The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

I have seen strange similar things with all kinds of light bulbs florescent being the worst. Because of ballast melt down. I'm not going to try and sell you on them. everyone has to make up there own mind. Personally I don't like the flicker of fluorescent light. some can't see the flicker I can. LED are also brighter now than last year but you have to make sure you buy the new technology. Also a LED built like a florescent is built different than the one in the video. I don't like the one like was in the video either. Last thing LED is pure light instant of instant off and can be run with a dimmer switch florescent can not. I'm sorry I said way to much on this subject.
I gave the chickens the last of the squash I had saved from fall today. I am going to have to plant more acorn and butternut squash this year than last year. Those 2 seem to keep the best for me.

So...are you saying you LIKE and would use the LED? I also HATE florescent. I actually feel sick if I'm under them for very long...hurt my eyes. I had checked out some LED motion lights but they were all too dim to even light a small area.

I've had thoughts of purchasing whole skids of regular light bulbs, filling a storage area so I don't have to be stuck w/the florescent!

Well we are not using them now. Contractor said they do not do well in the winter in our environment. They take forever to 'warm' up and the GFIs can trip them because they make sound when they start up. I think we'll go for something else.

 

[Sally8]

Thought I'd show a few of my babies.














DH bought me this last one. He thought I need another. Love you, babe.

 

[aoxa]

Thought I'd show a few of my babies.









DH bought me this last one. He thought I need another. Love you, babe.

This one is super cute

Your DH is a good man! I have a couple stuffed chickens like that - Susan got them for me. One even crows. Parker, my nephew has claimed it as his own.

How do you tell a kid about the fire? His dad told him all the chickens went to live at another farm because our barn burnt down. He said to me yesterday "I'm going to mail the chickens a letter and tell them I miss them". He's obsessed with letters and the mail system right now. He'll be 5 in April.

I shouldn't have added this comment into this picture.. whoops

Remember how I said we are thinking about doing steel siding? This is what it looks like:

Not our barn, but that's steel siding. I think we will do it. It's low maintenance and easy for them to install. Now for colours..

Classic barn red, or what?

 

[armorfirelady]

Aoxa- Congrats of the positive meeting with the contractor. I cant believe they will have it up by May. That is awesome!!! I love the plans for the new barn. So much room for everything you would like to do

Sally loving the pics of your new chics. They are so cute

 

[loanwizard]

Speaking of dogs.... I now have.... a Siberian Husky (at least mostly) that I took home, bathed.... yep, now he is almost white, been brushing for the last couple days, and working with him. Dog time seems to fly. I will not allow him outside without a lead, but he does very well on the leash and in the car. First couple of times in the car, he would pant quite a bit which I assume was nerves and was very nervous if I left his line of vision. After bathing him I kept him on the lead tied to the bed. He stayed on the floor, and eventually jumped on the bed and laid at my feet. Last night, night two, he was let off the lead and slept with the boys I imagine. He is potty trained and gets nervous when he needs to go out. When it warms up, I will work with him with the chickens. I don't know if I, the operative word being I, can train a full grown adult male dog not to do what instinct tells him to do. I have been through the alphabet zillions of times but can't seem to find something close to what his name was. Being a Siberian Husky, I should have named him White Fang, but chose Buck instead. Jack London's Call of the wild, White Fang. You should hear this dog howl. Anyway, I need to get rid of him. I know it, as we have 8 dogs, 4 inside.... sometimes 6 or 7.... but.... I haven't placed the ad yet....
As I speak, he is laying quietly on the other side of the half door, waiting on me to go by with a few words and a pat on the head.... I feel so NOT like the farmer, pragmatic, person I usually profess to be.... but.... it is what it is....

Shawn
















The last 4 are after a bath and a warm night at home. I noticed the ears are perking up and he is much more relaxed, although he does not pose well for the camera.

 

[lalaland]

I've had thoughts of purchasing whole skids of regular light bulbs, filling a storage area so I don't have to be stuck w/the florescent!

Me too! I hate flourescenet, I get headaches. At work I have to keep a couple of desk lamps with regular bulbs so they offset the flicker. And i don't like the color of the light. I have been stashing lightbulbs - I figure the amount of recycling, reusing, not purchasing the toxic soaps, deoderants, oh oh can you see I am starting to rant? Anyway, I figure my personal habits of consumption offset the increased energy use from the old bulbs.

Aoxa/Justine, the only sliding door I have ever used outside is one of those big old barn doors that hangs off the ground about a foot! I can see what you are saying about bedding getting caught up in them.

love hearing about your building plans.

I built this house with galvinized steel siding and a steel roof. The roof is green, the walls, just galvinized and they are aging into a soft grey. pretty maintenance free. I don't think you have to worry about heat from the steel - your barn is going to have plenty of ventilation and the size of it makes it a whole different thing - no matter what color you go for.

The coop is a construction trailer, so metal too - I painted it barn red. It is insulated, but I have not had a heat problem in it. It is never hotter than the outside temps.
2 days til the weekend....

 

[lalaland]

shawn, I think he has stolen your heart. looks like a sweetheart. good luck with the training. sounds like he wants to please.

 

[armorfirelady]

Loan he is a very handsome boy !!! Im sure he is so grateful that you took him in that he will be quick to learn the rules to keep the peace.
Nothing better than a bath, warm home & a full belly to make someone feel like they are loved and safe. Im sure everyday he become more relaxed.

 

[aoxa]

Me too! I hate flourescenet, I get headaches. At work I have to keep a couple of desk lamps with regular bulbs so they offset the flicker. And i don't like the color of the light. I have been stashing lightbulbs - I figure the amount of recycling, reusing, not purchasing the toxic soaps, deoderants, oh oh can you see I am starting to rant? Anyway, I figure my personal habits of consumption offset the increased energy use from the old bulbs.

Aoxa/Justine, the only sliding door I have ever used outside is one of those big old barn doors that hangs off the ground about a foot! I can see what you are saying about bedding getting caught up in them.

love hearing about your building plans.

I built this house with galvinized steel siding and a steel roof. The roof is green, the walls, just galvinized and they are aging into a soft grey. pretty maintenance free. I don't think you have to worry about heat from the steel - your barn is going to have plenty of ventilation and the size of it makes it a whole different thing - no matter what color you go for.

The coop is a construction trailer, so metal too - I painted it barn red. It is insulated, but I have not had a heat problem in it. It is never hotter than the outside temps.
2 days til the weekend....

Glad to hear about the steel siding! I am convinced

I still want to go with shingled roofing though.. He said it was 1/3 more for the metal. That plus the fact that I just don't like the look of the metal roofing.. Maybe it has gotten better than what we had.

 

[lalaland]

sally, love love the pics. oh, I want chicks!

and Justine, definitely red! (but then......)