The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

Armorfirelady,

about your herb planter deck....so you are planning to have it in the run area and let the chickens help themselves? Will you cover it with chicken wire so they don't rip up the plants or what is your plan? Can't wait to see how it works.

I am planning on tilling a teeny area in the run where it has been packed down - it is maybe 10'x10' and growing a mix of clover, and soemthing else with some kale and collards thrown in. I think I will keep it fenced off til it is good and well started and then probably still try to protect it in some way. Not sure how yet.

 

[lalaland]

sorry for so many posts in a row but just one more thing:

Its Warm Outside!!

I'm so excited. Yesterday at this time it was -26 with windchills in the -40's. Today, no windchill and it is a balmy 11 degrees ABOVE zero!!!!! Can hardly stand it and it will be near 32 this weekend. Need to get some hay so I can do a quick removal of the frozen poop glops and replace with some fresh hay.

I need one of LM's emoticons here!!!

 

[lazy gardener]

LaLa: Your plan sounds like an other bit of chicken heaven. Please keep us posted with pics of your progress.... We LIKE pictures!

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: Oooh Ooooh Oooooh

Can we ALL come?
Ooooh road trip !!!! I can pick you up on my way down

Armorfirelady,

about your herb planter deck....so you are planning to have it in the run area and let the chickens help themselves? Will you cover it with chicken wire so they don't rip up the plants or what is your plan? Can't wait to see how it works.

I am planning on tilling a teeny area in the run where it has been packed down - it is maybe 10'x10' and growing a mix of clover, and soemthing else with some kale and collards thrown in. I think I will keep it fenced off til it is good and well started and then probably still try to protect it in some way. Not sure how yet.

I am planning on putting covers on them to keep the hens from pulling out the plants at the roots. Once I get the boxes made I plan on making lids and have them attached with hinges so that I can easily open them when needed. I was going to use hardware cloth on the frames but I think I will need to use chicken wire instead so the plant has more room to grow up through.

I think I am better off just leaves the covers on or I am sure it will turn into a hen dust bath extravaganza

I know I want to plant herbs, kale, beet greens.......still working on the list.

I want to make 2 of these stair planters so there is one on the east side as well. Girls will have plenty of fresh veggies & herbs. And once I get it up I can actually use it sort of like a cold frame by putting plastic over them

sorry for so many posts in a row but just one more thing:

Its Warm Outside!!

I'm so excited. Yesterday at this time it was -26 with windchills in the -40's. Today, no windchill and it is a balmy 11 degrees ABOVE zero!!!!! Can hardly stand it and it will be near 32 this weekend. Need to get some hay so I can do a quick removal of the frozen poop glops and replace with some fresh hay.

I need one of LM's emoticons here!!!

You are actually warmer than we are. Was -3 this morning at 6 am. Thank goodness no wind tho

 

[lazy gardener]

LaLa, it's time to bring out the flip flops and shorts!

 

[RedRidge]

Armorfirelady, would love to have you. You are welcome any time.

Oooh Ooooh Oooooh

Can we ALL come?

ROFL! LM, you come up with the most hysterical emotions. I can't quit laughing. It's nothing special here, just a farm with cattle, sheep, poultry, bees, and a big garden. And the Maremma of course. Ya'll are welcome any time. We have a king size guest room. A few warnings though... 1) the guestroom is currently occupied with chicks and bators, 2) bring boots, we tend to be the mud hole in the US these days, and 3) watch out, i may put you to work. Lol

 

[RedRidge]

Expecting an ice storm and then about 5-12" of snow beginning in about 3 hrs.
Please pray I don't loose power again for any length of time. Normally I don't care - BUT my bators aren't currently hooked up to the back up power. Argh!
Off to top off stock tanks, put out hay, bring in more firewood, and bake bread and make some soup... At least we will all easy for the next 48 hrs. ;-)

 

[aoxa]

Expecting an ice storm and then about 5-12" of snow beginning in about 3 hrs.
Please pray I don't loose power again for any length of time. Normally I don't care - BUT my bators aren't currently hooked up to the back up power. Argh!
Off to top off stock tanks, put out hay, bring in more firewood, and bake bread and make some soup... At least we will all easy for the next 48 hrs. ;-)

Wishing you luck!!

 

[aoxa]

Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of the fire.

 

[armorfirelady]

Expecting an ice storm and then about 5-12" of snow beginning in about 3 hrs.
Please pray I don't loose power again for any length of time. Normally I don't care - BUT my bators aren't currently hooked up to the back up power. Argh!
Off to top off stock tanks, put out hay, bring in more firewood, and bake bread and make some soup... At least we will all easy for the next 48 hrs. ;-)

Good luck. Maybe covering them with blankets would help keep them warm?

Thank goodness the dogs have such heavy coats. Do you put the lambs in the barn when bad weather is coming?