Kristen’s Chickens and Farming Ventures

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I really do think that all of our chicken keeping experiences offer learning opportunities, and insights. I know that I’m looking at things from both a personal and a business standpoint, and that most of the people keeping chickens on this site have more of a hobby/pet approach.

I’ve still named half my hens and all but one of my cockerel holdbacks for breeding, so it’s not “just a business” and if I ever get to the point where that’s all it is for me then I will know it’s time to stop working with animals. (I also like the names to fit the individuals... which is why some don’t have any yet!)

I’ve got an amazing opportunity with the amount of land available to me, and am lucky to have very limited predator pressures. I love the international community, pictures of other people’s chickens, and life stories as well. For all the differences, it’s also amazing to see all the similarities! I’m almost completely off Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube (last one due to Cellular Data cost), so this site is now close to the entirety of my social group (not counting the chickens and cows!)

I don't do Facebook at all or any other social media. I like BYC because we all share a love of chickens and other feathered creatures. And the other sites are always on the news because of hacking and data breaches. Too creepy for me. I'll stick with my chicken homies!

 

[BY Bob]

I don't do Facebook at all or any other social media. I like BYC because we all share a love of chickens and other feathered creatures. And the other sites are always on the news because of hacking and data breaches. Too creepy for me. I'll stick with my chicken homies!

I agree!

 

[Kris5902]

Well I’m not completely off Facebook... but pretty close! There one homesteading book club I joined on it, but seeing as the last book they did wasn’t available in Canada, I realized I basically hadn’t logged on in over a month, and hadn’t missed it at all!

I’ve given away 15 of my first eggs so far. Three to the little boy that Mr Marans bit and a dozen to the two hunters that alerted us to our camper issue. Hopefully the store employees are now riled up enough that they will call us ahead when the next people say “oh, we’ll just find a place”... we’ve been fussing about it when we go in a bit.

I’ve had a few inquiries as to when I will have eggs for sale, seeing them out on grass has inspired interest and word is spreading. Also some preemptive interest in my meat birds (the chicks aren’t even born yet!) I’ve gotten my very first blue egg! Princess was 10 days older than her sisters and the Sapphire boys, and laid her first egg yesterday evening. It’s actually much smaller than the others, but I wanted to get good color so the perspective is a bit skewed.

As you can see in the first picture, my Isbars are really laying nicely... so even though they are smaller and lighter than I was originally planning for my flock, I think there will be quite a few more of these ladies in my future! My “pretend” chickens actually came into lay younger than the “real” (production red) layers the farm owner purchased last summer, so I’m a bit smug about that right now too.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Awesome, you won't have to use any dye this year for your Easter eggs they're already colorful enough.

 

[BY Bob]

Well I’m not completely off Facebook... but pretty close! There one homesteading book club I joined on it, but seeing as the last book they did wasn’t available in Canada, I realized I basically hadn’t logged on in over a month, and hadn’t missed it at all!

I’ve given away 15 of my first eggs so far. Three to the little boy that Mr Marans bit and a dozen to the two hunters that alerted us to our camper issue. Hopefully the store employees are now riled up enough that they will call us ahead when the next people say “oh, we’ll just find a place”... we’ve been fussing about it when we go in a bit.

View attachment 1711356

I’ve had a few inquiries as to when I will have eggs for sale, seeing them out on grass has inspired interest and word is spreading. Also some preemptive interest in my meat birds (the chicks aren’t even born yet!) I’ve gotten my very first blue egg! Princess was 10 days older than her sisters and the Sapphire boys, and laid her first egg yesterday evening. It’s actually much smaller than the others, but I wanted to get good color so the perspective is a bit skewed.

View attachment 1711357

As you can see in the first picture, my Isbars are really laying nicely... so even though they are smaller and lighter than I was originally planning for my flock, I think there will be quite a few more of these ladies in my future! My “pretend” chickens actually came into lay younger than the “real” (production red) layers the farm owner purchased last summer, so I’m a bit smug about that right now too.

What beautiful assortment of eggs. Free eggs are great for finding allies.

 

[Ribh]

So happy for you! Having an egg surplus is a wonderous thing.

