Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[Bulldogma]

BYC friends, I have been off the forum for awhile, my father died, but I wanted to share this pic of him holding a turkey poult and
then proudly smiling next to it when we spent thanksgiving together. He thought I was crazy to raise my own birds, but he loved every minute of the stories
and when he was visiting would talk to them. the last 2 years with him were so much fun, he will be missed very much...but always in our hearts.

Your dad looks SO happy in these pictures! HUGS!

Sorry ma'am, i mean a Phillipine beetle color. Thank you for an calling attention to my error. God bless!

Rolito - I thought the "bumble bee" color was a VERY GOOD idea! I put the little laughing smiley in because I very much enjoyed the idea! I Would love to find a bird with black and yellow stripes. It would be quite beautiful. Beetle color is nice too.

 

[MistyMountain]

HFR, I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing those beautiful pictures and story with us. Those wonderful memories are something that will never fade. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

 

[MistyMountain]

Wow, everyone, I have missed a LOT since Friday! Let's see, we went from milk, to prepping, to gardening, all in the course of two days!! I'll share my two cents on each, and try not to take us backwards too much

Milk-- Yup, I can see the US being the biggest milk drinkers of all. I have slowed down significantly, to about one glass a day. I used to drink about a gallon every two to three days. Sometimes more during college softball season. It was something my body craved and I would find myself raiding the fridge in the middle of the night for a nice cold glass of milk.

Goats, Milk, leads to this whole prepping thing. It's difficult to say where I stand on all this. I think no amount of prepping will prepare you for what people can become in a situation like that. I guess keeping faith in humanity and backing yourself with the right community of people would be priceless IMO.

So prepping to gardening to what we need to last us a year. Our goal at our homestead is to make a motion toward becoming more self sufficient. We are trying to find what was lost a few generations back. Life has become too disposable. In planning my garden for this year, I will pretty much need a dinosaur proof fence, since we have a hefty deer population here. Hopefully we can at least get some of the important stuff to grow, along with some pumpkins to feed the chickens as a treat throughout winter. Hopefully we can get the neglected apple and peach trees in shape so we can do some canning. The grapes that are already established here need more work than anything else. Giant mounds of vines with a base twice as thick as a soda can. I think the most important thing about all of this is teaching our boys how rewarding it can be to do things yourself. At 3 and 5, they already enjoy stacking wood with Daddy.

Besides the goats, Oz, what sort of plant eating animals do you have to protect your garden from?

 

[perchie.girl]

THE NEW CHICKS at 3 days old




Caprino and his concubines' new digs. I wanted the floor 6 ft odd the ground but that got lost in translation when I said build it the same style as coops 1-5

My goats WANT that goat house..... LOL With Peek out Portals and a wrap around goat porch.....

deb

 

[Tomtommom]

So prepping to gardening to what we need to last us a year. Our goal at our homestead is to make a motion toward becoming more self sufficient. We are trying to find what was lost a few generations back. Life has become too disposable. In planning my garden for this year, I will pretty much need a dinosaur proof fence, since we have a hefty deer population here. Hopefully we can at least get some of the important stuff to grow, along with some pumpkins to feed the chickens as a treat throughout winter. Hopefully we can get the neglected apple and peach trees in shape so we can do some canning. The grapes that are already established here need more work than anything else. Giant mounds of vines with a base twice as thick as a soda can. I think the most important thing about all of this is teaching our boys how rewarding it can be to do things yourself. At 3 and 5, they already enjoy stacking wood with Daddy.

I hope to actually grow something worthwhile this year

I entirely failed last year. Nothing grew past seedling stage, even after months. I need to learn to can... but I need something to can first. My mom used to make jam and just pour it in jars and the heat would pull the tops in... never actually canned the American way.

Planted a grape, a fig and a muscadine last year... fingers crossed they made it through our unusually cold winter (7F at coldest temp).

