Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[cglessner]

...

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. 

WOW! Is the best adjective I can come up with. You must be young. My husband and I just got our lifelong dream of a farm last year. He's 70 and I'm 63. We're both very active and have been working very hard at becoming more self sustaining. We have chickens, sheep and steers. We planted a huge garden and I canned everything I could. I planted a lot of broccoli, kale, cabbage, collard greensand pumpkins thinking I'd freeze a lot of it for the chickens for winter. The only thing they'll eat is pumpkin. Should I steam the greens first? And what do do with the cabbage for the chickens?
We wanted to have bees too. I took an online course thru Penn State only to learn that bees will Not live where herbicides and pesticides are used and unfortunately our neighboring farms use both. I was so looking forward to my own honey as a natural sweetener.
We're raising the sheep for wool for spinning and knitting.
I really have learned a lot on this site. Thank you for your information.

 

[dheltzel]

Oh, I see, you had the forethought to put a sloped roof on the run. I build flat welded wire roofs because it's cheaper and easier - until you want to make the roof solid for winter, then the water and snow that accumulates makes it nearly impossible to cover.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

The welded wire worked great and is holding up. In hindsight, we would not have used it for the roof of the run. We've learned how important it is to keep a dry run, you can't really tell in the pictures, but 1/4 of the run is covered in PVC? roofing sheets. We also had an owl reach through the welded wire along the roof line and severely injure a leghorn that was roosting on a joist. The bottom 2 feet of the run has additional covering to keep out raccoon paws. Another hard lesson to learn.

 

[dheltzel]

The welded wire worked great and is holding up. In hindsight, we would not have used it for the roof of the run. We've learned how important it is to keep a dry run, you can't really tell in the pictures, but 1/4 of the run is covered in PVC? roofing sheets. We also had an owl reach through the welded wire along the roof line and severely injure a leghorn that was roosting on a joist. The bottom 2 feet of the run has additional covering to keep out raccoon paws. Another hard lesson to learn.

My intent was for those runs to only be used in fair weather and that the birds would stay inside when it got nasty. That works great for the chickens, but the turkeys, guineas and peas don't seem bothered by the rain, even when it's really cold rain, they stand out in the run all day. Last winter they figured it out when it got really, really cold, but not before we lost a pea and a turkey due to exposure. In the end, I had to remove all roosting places from the run and put a night light inside the coop. They sure were happy last spring when I put the outdoor roosts back up. Peas and turkeys are truly outdoor birds, we keep some chickens in coops with no runs, but I don't think that's a good idea for the other birds.

I wonder how ducks and geese react to super cold weather. Are they smart about coming inside like chickens, or do they sit out like the turkeys? I'm guessing being waterfowl they are even less bothered by rain and snow.

 

[chiques chicks]

My intent was for those runs to only be used in fair weather and that the birds would stay inside when it got nasty. That works great for the chickens, but the turkeys, guineas and peas don't seem bothered by the rain, even when it's really cold rain, they stand out in the run all day. Last winter they figured it out when it got really, really cold, but not before we lost a pea and a turkey due to exposure. In the end, I had to remove all roosting places from the run and put a night light inside the coop. They sure were happy last spring when I put the outdoor roosts back up. Peas and turkeys are truly outdoor birds, we keep some chickens in coops with no runs, but I don't think that's a good idea for the other birds.

I wonder how ducks and geese react to super cold weather. Are they smart about coming inside like chickens, or do they sit out like the turkeys? I'm guessing being waterfowl they are even less bothered by rain and snow.

Don't have ducks, but neighbor does.

Last winter at 1am when it was 9 degrees I went to check on them. Neighbor was on vacation and I was caring for them.
They had a nice coop, but they were all outside under an open lattice box in the wind and snow. I had to carry straw bales down to build a hut for them to block the wind. Of course one got out so I had to chase it through the field to catch it. Would have been funny to watch if anyone had seen me.

They survived, but I wouldn't call them smart. Wouldn't call me smart, either.

 

[stake]

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?

LMP:

I read somewhere that 4oz/bird per day is good...I have mine on demand feed and I place feed bowls in different areas so the low ranking ones can always get some...also, the squirrels have learned to eat the chook pellets...they've destroyed one of my hanging feeders....also, I give a good bit of scratch to the girls...

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

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

**Thank you !!!

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.

**Thank You *Wing & *dheltzel for this info!! Will definitely help in determining whether we keep Quail over-winter....we have some logistics to figure out...have the winter to work things through, on paper anyway,

awesome!! Hey, do you hire-out?? hahaha, just kidding!! They look like they know what their doing..so glad you are able to keep some of your chooks Blarney...

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Don't have ducks, but neighbor does.

Last winter at 1am when it was 9 degrees I went to check on them. Neighbor was on vacation and I was caring for them.
They had a nice coop, but they were all outside under an open lattice box in the wind and snow. I had to carry straw bales down to build a hut for them to block the wind. Of course one got out so I had to chase it through the field to catch it. Would have been funny to watch if anyone had seen me.

