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Back at it!

Almost a year off, but time to get back into things happening here on our little farmlet.

The changes:
Chickens:
We have lost a few chickens, but added a few turkeys,  40 or so chickens and 22 turkeys. We stopped fermenting feed and turned the sprouting station into a seed station using dirt, but that will be changing soon into a starting station for our soon to be built hydroponic / aquaponic  system.
We have purchased a new to us, or used greenhouse that will be housing the birds. The cutesy coop will be replaced by a more industrial set up for the comfort of the birds. The new size coop will be 30' x 50'.

Goats in the horizon!
Originally we were having second thoughts regarding the 'old' coop and maybe selling it on Craig's list, but we have decided that it will be repurposed for use as a goat house. At 64 square feet, this is plenty for two or three kids as a shelter from the rain. We also will be supplying ample run room for them and their future kids including a play/climbing frame that they can spend time one rather than testing the fences. We do plan on bring our nannies to a male for breeding- we will not be raising a billy goat at this property.

Pigs are also being considered, though they will follow the successful  integration of goats The Grow out pen ( a 10x10 dog kennel) for our new breeding stock turkeys has turned into a second coop for the new leghorn hens we got off Craig's List. 8 stark white birds that started laying two days after they got settled in. Once the big Pen is finished they will be blended in with the rest of the flock and the  will also be repurposed for two or three wean-off piglets. We will be raising one of these females to a sow for breeding stock, and like the goats, no male boar will be on the property. It might be a bit inconvenient for the twice a year breeding, but better twice a year than every day with a boar. Like the Chickens and turkeys, the goats and the pigs will be for generating feed money by selling the babies off, and saving one or two for ourselves to replenish the freezer. 

More later! 

Ken



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