I grew up with my mom growing most of our produce... something I want to carry onto the kids. My step-son spent plenty of time in the garden with 'Oma' whenever she visited, he understands how important it is to keep her memory going by growing a wonderful garden. My 2 year old likes the animals best.. although he has no idea how to act properly around them (but he does the same with people.. he's got some issues). We go through several pounds of bananas a week.... I need to figure out a way to grow those suckers in Alabama

Anyway. I heard sprinkling bloodmeal around your perimeter can scare off deer, also, predator urine can be purchased. Along with a fence, it may convince them to stay away.

 

[perchie.girl]

BYC friends, I have been off the forum for awhile, my father died, but I wanted to share this pic of him holding a turkey poult and
then proudly smiling next to it when we spent thanksgiving together. He thought I was crazy to raise my own birds, but he loved every minute of the stories
and when he was visiting would talk to them. the last 2 years with him were so much fun, he will be missed very much...but always in our hearts.

Oh what great pictures.... I am sure just a part of all you have to remember him by.... Soo sorry they have to leave us too soon. I lost my dad suddenly when he was 69. Its amazing how much that they do for us just by being there.... and how much they leave a hole when they are gone.

If I were there I would give you a big hug.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Here is the bing map of our place with all the various construction projects over the past 13 months - and some ongoing



Pink is piggery for 9 sows and grow pens - not started
Brown is chicken coops - complete
Yellow is goat house - complete
Green is the expanded egg house/feed warehouse - complete
Blue is the veggie garden - ongoing
Red is fence - ongoing

Bernie's house is near the veggie garden,
Other blue roofs - our house, garage and pump house

Nice layout its amazing how much you can weave into those Coconut palms.... I am curious... Is the prevailing wind come from the ocean? Just thinking of barnyard perfumes.... LOL.

Hey instedad of putting duplexes up.... why not do a "back to nature" bed and breakfast. youd get more income....

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Wow, everyone, I have missed a LOT since Friday! Let's see, we went from milk, to prepping, to gardening, all in the course of two days!! I'll share my two cents on each, and try not to take us backwards too much

Milk-- Yup, I can see the US being the biggest milk drinkers of all. I have slowed down significantly, to about one glass a day. I used to drink about a gallon every two to three days. Sometimes more during college softball season. It was something my body craved and I would find myself raiding the fridge in the middle of the night for a nice cold glass of milk.

Goats, Milk, leads to this whole prepping thing. It's difficult to say where I stand on all this. I think no amount of prepping will prepare you for what people can become in a situation like that. I guess keeping faith in humanity and backing yourself with the right community of people would be priceless IMO.

So prepping to gardening to what we need to last us a year. Our goal at our homestead is to make a motion toward becoming more self sufficient. We are trying to find what was lost a few generations back. Life has become too disposable. In planning my garden for this year, I will pretty much need a dinosaur proof fence, since we have a hefty deer population here. Hopefully we can at least get some of the important stuff to grow, along with some pumpkins to feed the chickens as a treat throughout winter. Hopefully we can get the neglected apple and peach trees in shape so we can do some canning. The grapes that are already established here need more work than anything else. Giant mounds of vines with a base twice as thick as a soda can. I think the most important thing about all of this is teaching our boys how rewarding it can be to do things yourself. At 3 and 5, they already enjoy stacking wood with Daddy.

Besides the goats, Oz, what sort of plant eating animals do you have to protect your garden from?

I think this is an excellent point of view. BTW as long as the surface of a pumpkin is undamaged you can store them in a cool dry place for at least Six months.... LOL. never did it just read about it... LOL

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: Canning can be done with store bought "stuff" when you find a good deal on ssomething.... go for it so you can get the practice.... I wish I could.


deb

 

[ozexpat]

Quote:
Humans. water bufallo. poultry.

We are building a more substantial fence to keep out all three. An old garden we had was closer to our neighbors house than the previous bernie. They were deft at harvesting with a bamboo pole.