Sitting with a cup of coffee. (coffee lovers)

[vehve]

@Sswanee48 Our broodies did fine with coop temps going down to about -5C (23F). They could probably have handled some colder weather too. I did have some heat on in the coop to keep the water from freezing though, we were down to almost -20C outside some nights.

 

[ChickyChickens]

@Sswanee48 Our broodies did fine with coop temps going down to about -5C (23F). They could probably have handled some colder weather too. I did have some heat on in the coop to keep the water from freezing though, we were down to almost -20C outside some nights.

Yeah, broodies are REALLY waether resistant...lol

 

[chickisoup]

Weather resistant yes, flock resistant? Not so much. There is good reason that given the chance, a hen will go into hiding and not come out until her chicks are older and able to run and hide. She can take the cold and keep the chicks warm but she may not be able to protect them from attack (some won't even try). put her and the nest in a dog cage in the coop, in a box, anything if you want to give them a chance.

 

[chickisoup]

 

[Highcotton]

I watch the Alaska shows when I want a really good laugh

Sort of like we are with Honey Boo Boo.

 

[bamachicks8]

 

[chickisoup]

@alaskan Those shows have "evolved", especially the Frontier. They show more of the "reality" part. Besides, it only takes a bit of thought to realize that, hey, they're using chainsaws and running around on tractors and ATV's and all those boats aren't running on stovewood. I do get a kick out of how they manage to not ever show the neighbors pickup trucks when they visit or how mom managed to get there to visit her pregnant daughter. Really folks, not hard to fill in the blanks. That said, I still enjoy watching the show because to me it beats the heck out of watching some super cop running around "toughing it out" in Hawaii. As for the Bush people, building a house? Yep. Not only feasible, a friend of ours, just this past summer, built a beautiful 2 story home 90% completely on his own, only needing help from his friends(aka us and the adult boys) when it came to raising the roof joists. Ok, granted, he is a talented carpenter and did have the benefit of electricity, even if much of the work was done using a generator, but there was no large equipment involved, just good country ingenuity. Did I mention this guy is in his 50's?
Several years ago Pa decided (finally) we needed a garage so he ordered one of those "kits" where they deliver all the lumber etc. and dump it, screws and all, in a big pile off a flatbed truck. Pa did the grading, plotting and sunk the main posts by himself then we put out the call to the kids and a friend or two. I took pics of the whole process and played crew cook as I watched these guys work like a bunch of laughing monkeys scrambling around and hanging off timbers to raise the joists and in one day we had a pole building big enough for 2 vehicles and then some with plenty of room above for storage all done again with no need to rent large lifting or hauling equipment. This was even before Pa had his old tractor. (we got that the following summer.) So, this family putting up a basic shell structure on their own? yep. Done all the time if you are self-reliant folk. Wish you could see what has been built up here that way.

 

[perchie.girl]

These days you can buy a whole prefab building built by the Amish.... you grade they deliver and setup. Horse barns to houses and all the stuff between can be delivered this way... They set it up you finish the inside as needed.

Though it depends on where you are as to what permits you need.

deb

 

[ChickyChickens]

These days you can buy a whole prefab building built by the Amish.... you grade they deliver and setup. Horse barns to houses and all the stuff between can be delivered this way... They set it up you finish the inside as needed.

Though it depends on where you are as to what permits you need.

deb

OOOh, we need a horse barn!!!

 

[chickisoup]

These days you can buy a whole prefab building built by the Amish.... you grade they deliver and setup. Horse barns to houses and all the stuff between can be delivered this way... They set it up you finish the inside as needed.

Though it depends on where you are as to what permits you need.

deb

Yep. There are several Amish communities in our state and one pre-fab house company here that employs mostly Amish. You can buy just about everything Amish here from anything made from wood to homegoods. Nothing however comes cheap. I love the dolls. If you have the money you can even hire an Amish crew to come build a traditional barn on your site.
As for permits? Up here, not so much. Only thing they really care about now is environmental impact. Can't build too close to any water anymore without jumping thru a bunch of hoops, otherwise you can do just about anything.