Hello to one and all!
I found this site when searching for info on pest control using diatomaceous earth. Very happy to have found a vibrant community dedicated to chickens as we are still fairly new to raising and keeping chickens.
I live with my best friend on a small holding slightly inland of the east coast of South Africa and keep a small flock of around twenty hens and a rooster. Our aim is to establish a lifestyle 'off the grid' and independent of money. We rely on the eggs as an important part of a live-food diet that we have started since October this year. We started the chicken adventure with store bought Marans about four years ago but most of the chickens we have now are 'local' birds gifted to us by the tribal people that live around here after assisting the community in various ways. These are very hardy and lovable creatures! I was told that most of the local chicken stock comes from trade with passing ships (Chinese, Arab and perhaps Portugese) dating way back before european settlers arrived in the 1600's at the Cape! At the moment we are trying to select for less broody hens as the local birds are almost always ready to jump on a clutch of eggs and stay the course...
Looking forward to learning a lot by reading and interacting in the forum.
Dwight and Mike
I found this site when searching for info on pest control using diatomaceous earth. Very happy to have found a vibrant community dedicated to chickens as we are still fairly new to raising and keeping chickens.
I live with my best friend on a small holding slightly inland of the east coast of South Africa and keep a small flock of around twenty hens and a rooster. Our aim is to establish a lifestyle 'off the grid' and independent of money. We rely on the eggs as an important part of a live-food diet that we have started since October this year. We started the chicken adventure with store bought Marans about four years ago but most of the chickens we have now are 'local' birds gifted to us by the tribal people that live around here after assisting the community in various ways. These are very hardy and lovable creatures! I was told that most of the local chicken stock comes from trade with passing ships (Chinese, Arab and perhaps Portugese) dating way back before european settlers arrived in the 1600's at the Cape! At the moment we are trying to select for less broody hens as the local birds are almost always ready to jump on a clutch of eggs and stay the course...
Looking forward to learning a lot by reading and interacting in the forum.
Dwight and Mike
