- Thread starter
- #11
- May 5, 2014
- 69
- 20
- 69
Excitement from yesterday is somewhat down. I live in what was an agricultural community. I say was, because for a large part it went from that to a dying community. The young people largely moved away, leaving their parents to grow old. Over 3 generations being self sufficient has gone from a way of life, to something smelly and noisy that your bad neighbor does. This morning, my neighbor basically told us if we don't get rid of our chickens, she will. I know it is city code - an unenforced code dating back over 50 years, Longer than the almost 50 years we have the house I grew up in - definitely longer than I have had her as a neighbor. FWIW there are several hundred backyard chickens scattered within a few blocks of my house, plus occasionally some backyard horses, sheep, and cattle. That said, we must have progress... Our city code is designed to be enforce upon complaint. We have been warned the complaint is coming.
I was worried about the race to update my brooders and building some portable pens at my ranch. Now it looks like I am going to have to get the flock out of town as well. I know it can be done - but it is still very depressing. I wanted to keep this flock in the backyard where I could better manage predators. Moving it to the ranch was at best on the 3 year plan and 3 year budget. I spent most of my free time the last 7 months getting the backyard coop and run where I want it now.
Oh well, time to focus on building faster. Will eventually ask God to forgive my neighbor, because I am not emotionally able to do it myself right now - right now my thoughts towards her are not neighborly or charitable.
---
To speed things up, I bailed on the brooder build and picked up a Craigslist find instead - 4hr drive latter problem solved. Seems that the son of the man I got the brooder from is dating my neighbors daughter. WOW, small world.
Well here is the funny part. When I went to the ranch the next morning to check out gate widths (really want to be able to move the tractor through gates), looked at the "incubator" in the back of the barn. Now that I have a Brower Brooder - did not take much to recognize that the "incubator" was a Montgomery Ward Brooder. It is in fairly rough shape - and parts are missing. Still it will be a fun project some point down the road. Main thing missing are the walls, feeders, and waterers.
Anyway, my wife's Easter chicks have a new grow out home until space is needed for the hatch.
---
While working on the new coop, had a hen commit suicide by dog. Will be continuing to work on protecting the chickens from themselves and securing the chicken compound.
I was worried about the race to update my brooders and building some portable pens at my ranch. Now it looks like I am going to have to get the flock out of town as well. I know it can be done - but it is still very depressing. I wanted to keep this flock in the backyard where I could better manage predators. Moving it to the ranch was at best on the 3 year plan and 3 year budget. I spent most of my free time the last 7 months getting the backyard coop and run where I want it now.
Oh well, time to focus on building faster. Will eventually ask God to forgive my neighbor, because I am not emotionally able to do it myself right now - right now my thoughts towards her are not neighborly or charitable.
---
To speed things up, I bailed on the brooder build and picked up a Craigslist find instead - 4hr drive latter problem solved. Seems that the son of the man I got the brooder from is dating my neighbors daughter. WOW, small world.
Well here is the funny part. When I went to the ranch the next morning to check out gate widths (really want to be able to move the tractor through gates), looked at the "incubator" in the back of the barn. Now that I have a Brower Brooder - did not take much to recognize that the "incubator" was a Montgomery Ward Brooder. It is in fairly rough shape - and parts are missing. Still it will be a fun project some point down the road. Main thing missing are the walls, feeders, and waterers.
Anyway, my wife's Easter chicks have a new grow out home until space is needed for the hatch.
---
While working on the new coop, had a hen commit suicide by dog. Will be continuing to work on protecting the chickens from themselves and securing the chicken compound.
Last edited:
