I love the idea of shopping local, but I don't trust people on craigslist or through FB marketplace... I just don't... If I happen to find out that I work with someone (my employers is the second largest int he county) that is raising chicks and has some for sale, I would do that... but not with...
I feel you.
We would not have spent all the money time and effort into building the coop and run if not for an expectation of eggs and potentially meat if needed. However, we also do not want to raise birds that are prone to disease and live unhealthy lives, giving us unhealthy eggs. I think...
I think the discussion online, in general gets more confused when you aren't given proper context for the intent of the chicken keeper and the desired output / expectations of the birds.
For me...
1. I want egg production, but I want eggs that are healthy for us to eat and chickens that can...
I would think that logs with bark will add different things than no bark...
I have a pile of bark from chopping wood, would that be good to throw into the coop? Mostly ash I think.
Maybe turning and moving logs around periodically in a run might be good to reveal some bugs and such for the...
Nice list. I am chewing on a list myself.
So I am thinking of making two extra runs, each about 18 x 18.
Logs and other decaying matter might be just as crucial as the growing things?
Planning to till up the ground well and saturated with organic matter before I begin planting. I am sure a...
So I am planning to make two secondary day time runs, each about 12 x 18 x 6 tall... I will only allow the chicken access after the plants have grown to a stage that can handle the birds...
Okay, I am putting together a list for next spring of bushes for my chicken run.
What are you favorite bushes to have in runs? Or even plants in general that are robust enough to add shade and come back each spring...
I'm in Central Indiana, so obvious tropical plants are really gonna work...
I am thinking of mixing mulch with leaves and straw.
I can get quite few cottonwood tree leaves in the fall. Do you just fill up the run and let them be all winter, or do you store the leaves and add more periodically? Don't have great places to store them, I guess I could just pile them and...
I knew this was true for the roots. but I hadn't heard this about the leaves. Supposedly all nut bearing trees do this, but for some reason Black Walnut is a much worse offender.
I saved a bunch of watermelon last year and froze it. Knowing that I would have chickens this year. They gobble it up as it thaws. They dig the mulberries too.