The Old Folks Home

[chickisoup]

I got a sign of Spring yesterday - my minis are starting to shed! They looked such a mud-encrusted mess, I decided to clean them up a bit (anyone else with horses knows that's a total waste of time, because the moment you turn them loose, they go roll in the mud again). Well, at least they looked like someone cares for a few minutes, anyway . . I had to stop brushing every few passes, 'cause the brushes were filling up with fur, as they will continue to do for the next 6 weeks or so. Time to dig out the shedding blade, Spring is here!

Spring????????

 

[drumstick diva]

What is this curious thing people keep referring to as "spring?" Does it have anything to do with 'box springs?"

 

[CapricornFarm]

scg, you might consider building a small covered package/mail drop-off shed. That way they could leave your packages in a safer area, and it would be protected.

I thought about building a wooden box for that.

 

[CapricornFarm]

G'morn everyone. Just found this thread which is WAAAAAYYYY toooo looooonnng for me to read through!!! I read a few beginning pages and 2-3 end pages so I'm not really up on all the conversations. I'm just gonna jump in here. Some of you have probably seen some of my posts and know I'm a newbie, only had my chickens since November. I'm starting a bit late I life. This month I'll be 67 years old. I wish I had been doing this all my life. I'm grateful for this site teaching me so much. Starting out in New Jersey winter with young pullets in a TS coop is challenging for an old fart like me. So now, question... how does this thread differ from the rest by targeting us senior citizens? I'm hoping it shows some ways to make things easier for bad backs, arthritic knees, and poor eyesight. It's hard enough figuring out how to get started keeping your feathered babies safe and healthy at any age. Anyway, that's my way of saying "Hi gang!"

Hi Cryss, Welcome! Glad you are enjoying chickens. We love having new folks jump in. If you garden there is an Old Folks gardening thread as well, to make gardening easier.

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome Cryss, since they let ME join, I guess anyone will be welcomed.

 

[Cryss]

Nice to meet you all! A bit more about me. I have 2 spoiled lazy female dogs I rescued, Butters the Brussels Griffon mix, Pip the Australian Cattle Dog mix, 2 cats, both of which showed up starving and sick in my back yard, Bella the calico, and Prince Smedley the possibly Turkish Van mix who chases bears out of the yard and up trees, a better guard dog than the dogs. I have 3 pullets just about to inch into egg laying age, Repecca the special needs Lavender Orpington, and Nugget and Eggsmarelda the Buff Orpingtons. Also have one gorgeous mistake, a Lavender Orpington cockerel Mr Marvin Roo who will be returned to the breeder in exchange for a Silver Laced Wyandotte young pullet and an Ameracauna young pullet he is raising till they can withstand outdoors. I have 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren. My eldest daughter, her hubby, their 2 adult kids, my hubby, and myself live together in a bilevel on 1 acre like old fashioned farm families used to do. Not one of us is any good at building so my flock is in a TS coop . Hubby has discovered the thrill of gardening so we are learning how to do that. I have wanted chickens for several years and pulled the trigger this past fall. I'm excited to start using chicken produced fertilizer. I'm following Paul Gautchi's Back to Eden gardening method, easy on my back, no tilling, check him out on YouTube. After my birthday this month I celebrate 13 lovely years of marriage with hubby#2. Perhaps one day I'll share a bit about him, he's so special.
I definitely like this site better than Facebook!

 

[ronott1]

Living truly off grid is illegal in most states, but there are a few exceptions. Some states will permit it when you've applied for all the land clearing, building, well, power permits, but living in a temporary structure while waiting for all of it to get done. I understand, to some degree, why the laws are in place, but they need to be updated some.

Thanks for the information!

Living off the grid or even in the Country would be hard for many City Dwellers. They are very used to water and electricity on demand

 

[ronott1]

Nice to meet you all! A bit more about me. I have 2 spoiled lazy female dogs I rescued, Butters the Brussels Griffon mix, Pip the Australian Cattle Dog mix, 2 cats, both of which showed up starving and sick in my back yard, Bella the calico, and Prince Smedley the possibly Turkish Van mix who chases bears out of the yard and up trees, a better guard dog than the dogs. I have 3 pullets just about to inch into egg laying age, Repecca the special needs Lavender Orpington, and Nugget and Eggsmarelda the Buff Orpingtons. Also have one gorgeous mistake, a Lavender Orpington cockerel Mr Marvin Roo who will be returned to the breeder in exchange for a Silver Laced Wyandotte young pullet and an Ameracauna young pullet he is raising till they can withstand outdoors. I have 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren. My eldest daughter, her hubby, their 2 adult kids, my hubby, and myself live together in a bilevel on 1 acre like old fashioned farm families used to do. Not one of us is any good at building so my flock is in a TS coop . Hubby has discovered the thrill of gardening so we are learning how to do that. I have wanted chickens for several years and pulled the trigger this past fall. I'm excited to start using chicken produced fertilizer. I'm following Paul Gautchi's Back to Eden gardening method, easy on my back, no tilling, check him out on YouTube. After my birthday this month I celebrate 13 lovely years of marriage with hubby#2. Perhaps one day I'll share a bit about him, he's so special.
I definitely like this site better than Facebook!

It is very nice to meet you!

TS coops are fine for a small flock. Your place sounds perfect too

 

[Cryss]

View attachment 1257014
It is very nice to meet you!

TS coops are fine for a small flock. Your place sounds perfect too

I'm already itching to" build" a bigger coop. Chicken math is triggering my itchy bits. I'm in trouble, I can just feel it.

 

[ronott1]

I'm already itching to" build" a bigger coop. Chicken math is triggering my itchy bits. I'm in trouble, I can just feel it.

Watch out for advanced chicken math!