Critters on the homestead

[farmertrappe]

What animals are you thinking about for this year, what do you usually raise? Are you thinking about adding anything new this year?

I have about 100 layers right now and will cull out some and bring in 60, sixteen week old layers this spring. I'm thinking about talking to one of my pig guys soon and see if he has any 75-90 pound feeder he can hold till the mid march. I will finish them out till early June before bringing in a dozen at the usual time. meat birds will be ordered soon for delivery starting in the beginning of April.

What are your plans??

[rendezvous]

I have my 5 layers, they are doing well. New additions... I have been thinking about getting a pup, we'll see?

[nytrapper23]

I just have my two laying hens and three lady Amherst pheasants , and a pair of bobwhites. I'm going to get some chicks in the spring to add maybe 5 more hens to the flock .

I will be redoing my coop this spring also so I have some extra room.

[Brad H.]

I'm thinking of getting a couple layers this spring. I would love to do a chicken tractor so that I could move them around my property.. Anyone have any good plans for one?

[Deleted]

I'm shooting for some quail, Courtnix, or the Texas A & M's. All the projects for them are not completed. Hutch to keep some breeder is nearly complete, just needs a few more things and some more paint. I also have frame and semi completed a coup, 8x8' that will hold most of the birds till they mature. I'm doing this for the meat an eggs. Growing up in Florida, I learned that quail is great for dinner.

In my town/city, no chickens, no pigeons, but there's no mention of quail in the ordinance, so I'm trying for quail. I need quiet birds also, so Bobwhites are out, plus with there aggression, towards other males, I don't think it would be a great match.

Plus I still have to look up (on You Tube) how to make an electric fence (solar charged), hopes it's no more than created a continuous circuit. Just want to make a single strand wire to help keep the coons off the chicken wire. Add in a motion sensor light in hopes the neighborhood coon squad leaves my birds alone. But I can already feel there's going to be some late night sniper sessions ahead for me.

Another big, Big, BIG problem around here is the freaking cats. Lets just say I don't live on the best side of the tracks, cats are freaking everywhere. So many homes have foreclosed and are abandoned, people break in and steal the copper, or anything, air conditioners, any aplliances left behind, then the kids party in them an trash them some more, and finally the critters take over. Cat hotels, coons squads, rats...... It's like a freaking impossible mission. Stopped keeping count, ran out of room for notches on my pellet rifle.

[farmertrappe]

Feb 18, 2016 20:44:08 GMT -5 Brad H. said:

I'm thinking of getting a couple layers this spring. I would love to do a chicken tractor so that I could move them around my property.. Anyone have any good plans for one?

I have been very happy with this type of movable pen.Can be made what ever size you want and easy to move around. Couple 4x6's, fence panels from TSC some wire ties and a cover- your'e in business.
Not fancy but i have used them for four years without too many problems.

[bisley44]

I have a LOT planned for this year. Just bought a new place this past october we have a lot of repairs ect. House  and land has not been lived in/on full time for the last 5 years or so, so it is all run down/grown up.  We already have a few silver and golden laced wyandottes for eggs and meat, plan on a few turkeys this spring and probably a couple of feeder pigs. Its great to be out in the country again after being stuck in town for the last 8 years. loving it!

[farmertrappe]

Feb 27, 2016 19:28:17 GMT -5 bisley44 said:

I have a LOT planned for this year. Just bought a new place this past october we have a lot of repairs ect. House  and land has not been lived in/on full time for the last 5 years or so, so it is all run down/grown up.  We already have a few silver and golden laced wyandottes for eggs and meat, plan on a few turkeys this spring and probably a couple of feeder pigs. Its great to be out in the country again after being stuck in town for the last 8 years. loving it!

Good deal and get to work. Look froward to updates as you work on the new homestead.