North Carolina

[farmraised86]

That's what I thaught

If those who see this report it to the wildlife folks, they should do something about it. Canadian geese are a protected species under the International Migratory Bird Treaty, just as hawks are. If reported to the right people, something can be done.

 

[jtbass2756]

I am so worried about my Mr. Sizzle rooster! Some kids came over yesterday evening (this guy is going to build my coop) and the tweens thought it would be fun to try to catch him while I was talking to this guy. I noticed he went to the field beside where we live but I didn't worry because he always wondered back to his coops here. Well, I've already been out opening up everything and I still haven't heard his crowing or seen him. I am not physically able to go look for him but I feel like I would have heard him crowning at least if he was ok!! I'm afraid he got down at the woodline and something got him...it was about dark so this is a prime time for the predators to be out lurking.....

@Coop Scoop Boogie I hope someone reports them....that's irresponsible and cruel !!

 

[missnu01]

I need some help on a compost bin!!!

We had a worm bin that I started to try and compost, but they aren't producing very well so I'm just going to throw most in my garden and the rest to my chickens and be done with it!

A lot of table scraps go to the chickens already, but no banana peels, coffee grinds or egg shells which we go through a ton of.

We live on a small lot so I want something that doesn't smell too much.

Someone told me I have to keep the poo and the food compost separate?  Is this true?  
I've seen some pre-made bins online, are they worth the price?
What are you guys using?

Thanks for the help!!!

I just rake all my compost into a huge pile. Hay poops, household food stuffs...full of worms and no smell. If your pile smells there is something wrong with it. When I add something new and smelly, I just try to bury it under the already existing compost. That way it breaks down faster and loses its smell. The chickens keep it turned for me. Every few days I just rake it all back into a pile and they go at it again. Lol.

 

[dutchbunny83]

I just rake all my compost into a huge pile. Hay poops, household food stuffs...full of worms and no smell. If your pile smells there is something wrong with it. When I add something new and smelly, I just try to bury it under the already existing compost. That way it breaks down faster and loses its smell. The chickens keep it turned for me. Every few days I just rake it all back into a pile and they go at it again. Lol.

Oh wow that's an old one! Thanks for your feedback! I really do need to try and start a compost pile again.
I've attempted the vermicomposting 3 times now, the most recent one seems to be working.
The second time was totally my fault I moved them to the side of my yard and forgot to water them.

Fortunately they escaped out the holes I drilled instead of drying up.
We've been doing the compost in bins, but I think my original batch from like a year ago I need to toss because it's half pine bedding and it doesn't seem to break down.
Other than the poo we haven't had much to compost-- between the rabbits, chickens, & worms they eat most of it for me.

My flies are horrendous this year, worse than past years already. I have those traps from TSC you put the stinky liquid in and it catches them, but doesn't seem to be working.

 

[MrSelf Destruct]

I built my compost bin before we got the chickens. We bought one of those black plastic square things that has a lid that opens on the top and 4 small doors at the bottom. Critters kept getting into it and it broke in several places to include the hinges for the lid on top. My wife had a hard time getting in there to mix it so I came up with this. It isn't very large but composts real quick. Doesn't have any odor and the compost looks nice and healthy.

I used a 55 gallon drum I bought for $10. A scrap piece of 1 1/4 or 1 1/2" pipe (can't remember the diameter but was left over from a shallow well I put in. 3 hinges, a hasp, 3 screen door handles, some scrap wood and some rivets. To mix it around, there are the 3 handles spread around the barrel. I just start grabbing the handles and spin it around several times and every thing gets mixed real fast.

 

[dutchbunny83]

That's awesome!
I'm using 13 gallon trash cans I drilled like half inch holes all over then covered the holes with screening material on the inside.
I can't properly turn it though.
I can't keep up though I could easily fill one of those cans a week, I don't have the capacity to do it.

Those with the pile you're just putting in chicken poo and hay and turning it? It's not causing more fly issues?

 

[farmraised86]

It seems nobody in NC has game birds lol I'm needing a roo for two of my hens that I refuse to breed to anything but game I'd even rent a roo lol the closest thing I have is modern so that's what I'm using for now... I'm thinking black berchin modern x jap phoenix and red brown modern x 3/4 OEG 1/4 aseel

.

 

[farmraised86]

Guess what! Its raining :/

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Guess what! Its raining :/

It's okay. I caught most of it on my head and back.

Drip, drip, drip.

 

[farmraised86]

How much do you want for rameses and cleo?