They survived, but I wouldn't call them smart. Wouldn't call me smart, either.

...sorry, but i just had to...

LMP:

I read somewhere that 4oz/bird per day is good...I have mine on demand feed and I place feed bowls in different areas so the low ranking ones can always get some...also, the squirrels have learned to eat the chook pellets...they've destroyed one of my hanging feeders....also, I give a good bit of scratch to the girls...

Thank you Stake....okay..then I am giving 4oz +more than necessary...like I said, they are getting about 1/2 cup each right now...boy, I am feeding these birds really well....and that is fermented food so it would even be "more"..if you look at it from a moisture content perspective....no wonder the feed bill is not where I would like it to be...

We don't have issues with rouge birds and squirrels (fenced & covered-netting, area)...i think the squirrels realize when they do chance a "walk-by" , to just never-mind....the girls look and follow them along the fence like they are next on the menu..they don't even try to go in there with them. The tweety birds have the neighbors for "extra food..I rarely scatter feed around, it gets fermented, so they clean it up very well. By the time I get done "litter-scooping" in the morning, they have their bowl licked clean!
I have some big girls here...

The welded wire worked great and is holding up. In hindsight, we would not have used it for the roof of the run. We've learned how important it is to keep a dry run, you can't really tell in the pictures, but 1/4 of the run is covered in PVC? roofing sheets. We also had an owl reach through the welded wire along the roof line and severely injure a leghorn that was roosting on a joist. The bottom 2 feet of the run has additional covering to keep out raccoon paws. Another hard lesson to learn.

We have plans to use posts, that will hold up metal roofing sheets..at an angle. About 1/2 the run will be covered with what we have so far. Hoping to acquire more materials to cover the entire area, but some is better than none right now. I "turn-over" their run dirt area multiple times a year, in doing this..the ground is now higher than the surrounding ground, making the water run off/out of their area..mostly puddle- free..that is until they decide to dig to China..then I am filling holes.

...also, turning over the soil keeps any smell to an absolute minimum(fresh) and they get to dig into critters...almost composting-if you will.

**CGLESSNER-
**WOW! Is the best adjective I can come up with. You must be young. My husband and I just got our lifelong dream of a farm last year. He's 70 and I'm 63. We're both very active and have been working very hard at becoming more self sustaining. We have chickens, sheep and steers. We planted a huge garden and I canned everything I could. I planted a lot of broccoli, kale, cabbage, collard greensand pumpkins thinking I'd freeze a lot of it for the chickens for winter. The only thing they'll eat is pumpkin. Should I steam the greens first? And what do do with the cabbage for the chickens?
We wanted to have bees too. I took an online course thru Penn State only to learn that bees will Not live where herbicides and pesticides are used and unfortunately our neighboring farms use both. I was so looking forward to my own honey as a natural sweetener.
We're raising the sheep for wool for spinning and knitting.
I really have learned a lot on this site. Thank you for your information.

**Thank you for your input too!! Wow, you are hard-charging also! Sheep & Steer, spinning wool, awesome!...we would LOVE to have a farm, a place with the room to raise larger livestock..but we are making things the way we need them to be here and we are happy.
Wish we were younger..hahaha, DH is 45 & I am 41..not too "old", but have a lot of health issues, unfortunately..anyway, we do what we can, when we can, things get done..maybe just not as fast as we would like them too

...
I took the opportunity to meet a local bee keeper about a month ago. He has agreed to be a mentor, looking forward to helping him out in the spring..learning hands on as much as possible. The $$ investment is keeping things slow in getting them right now, so taking the time to learn until then. We do have the room for a hive on the property, and are fortunate that there is little to no-spraying in the area.
The cabbage/broccoli..the whole head ( fresh) can be given to them, also can hang them for entertainment...yours and the birds!! hahaha
My birds will eat anything cooked for them, so if your that inclined..maybe your would eat things also.
It is great learning from others, so many different ideas!!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

The welded wire worked great and is holding up. In hindsight, we would not have used it for the roof of the run. We've learned how important it is to keep a dry run, you can't really tell in the pictures, but 1/4 of the run is covered in PVC? roofing sheets. We also had an owl reach through the welded wire along the roof line and severely injure a leghorn that was roosting on a joist. The bottom 2 feet of the run has additional covering to keep out raccoon paws. Another hard lesson to learn.

I'm sorry you've hard hard lessons to learn, but thank you for sharing the info. So glad you are still able to have chickens!

LMP:

I read somewhere that 4oz/bird per day is good...I have mine on demand feed and I place feed bowls in different areas so the low ranking ones can always get some...also, the squirrels have learned to eat the chook pellets...they've destroyed one of my hanging feeders....also, I give a good bit of scratch to the girls...

I always have multiple feeders and waterers out. They can so bullying sometimes!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

What should I make for dinner tonight? This is my kitchen today....

I'm making eggs and toast and sausage on my electric skillet in the living room, I think.

To keep things chicken related, my girls were dust bathing today in the garden, which was quite moist still. Yeesh, you'd think they'd be so cold!