Happy to have found this site. Hello everyone.

[Plantnerd]

Hello all. I recently joined BYC and it didn’t take long to realize that I have a different way of looking at things than the majority of folks over there and it seems to me it might be a better fit over here. Basically, I thought chickens were for food and I guess that’s frowned upon in other venues so here I am. I have been working with plants for most of my life and I have spent a good deal of time around chickens at places I have worked. I have always rented but always grew herbs and veg in containers. My wife and I bought a house 2yrs ago that was a farm in the 40’s and we are in the process of turning it back into a farm. I’m happy to be here and look forward to learning and sharing any knowledge I have to help others. Thanks for being here.

 

[Mini Horses]

Here chickens can be just pets, just layers, just meat, or all!! 😁 Rabbits are pets or meat, same with goats, cows plus dairy....we all KNOW that meat isn't the veggie stuff out now. We also don't have an issue if that's what you want ... Veggie burgers! Pretty cool, right?

We have gardeners here. We can, freeze, dehydrate and some have freeze dryers. No doubt you can help us and we can help you! Congrats on returning a farm to being one!!

Welcome!!

 

[Hinotori]

It's always annoyed me that even though silkies were one of the first recognized breeds they aren't heritage because they can't free range. Polish are though and they have the same vision issue that prevents free ranging. But then people have a hard time getting over the color of the meat to eat them. They don't produce as many eggs, even though they do give about 5 a week when laying even at several years old. They breed like rabbits because they are always broody. Yeah, don't get silkies as a homestead breed unless you like a challenge.

The medium sized breeds also do better escaping predators as many of them can actually fly a bit. Non-hatchery birds all together have heftier bodies and more meat on them. I'd get cochins if I didn't like my blue eggs so much.

 

[Plantnerd]

welcome to SS. how much room do you have there? it's a lot of work, but i enjoy all my gardening activities here too. being semi-retired i can do about what i want most of the time so that's a nice way to live.

Thank you. We currently have just over 3 acres but we are hoping to buy another 5 from our neighbor. I thoroughly enjoy the work. I regularly work 16-18 hour days between my job and at home. I’m the kind of person that likes to stay busy and I love being outside. I have been growing food since I was a kid and I hope to be able to continue doing it for a long time. That is a very nice way to live.

 

[Plantnerd]

Here chickens can be just pets, just layers, just meat, or all!! 😁 Rabbits are pets or meat, same with goats, cows plus dairy....we all KNOW that meat isn't the veggie stuff out now. We also don't have an issue if that's what you want ... Veggie burgers! Pretty cool, right?

We have gardeners here. We can, freeze, dehydrate and some have freeze dryers. No doubt you can help us and we can help you! Congrats on returning a farm to being one!!

Welcome!!

Thank you. Any animal can be a pet if you want it to be and I have no issues with that. I don’t judge people for how they choose to live their life. There seems to be less judgement here from what I’ve read so far. This seems to be a community more interested in helping each other achieve their goals through education and sharing of knowledge which I truly appreciate. Thank you again for the warm welcome. I’m looking forward to the shred wisdom found here.

 

[Plantnerd]

Welcome!

I have chickens that are pets, and I have little jerks that are going to Camp Kenmore shortly. Mom wants them badly. I usually soup most extras because it's usually silkies I have excess of and they are so small.

If I thought I could deal physically with butchering larger animals, I'd raise goats. As it is, I need to get fences in and get a couple pet wethers to help keep the place clear of blackberries.

Thank you. We would love to have goats but just don’t have the space right now. If we can buy some land from the neighbor, the next step would be goats. I would also like to have chickens that would be closer to a pet status as I would like to eventually work with heritage breeds to preserve those genetics. That will come with time but the culls would still be dinner.

 

[Alaskan]

Thank you. We would love to have goats but just don’t have the space right now. If we can buy some land from the neighbor, the next step would be goats. I would also like to have chickens that would be closer to a pet status as I would like to eventually work with heritage breeds to preserve those genetics. That will come with time but the culls would still be dinner.

What kind of chickens are you thinking of getting?

I love heritage breeds. I highly recommend Dominiques. Dominiques are an old American breed. I think the first true American breed.

If you don't have your heart set on an American breed. I was quite enamored by the personality and history of the Nankin. They are an incredibly old breed, and supposedly the males tend to do better together than most breeds.

I never tried Nankins, from what I read they wouldn't have done well in the cold up here.

They are originally from England. And I know England gets cold, but Nankins are so small that they would stay in the warm barn, or even in the house.

Anyway... as to gardens... do you focus on food only? Or also medicinal plants, or just flowers?

Do you have a greenhouse?

 

[Plantnerd]

What kind of chickens are you thinking of getting?

I love heritage breeds. I highly recommend Dominiques. Dominiques are an old American breed. I think the first true American breed.

If you don't have your heart set on an American breed. I was quite enamored by the personality and history of the Nankin. They are an incredibly old breed, and supposedly the males tend to do better together than most breeds.

I never tried Nankins, from what I read they wouldn't have done well in the cold up here.

They are originally from England. And I know England gets cold, but Nankins are so small that they would stay in the warm barn, or even in the house.

Anyway... as to gardens... do you focus on food only? Or also medicinal plants, or just flowers?

Do you have a greenhouse

The breeds I’m most interested in raising are Jersey Giants, Naked Necks, White Rocks, and Black Australorps. I want large birds for meat but I would like to be able to sell eggs to defer costs. This is why I’m interested in the larger DP breeds. With plants, my main focus is edibles but I grow a lot of different things. I’ve planted some really interesting ornamentals this year to hide the neighbors scrap pile. Osmanthus purpurea and San Jose, Callistemon Woodlander’s Hardy, Eleagnus Olive Martini, and Vitex angus-castus to name a few. I’ve also been planting food for the chickens. Dutch White Clover, Alfalfa, and Chickory. This fall I’ll also be planting a pollinator garden. No real need for a greenhouse. I just grow things indoors in the winter.

 

[Plantnerd]

I

Oh, and I meant to ask, how many outbuildings did you get?

I love Nasturtium. I grow some every year. That’s one of the plants I grow inside in the winter. It’s super easy. If you use energy saving bulbs in the house you can grow just about anything. No need for fancy grow lights. I winter over a fig tree under 4 watt LED bulbs. It even produces fruit with those lights and I end up getting two harvests a year off of it.

 

[Hinotori]

Welcome!

I have chickens that are pets, and I have little jerks that are going to Camp Kenmore shortly. Mom wants them badly. I usually soup most extras because it's usually silkies I have excess of and they are so small.

If I thought I could deal physically with butchering larger animals, I'd raise goats. As it is, I need to get fences in and get a couple pet wethers to help keep the place clear of blackberries.