Texas

[Cockle-Dood]

  But I am not getting them all at one time.  The baby goat won't be ready for a few more months.  It's only two weeks old right now.  The cow is a 2 month wait.  The turkeys, those are waiting until we get the pens fully finished.  She hatches year round pretty much.  But I know where I am getting them.  She is also the one that has the bull.  He won't be mine but will come visit her on occasion.  I swear I haven't added anything but a dog (dumped on the property we think) to my collection of critters.

Dony forgey about your flock of guineas

 

[StelleKitten]

They came with the property. I guess then I should add the donkeys too. Lol. The guineas are more a creature that is just there. They run away from people and hide. I hope eventually they will show up and be friendly but in the meantime all they do is make random noises.

ETA I guess I should list everything in one go. 30 chickens and chicks of various breeds and ages, 3 broad breasted bronze turkeys, 2 donkeys, 10 various guineas, 3 cats, 1 dog, 1 husband. I think that is all of them. Then in two months a cow, 3 months a baby goat, eventually some pigs, more goats, more cows, more chickens, more turkeys, and a stock pond with fishies for munching on.

 

[Kilsharion]

They came with the property. I guess then I should add the donkeys too. Lol. The guineas are more a creature that is just there. They run away from people and hide. I hope eventually they will show up and be friendly but in the meantime all they do is make random noises.

When Mike sold his property in Colorado, he had to sell it 'with guineas'. He said they couldn't catch the critters so they just left 'em behind. I snickered at him when he used to tell the tale; but, now I'm seeing what he means. They're fast little buggers.

 

[galanie]

Well I have a very sensitive nose so I want all the ventilation I can get and as we all know chicken poop can get very smelly on certain days so I like as much of a draft as I can get to help out. I've been in a few coops that could gag a maggot, but those weren't kept clean, I find it just helps with smell for extra airflow and it helps in the summer to keep chicks from overheating!

So far, our coop doesn't smell at all and the only thing that's in there is grass and bricks.  I clean it once a week, but the 15 girls are still little (4 weeks) so I am sure that has something to do with the lack of smell.

Completely open (but covered with stout wire) to the south is the way to go here in Texas. And have at least a large window to the east. In the winter, the cold winds come from the west and north. And in summer, the breezes come from the east and south. Mine is completely open to the south and I have large windows on both the east and west. But I have a cover for the west one for wintertime. And ventilation windows even in the north that I close in winter. It makes a huge, huge difference if you open it up when it's hot. And having the north and west blocked in winter is all the protection they need. I've gone out more than once in the winter and had the water frozen in there, but the birds were just fine and chomping at the bit to get out.

Yet during the horrid drought when so many lost birds to the heat, I lost none.

I have poop boards under the roosts and it only stinks if I fail to clean the poop boards.

 

[StelleKitten]

When Mike sold his property in Colorado, he had to sell it 'with guineas'. He said they couldn't catch the critters so they just left 'em behind. I snickered at him when he used to tell the tale; but, now I'm seeing what he means. They're fast little buggers.

They are fast but I think I could catch them with a trap. They are quick and can seriously fly but if I could chase them all into one of the coops, taming would go a lot faster. But first I need to clear out all the grass.

We will have septic starting next month. We are getting it put in pretty soon. We are researching to put a well on the property (really hope we can, that would be great). While we have the back hoe (I think that is what it is called) we will be digging me a nice cellar for storing cheeses, wines, and roots. I'm gathering up all the information so that we can make it correctly. And yes, I have my own personal construction crew. Lol. My brother is an electrician (not licensed anymore but can do it so all we have to do is get it inspected), my DH's friend owns his own construction company. He will help as long as I cook for him and his crew. They are thoroughly addicted to my fried chicken and biscuits. My brother in law is a plumber. With all of us working together it shouldn't take too long to get the place as perfect as we want.

 

[TexasLisa]

But I am not getting them all at one time. The baby goat won't be ready for a few more months. It's only two weeks old right now. The cow is a 2 month wait. The turkeys, those are waiting until we get the pens fully finished. She hatches year round pretty much. But I know where I am getting them. She is also the one that has the bull. He won't be mine but will come visit her on occasion. I swear I haven't added anything but a dog (dumped on the property we think) to my collection of critters.

StelleKitten I am really happy for you. I know you and your husband will be happy to be FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Lisa

 

[StelleKitten]

StelleKitten I am really happy for you. I know you and your husband will be happy to be FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Lisa

Thanks! We are really looking for it. Only drawback is I discovered I have a nasty allergy to ragweed. It's all over the property out there. I didn't even know it could cause a rash but it sure did. Looks like poison ivy, sort of, but it's on my neck!! The only thing that touched me there was the giant ragweed that we walked through. Itchy and sunburnt. Which is why I am at the old house trying to get it to calm down. I really hope this all works out. Once it is company suitable we will be inviting everyone over for a huge barbecue.

 

[Cockle-Dood]

They chickens are trying their hands at a full on free range today! Supervised of course...

Besides game birds, what LF is a good free range breed? Im thinking of starting a trial flock of completely free range birds...was thinking a batch of sex links or just some barnyard birds since it is a trial and im expecting some losses

 

[StelleKitten]

They chickens are trying their hands at a full on free range today! Supervised of course...

Besides game birds, what LF is a good free range breed? Im thinking of starting a trial flock of completely free range birds...was thinking a batch of sex links or just some barnyard birds since it is a trial and im expecting some losses

I've read that Iowa Blues are good free range birds. They are pretty to look at too.

 

[PSJ]

They chickens are trying their hands at a full on free range today! Supervised of course...

Besides game birds, what LF is a good free range breed? Im thinking of starting a trial flock of completely free range birds...was thinking a batch of sex links or just some barnyard birds since it is a trial and im expecting some losses

I agree. I'd go with some barnyard birds or sex links.