David65326
Chirping
- Feb 13, 2019
- 18
- 78
- 82
My name is David. I always said when I retired I wanted to buy a farm. Leave the rat race behind. This 8 years ago when circumstances forced me to retire I did it.
My wife and I now have a lovely 60 Acres not too far from lake of the Ozarks Missouri.
Just as my hero Oliver Wendell Douglass pack up lock stock and Barrell and moved. First thing I did was read everything I could find on chickens. In just 4 months my 40x60 pen with a 8 ft high 6 ft wide 20ft long hen house. 3 levels of perches and 25 nesting boxes on two sides. ( Little did I know the buggers would just lay in 3 or 4) Now I was ready for my first feathered friends.
I called the local hatchery and got 25 mixed chicks and $200 of chicken accessories. After a very smelly 6 weeks in a breeder box in my living room my babies relocated to the pen. Clark Kent my Chihuahua was heart broken his babies were gone.
By October I was getting 12 to 14 eggs daily. The next spring I repeated the process.
Now March through October sometimes November I get 25 to 30 eggs per day.
We have since added 15 guineas 2 peacocks, 8 ducks. As well as 6 rescue horses, and various grandchildren.
I have decided auto waterers and feeders for everyone so during the winter I can look outside with my wife while sitting by a warm fire and say isn't the snow pretty.
My wife and I now have a lovely 60 Acres not too far from lake of the Ozarks Missouri.
Just as my hero Oliver Wendell Douglass pack up lock stock and Barrell and moved. First thing I did was read everything I could find on chickens. In just 4 months my 40x60 pen with a 8 ft high 6 ft wide 20ft long hen house. 3 levels of perches and 25 nesting boxes on two sides. ( Little did I know the buggers would just lay in 3 or 4) Now I was ready for my first feathered friends.
I called the local hatchery and got 25 mixed chicks and $200 of chicken accessories. After a very smelly 6 weeks in a breeder box in my living room my babies relocated to the pen. Clark Kent my Chihuahua was heart broken his babies were gone.
By October I was getting 12 to 14 eggs daily. The next spring I repeated the process.
Now March through October sometimes November I get 25 to 30 eggs per day.
We have since added 15 guineas 2 peacocks, 8 ducks. As well as 6 rescue horses, and various grandchildren.
I have decided auto waterers and feeders for everyone so during the winter I can look outside with my wife while sitting by a warm fire and say isn't the snow pretty.
Welcome to BYC! Love your retirement style!!! Even in the snow, I need to go visit my chickens! I just bundle up and put on my boots. Mine come outside in the snow, so I go out and shovel pathways for them. But, I can understand wanting to stay inside by the fire. 
We are glad you joined our flock!
I understand about the auto feeder and waterer. It’s so nice knowing you don’t have to rush out when you just don’t want to. 
