Sally's GF3 thread

[Sally PB]

I've given them buckets of weeds in the past few days. Even if they don't eat them, the weeds get scratched into the dirt.

Chickens + weeds/leaves = compost. Gotta love it.

 

[Sally PB]

Hubby is gone to Pittsburgh for a memorial for his great Uncle. He took the car, for economy reasons, leaving me his Jeep. I have never driven his Jeep*. It's a stick shift (2007 Wrangler Unlimited), and I gotta say...

I really like it! I like sitting up high. I like being able to see. Well, not out the back very well, as it's a soft top, and the vinyl is pretty cloudy after 16 years of sunlight.

The clutch pedal is much stiffer than my car was, but I kind of expected that, as it's a much heavier vehicle. Or maybe that wouldn't matter...? It was easy to shift, except for reverse: far right and back, but it's a 6 speed, so it's faaaaaar right and back, and sometimes hubby has to try a couple times too.

I cheated. I got to the Doc appointment early, pulled in, and backed up across the lot to be able to pull out and not embarrass myself when I went to leave. It took me 3 tries to get into reverse, but no one was there, so no one saw. Right? And, when I parked in the grocery store lot, I was out in the netherlands so that I could pull out and not have to back up.

*Why have I never driven it? When he bought it, he said I could only drive it if I could promise I'd never get into an accident. I said, "Well, they you are always driving the Jeep." He loves that vehicle. And sometimes, that's the only way we will get out of here in the winter. Clearance, 4 wheel drive, and horsepower. Just not good gas mileage.

 

[Sally PB]

Thank goodness for the Mudroom.

I have a three bin composting system. I turned my "collecting" compost pile (the right hand bin) into the middle bin, where it will sit for 4 days (or so) and then get turned into the left bin. And sit for a day or two, then get turned back into the middle bin. Back and forth, for about 3 weeks, and it should be ready to go on the heavy soil garden.

Berkeley hot method of composting.
https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2010/05/08/hot-compost-composting-in-18-days/

The collecting bin is the depository for kitchen waste that doesn't go to the chickens, and all the chicken poop I collect off the poop board. I usually have this project done in the middle of June, and am starting on the second batch. Not this year. Not sure why, I just haven't done it. Doesn't take that long, just other things to do. Today was the day.

Oh. My. God. Did that pile stink. Damp, lots of poop, and no turning. The shavings and leaves and other carbon former life forms were no match for it. Uh. Moan. Ee. Uh. I made lots of jokes about being Queen of all this $#!+, etc, etc. (The kids next door are gone for the weekend. I can cuss all I want. I do not have to set a good example right now.)

Did I mention it was damp and full of poop? I went back to the house, thinking I must have a lot of stuff in the treads of my garden shoes. Leave them on the porch. So why do I still smell sh... Oh. Pant legs are damp and dank 3" above my ankles.

Thank goodness for the Mudroom. I can shuck all that stuff off and toss it in the washer. It will not go into the house and fascinate my dog.

I don't know who thought of the idea of the mudroom. But what a wonderful concept.

 

[NanaK]

I have a hill near the garden that needs some turning, yes, lots of poop in there. Not looking forward to it.

Going to check out that link! Thanks

 

[Sally PB]

Last night I made a "little door" in the run fence separating the adults and the littles. I should have done this when I let the littles out into their own part of the run, or at the latest, last week. Ok, I'm behind. On lots of things, but this really should have been a priority.

The adults were in the coop, so I shut the door. The littles (8 weeks old yesterday, time flies!) came out to see me. They, like kids do, want to stay up late. I told them there's nothing on TV worth watching, and you are not getting any computer games, but they think if they can see, there must be something worth seeing.

I cut out a section of fence about 6x8 inches, and they were interested, but wary. I put a bit of food on the ground just outside the door, and eventually they came out. They got to explore a bit, and I did my best to teach them about going back through the door. It was close to sunset and getting dark (lots of trees around), so they went to bed. Yay. I get to go to bed now too.

