Managing flock in Collapsing Economy: Bye Bye Birdies.

[honeydoll]

I agree cybercat, that was an excellent post!

It won't be bye bye birdies for us if the economy gets very bad, it will be bye bye extra birdies and not producing enough birdies. Those will be dinner.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Quote:
Or maybe barter or gifts to neighbors, friends and family who could use some fresh eggs for dinner?

 

[jmc]

Well, things are not improving since i started this thread, so i put another thought out...........

Printing more useless money.................a Fiscal Cliff coming our way in the coming year.............

It is not at all a secret that all is not well and there is little improvement in sight............in fact, things may be getting alot worse............

this is not apocalyticism, but this is the way things may really be heading. Things are already bad now. Nor is this pessimism, but realism that helps us brace for and get through hard times...........

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Yes, there's an awful lot wrong with the way things are, I've read a few posts, half, not all..and I see alot of optimistic people, and personally, I'd rather be optomistic. Sadly though, I'm a realist at heart...I know alot of people have no idea how hard it is to live as a farmer...even if you have the land...it is an all day affair from dawn to dusk, and frequently beyond dusk, just to break even. Now add, no electricity, no gas, no running water, no sewer. Go through one day without it. See if you are really prepared. No one really is except maybe the Amish, and they have spent centuries developing their system. Whatever happens you will have to rely on ingenuity, because we really have no idea of the problems we will encounter. We spent centuries of living based on fossil fuel and depend on that large unsustainable commodity. I don't worry about how much paper money is printed, because I have my own toilet paper...for now. :/ (and a large stack of magazines)

 

[hillfloweranch]

If you don't think you'll have enough bugs/grass for the chickens to free-range on, get to planting!


If you think the neighbors and townies are going to steal your chickens, go buy a gun!


If you think you'll be outnumbered, make some friends...


A sore attitude surely isn't going to help you when/if "The Big @#%" happens! lol

Well said! Making friends with the neighbors is always great but in hard times they may help you protect your flock! I always share my eggs with them

 

[noitulover]

Man, this thread has really kept going! It was the beginning of 2011 when this started! Anyone watch Doomsday Preppers? There are good/bad, realistic/unrealistic aspects to it, and then just some real craziness, but there are a few pointers that anyone could benefit from!

As far as "chicken prep" goes, here is what I'd recommend:

1. Secure the coop and run ASAP, with quarter inch hardware cloth and whatever else it needs. IF things get worse, you'll wish you'd bought that stuff now. Anyone can find materials and scraps these days, but if things got worse, you better believe scraps and extra materials would get used up quickly.

2. If you can, get a rooster for your laying hens and a few reliably broody breeds. Laying hens are great for eggs and even meat, but they don't reproduce (chicks) on their own, and they don't live forever (or even that long, in the big scheme of things). For true sustainability, you'll need that rooster (or 2) to give you new chicks, and the broodies (silkies or whatever breed you want that goes broody) will help you hatch and care for chicks without the need for electricity (heat lamps, brooders, hatchers, etc.).

3. Grow sunflowers and corn for feed. Start a compost pile and farm mealworms! There are easy/cheap ways to feed your chickens in a Depression/Recession/Doomsday/Etc.

 

[hillfloweranch]

Man, this thread has really kept going! It was the beginning of 2011 when this started! Anyone watch Doomsday Preppers? There are good/bad, realistic/unrealistic aspects to it, and then just some real craziness, but there are a few pointers that anyone could benefit from!

As far as "chicken prep" goes, here is what I'd recommend:

1. Secure the coop and run ASAP, with quarter inch hardware cloth and whatever else it needs.  IF things get worse, you'll wish you'd bought that stuff now.  Anyone can find materials and scraps these days, but if things got worse, you better believe scraps and extra materials would get used up quickly.

2. If you can, get a rooster for your laying hens and a few reliably broody breeds.  Laying hens are great for eggs and even meat, but they don't reproduce (chicks) on their own, and they don't live forever (or even that long, in the big scheme of things).  For true sustainability, you'll need that rooster (or 2) to give you new chicks, and the broodies (silkies or whatever breed you want that goes broody) will help you hatch and care for chicks without the need for electricity (heat lamps, brooders, hatchers, etc.).

3. Grow sunflowers and corn for feed.  Start a compost pile and farm mealworms! There are easy/cheap ways to feed your chickens in a Depression/Recession/Doomsday/Etc.

Great tips!