- Jun 18, 2014
- 14
- 0
- 24
Most of my 25 chickens were craigslist finds. Some I paid $5 for and some were free. Three young, about to start laying, pullets I paid $15 each for. I have also given away several extra roosters on Craigslist. My last group of chicks were 5 weeks old. A mix of 5 males and 4 females that I paid $10 for. They are now 8 weeks old and it is easy to tell who is what. The girls are going to soon join the older girls in my main coop. The guys are going to live in a dog run for another 6-8 weeks then they will go to the freezer.
My crowded coop has bantams and full sized girls all together but I do want to separate the bantams soon. They are getting along ok but getting too crowded.
I also have 10 rabbits. Most are meat rabbits and again everyone of them came to me through craigslist. All were free unless you count the cost of gas to get them. We bought 2 hutches for $70 and other old hutches and assorted cages have been free. Some hutches needed cleaned and new hinges put on doors. That is much cheaper than building or buying new ones and isn't too much work either. Being willing to clean or repair things can save you a lot. Other folks don't seem to like doing those things anymore. The hanging feeders have been free with the hutches and cages. We did buy the newer water bottles that open from the top for filling. Wow they are so much easier to maintain than the older bottles with a ball bearing in the water tube. A cute tiny lionshead rabbit was a gift and is a pet for now. If a 4 H kid wants her for a project animal she will be free.
So yes we eat rabbit, chicken and eggs without qualms. Meat and eggs fresh, home raised, without chemicals makes the most sense to me. A portion of their feed is grown here, some we buy and fermented spent barley from a microbrewery is a favorite treat for the chickens. The Micro brewery gives the grain away free. Just bring your own containers.
Saturday I'm going to pick up 13, 3/4 inch 4'x8' sheets of used plywood for $10 each and 5 sheets of wafferboard free along with assorted 2x4s thrown in for good measure. I'm 67 so the price includes loading for me.
Next week I'll start adding on to the main chicken coop, building a new one for the bantams, and making a shelter for the rabbits to winter in. A free bucket of craigslist nails will help with the project. We get below 0 here so some shelter is needed even for rabbits.
I have buckets of cheap and free paint....again from craigslist. If I paint the outside of the coops and hutches we'll have rainbow land in my backyard.
My home has developed a tiny roof leak. My husband is going to repair it and I'll paint the ceiling with free craigslist KILLS stain stopping paint. I have about 6 gallons of it. It cost hemming 7 pairs of pants for another senior citizen in our area. He had finished painting his home and it was left over.
Late next week I have 5 roosters to pickup form a family that sells eggs. The guys are 5 months old. Just right for feathers for family craft projects and roasters for us.
My "new" $20 pond with the free craigslist pump is beautiful. The 2 free waterlilies have been blooming and look so delicate in the water. I also have a $10 craigslist assortment of water hyacinths, water mint, and watercress enjoying the water and giving us pleasure. The mint and cress are also edible.
My crowded coop has bantams and full sized girls all together but I do want to separate the bantams soon. They are getting along ok but getting too crowded.
I also have 10 rabbits. Most are meat rabbits and again everyone of them came to me through craigslist. All were free unless you count the cost of gas to get them. We bought 2 hutches for $70 and other old hutches and assorted cages have been free. Some hutches needed cleaned and new hinges put on doors. That is much cheaper than building or buying new ones and isn't too much work either. Being willing to clean or repair things can save you a lot. Other folks don't seem to like doing those things anymore. The hanging feeders have been free with the hutches and cages. We did buy the newer water bottles that open from the top for filling. Wow they are so much easier to maintain than the older bottles with a ball bearing in the water tube. A cute tiny lionshead rabbit was a gift and is a pet for now. If a 4 H kid wants her for a project animal she will be free.
So yes we eat rabbit, chicken and eggs without qualms. Meat and eggs fresh, home raised, without chemicals makes the most sense to me. A portion of their feed is grown here, some we buy and fermented spent barley from a microbrewery is a favorite treat for the chickens. The Micro brewery gives the grain away free. Just bring your own containers.
Saturday I'm going to pick up 13, 3/4 inch 4'x8' sheets of used plywood for $10 each and 5 sheets of wafferboard free along with assorted 2x4s thrown in for good measure. I'm 67 so the price includes loading for me.
Next week I'll start adding on to the main chicken coop, building a new one for the bantams, and making a shelter for the rabbits to winter in. A free bucket of craigslist nails will help with the project. We get below 0 here so some shelter is needed even for rabbits.
I have buckets of cheap and free paint....again from craigslist. If I paint the outside of the coops and hutches we'll have rainbow land in my backyard.
My home has developed a tiny roof leak. My husband is going to repair it and I'll paint the ceiling with free craigslist KILLS stain stopping paint. I have about 6 gallons of it. It cost hemming 7 pairs of pants for another senior citizen in our area. He had finished painting his home and it was left over.
Late next week I have 5 roosters to pickup form a family that sells eggs. The guys are 5 months old. Just right for feathers for family craft projects and roasters for us.
My "new" $20 pond with the free craigslist pump is beautiful. The 2 free waterlilies have been blooming and look so delicate in the water. I also have a $10 craigslist assortment of water hyacinths, water mint, and watercress enjoying the water and giving us pleasure. The mint and cress are also edible.