This morning, I let them out about 20 minutes earlier than usual, but kept the adults shut in. They got to explore, got some food out of the adult's bowl (everyone will now be on starter/grower until that's gone) and hopped up on several strange and curious things. Oh, the table, the poop bucket, the stump! This is all sooo fascinating!

I herded them back through the door a few times. Pip and Button seemed to have it figured out, the others were working on it. When they were all in their area, I opened the people door and let the adults out.

A few squawks, a couple pecks. So far, it's working very well. One chick was trying to get away from Snowbird, my rooster, through the fence, so I helped her find the door.

I'll be checking on them several times today, I'm sure.

 

[Iluveggers]

Last night I made a "little door" in the run fence separating the adults and the littles. I should have done this when I let the littles out into their own part of the run, or at the latest, last week. Ok, I'm behind. On lots of things, but this really should have been a priority.

The adults were in the coop, so I shut the door. The littles (8 weeks old yesterday, time flies!) came out to see me. They, like kids do, want to stay up late. I told them there's nothing on TV worth watching, and you are not getting any computer games, but they think if they can see, there must be something worth seeing.

I cut out a section of fence about 6x8 inches, and they were interested, but wary. I put a bit of food on the ground just outside the door, and eventually they came out. They got to explore a bit, and I did my best to teach them about going back through the door. It was close to sunset and getting dark (lots of trees around), so they went to bed. Yay. I get to go to bed now too.

This morning, I let them out about 20 minutes earlier than usual, but kept the adults shut in. They got to explore, got some food out of the adult's bowl (everyone will now be on starter/grower until that's gone) and hopped up on several strange and curious things. Oh, the table, the poop bucket, the stump! This is all sooo fascinating!

I herded them back through the door a few times. Pip and Button seemed to have it figured out, the others were working on it. When they were all in their area, I opened the people door and let the adults out.

A few squawks, a couple pecks. So far, it's working very well. One chick was trying to get away from Snowbird, my rooster, through the fence, so I helped her find the door.

I'll be checking on them several times today, I'm sure.

How old are they, and how big is the door? Mine are 3 weeks and I’ll have to do this sometime in the near future.

 

[Sally PB]

How old are they, and how big is the door?

They were 8 weeks old yesterday, so they're getting to be decent sized now. I made the door 3 openings of fence wide and 2.5 openings tall. It's 2x3 welded wire fence, so roughly 6x8 inches. I'll try to get a picture of it.

My plan is to leave this set up in place for a week... or so...? And then take down the dividing fence. When I do that, I do it at night, and rearrange the stuff in the run. Then when they all come outside the next morning, it's new and different for everybody.

 

[Iluveggers]

They were 8 weeks old yesterday, so they're getting to be decent sized now. I made the door 3 openings of fence wide and 2.5 openings tall. It's 2x3 welded wire fence, so roughly 6x8 inches. I'll try to get a picture of it.

My plan is to leave this set up in place for a week... or so...? And then take down the dividing fence. When I do that, I do it at night, and rearrange the stuff in the run. Then when they all come outside the next morning, it's new and different for everybody.

Thanks! A pic would be great. I’ll be watching and following along in a few weeks! I am integrating 12 chicks (3 were hatched, I think 2 are boys and will hit the soup pot when they crow), with 8 older girls, so hopefully there’s enough chicks to keep them feeling strong.

 

[aart]

I cut out a section of fence about 6x8 inches,

Unless all your adult birds are pretty hefty, they may be able to get thru that opening.
I was advised long ago that 5x7" were the magic numbers for tiny integration doors.
Nope, had several slimmer birds that could get thru just fine, learned that 3.5" wide was the magic number for my flock.
I made my tiny doors adjustable.

But sounds like they might be just fine, time will tell.
Best of cLuck!

 

[Iluveggers]

Unless all your adult birds are pretty hefty, they may be able to get thru that opening.
I was advised long ago that 5x7" were the magic numbers for tiny integration doors.
Nope, had several slimmer birds that could get thru just fine, learned that 3.5" wide was the magic number for my flock.
I made my tiny doors adjustable.

But sounds like they might be just fine, time will tell.
Best of cLuck!

Thank you! Will check out your link, also!