my very own micro farm

[attimus]

Sorry been slacking on posts. Been working on the gates for the extension. They are all finished and up. Woo hoo. All that's left is the netting over the top and around the pump house and front gate and bam chickens have space again. I'll try and get pictures tomorrow. Just been really driven to get this finished.

 

[darina]

Ha, no worries. You do all this for your birds and you have a job too, correct? I hope you find some nice healthy pullets soon. It's almost always fun to get more. I think I have topped out, (actually exceeded my limit) and I am trying to figure out what I want to do with my least desirable birds. I could give them to my sister, but they aren't great layers. I am trying to steel myself for putting them in the freezer, but all the steps that precede that have me balking a little. I haven't ever butchered anything. The closest I have come was dissecting animals, and at that point there are very little fluids and only a formaldehyde smell. I have touched a brain though! (Neuropsych class)

 

[attimus]

DONE! Finally got it all done. Both gates up. Netting all done over the top. Almost got it all cleaned up around the yard in there. Old screen door is down . I'll be able to do the screen boxes over the planter boxes soon.

Gates are double hinged and double latched. Wrapped the outer sides of the door with the hardware clothe as well. I believe it was @HighStreetCoop that posted somewhere about wrapping doors similarly. The chickens are happy and enjoying the sun on this side of the house. And brain laid the most perfectly shaped egg this morning so I'm hoping this is a going to be a good turnaround for things. Once the screens are done I can get back to planting. Still looking for a few youngs no luck yet. I guess just waiting for them to go broody, just need to build a little area for one when it happens.

 

[aart]

....... Wrapped the outer sides of the door with the hardware clothe as well. I believe it was @HighStreetCoop that posted somewhere about wrapping doors similarly. .......

Was more of an extension of the door width to fill rather large gaps(2-3"?) left around the doors by the coop builder ......was a great solution.

 

[attimus]

@aart that was a great fix. Hardware cloth is fun stuff. Interesting how my brain turned the tidbit of what I remembered into my finished product. Fun fact, a clerk at the closest home depot didn't even know what hardware cloth was. Haha.

@darina I know the day will come when we hit our max number as well. But for now these are our pets. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of using them for meat as much as eggs. Perhaps when there are to many to name. Ive assisted with a few friends. But couldn't do the actual deed only helped with the processing after.

@Frazars Farm there has been minimal red tail activity since the attack. Its like they know they did something bad. This coming spring will be the true test of things when the breeding pairs in the area are about with their juveniles.

 

[attimus]

So now that the front and side of my house is netted up like a zoo aviary. On to the boxes. Here's the first cage, still needs chicken wire tho.

Only 14 more of those in various sizes to go.

 

[darina]

Those are really cool!

 

[attimus]

I'll find some way to latch them on. I know the chickens can be rambunctious. And they are light weight for removal. The idea is to share growth with the chickens while still being able to protect the majority of the plant for myself. I think it turned out well. Got a second one done over the strawberries and a third cut and ready to put together. Gotta take it easy before work tho.

Random chicken pics.

 

[attimus]

Its been rainy this whole weekend so not much getting done. Up to 3 chicken proof frames for the boxes done. I'm gonna tet and get the rest done tomorrow and Tuesday.
Looks like I'll be getting those ducks earlier then expected maybe the end of next week. They are coming by Thursday to check the place out and meet what will be the the girls new family.
What do you all have set up for broody hens to hatch chicks. I've got a few ideas rolling around in the head but I just wanted to see what everyone else has going on.

 

[nayeli]

Here is our newest thing:

We built the mini tractor for our chicks, and put our adult hamburg Sparrow in with them since she was at the bottom of the pecking order with the adult silkies and I'm hoping that changes!

Other than that I just got back from TSC.... I don't like that store, mine doesn't carry very good feed choices! Last time I bought a layer feed not thinking, and I can't feed that to my chicks or roo so I just bought an all flock... and I have wild bird seed I give them SMH! 150 lbs of food for 6 chickens!.... In other news, I'm getting more chickens LOL. I really want a splash silkie and TSC is getting chicks in next week. They have a minimum of 6. There is a lady I got my two adult silkies from too, but I don't want to have to worry about inbreeding so I'm on the fence, and one of their offspring has a crossbeak. They are really nice looking but idk.