When should I let my 9 week chicks live with the adult hens?

[Appalachickens]

I just use a grading shovel and a wheel borrow. Dig up the high part, place you some pvc 6"-8"/gravel down at the low end... You use a pickaxe first to break up the redmud/clay and the quartz. Then shovel it out to the wheelborrow and dump it on top of your gravel/pipe.

The pipe prevents your water from pooling, I make my runs about 25'x25'. Then plant your fruit trees (mullberry and hazelnut does good in that fresh hard red mud you dug up) along the outside (to provide snacks/cover for hawks.

Hills aren't bad. IF you need more dirt, I got mine by digging into one of the red mud hills and dug out a root cellar. Use, used tires for walls support for free.

If I were dealing with just red mud, that might work. But I’m not. I’m in the area the song “Rocky Top” was written about (“Corn don’t grow at all on Rocky Top, dirt’s too rocky by far”). The upside is we were able to build the foundation and fireplace of our house with stone from the property. The downside is you can’t dig two inches without hitting rock. Sometimes really large rocks. Sometimes coal. And what isn’t rock is trees. Also, the idea of trying to get a wheelbarrow around on my land made me giggle.

 

[EdgeC]

If I were dealing with just red mud, that might work. But I’m not. I’m in the area the song “Rocky Top” was written about (“Corn don’t grow at all on Rocky Top, dirt’s too rocky by far”). The upside is we were able to build the foundation and fireplace of our house with stone from the property. The downside is you can’t dig two inches without hitting rock. Sometimes really large rocks. Sometimes coal. And what isn’t rock is trees. Also, the idea of trying to get a wheelbarrow around on my land made me giggle.

Rocks are even easier, they don't hold water near as much and its easier on the back.

Same thing, use the proper tool first (pickaxe) then just shovel it out. At this point you're making excuses. (Being honest, not mean) Want to see true rocky dirt? I will show photos' of the rocks I dug out, doing my grading and how rocky my "mud" is, when I get home and can take photos.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Want to see true rocky dirt?

Where do you live that you don’t think Appalachia is rocky? Just curious.

 

[EdgeC]

Where do you live that you don’t think Appalachia is rocky? Just curious.

Appalachia and its my point. You don't have the will. There is a way. I live next to Asheville. I hand dig quartz the size of a small human, bust it up and dig it out by hand. My point was not on the location, but your lack of the will to do it.

If its too large, you heat a fire next to it and then shock it with water to shatter it and then dig it out.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Appalachia and its my point. You don't have the will. There is a way. I live next to Asheville. I hand dig quartz the size of a small human, bust it up and dig it out by hand. My point was not on the location, but your lack of the will to do it.

If its too large, you heat a fire next to it and then shock it with water to shatter it and then dig it out.

I see. I misunderstood. I thought maybe you were from Montana or something since that’s the worst time I’ve ever had digging.