How to become self-sufficient (kinda) with chickens.

[angelib1]

Hmm maybe some good points there. I live on a rural airport and we all work very close with each other, trading, bartering etc. works very well.

But Remember (who said this, Ben Franklin?) The goverment that has the power to give can also taketh away.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Mojo Chick'n :

Quote:
“No man is an island.” What happens to one will eventually show up on our doorsteps. This country is too interdependent.

I think it is great that we become self-sufficient. However, to cut ourselves off from the rest of humanity in times of woe will weakens us all. If we are all to survive, our differences have to be minimized or we are all lost.

I don't recall anyone suggesting that we cut ourselves off.

Could you please site the post number so I can go back and read it?

meri​

Yes, in my reading of some of these posts I am picking up a meaning, a tenor, a mood of such…yes in essence burying one’s self away from others in hard times.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
I don't recall anyone suggesting that we cut ourselves off.

Could you please site the post number so I can go back and read it?

meri

Yes, in my reading of some of these posts I am picking up a meaning, a tenor, a mood of such…yes in essence burying one’s self away from others in hard times.

ahhh, I see.

 

[angelib1]

I thought this thread was about self sufficientish chicken raising.

 

[angelib1]

pvc can be bent fairly tight I have one space I cut pieces 81" long and bent it over a 2 1/2' foot bed. tip; I pound rebar in the ground and put the hoop on when it hot outside. Sort of has a gothic arch look.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
I've always liked those arched pvc pipe chicken tractor/yards.

Do you have to put something along the top to keep them in place? (keep from collapsing in one direction or another).

meri

 

[The Zoo]

Maybe the self sufficient in the title threw people off.
By self sufficient I meant that I don't want to have to go to the grocery store and buy produce and eggs that have been shipped in from somewhere else. Not that I'm building 8 foot fences and buying a gun to keep the zombies away

I've tried growing broccoli where I am (East Bay) and had no luck - they just never thrived. I LOVE broccoli and wish it would. Any good types to try?

In winter around here I grow, broccoli (hah!), spinach, chard, beets, carrots, lettuce and I'm not sure what else this year since I have a lot more room this year than last.

I just picked up a bunch of wooden wine boxes that hope will work to store stuff in.

Chickens get all the leftovers - this morning they feasted on the inside of zucchini that had gotten too big (I froze the pieces from the outside).

 

[angelib1]

The rebar seems to keep all but the tallest in place. I do like to wire them together helps keep the plastic from drooping, on the tomato bed I do 2 sets of wire, helps keep the tomatoes inside.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
coolness, thanks

I can picture that

I was thinking really tall, but I guess for row covers ya don't need it really tall

I plan to do a sort of straw bale/ sandwich garden next year.
The row covers may still come in handy, though.

I plan to make frames with chicken wire to hold the straw/hay in place, sandwich the straw with some dirt from the donkey pasture and plant directly into that - I figure it will A) keep the chickens and geese out of the veggies cause it'll be taller and B) make my soil problem a non issue.

We have clay soil (well, clay intermixed with huge rocks) and I get blossom end rot really badly, and other issue - just digging the ground is a major undertaking. Perhaps after a few years of the sandwich/strawbale I can plant in the ground under the frames and it'll be rich and well... dirt-y instead of the solid clay

meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
yep, ya can't figure out other people's perceptions or plan for them - so just say what ya mean and let the rest of them figure out what ya meant

they'll try to second guess your words anyway, whether you state them clearly or not.

oh, and I might plan for the zombie attack... still working on my aim

meri