The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

BD - what did you pay for that trailer "as-is" and where did you find it? (I'm wondering how to go about finding such an item....looked on cl but right now they're high priced!)

I found it on Craig's List... but remember - the cost of living down here is much lower than yours (I think) and there are lots of trailers for under $1,000. as this one was. We actually traded an old piece of furniture we weren't using, and then paid $600 in cash. Not bad at all, IMO.

 

[OffGridMAMA]

BDM..that is an awsome job on your new coop!!

X2!!!!! Nice work!

 

[Leahs Mom]

So far everything i've seen has been way to nice. I guess I should just keep my eye out - things change quickly on cl!

 

[lalaland]

oh oh. just saw a craigs list posting for someone taking orders for day old chicks, she is hatching out "rare breeds", including swedish flower hens, and orloffs. I've asked where the eggs are coming from....

 

[Bulldogma]

Yes - and be sure to check out surrounding areas too - especially since horse trailers are mobile! The right one will be worth the drive.

 

[Bulldogma]

Oh - and search for "stock trailer" also.

 

[flagirl]

Must be the time for old dogs, we had to put our 13 yr old lab mix to rest last week.

 

[delisha]

Must be the time for old dogs, we had to put our 13 yr old lab mix to rest last week.

Sorry for your loss

 

[delisha]

ok, a stupid question (yup, sometimes there really is a stupid one, and this is it): red pepper flakes = cayenne, right? (for worms)

not stupid at all
Cayenne is a species of red pepper..red pepper flakes contain Cayenne and other types of spicy red peppers in different species.

 

[CoopChick719]

Has anyone started a worm farm, with something other than meal worms? I bought hubby a red worm composting habitat, and am pretty excited to get that going. The worms are for two things, one buying fishing worms has gotten so expensive and two for the chickens. Just wondering if anyone else is worm farming.

Hi Ashdoes,

I started 2 years ago with redworms. Lost a bunch the first winter. The following spring my dad & brother collected a bunch from under the leaf piles and gave them to me for Mother's Day. I loved it! My kids & husband thought I was nuts!!

I have 2 plastic totes going right now in the cellar. Got some more worms from a friend's thoroughly composted manure pile. He thought it was hysterical to see me with my gloves, shovel & bucket. Called me the Worm Lady...that is until I got the chickens. Worms are kinda slow right now since it's cold in the cellar but they're still doing their thing. I started out using shredded newspaper, peat moss and grit (some sand & ground up eggshells) for bedding but now using ripped up cardboard (toilet papertubes, paper towel tubes, pizza boxes, etc.) The cardboard doesn't pack down as bad as the newspaper does. Feed them mostly kitchen scraps and the odd leftovers. Fed them a whole small pie pumpkin in November all that is left is the outer shell & that's paper thin. Eventually want to have enough that I can share with the chickens. We'll see how it goes this spring when I harvest the bins.