The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

I'd say more like dogs that know commands and blatantly refuse to acknowledge them. LOL

That's a good point!

 

[mlowen]

I started my chicken tunnel project, today. The gate (from coop/run to tunnel) the tunnel and a 6-ft portable fence post were just ideas in my head until I tried each one, today. They all worked!!
I'm using 2"x3" rough cut hemlock for everything. It weathers very well.
The new "portable paddock" will be 6 feet high--4 feet of 2"x4" welded wire fencing and another 2 feet of chicken wire--to keep them from flying out. I wasn't sure the 6 foot post would be as stable as the 4-ft ones, but with longer "feet" on them, they stand up really well.
The tunnels will be 8 or 10 feet long, with the welded wire fencing arched over the frame and latched together with "locking" hook & eye latches and twist ties.
The gates will be hinged to the coop and have a closeable "door" the same size as the tunnel. The tunnels will take them across the driveway to the front yard or back yard (each enclosed in a portable paddock.)
Town ordinance requires chickens be behind fencing all the time. I can't afford to fence my whole yard, but this is affordable and allows them access to greens & bugs, safely. (I posted this on the DIY thread, too.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I started my chicken tunnel project, today. The gate (from coop/run to tunnel) the tunnel and a 6-ft portable fence post were just ideas in my head until I tried each one, today. They all worked!! I'm using 2"x3" rough cut hemlock for everything. It weathers very well. The new "portable paddock" will be 6 feet high--4 feet of 2"x4" welded wire fencing and another 2 feet of chicken wire--to keep them from flying out. I wasn't sure the 6 foot post would be as stable as the 4-ft ones, but with longer "feet" on them, they stand up really well. The tunnels will be 8 or 10 feet long, with the welded wire fencing arched over the frame and latched together with "locking" hook & eye latches and twist ties. The gates will be hinged to the coop and have a closeable "door" the same size as the tunnel. The tunnels will take them across the driveway to the front yard or back yard (each enclosed in a portable paddock.) Town ordinance requires chickens be behind fencing all the time. I can't afford to fence my whole yard, but this is affordable and allows them access to greens & bugs, safely. (I posted this on the DIY thread, too.

Love hemlock. Smells like butterscotch to me. It can split in my weather though. Your chicken tunnel looks great.

 

[RedRidge]

 

goats are so cute. I've only interacted with them really since I've been an adult one time and that was at the state fair. It was through the fence, they would come up to me and I'd talk to them and watch them eat stuff/trash people had thrown into their pen. Cute little things, for sure

They are like dogs. Dogs that don't know commands

I'd say more like dogs that know commands and blatantly refuse to acknowledge them. LOL

Isn't that called a cat? ROFL

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I've missed quite a few pages of posts. We have been busy with spring time stuff. I hope everyone is well. Has anyone heard from Mumsy lately?

 

[FarmerJen76]

I would love to join this thread... but... from an outsider's perspective... shouldn't it be it's own section in the forum, rather than one EXTREMELY LENGTHY thread?? I just joined (again).... had joined back when I first got my birds about 8yrs ago... but now I remember why I didn't stay. It's REALLY clunky. I am on several other forums for other topics, all of which are much easier to navigate between conversations.

I just posted in the regular section about worming - I'd MUCH rather ask here, but I'd never be able to keep track of responses.

I'm all about natural chicken keeping... but I dont have time to read 3000+ posts, nor would I ever be able to look back on a conversation I was having about any particular topic. I dont mean to jump in and tell ya'll you're doing it wrong... but... wow... this is the longest thread I think I've ever seen anywhere!

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
I'd say more like dogs that know commands and blatantly refuse to acknowledge them. LOL
Isn't that called a cat? ROFL

so that would mean goat = cat with personality?

 

[hellbender]

so that would mean goat = cat with personality?

NO...Goats serve a purpose and provide wonderful benefits. The only thing cats can do is leave hair all over things, 'spray' that awful scent that renders the house unlivable...best to burn it down and start from scratch.

While I love (almost worship) dairy goats...I can tolerate cats, so long as they are at someone else's house.

My dogs disagree...They all LOVE cats....I just can't say how much.

 

[armorfirelady]

I've missed quite a few pages of posts. We have been busy with spring time stuff. I hope everyone is well. Has anyone heard from Mumsy lately?

No we have not. I keep hoping she will pop in on the gardening thread but I haven't seen her on there yet.

Quote: Hmmmm I own 4 indoor cats & not a one sprays anything. While they do leave hair everywhere (I keep everything covered for easy washing) I do find they are great at keeping me warm on cold winter nights. Very energy efficient

And I don't have to milk them or worry about them eating everything like goats

( I like goats by the way)

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
LOL well, I have 3 cats. 2 long haired beauties that shed all over everything, thus live outside 24x7. the other one is shorthaired and doesn't coat everything he touches in soft silky fuzz (my avatar). but due to an unfortunate disagreement between him and hubby, he's an outside cat now.

the dog also loves the cats, but not the way yours does. LOL

hubby has agreed once our fence is back up to keeping things in/out, and my old girl grace is gone we can get a goat or 2 to keep the other horses company. I'm contemplating a breed that can be milked but still grows well for meat.