The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Jewelwing]

I'm always weary of wisteria. It gets pretty crazy and difficult to control.
Will you introduce the roster back before the other three bullies, in hopes that he will straighten out any quarrels like a good rooster should do?
Maybe you need a new roo?

Crazy is perfect! Wouldn't want anything to look too manicured - it just wouldn't fit in around here.

That second part, about the roo, I think you meant for Leahs Mom, right?

 

[subhanalah]

Crazy is perfect!  Wouldn't want anything to look too manicured - it just wouldn't fit in around here.

That second part, about the roo, I think you meant for Leahs Mom, right?

lol, probably!
It's hard to keep up on a phone I need to stick to my tablet!

 

[Jewelwing]

I changed my name! (Not for real, just on this forum

)

I got tired of being called Chaos, and decided to go with Jewelwing instead, after the damselflies that are abundant on our property. Plus, it reminds me of chickens! They are little jewel-winged creatures too, aren't they? And ebony jewelwing damselflies are iridescent in the sunlight, like an Australorp.

I don't know if it's OK to post a photo from a different website, so I'll just post the link to a nice picture of one:

http://www.worldwidefieldguide.com/picture.php?/2058/categories

 

[ChickChickChicky]

Crazy is perfect! Wouldn't want anything to look too manicured - it just wouldn't fit in around here.

Wisteria needs VERY strong supports... it grows so vigorously that it can bring down a garage or pergola after it's gotten heavy enough. Many people also seems to have problems with wisteria not blooming, not sure why. Perhaps grapes would be a better solution (plus both the leaves and fruit are edible).

 

[subhanalah]

Wisteria needs VERY strong supports... it grows so vigorously that it can bring down a garage or pergola after it's gotten heavy enough. Many people also seems to have problems with wisteria not blooming, not sure why. Perhaps grapes would be a better solution (plus both the leaves and fruit are edible).

yes!
I love the look of wisteria, but know it would be too much for any type of landscaping in my yard.
And with grape leaves you can make dolma. ...sooooo delicious!

 

[Jewelwing]

Wisteria needs VERY strong supports... it grows so vigorously that it can bring down a garage or pergola after it's gotten heavy enough. Many people also seems to have problems with wisteria not blooming, not sure why. Perhaps grapes would be a better solution (plus both the leaves and fruit are edible).

Quote:

yes!
I love the look of wisteria, but know it would be too much for any type of landscaping in my yard.
And with grape leaves you can make dolma. ...sooooo delicious!

We used to have a pretty big one on our fence before we moved, so I imagine my husband (the gardener!) knows what he's getting into. Grapes are a fun idea - I'll mention that to him. Don't know if it would grow thick enough or be strong enough to be a fence, though.

 

[subhanalah]

Quote:

We used to have a pretty big one on our fence before we moved, so I imagine my husband (the gardener!) knows what he's getting into.  Grapes are a fun idea - I'll mention that to him.  Don't know if it would grow thick enough or be strong enough to be a fence, though.

you would have to have some serious physical fencing for the wisteria. If you have a nice lattice or something, the grapes would look fabulous on it. Very rustic!

 

[NanaLynn]

Speaking of fences, do any of you have any recommendations on electric fences. I have seen the links on here for premier fencing, but I am not sure what I need exactly. I need the fencing itself and then a charger for the fencing? I that correct. Is there any place that sells kits with everything? We're trying to figure out the cost. I really don't need a lot of area covered maybe an 20 x 10 foot space and I will move the fencing around the yard to control free range areas.

I am just really confused about what I need to buy and how much area the fencing will cover.

Thanks!

 

[armorfirelady]

Speaking of fences, do any of you have any recommendations on electric fences. I have seen the links on here for premier fencing, but I am not sure what I need exactly. I need the fencing itself and then a charger for the fencing? I that correct. Is there any place that sells kits with everything? We're trying to figure out the cost. I really don't need a lot of area covered maybe an 20 x 10 foot space and I will move the fencing around the yard to control free range areas.

I am just really confused about what I need to buy and how much area the fencing will cover.

Thanks!

Premier is very user friendly & have good customer service. I have electric netting from them & they easily answered my questions

 

[hellbender]

Premier is very user friendly & have good customer service. I have electric netting from them & they easily answered my questions

I have the 4 foot fencing from Premier for my youngsters up to the time they are old enough to enter the layer flock. I got the extra stakes and use rubber tent stakes at low areas. It works great and I use the same charger that I use for the high tensile 5 strand fence for the cattle. Not really cheap but the best I've seen. I think you really get your money's worth dealing with these folks.

You can buy some cheaper stuff but I don't think it will hold up over years of use as does this by Premier.

Good Luck

RON