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Chicken keeping...
#101985
09/21/2017 03:12 PM
09/21/2017 03:12 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,570 Omaha Nebraska
Huskerpatriot
OP
Senior Member
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OP
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,570
Omaha Nebraska
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Even though I live in suburbia, my family and I this summer got into chicken keeping. We can legally have up to 6 hens. I know 6 hens is not a lot, and we could buy eggs cheaper, but it is nice to know exactly where our food comes from.
As far as prepping goes, this is a skill building exercise. When the SHTF... all of the things we have not only learned but practiced will be very valuable. We are going the all grain route for feed (instead of expensive rations), so it is also handy for prepping to have multiple 5 gallon buckets of oats, rye and hard red wheat lying about!
When an emergency hits, we could have the ladies doing a lot of foraging while we share the grains with them.
"Government at its best is a necessary evil, and at it�s worst, an intolerable one." Thomas Paine (from "Common Sense" 1776)
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Re: Chicken keeping...
#101987
09/21/2017 03:43 PM
09/21/2017 03:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,570 Omaha Nebraska
Huskerpatriot
OP
Senior Member
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OP
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,570
Omaha Nebraska
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They are only 8 weeks old, out in the yard for only 3 weeks.
Our run is fully covered and well protected, inside a fenced yard. So no problems yet.
The breed we got is called "Speckled Sussex" which is a very hearty and tough heirloom breed from England. They are known for being extremely tame and easy to work with.
So far I'm enjoying it. I'm "up cycling" a lot of my kitchen and garden scraps by feeding them to the girls instead of composting in the garden. They go ape excrement over the green carrot tops as I'm thinning the rows of carrots!
"Government at its best is a necessary evil, and at it�s worst, an intolerable one." Thomas Paine (from "Common Sense" 1776)
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Re: Chicken keeping...
#101989
09/22/2017 07:56 AM
09/22/2017 07:56 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 303 South-central Colorado
Ducttape
Senior Member
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 303
South-central Colorado
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We live at 8'000 elev. in Colorado and we keep about 40-chickens and sell their eggs to cover our feed costs and to provide a better product for ourselves and our dogs.We also have a large flock of ducks and geese (to sell the eggs also and for meat), a dozen goats, nine sheep all ewes and two miniature donkeys (we had to sell the other full-sized ones). Try taking that grain and spouting it, it's alittle bit of work but well worth it for the chickens and your family. http://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/sprouting-seeds.html
My Daddy is like duct tape, he can fix almost anything. A quote from my youngest daughter at 4yrs old, many years ago.
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Re: Chicken keeping...
#101990
09/22/2017 12:00 PM
09/22/2017 12:00 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,570 Omaha Nebraska
Huskerpatriot
OP
Senior Member
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OP
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,570
Omaha Nebraska
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We are fermenting the grains now. Lacto-fermented grains break down the protective coating on the grains. Cut the feed to 1/3 what it was before since the grains swell up and nutrients are more available. Also cuts down on the poop end as well! I'm going to also try the sprouts as well.
"Government at its best is a necessary evil, and at it�s worst, an intolerable one." Thomas Paine (from "Common Sense" 1776)
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