Pastoral Poultry, Traditional Farming For A Modern Era

[centrarchid]

It is clear long-term management, even when free-range keeping it not important, must take into account the locality. That means climate, geology, topography and even the neighbors. I am having lots on fun on the last account. The others simply make you think and be flexible.

I will likely to the raised garden thing as well. Clay content and type so high it is hard on tiller and does not take moisture well when rains heavy. Doing raised will enable changing soil characteristics and keep bunnies out.

 

[wsmith]

Yup. Get to know your chickens, get to know your environment, find out what works so that you can manage all the aspects, changing and adapting as needed, to come out ahead, whatever your poultry goals.

Right now I'm composting the winter's bedding. Last summer's compost is already in the ground growing cucumbers and pumpkins, and helping with the new fruits trees.

 

[outlander]

It is clear long-term management, even when free-range keeping it not important, must take into account the locality.  That means climate, geology, topography and even the neighbors.  I am having lots on fun on the last account.  The others simply make you think and be flexible.

I will likely to the raised garden thing as well.  Clay content and type so high it is hard on tiller and does not take moisture well when rains heavy.  Doing raised will enable changing soil characteristics and keep bunnies out.

Clay here too (Kentucky). Ditto on the raised beds.

 

[SJ]

Yup. Get to know your chickens, get to know your environment, find out what works so that you can manage all the aspects, changing and adapting as needed, to come out ahead, whatever your poultry goals.

Right now I'm composting the winter's bedding. Last summer's compost is already in the ground growing cucumbers and pumpkins, and helping with the new fruits trees.

X2 Me too. My pumpkins are taking over my garden!!! Must be all that good chicky nitrogen.

 

[SJ]

Something that was mentioned earlier was pest/predator management practices with a focus on dogs.

I feel a dog is an essential companion to pastured fowl. My expeirences have led me to believe that when it comes to raptors preying on my flock nothing beats the presence of a big yellow Great Dane wading through the flock. It must be intimidating to any would be predator. When a predator sees what it must think is another predator and also sees itself as a fraction of the dog's size most predators just move on to less risky prey.
Besides my dogs being a passive deterant to predators my female Dane is an excellent varmint hunter. As a team we do our damage to the predator population. I want to utilize what I can of nature's richness. So winter makes great time to thin out predators. The money from furs could buy you that new incubator.

The predator cull helps ease the competiton in the remaining predator population for territory and resources.
A would be predator has no motivation for travelling to take a chicken if it can find plenty to eat before it reaches the coop. Thats my philosophy anyway.

 

[centrarchid]

We used to free range gamefowl at several locations year round on what we called walks. Some of locations also supported production flocks. Most of the locations had general farm dogs although we also had hounds normally used to hunt raccoons and red foxes. Most of the dogs were confined although a few retires were always allowed to roam which they did a lot. The dogs where broke as pups to be around all manner of livestock since they were frequently encountered such during hunts when quarry was out and about. The roaming dogs in particular kept predators from visiting and hunters helped manage predator populations. This enabled birds to be free-ranged year round and often in locations without cover beyond a few trees. At that time everyone seemed responsible with respect to how dogs treated livestock and very few people kept dogs purely as pets.


Other types of livestock also could be an asset. Chickens are choosy about species and types of vegetation. Grazers like horses and cattle were particularly helpful with respect to that. We also grain fed confined animals which was particularly helpful to chickens during winter months.

 

[SJ]

We are still working on the shade thing.. LOL

Trees have not grown on our property, ever until we planted some. Out of 120 that we planted, we still have about 25. As we build fences, which act as snow harvesters, we are able to plant in the snow drift areas which then get more natural moisture. The wind and high elevation sun do a number on vegetation with little water.

The goal is to have natural shade aroung the outside of our fenced areas, that will lend shade inside the chicken run. I can't afford to free range, too many predators. Currently, I have built shade for them. The hen house sits in a corner of the fenced area, about 3 feet from the 6 ft wood fence. The areas between the fencing and the hen house provide the most shade for the longest period of the day. We also have some smaller scrap wood structures for them. The fence itself give quite a bit of shade as well.

What I have noticed also, is that when it is very hot, the chickens will forage in the yard from the time they leave the hen house until about 10 or 11 AM, then they will usually seek out shade. While it is hot they will nap in the shade, dust bath, etc. Then at about 6-7 PM, they will be very active again, foraging and eating until dusk.

I love growing pretty much anything so when read you are having trouble growing a shady snow fence i decided to look into a few plants that would work as a shrub snow fence.


http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_acgl.pdf
http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_gltr.pdf
http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_coco6.pdf
http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_jusc2.pdf
http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_ruid.pdf

 

[bayocum]

To bayocum: Seems like the threads that have the most posts are the ones where most of the people are argumentative and borderline neurotic.....Controversy attracts attention.....On one thread a few days ago about 500 posts were made between and among posters arguing over whether ignorant people should be allowed to ask dumb chicken questions.......The conversation veered from this to the ethics of raising chickens to feed to dogs and the origins of the FDA....If you really want to get a rash of immediate defensive comments and controversy started, go to the heritage sites and question the Gospel According to the Standard of Perfection....I don't know which is easier to rile, a PETA propagandist or a show breeder who thinks the Standard of Perfection ranks equal in importance to the Bible and The Ten Commandments....Keep it up...Take care and enjoy the great life in California...I just finished reading John Steinbeck's great novel, East of Eden....California is a great place....Take care...

Bill.... wow, I didn't realize all these posts were coming in on this thread. For some reason BYC stopped sending me the new posts. What a pleasant surprise. I think you have about summarized the exact reasons I started this thread...its about discussion, learning from each other, even cordial debate is good, but everyone is welcome and for that reason, it's growing like a heritage bird, slow, but in a healthy way!

Can't wait to read up on all the new posts. If you want to read a great book that is about local farming in California, read "Epitaph for a Peach" by Mas Masumoto. Its a lot more than just farming, its about family and culture and California... a great read.

 

[SJ]

Something I have noticed on a few boards is a desire for alternative protein sources to soy. While there are plenty to discuss and I would love to hear all about others and the alternatives they have found I would like to share the one I am try this year.

Lemna also know as duckweed can be 50% protein and if you have a pond any where close youve likely seen it. It is native to practically ever state and in my case its FREE food. Duckweed grows all over the creek by my house. A five gallon bucket and a pool skimmer make collecting a fresh batch short work. I'm not sure how much of an effect adding duckweed to my chicken's diet has had but free food is hard to pass on at 50% protien.

A link to a great article on Lemna:
http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed/practical_duckweed.htm

 

[outlander]

Something I have noticed on a few boards is a desire for alternative protein sources to soy. While there are plenty to discuss and I would love to hear all about others and the alternatives they have found I would like to share the one I am try this year.

Lemna also know as duckweed can be 50% protein and if you have a pond any where close youve likely seen it. It is native to practically ever state and in my case its FREE food. Duckweed grows all over the creek by my house. A five gallon bucket and a pool skimmer make collecting a fresh batch short work. I'm not sure how much of an effect adding duckweed to my chicken's diet has had but free food is hard to pass on at 50% protien.

A link to a great article on Lemna:
http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed/practical_duckweed.htm

This has been on my wish list of things to try. I have three ponds on my property, two of which would be suitable for duckweed cultivation. Are you feeding fresh or drying and adding to the feed ration?