The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[RedRidge]

I just bought what I think may become my favorite winter chicken equipment. I've been making several trips each time I have to go out there since I have been bringing 2 warm water jars to replace the ones out there (sometimes 3 depending on the circumstances), ff, some dry feed and BOSS, etc. etc. etc. Then I have to carry back the cold water jars, feed buckets, etc. It's been taking a lot of time just carrying things around. So... Was at Menards this afternoon and bought one of these. Have used it this evening and it is a FANTASTIC addition to my equipment. Come to think of it, it would probably make a dandy dust bath container that would fit in a bunch of kiddos at once

ETA: I even hauled a heavy bag of peat moss out there effortlessly. Yep.. loving this sled! (Rope added of course )

Ummmm... they don't sell those here. ;-)

 

[RedRidge]

On my hillside I need a tram...not a wagon or sled.

Like a ski lift? 

Yeah... 900' elevation change from my house to my barn.
Thinking a pulley system might be good. ;-)

 

[aoxa]

Yeah... 900' elevation change from my house to my barn.
Thinking a pulley system might be good. ;-)

How far from your house is your barn?

I drive my car down to take any supplies. Thanks to LM for suggesting the sled. I haven't ploughed past the man door entrance, so I have all this slick ice for 30 feet and 50 kg bags of grain to manoeuvre around. I think that will help situate it a little better. I have a sled just like that. Can it do 50kg bags?

 

[lazy gardener]

Yes, they can, but be careful. They can get out of control pretty fast and either sneak up behind you and knock you off your feet, or send you into a skid when they are in front and the incline gets the best of you (never any traction when you need it!)

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote: Yeah... 900' elevation change from my house to my barn.
Thinking a pulley system might be good. ;-)

Wow amazing!

 

[Leahs Mom]

. Can it do 50kg bags?

Tonight I moved in one load:

25 lb bag of grit
12 lbs. of water
3 jars - weight apx 5 lbs
apx. 2 lb. feed
And a couple other misc. items probably weighing about 3-4 lbs.

So..what does that add up to...

Close to 48 lbs.

So I'd say you could do one bag...maybe try it out to see if you could stack more without breaking the plastic.

 

[Shan30]

Yep.  I'm going to get a wagon too for when the weather is warm again.

I missed it somehow...what's going on with your roosters?  (Thought I had read all the posts but must have missed something?

Oh nothing hopefully! No symptoms or anything. These guys were the chicks that were inside in the brooder when our flock contracted MG and we culled the flock. They are 7 months old now and we kept the boys longer than we would have to give them time to form the antibodies that they test for.

They were not hatched from our eggs or even on our farm. So as they never had contact and I took care of the chicks while Erick cared for the adults we are hoping that they are clean. Both of the Avian pathologists think we would have seen symptoms by now so fingers crossed!

Delisha gave me some great info on the testing, thanks! I have to say drawing blood from a tiny chicken vein is not easy!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

 

[lalaland]

Tonight I moved in one load:

25 lb bag of grit
12 lbs. of water
3 jars - weight apx 5 lbs
apx. 2 lb. feed
And a couple other misc. items probably weighing about 3-4 lbs.

So..what does that add up to...

Close to 48 lbs.

So I'd say you could do one bag...maybe try it out to see if you could stack more without breaking the plastic.

here we use these big heavy expensive "ice sled" for moving stuff, mostly for ice fishing. They are more rectangle, wider, and made out of a heavy duty plastic. Cost $150 bucks, you can haul your stuff out onto the lake to set up to fish.

But I also have a child's sled which I have used to get groceries and things from the road up to the house when the driveway was impassible because of snow. And I have used the child's sled for grain, I've done 3 bags at once without a problem. It is true, they can get ahead of you - if that happens just let go!

 

[ChickChickChicky]

For whoever was needing to get rid of rats, try a Rat Zapper (google it, I had no luck trying to paste a link here). It runs on batteries and is very effective, just follow the directions precisely.