we turned our lives upside down

[wallum farm]

hey there!

we are natalie & marcus wallum of wallum farm. we recently decided to trade in our expensive city life in N California, for a ranch/farming life in Central Texas. we are NEW to this lifestyle but loving every challenge/reward that is coming with it.

part of our journey includes chickens - for garden benefits and fresh eggs. we are happy to have found this resource, and we look forward to sharing what we learn as we go, and learning a ton from all of you here.

we don't quite have the "y'all" and "howdy" down, so we'll sign off with a big thanks, and we're happy to be here!

n & m
wallumfarm.com
IG: @wallum_farm

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello Natalie and Marcus and welcome to BYC. Sounds like an exciting life-change

You may wish to consider joining your state thread as it will put you in touch with other BYC members in your area - http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread#post_3239224

All the best

Pork Pie

 

[rjohns39]

Hi natalie & marcus and welcome to BYC from Middle Tennessee I took the plunge about a year ago leaving DC for a farm in Tennessee. It's truly an adventure.

 

[Leave a LightOn]

Howdy from Fort Worth! Maybe this will help some.

 

[MillersFarm]

hey there!

we are natalie & marcus wallum of wallum farm. we recently decided to trade in our expensive city life in N California, for a ranch/farming life in Central Texas. we are NEW to this lifestyle but loving every challenge/reward that is coming with it.

part of our journey includes chickens - for garden benefits and fresh eggs. we are happy to have found this resource, and we look forward to sharing what we learn as we go, and learning a ton from all of you here.

we don't quite have the "y'all" and "howdy" down, so we'll sign off with a big thanks, and we're happy to be here!

n & m
wallumfarm.com
IG: @wallum_farm

Howdy! Glad you joined the flock! Your website is so homey, Do you own cows? We've been looking into buying some. along with some pigs as well.

 

[wallum farm]

Hello Natalie and Marcus and welcome to BYC. Sounds like an exciting life-change

You may wish to consider joining your state thread as it will put you in touch with other BYC members in your area - http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread#post_3239224

All the best

Pork Pie

thank you! great suggestion.

 

[wallum farm]

Howdy from Fort Worth! Maybe this will help some. View attachment 1096589

ha! that is helpful!!

 

[wallum farm]

Howdy! Glad you joined the flock! Your website is so homey, Do you own cows? We've been looking into buying some. along with some pigs as well.

Hi, thanks for checking our website. The former owner of the land raises the cattle and we have an agreement to allow him to continue to graze them. we get to just enjoy them without the work!

 

[wallum farm]

Hi natalie & marcus and welcome to BYC from Middle Tennessee I took the plunge about a year ago leaving DC for a farm in Tennessee. It's truly an adventure.

@rjohns39 - exciting! what would you say has been the biggest adjustment, and biggest thing learned...
glad to know we aren't alone in the total life shift!

 

[rjohns39]

@rjohns39 - exciting! what would you say has been the biggest adjustment, and biggest thing learned...
glad to know we aren't alone in the total life shift!

There are a few lessons learned that we weren't prepared for...

• Always make sure you have gas before heading home... Closest gas station is 20 miles away.
• Stock your pantry... Closest grocery store is 12 miles away and a 30 minute drive.
• My kids were shocked that there is no food delivery out here...
• Water! If you don't have a well dig one. Better yet, if you have a high spot put in a pond and run water line down to your pastures. 5 gallon buckets are heavy.
• Feed: The bane of my existence. We want to feed our birds a non-gmo ration without chicken meal in it. We prefer organic--but its expensive. We've had to learn how to mix feed. The coop will mix a custom blend for me with a minimum order of a ton--but I have to provide many of the ingredients. Since we raise heritage birds that have different nutritional requirements at their various stages of life, we've had to come up with a plan to buy a ton of a "base" feed, then adjust it 50 pounds at a time depending on what they need. I never planned on learning this much about feed--but necessity wins out.
• Feed storage: 55 gallon drums work great as an air tight, rodent proof, water proof solution. I also use mortar sized ammo cans in the pasture to store feed, grit and oyster shell. They are pretty indestructible, air and water tight and hold about 35 pounds of feed.
• Buy in bulk: 25 pound bag of grit from TSC: $14.50, 50 pound bag from coop: $19.00. 50 pound bag of oyster shell: $7.00, 50 pound bag of baby grit: $19.00.
• Breeding: I never planned on becoming a breeder--but when I made the decision to raise critically endangered and threatened heritage birds, that too became a necessity. Another vertical learning curve--but lots of folks here to help.
• In my world, everything happens just in time or a little late
• Freezer space and home canning are a must to preserve your harvest. I have large inexpensive--but good quality chest freezers, 140 broilers will fill one for winter.
• Refrigerators... Places to store cheese, if you make it... those extra eggs, especially if you plan to sell some and some place to make your bacon, etc if you are able to add hogs or have a neighbor with them.

I'm sure there's more but this is what immediately came to mind.