[Homestead] Chickens

Gene GeRue genegerue at ruralize.com
Tue May 20 08:25:45 EDT 2008


On May 20, 2008, at 7:11 AM, paxamicus at earthlink.net wrote:

> I'm not keen on guineas because of that horrible rusty ratchet noise
> they make. And I have no idea if they flock like ducks. I've never
> tried. Frankly, if they started making noise all I'd want is for the
> dogs to eat them anyway. : )

I relate well to that. I like peace and quiet and guineas like to let  
the world know when it upsets them.
>
> My plan was to let them run with the sheep free range.  I'm hoping an
> Anatolian (once properly introduced) would guard them, too. My old one
> did the banties on the old farm.

Fascinating. I wouldn't think a dog could protect against hawks and  
owls.
>
> Both sheep and horses waste grain enough to feed chickens amply if
> they are free ranging.

Ideal situation, chickens following grain residue poopers.

> I'd supplement if I got no eggs, fragile eggs,
> or when there's no forage.

The issue is finding the eggs.

I use eggs a lot as a protein, but I hate the idea of caged anything,
> so I always buy the organic cage-free blah blah blah. I KNOW cage-free
> isn't really any good, they need to be FREE, but it's the best I can
> do at the moment. When you figure bug patrol+eggs I don't have to pay
> an oil well for+clear conscience..my eggs might be $13 a dozen but
> that's ok with me.

I feel the same. We gotta make a stand, by golly, and that's one of  
mine!

As for caging, or fencing, think about it. Your horses and sheep are  
caged, albeit in larger spaces.

One of my things is freedom. I have a real mania for it. One  
expression is I hate fences. Probably one reason why I do not keep  
large animals. I hate being stopped by a damn fence that must then be  
climbed over or a gate found. That was one reason why I invented the  
chicken moat; I had only to deal with one of the two garden gates and  
all other space was open and free. One day I may go back to it. My  
homesteading life is an ongoing experiment.


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