Things you wish you knew starting out?

[guineapeeps]

Actually my wife saved it all pulling it from my pockets before washing, she was also a nurse from 1995-2007 when it became obvious one income would sustain us she went into full on housewife mode and never looked back. The shear volume of the stuff you acquire that way is surprising.

Good for her! Right now I’m a stay at home wife/Mom too. Most days it is more work than being a nurse full time!

 

[igorsMistress]

Yes I read that thread and my nose knows good ferment from bad brewed my own beer for years and make my own sourdough bread from my own culture. I'm thinking I'll fire off a small batch of primary as a project to annoy my wife. Then consider trying a real batch if it smells right.

I ferment my chicken feed. I also provide dry food in the coop. No chicken has become ill or died as a result. Good stuff!

 

[AllenK RGV]

I ferment my chicken feed. I also provide dry food in the coop. No chicken has become ill or died as a result. Good stuff!

Well just started 1 cups worth of primary ferment in a margarine tub. I'll treat it almost like a sourdough starter, but instead of feeding it daily I'll just do the 2x daily stir. Once it gets a good yeasty and Lactobacter smell, then I'll get a larger batch in one of the chlorine tab tubs I haven't thrown out for a bigger batch with the primary ferment I started just now.

edit- good has 2 o's

 

[AllenK RGV]

Good for her! Right now I’m a stay at home wife/Mom too. Most days it is more work than being a nurse full time!

Agreed, now imagine doing all that as an Army wife. I have a lot of respect for how she was able to juggle the household and outside responsibilities combined with shopping and dealing with bureaucratic %@#! the government threw our or just her way. There was @#$* she couldn't accomplish alone without my actual signature. Like renewing ID cards. Eventually, we solved that one as I gave her full power of attorney rights over my affairs when it just got too stupid.

edit- removed potentially objectionable language.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I ferment my chicken feed. I also provide dry food in the coop. No chicken has become ill or died as a result. Good stuff!

Wow 24 hours in and that FF already is starting to smell right good yeasty aroma with a light tinge of Lactobacillus smell. I'm thinking this will be such an easy project. I'm going out to the backyard to just plunge the old chlorine bucket into the pool for 24 hours now!

 

[Ptera]

Predator-proofing! Always have a secure fenced-in run with chicken wire (or etc.) completely covering the entire roof of the pen. Wire the junctions tight so nothing can squeeze in the cracks. Also something around the ground-level perimeter to keep critters from digging under the fence and getting to the chickens. EVERYTHING likes to eat chickens!

 

[AllenK RGV]

In my case I cannot cover the run itself with anything as I have 8 mature Mesquite trees in there for needed shade. Still I'm confident no hawk can dive through to get a chicken. Fort Squawks on the other hand is proofed against all but the rodents and that will change soon too as soon as I stop procrastinating.

 

[Phinneus]

It is mostly my roosters and my old lady hens. Roosters don't forage as much as hens and their beaks can grow and form a hook. Older hens generally aren't as good at foraging either sometimes due to arthritis. Those that peck around will keep the beak in good shape. Generally my roosters are keeping watch while the hens feed.

Usually when my hens got older and
laid few eggs, they were 'processed' and became fowl in the freezer. Always kept different colored leg rings on them to know their exact age. That and stiffening on the tip of the breast bone gave me a good idea of which birds needed culling. Convinced the kids that these birds were not pets.

 

[AllenK RGV]

In my case I cannot cover the run itself with anything as I have 8 mature Mesquite trees in there for needed shade. Still I'm confident no hawk can dive through to get a chicken. Fort Squawks on the other hand is proofed against all but the rodents and that will change soon too as soon as I stop procrastinating.

I know I look crazy replying to myself but.....The chicken run has several layers of defence:
1)tall grasses to hide/relax in
2) very thick overhead tree cover
3)loads of bolt spots under some large fallen(well felled by chainsaw) branches an old agility dog training thing closed on three sides, plus the coop door is always open with boltable geography within.

They are confidently free ranging during the day time and Sumatra are a very alert breed, however, I am considering guineas as well for their defence and potential offensive capabilities to deter predators. Oh and my wife wants a donkey or mule for what they bring to the table too but it would need to be a rescue from a local or well within 1.5 hour drive animal shelter.

 

[guineapeeps]

I know I look crazy replying to myself but.....The chicken run has several layers of defence:
1)tall grasses to hide/relax in
2) very thick overhead tree cover
3)loads of bolt spots under some large fallen(well felled by chainsaw) branches an old agility dog training thing closed on three sides, plus the coop door is always open with boltable geography within.

They are confidently free ranging during the day time and Sumatra are a very alert breed, however, I am considering guineas as well for their defence and potential offensive capabilities to deter predators. Oh and my wife wants a donkey or mule for what they bring to the table too but it would need to be a rescue from a local or well within 1.5 hour drive animal shelter.

I highly recommend the guineas! They are awesome at alerting you to danger. I swear my guineas could sense predators before they were even near my property! Just one word of caution....they are loud, so if you have neighbors nearby, you may want to make sure they are ok with them. I know they are not for everyone, but I absolutely loved my guineas!