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

[ecocheapomom]

Wildorchid053, you sound like you are living my dream. We are beginning the research process for planting our fruit trees. Do yours bear yet and if so, how many years did it take?
We also have a whole house generator that runs on gas, but it only kicks on when the power goes out? If we were to switch over to it full-time, would we be considered "off the grid" if we still needed gas delivery?

 

[Monk]

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I always wanted to have some bees, but my wife is allergic. Sounds great!

 

[augustmomx2]

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I'm reading that book as well

Love it!

To the OP

and I'll be watching this thread...you should visit the sister sites of BYC. All are very useful and pertains to what you are attempting to do.

 

[tackyrama]

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I always wanted to have some bees, but my wife is allergic. Sounds great!

Bees are great for lots of reasons. However we tried it a few years ago and gave up on it. it's a huge learning curve. Lot's of diseases to contend with etc. I'm not tryng to discourage anyone from bees but be aware it is not as easy as it would seem. I would say it is a must to take a course in beekeeping or at least know someone to learn the ropes from. We took in a seminar offered by the U of M and we still failed. The world's bee population has drastically declined recently. There's a reason for that. Uncontrolable diseases!

 

[foweler]

eco- If your generator is a "standby" model it wasn't meant for long term use. True off grid generators are usually diesel and the best way to do it is to use a generator supplementing a solar array that charges a battery bank which in turn runs an inverter.

 

[angelib1]

This is the topic of 99.9% of my thoughts. Trying to figure out how to make a 1/4 acre self sustaining. Not easy, but not impossible. The most important thng is never listen to people who say you can't, experienced or not. Just because thay haven't found a way does not mean there isn't one.
My chickens get all my grain from my beer making. I give them windfall fruit, weeds,and extra veg. in season and dry fruit, veg and greens for them in winter. I grow flax, broom corn and other pretty and tasty edibles in my flower gardens. Save pumkins and let summer squash get hard feed in winter, just break them open.
Glad to find out there are more people out there who think like me. I sew on a treadle machine, crochet, learning to spin, can foods, cook on a wood stove, make my own bread, butcher my chickens, ect.

 

[wildorchid053]

hi all.. the fruit trees are 3 yrs and just starting to make fruit.. the cherries have tons of sour and sweet variety.... the apples and pears just a few.. i am hoping my children and grandchildren will get alot of use out of them when we are gone..i love the idea of raising some grain.. but how would you harvest it? it would only be 1/2 - 1 acre.. not much room for a harvester

 

[1acrefarm]

I let my chickens and goats harvest the grain.

 

[louis]

That or the old fashioned way with a sickle

 

[tasymo]

I'll second the suggestion of Comfrey. Comfrey is extremely easy to grow and my chickens love to eat it. It has a high percentage of protein. It also is high in nitrogen and makes a great fertilizer. I've heard you can dry it to suppliment Winter rations, and intend to try that this Winter. Of course comfrey has healing uses as well.