Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[LittleMissPurdy]

please tell me more about you extended garden and alternative food sources

we are planting 2x's the amount of veggies (pumpkins/squash/peppers..etc..), so that we can subsidize the birds diets..that includes the turkeys and meat birds..I feel they should have a variety of things in their diets too. The better they eat, the better we do!

Going to be investing in different "wheat" seed to grow in the garden in the "off" season to also add to the birds/rabbits diets.

We are getting rabbits this spring for breeding/meat/pelts..going to be doing some experiments with "fodder" and other grasses for their food.

We have also planted fruits trees & berry bearing bushes..going to be adding more as we go. The ultimate/long term plan is turning this property into a self-sustaining garden, through "compatible planting", livestock and insects (pollinators-bees/butterflies). Also into water collection & alternative "power"/ energy sources (wind/solar/wood), anything to help keep the $$ out-put to the most minimum...a lot of work, but extremely satisfying and we become more self sustained..finding others who enjoy knowing where/how their food comes to the table is not hard...just start talking chickens with people and the next thing you know you are swapping/trading with your neighbors..they have goat milk/butter/cheese and you have canned goods, bees= honey...it is awesome!

This thread/website is a great start to finding people who are in your more immediate area. There are a lot of very nice folks I have gotten to know. They have done so much to help us get this far.

We LOVE yard sales..did 99% of Christmas shopping that way this year..and on-line auctions! Craigslist is great too, just have to be careful..that goes for anything really. We were only able to complete the coop because of materials purchased from these avenues..in truth, most items we were able to get for FREE..just have to take into consideration GAS & TIME...
Going to be roofing the run next spring from materials received free or on the extreme-cheap..we couldn't do this any other way.

Incubator question.

I'm looking for a small incubator with an automatic turner. Something that will hold maybe 24 chicken/50 quail eggs. For those times I'm not really hatching.

I see some on eBay that appear to roll the eggs for turning. Anyone have any experience with them? Are they worth the roughly $100?

Just don't feel the need to fire up my big one for small hatches and my schedule doesn't make manual turning very possible. Or do I just use my coolerbator and hope I remember to turn?

I just turn eggs...it is a pain sometimes to remember. I mark the eggs with numbers so i "know" how many times I have turned/rolled them..Some days they would only get turned once, but it was all good in the end...
i would think you could pick-up a 'new' turner for $100..just seems like a lot for something ''used'..JMO, but what do I know?

..sorry Ray..i really didn't help much did I..geesh..

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

DH: 'It's a beautiful Day today.'

Me: 'Yup, we need to get tarps over the main run.'

DH: 'It's not that nice'.

...

Awesome! A new bator. I thought quail were seasonal layers.... Wing?[/quote

If I left my quail outside and only covered with a tarp at night, they would keep laying in winter..if I moved them inside they would stop.....so yes the need light but nowhere near what a chicken needs...
I did have a little cinnamon quail in my kitchen for 3 years, kept in one of those little plastic hanging bird cages...she would lay most of the year with occasional breaks.

they are just as hardy as chickens?...we were talking about maybe using the small-older coop for a trial run of some...if they can be over-wintered without too much fuss..might be worth it..

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

So, any of you that have built coolerbators, have you ever thought about making a homemade dehydrator? We were just looking it up and it seems almost the same lol. We're planning to make a big one this spring.

pictures..please

....have you been on pinterest???...hahaha...seriously, keep me updated, because those bigger dehydrators are crazy expensive...and if we could put something together from parts already here..well, then..

Of course! 2 weeks ago, hidden in the basement. First chicks are due a week from tomorrow. Might need to mention that to the wife soon . . .
I only started the "little" incubator, and I'm only hatching breeds I haven't hatched before. That shows a lot of restraint, doesn't it?

...yes, you are restraining...

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

eye candy is right! Im in love! Thanks so much!!!

i know right?!..

...I have to look at those things at least once a week..hahaha, I totally need help...

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

had to go to Lowes today and pick up sand..I have NO idea where this stuff goes, I mean..it is in the coop, but then..slowly it just disappears..

...the birds aren't eating it..I don't think the birds are eating it..good grief..they better not be eating it..geesh..

..also had a food run., for us & the birds. Didn't enjoy that at all..way too many Christmas crazies out there, having "Holiday Hysterics"...

*** Feeding question for anyone/everyone..
How much are you feeding your birds right now?...I keep reading approx. 1/2 cup per bird-daily..okay, we ferment..so still a 1/2 cup...but when it gets colder..how much of an increase is given?..
This is not including supplemented..like scraps(veggies/grown things)...I go on the thought that any "extra" that way is good..
I am curious, our birds are very nice sized..still NO eggs..could they be getting too much food?..Is that even possible?

 

[dheltzel]

they are just as hardy as chickens?...we were talking about maybe using the small-older coop for a trial run of some...if they can be over-wintered without too much fuss..might be worth it..

In my experience, quail are not as winter hardy as chickens. Sheer body size works against them in that comparison. I've had 2 types, Bobwhites can overwinter well in groups (I've heard), but need a lot of shelter from drafts if kept as pairs. Coturnix need more liquid water than chickens, I think once a day is not enough for good survival, I always lost at least half my Coturnix every winter. Heated water bowls were not available back then.

