my very own micro farm

[Bessetti]

This is such an inspiring thread! Thanks for posting it. Subscribing.

 

[lindalouly]

When you make your garden boxes, are they anchored in the ground or just free frame style..... Gonna attempt a few... And is your stackable potato case the same...

 

[attimus]

@Bessetti much appreciated. Just glad to share my experience.

@lindalouly technically the boxes in the front aren't anchored but when I put the fencing and netting up around the front side of the house I used them as a base. Just make sure to put hardware clothe on the bottom or the gophers will have a new condo. And yes the potato box is also free standing, I could still move it around in the first few tiers. This was a test run for a larger model.
On a side note I used a lot of freecycled materials on some of the boxes and main coop and already see where I will have to do repairs on spots and completely replace others. This is counter productive.

Hopefully getting rid of another cockeral in a few. Have some pictures of the other one and new girls.
Gonna get some pictures of him before send off then I'll put them all up at the same time along with some other stuff maybe

Expert at nothing, master of the obvious.
Onwards and upwards
Attimus

 

[attimus]

Heres red with his new girls

And here's the other boy, think they are gonna name him lucky. I was planning on calling him dinner.

Saw the underside of qberts wing(thats right wing, shes getting big) and thought I'd share

And here's a couple of the babies taking a nap

Saturday night the 4 chicks were 10 feet up the tree next to Apollo's pen, yesterday the Miss' managed to get them back in the pen before everyone turned in for the night. Today the chicks and medusa reside on opposite sides of the same pen. Guess she's over being mom. Tomorrow she should be in the hoop coop I plan on finishing this afternoon.

Onwards and upwards
Attimus

 

[attimus]

Never enough free time on the weekends. Hoop coop is almost finished. Need to get the top covered securely or she'll slip right out like the ninja she is.
Gonna have to wait a few more days but at least the pen they are in now is big enough for them to share for the time being. Also figured out why she's over being a mom. Found my first egg from her since she went broody.
Spent a few minutes on my roosters spurs as well

I looked into several different ways of shorting the spurs and found I would be most comfortable with a dremel. This will however take more than just the one day being as I'm only taking a small amount off the end to let the quick recede for a few days before repeating the process. Both boys were perfectly calm while wrapped in the towel but happy to be released. While working with the dremel I made sure to keep them and their feet secure while I made quick passes over the end of the spur. My goal was to flatten them on the first pass and work on length over the next week.
Off to meet the day head on.
Onwards and upwards
Attimus

 

[attimus]

Its been a rough morning.... woke up to the brooder at the front steps to my porch ripped open. This is what has been housing qbert , and at the moment was in awe considering my dog was just on the other side of a piece of plywood and not two nights before had let himself off the porch to bark at something in the distance. Not a peep from him in the wee hours this morning tho. He seems a little off lately. Well, after a few minutes of frustrated pacing I came to a small bit of qberts feathers and was certain of the worst. No signs other wise and no blood to speak of not even among the feathers. Distraught and mentally drained from the first few moments of my morning I stood there staring at the rest of my ducks only to notice one of the mallards was limping, quickly picking her up I found the beginning of bumble foot and this all seemed a bit much. My lady was definitely my calm in the storm, we put the poor girl in the coop and I headed across the street to the feedstore to pick up vetericyn after a few mins of research along with some guaze and vet wrap. When I returned and headed to the coop I went in to look for the gimpy duck only to see qbert on the other side of the main coops fencing underneath the feeder. Seriously my mind was blown at that point. The mallard became a secondary thought. I rushed to Q who simple let me pick him up, not always the case. After a quick inspection found that a portion of muscle under his chest had been lacerated along with a portion of tail and a small scrape on the scalp.
The owner of the store swears by the ointment I had just purchased so it immediately went to use on Q. Chest is patched up as best I can, antiseptic guaze and wrapped keeping him clean and inside. Nutri drench in the water. Is still drinking, was happy to drink the warm water I initially soaked him in. Havent seen him eat much if anything but im not staring at him incessantly. Don't think the vets here work on fowl so I'm hoping for the best through the weekend. Please keep your fingers crossed for him as well.
After all of that I still had to work on my ducks foot, after cleaning the foot with warm water and a bit of the spray I pinched the bumble to open it up for the antiseptic to work its way in. Applied a generous amount. Guazed and wrapped the foot so as she could still spread her toes and went to work setting up a clean pen for her for the next few days while I repeat this process.
Still never enough hours in the day. Season is slowing down at work and soon I'll have more time to focus on the details I havent been able to so far.
Onward and upward
Attimus

 

[attimus]

Update to qbert and the mallard. Still mobile and alert, still drinking, made some mash for him to hopefully help ease swallowing. Changed the bandage last night and it didnt look to bad. Waiting for my friend to show up to keep an eye on the kid so i can change it again. Already talk of becoming our house duck. Staying positive.
Also waiting for said friend to change gimpy ducks dressing. shes already walking more normal, well as normal as can be for having a wrapped foot. Again staying positive.
Meet the day head on.
Onwards and upwards
Attimus

 

[attimus]

Busy weekend. Now I can finally get some work done on my days off. A lot to report from the last few day I think.
Qbert gave us a good wing flap this morning and is giving me an ever harder time changing the dressing over the chest. Has most definitely been eating as well, separate bowls of mash and wild bird seed. All the boss is missing from it. Lol. Everyday Q improves is another day in the books. happy for this indeed.
The mallard has been released back into the flock aswell. No swelling or open wound, no limp and happy to be free. Lol. There was a bit of squabbling between her and the other banded girl. That was yesterday, it all seems to have worked itself out this morning.
Another pallet of quikcrete should b arriving in the next 30 mins. I day closer to the pond being complete. Sat down with the Miss' the last few nights and went over plans for fencing it in. The reality of our little girl starting to walk is good enough motivation to barricade several thousand gallons of water from her even before we get the whole thing finished to house the ducks in their own run.
Gonna try and do the spurs on my boys again today too. Pictures of everything later I've spent to much time typing as is. Lol.
Onward and upward
Attimus
Pictures this afternoon

 

[attimus]

106° here the last two days. Everyone was miserable, myself included and I don't mind the heat but man was it hot. Chickens spent most of the days under the porch I refreshed the kiddie pools several times just to help keep the temperature down around the house. Didn't get to the pond until yesterday afternoon but its finished, sort of. Always more to do but that pour is done.

Qbert always seems to be improving. Made a move for my shoulder today and with a little help got to spend some time up there.
10 min break is over.
Onward and upward
Attimus

 

[lindalouly]

I can't wait to see a picture of the filled and complete with birds pond. Are you going to plant the pond with fish?