[Homestead] Chickens

paxamicus at earthlink.net paxamicus at earthlink.net
Tue May 20 08:41:20 EDT 2008


On May 20, 2008, at 8:25 AM, Gene GeRue wrote:

>
>
>>
>> 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.
>>
>>

You do not want to be facing down an Anatolian, ever, even if you are  
a bird. They protect *everything* they think is their's.


> The issue is finding the eggs.

I never had much trouble finding the bantie's nests, mostly because I  
did lock them up at night. They always came back to the barn to sit.  
They liked the hay loft.


>
>
> 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.

I think everything needs a safe space to be. Chickens included. I'll  
have a safe haven for them. :  )

>
>
> 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.


I've used those "people" gates in fences...you know what I mean, it's  
too big for a horse to turn around in but a person can just walk  
through it. They don't work with sheep and dogs, though, so I am going  
to have to gate where necessary. I can live with that. I guess since  
I've always had large animals, I LIKE fences. I want the perimeter to  
be fenced like Fort Knox, but I haven't found a 6' barbed,  
electrifiable razor wire yet.  ; p   I think I really need to work on  
my hermit issue.


















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