The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

I would have to find my invoice. They are a lot more affordable then when they came out several years ago. They save you alot of money in the long run as hot water is only produced on a need basis, and not fired up every single time the water cools off as a conventional hot water heater does. Projected savings is $50 per month or more depending on how much one uses hot water. With the horses, I am always using it, and am daily cleaning water buckets, and waterers and feed buckets. Space was also a deciding factor for me.

MB

I'll check into it. If it saves that much a month, would be worth the investment.

We want goats and possibly a llama, so it would definitely be used.

 

[jendodd79]

I'm drawing up barn plans. One floor only with the appearance of a loft, but no loft.. I don't want to take stairs anyway, and it would be too costly.



So this is the look we are going for outside. But bigger... All the doors will be double dutch style. More windows than in picture.



Hope this makes sense... I drew this out myself. I didn't like the plans that the image above showed. I need a really big area for the poultry, as well as breeding pens against the back for outdoor runs. I hope it brings it up larger when you click.. The long boxes against the wall are windows.. the doors are open. The little square boxes are outlets. Everything else is marked (except the lights in the 14 x 4 foot breeding pens (which by the way - 1 is supposed to be 6 x 14 feet.. whoops. Will have to fix it.

Thoughts? Did I mention all doors are double dutch style?

I commented on FB, but I think it's beautiful!

 

[NickyPick]

smaller roosts about 2 inch diameter
large roosts about 6 inch diameter


Diameter of larger roosts

There's no way that is 6 inches in diameter. Looks more like 3 inches. 6 inches is HUGE and you definitely could not wrap your hand around it like that.

 

[kian]

68 today 48 tomorrow.... Boo Hoo cry me a river! Some of us here won't feel sorry for you at all!

Folks, there is something wrong with me!

Brought that dang dog in so that the rescue lady could pick him up.... well found out that she doesn't have a tie out, only a topless kennel.... Yes, the poodles show off their pom poms there at the topless kennel, but you have to have a pedigree to enter, paper not dog food....

Anyway, I told her I would keep him til I found the right home, otherwise he would escape and get shot or sheltered which is an extension but still an execution. The more I think about this dogs life the harder it is going to be, so now I am seriously thinking about training him to not kill my chickens.

This is after a customer opens the door, out shoots the dog out in the middle of 7th Street, kinda loping up the road. Running... not away from me, but fast enough that this retired Chippendale smoker was puffing like a steam locomotive halfway uptown before I dove and grabbed his choker, skinning my hands and ripping a new hole in my 100.00 holy jeans.... ok, part of that is a big stretch....

What is Wrong with me Dr Phyllis?

68 today 48 tomorrow.... Boo Hoo cry me a river! Some of us here won't feel sorry for you at all!

Ah, but I live in the desert of Southern California! 48 with 22 mile an hour winds IS cold for us thinblooded smog breathers!

And there is nothing wrong with you. Sounds like you are a stubborn animal lover and this dog got ahold of your heart. Nothin' wrong with that.

 

[kian]

Love the barn plans Aoxa! Having a dirt floor is smart moneywise too, you'll save on foundation costs and you'll have more $ for other things.

 

[delisha]

Quote: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/741090/the-4th-annual-byc-easter-hatch-a-long

Quote: A pullet would help with his attention. He will be fine..give him a few months. Right now his testosterone is running really high. It will tone down when he start to protect. Do you free range at all?

 

[aoxa]

Love the barn plans Aoxa! Having a dirt floor is smart moneywise too, you'll save on foundation costs and you'll have more $ for other things.

Exactly my thoughts. They have to remove the existing foundation. It's all cracked and crazy. Did I mention we had propane tanks explode?

Yeah.. that was scary. Fire marshall said never to store your propane tanks in a building of any kind. Store them outside. So any of you storing your BBQ in your garage, please move them.

 

[delisha]

Aoxia,

Love your plans. Love your doors..love how you will get double use out of them. Do need a grooming/FF room insulated with heat and hot water? Dirt floors are good and better for the live stock.


I apologies for giving wrong information about roosts measurements. I should have said circumference and used a tape measure instead of posting just a picture. Thank you for correcting me and letting me know I was wrong.

 

[farmerfogg]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/741090/the-4th-annual-byc-easter-hatch-a-long
A pullet would help with his attention. He will be fine..give him a few months. Right now his testosterone is running really high. It will tone down when he start to protect. Do you free range at all?

I want to free range but I have dogs all around my property. I hope to be able to one day, just need to figure out how to.

 

[delisha]

Quote: How about a temporary fence?