The man & I discussed homesteading ~ or @ the very least a hobby farm ~ then he broke his back & physically it's just not possible, which hasn't stopped us from doing it on a smaller scale in our yard. It is keeping the neighbours entertained.

 

[Kris5902]

So happy for you! Having an egg surplus is a wonderous thing.

The man & I discussed homesteading ~ or @ the very least a hobby farm ~ then he broke his back & physically it's just not possible, which hasn't stopped us from doing it on a smaller scale in our yard. It is keeping the neighbours entertained.

I found that too on our urban lot... start digging up the lawn for veggie beds and suddenly you’re almost as interesting as the tv. Neighbors walk by and start chatting, you trade produce with the other gardening ones. Something about being outside and doing things in the yard seems to make you automatically more approachable. We weren’t allowed chickens at all in our neighborhood though... or bees. I still found our backyard permaculture/homesteading very rewarding.

 

[Ribh]

I found that too on our urban lot... start digging up the lawn for veggie beds and suddenly you’re almost as interesting as the tv. Neighbors walk by and start chatting, you trade produce with the other gardening ones. Something about being outside and doing things in the yard seems to make you automatically more approachable. We weren’t allowed chickens at all in our neighborhood though... or bees. I still found our backyard permaculture/homesteading very rewarding.

Bees is my next venture. I never wanted to do livestock for meat but if we had more room I'd consider a jersey cow if I could figure out what to do with the calves every 2 years. We are blessed. Comparatively speaking we have quite a lot of land & being semi rural a certain amount of leeway in what & how much we can keep.

 

[Kris5902]

I put in another 3 hours yesterday on my chicken tractor build... I’m thinking I might do a more detailed thread on it and show more of the design. Granted a LOT of that time was spent looking for some tools and parts for the axel, cross referencing sizes, and verifying and adding notes.

They are working well for ten layers and a cockerel as long as I move them at least every other day, otherwise it’s bye bye grass/hayfield! I’ve got almost all my cuts done and will start the assembly this afternoon. What do you think? Should I update my tractor thread with more details, or start a new one now that I have a good idea of how/what I’m building and why?

We found out my husband will need his Pacemaker replaced this summer, the consultation appointment will be in May... and I’m sure that will bring everything to a grinding halt. This evening he’s going to be updating his Resume and applying for a job at a nearby abbatoir on another island training their meat cutters and working there as a cutter himself, hopefully 2-3 days a week so he can either stay at his cousins or he will need to commute in on the school boat with the high school kids (shudder).

I’m posting that bit mostly so I will remember to nag him on it this afternoon... we are both fairly good at procrastinating, but if I say I’m going to do something publicly then I’m much more likely to actually get it done... so thanks for the kick in the butt to get me going!

 

[Ribh]

I put in another 3 hours yesterday on my chicken tractor build... I’m thinking I might do a more detailed thread on it and show more of the design. Granted a LOT of that time was spent looking for some tools and parts for the axel, cross referencing sizes, and verifying and adding notes.

They are working well for ten layers and a cockerel as long as I move them at least every other day, otherwise it’s bye bye grass/hayfield! I’ve got almost all my cuts done and will start the assembly this afternoon. What do you think? Should I update my tractor thread with more details, or start a new one now that I have a good idea of how/what I’m building and why?

We found out my husband will need his Pacemaker replaced this summer, the consultation appointment will be in May... and I’m sure that will bring everything to a grinding halt. This evening he’s going to be updating his Resume and applying for a job at a nearby abbatoir on another island training their meat cutters and working there as a cutter himself, hopefully 2-3 days a week so he can either stay at his cousins or he will need to commute in on the school boat with the high school kids (shudder).

I’m posting that bit mostly so I will remember to nag him on it this afternoon... we are both fairly good at procrastinating, but if I say I’m going to do something publicly then I’m much more likely to actually get it done... so thanks for the kick in the butt to get me going!

Not the High school boat. Not the high school boat...
It's not just us! Anything to avoid the high school boat.
Perhaps a new thread for the tractors...? Lots of pics. You can give me all the dimensions & cuts you like but until I actually see it, it doesn't mean much.
As for the rest... Hope everything goes well. All the best. Happy to help butt kick.