I've noticed differences in how species react to bad weather. The chickens retreat to shelter, but the guineas, turkeys and peas all seem determined to stand out in the rain. When it snows, that all seem smart enough to move inside, but a really cold rain has them standing in their run, looking rather forlorn.

Even the free ranging chickens and guineas follow that scenario

 

[wingstone]

 
they are just as hardy as chickens?...we were talking about maybe using the small-older coop for a trial run of some...if they can be over-wintered without too much fuss..might be worth it..

In my experience, quail are not as winter hardy as chickens. Sheer body size works against them in that comparison. I've had 2 types, Bobwhites can overwinter well in groups (I've heard), but need a lot of shelter from drafts if kept as pairs. Coturnix need more liquid water than chickens, I think once a day is not enough for good survival, I always lost at least half my Coturnix every winter. Heated water bowls were not available back then.

I've noticed differences in how species react to bad weather. The chickens retreat to shelter, but the guineas, turkeys and peas all seem determined to stand out in the rain. When it snows, that all seem smart enough to move inside, but a really cold rain has them standing in their run, looking rather forlorn.

Even the free ranging chickens and guineas follow that scenario

Yep, quail need to be kept dry and draft free... do not tell the postal service but those priority boxes that they deliver for free make excellent little nest in quail pens, I tape them shut and cut a square out of one side then stuff the box with straw. Overwintered many quail this way.. I used rubber water dishes and just changed them out twice a day.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

[COLOR=0000FF]DH: 'It's a beautiful Day today.'


Me: 'Yup, we need to get tarps over the main run.'


DH: 'It's not that nice'.[/COLOR]

How are you tarping over the run without getting a snow load that might crush it?

The run is already covered with welded wire, so it's pretty sturdy.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Is anyone else thinking about those shiny new pages of seed catalogs???.. I know, a little early but really wanting to get started for the season

Oh yeah, already dreaming of what will be grown.... Definitely want to grow some home made popcorn this year, and try the "three sisters" method of planting.

Of course! 2 weeks ago, hidden in the basement. First chicks are due a week from tomorrow. Might need to mention that to the wife soon . . .
I only started the "little" incubator, and I'm only hatching breeds I haven't hatched before. That shows a lot of restraint, doesn't it?

Spoken like a true chicken math nerd.

we are planting 2x's the amount of veggies (pumpkins/squash/peppers..etc..), so that we can subsidize the birds diets..that includes the turkeys and meat birds..I feel they should have a variety of things in their diets too. The better they eat, the better we do!  Going to be investing in different "wheat" seed to grow in the garden in the "off" season to also add to the birds/rabbits diets.

We are getting rabbits this spring for breeding/meat/pelts..going to be doing some experiments with "fodder" and other grasses for their food. 

We have also planted fruits trees & berry bearing bushes..going to be adding more as we go. The ultimate/long term plan is turning this property into a self-sustaining garden, through "compatible planting", livestock and insects (pollinators-bees/butterflies).  Also into water collection & alternative "power"/ energy sources (wind/solar/wood), anything to help keep the $$ out-put to the most minimum...a lot of work,  but extremely satisfying and we become more self sustained..finding others who enjoy knowing where/how their food comes to the table is not hard...just start talking chickens with people and the next thing you know you are swapping/trading with your neighbors..they have goat milk/butter/cheese and you have canned goods, bees= honey...it is awesome!

This thread/website is a great start to finding people who are in your more immediate area.  There are a lot of very nice folks I have gotten to know. They have done so much to help us get this far.  
We LOVE yard sales..did 99% of Christmas shopping that way this year..and on-line auctions! Craigslist is great too, just have to be careful..that goes for anything really. We were only able to complete the coop because of materials purchased from these avenues..in truth, most items we were able to get for FREE..just have to take into consideration GAS & TIME...
Going to be roofing the run next spring from materials received free or on the extreme-cheap..we couldn't do this any other way. 

I just turn eggs...it is a pain sometimes to remember. I mark the eggs with numbers so i "know" how many times I have turned/rolled them..Some days they would only get turned once, but it was all good in the end...
i would think you could pick-up a 'new' turner for $100..just seems like a lot for something ''used'..JMO, but what do I know? ..sorry Ray..i really didn't help much did I..geesh..

That all sounds awesome. Hope to be doing that sort of thing when we get a place with more land!

That amazing! What a huge run you have. Glad you are able to still have chooks. If you still have the feed bags available, maybe I can stop by after Christmas when things have slowed down for everybody. They would make an excellent winter hobby!

 

[fisherlady]

Great looking set up! How did you like the welded wire for working with? I think dh and I are going to fence part of the yard for the bird to have for roaming in without them being truly 'free ranging' because our White Rocks are way too adventurous and with the freezing cold and snow we are getting tired of getting them out of the neighbor's horse pasture. None of the birds ever bothered going up to that field before, but the WRs are really intent on roaming further than any of the others ever did when foraging....

We will be getting our tarps up Tuesday probably, will be glad to have the run (partially) closed in so the birds can have more elbow room during foul weather.