading in Central West MO. KC area. We love nature and love how it brings us together and pulls us from the technology warp of today. Farming has been a major part of my life from my very youngest age. Sharing this with my daughter and the younger generations in my family and group of friends has been very important, and will continue to be I am so glad and thankful for an easy access community interested in some of the same things and I look forward to getting plugged in, in our local BYC community too!

Welcome to the BYC

glad to have you here.
Nice to see another Missourian on the board =)

 

[yopollo]

thank you for the warm welcome Potagergirl. Do you have chickens or other foul? I hope you are having an awesome weekend, and that you have a great memorial day!

 

[potagergirl]

I got my first set of chickens Wednesday. Had a rough first two days
after I lost one and found my thermometer wasn't working.
All is well with the 10 white crested black polish and 10 splash cochin now.
This weekend we will be working on the house in the country we are moving
to.
Hope you have a great weekend and Happy Memorial Day to everyone =)

 

[OzarkCountryGirl]

I got my first set of chickens Wednesday. Had a rough first two days
after I lost one and found my thermometer wasn't working.
All is well with the 10 white crested black polish and 10 splash cochin now.
This weekend we will be working on the house in the country we are moving
to.
Hope you have a great weekend and Happy Memorial Day to everyone =)

Glad that things are going well now, and Congrats on the up and coming move to the country!
Wishing you and yours a great/safe weekend holiday as well.

 

[OzarkCountryGirl]

Hello,
I just wanted to chime in and introduce myself. My name is Lindsay and I am new to chickens. Currently I have two girls a SLW- Miracle and an EE- Biddy Mulley aka Mushy.
I am from MO born, raised and currently rooted here. LOL. We live in suburbia but we make our "land" (neighbor hood lot) work for us

Everything we plant in the yard has a purpose, we grow tomatoes, pepper, melons, rainbow swiss chard, cucumbers, carrots, peas, beans, sunflowers, onions, the list goes on. Even our roses are used for rose water and to feed the wild birds in winter/fall. I think the only thing without a major purpose is the grass. Well unless you count that as part of the chickies food. But you name it and I will probably want it, my garden just keeps expanding. I love the excuse to go outside and enjoy what God has created

My family and I have been slowly expanding our selves in urban homesteading in Central West MO. KC area. We love nature and love how it brings us together and pulls us from the technology warp of today. Farming has been a major part of my life from my very youngest age. Sharing this with my daughter and the younger generations in my family and group of friends has been very important, and will continue to be I am so glad and thankful for an easy access community interested in some of the same things and I look forward to getting plugged in, in our local BYC community too!

Welcome! Your place sounds lovely! I don't grow "pretties" either, but one would think by looking at my front yard that I just do flower gardening, that is, until you get up close and personal and realize all of the "flowers" are actually edibles, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. And no 'cide chemicals or commercial fertilizers have touched my property since I've owned it (will be two decades next year). Just lots of compost, goat/bunny berries, and composted chickie poo.

Have you tried growing kale? I started growing Lacinato (Dinosaur) kale for the first time a few years ago (I'd had never even tasted it before) and started out by making kale chips. Turned out I couldn't make them fast enough for my kids (4 boys and a girl). Since then I've grown other varieties of kale as well, and the kids just gobble them up in soups, salads, even fruit smoothies. I've put in almost 30 plants this spring and I don't know if that's still enough to keep everyone supplied! What's nice is that kale will grow all winter long in a hoop house/cold frame, when it can be not only appreciated by us, but is also much enjoyed by the chickens and ducks during the barren winter months. Although we are quite a bit further south than you, we are in that one little area which shares the same USDA Zone as Northern MO/Southern IA. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[ocap]

Hello,
I just wanted to chime in and introduce myself. My name is Lindsay and I am new to chickens. Currently I have two girls a SLW- Miracle and an EE- Biddy Mulley aka Mushy.
I am from MO born, raised and currently rooted here. LOL. We live in suburbia but we make our "land" (neighbor hood lot) work for us

Everything we plant in the yard has a purpose, we grow tomatoes, pepper, melons, rainbow swiss chard, cucumbers, carrots, peas, beans, sunflowers, onions, the list goes on. Even our roses are used for rose water and to feed the wild birds in winter/fall. I think the only thing without a major purpose is the grass. Well unless you count that as part of the chickies food. But you name it and I will probably want it, my garden just keeps expanding. I love the excuse to go outside and enjoy what God has created

My family and I have been slowly expanding our selves in urban homesteading in Central West MO. KC area. We love nature and love how it brings us together and pulls us from the technology warp of today. Farming has been a major part of my life from my very youngest age. Sharing this with my daughter and the younger generations in my family and group of friends has been very important, and will continue to be I am so glad and thankful for an easy access community interested in some of the same things and I look forward to getting plugged in, in our local BYC community too!

welcome to the MO thread

One of my wyandottes is broody (I gave her eleven eggs) and is scheduled to hatch her batch of mutts on June 7

 

[yopollo]

I got my first set of chickens Wednesday. Had a rough first two days
after I lost one and found my thermometer wasn't working.
All is well with the 10 white crested black polish and 10 splash cochin now.
This weekend we will be working on the house in the country we are moving
to.
Hope you have a great weekend and Happy Memorial Day to everyone =)

I am sorry to hear about the beginning complications but I am glad that it is now going well. We had a dog attack one of our 3 day old chicks. The dog put a hole under her wing about the size of a nickel. We thought we were going to lose her but surprisingly she survived the attack and so we named her Miracle. Sometimes its hard when things don't go as we plan and we are met with those hard events, but it sounds like the chicks that you have will have a great life in the country. What an exciting time for you and yours with the move. I pray your work and move will go well and smooth!

 

[yopollo]

Welcome! Your place sounds lovely! I don't grow "pretties" either, but one would think by looking at my front yard that I just do flower gardening, that is, until you get up close and personal and realize all of the "flowers" are actually edibles, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. And no 'cide chemicals or commercial fertilizers have touched my property since I've owned it (will be two decades next year). Just lots of compost, goat/bunny berries, and composted chickie poo.

Have you tried growing kale? I started growing Lacinato (Dinosaur) kale for the first time a few years ago (I'd had never even tasted it before) and started out by making kale chips. Turned out I couldn't make them fast enough for my kids (4 boys and a girl). Since then I've grown other varieties of kale as well, and the kids just gobble them up in soups, salads, even fruit smoothies. I've put in almost 30 plants this spring and I don't know if that's still enough to keep everyone supplied! What's nice is that kale will grow all winter long in a hoop house/cold frame, when it can be not only appreciated by us, but is also much enjoyed by the chickens and ducks during the barren winter months. Although we are quite a bit further south than you, we are in that one little area which shares the same USDA Zone as Northern MO/Southern IA. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

OzarkCountryGirl it is nice to meet you and it sounds like you have a very lovely place as well! I have not tried kale.
But it does sound like something that would be nice to have for both the family and chickens.
My daughter who is 5 will not eat anything green (well besides pickles, she is a pickle feened

)
So we do make lots of green smoothies. I wonder if I tried the kale chips if she would like that. She always tries new things but very rarely eats it with joy. LOL.
I have been contemplating our gardening seasons, I may have to set up a hoop house over our raised bed to extend some of our produce into the winter. What do
you put on your kale chips? or do you have a favorite recipe? I may have to surf around and see what I can find but would like to know how you make yours if your
lil' ones can not get enough of them. Well I am going to go spend some time with the chickens I hope you and every one here at BYC has a great holiday and fun weekend!