Homesteaders

[henless]

It's not one of those "cutesey" coops, but it's large and very functional. I like it. It suits me just fine.

We usually have our first freeze around this time of year. It's not even supposed to freeze for the next couple of weeks. We're also very dry. I need some rain to help compost my leaves on the garden.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

my set up is rather boring but it's big and everyone gets along. They love leafs for bedding as well as saw dust .

On another topic. Everyone has issues with too many roosters. Heck give them a group of chicks to raise and they work together better than a husband and wife. I have 6 older boys and they are currently raising out 47 3 month olds. It's funny as all get out to watch.

 

[lazy gardener]

my set up is rather boring but it's big and everyone gets along. They love leafs for bedding as well as saw dust .

On another topic. Everyone has issues with too many roosters. Heck give them a group of chicks to raise and they work together better than a husband and wife. I have 6 older boys and they are currently raising out 47 3 month olds. It's funny as all get out to watch.

How long have the boys been caring for the chicks? How old are the boys? IMO, a roo who is not a good family man (taking care of the chicks) is not worth keeping. Excellent job you're doing, thinking outside the box!!!

 

[Chicken girl 15]

@lazy gardener 3 of my boys are 18 months, they are spitzhauben. 1 boy is 8 months and he is a spitzhorn, he is from the original set of chicks the older 3 raised. There is 1 blue spitzhauben that is right at 1 year and 1 mix breed at a year. They all get along beautiful. I guess the trick is keep them way out numbered by girls and babies. Leaves no time for fighting.

 

[mamacearc]

Taking a moment to say hello because after reading all 4000-some posts, I feel like I know you (at least somewhat) and it would be creepy not to put myself out there

I don't know that I'd call us homesteaders--that seems almost like a club with a special, secret handshake sometimes-- but we recently moved to a 3 acre property in lower Alabama where I finally have the green and the space I remember growing up. My memories of a very green, very rural life are intersected by a lot of years in the southern Arizona urban desert, so many of the themes that have come up here (distant families, new climates, new spaces) are ones I absolutely relate to!
We cobbled together a pretty secure coop for our surprise 5 hens about a month ago. They forage dawn to dusk and I am so grateful for all of your insights! We are fermenting their supplemental feed and beginning our cool weather garden using your wisdom.
Keep those tips, tricks, anecdotes, and observations coming!

 

[lazy gardener]

Taking a moment to say hello because after reading all 4000-some posts, I feel like I know you (at least somewhat) and it would be creepy not to put myself out there

I don't know that I'd call us homesteaders--that seems almost like a club with a special, secret handshake sometimes-- but we recently moved to a 3 acre property in lower Alabama where I finally have the green and the space I remember growing up. My memories of a very green, very rural life are intersected by a lot of years in the southern Arizona urban desert, so many of the themes that have come up here (distant families, new climates, new spaces) are ones I absolutely relate to!
We cobbled together a pretty secure coop for our surprise 5 hens about a month ago. They forage dawn to dusk and I am so grateful for all of your insights! We are fermenting their supplemental feed and beginning our cool weather garden using your wisdom.
Keep those tips, tricks, anecdotes, and observations coming!

I'm not sure, but, I think you win some sort of prize. Seriously? You read all that? Hope you had a nice pillow to sit on! Congrats on your new property! I would not call myself a homesteader, by any stretch of the imagination, but as hubby says of me, "I'm reliving my granola years.". And I must say that I'm doing far more than I ever did when I was in the midst of the granola days in the mid 70's. Having a blast with it all also.

I'm pretty proud of myself tonight. I set up the new steps I made for the coop. And I must say, that they came out pretty fine. All made out of free lumber. Thank you Lowes for making "stickers" available. I hesitate to tell them what I intend to use them for, when I ask for some. I'm afraid that if they find out how useful they are, they'll start charging for them. No more tottering around on slippery wobbly cinder blocks, especially in the middle of the winter.

I cleaned out the coop today. All the old stuff out the clean out door, in with the new. Washed down and scraped the poo off the roosts. Coop is ready for winter. Still working on the sun room. Putting that task off b/c it is so much harder to manage that 10' lumber alone. And the dog ate the plug off my jig saw.

 

[chantels1]

Do any of you have recommendations on where to order seeds? I am looking into Artichokes in particular.

 

[SleepyHollowFnF]

Do any of you have recommendations on where to order seeds? I am looking into Artichokes in particular.

I found HUNDREDS of bags of seeds behind a tractor supply co in their dumpster. They throw out all unsold seeds 4th of july weekend as well as all sorts of awesome stuff all year round.

I've got a serious jumpstart on my homesteading by dumpster diving. I barely spend any money which means I don't have to work much and what money I do make I can use to buy the few things I can't build or find.

Good luck!

 

[1cock2hens]

Do any of you have recommendations on where to order seeds? I am looking into Artichokes in particular.

I like Baker Creek heirloom seeds// I love the selection, they have gorgeous artichokes

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I agree with you. @SleepyHollowFnF dumpster finds are awesome. We grab stuff up from the curb that people toss out with their garbage. I also put up an add on Craigslist for all "unwanted " seeds of any sort and all unwanted farm and garden items. Someone's broke stuff could be exactly what I need to fix something broke I have. TSC Lowe's and Home Depot often have great dumpster finds. I just make sure to ask management first so I don't get in trouble.