Hello From California - BYC member new to SS

[Jshubin]

New to SS but long time member of Backyard Chickens.
Needless to say I have tons of chickens... new to gardens. I need to take pictures of my garden (still small)... all I have is chicken photos right now. I dont eat my chickens but I do eat plenty of eggs.

Got some tomatoes, pumpkins, onions, cactus, sugar cane, citrus, pomegranate. I have a pair of goats and some doves. I have new aquaponics system in the works. Raised meal worms for a while (pain in the butt) but dont have them anymore. And I love composting.

Feel free to contact me with any chicken questions or advise about gardening. I hope to learn a lot because my thumb is not very green yet.

 

[Jshubin]

Oh yeah I am Solar powered too... sell power back to power company

 

[Jshubin]

They are pretty much the closest thing to a wild chicken.. They are fast, fly well, alert and are just great survivors. The hens lay a lot of eggs during breeding season and a known to be the best broods and mothers/protectors. So they reproduce really fast, which I experience every year to my wife's dismay (I have too many pooping on the patio ). They sleep high in the trees for protection and have natural instincts that production/ornamental breeds seem to lack.

They could be completely self-sufficient if left free range

And I am referring to American/Old English/Spanish games mostly... Most of the Oriental games are big and heavy and dont lay/brood well.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

That's a tough question because I like a lot of my breeds, lol.

I've got some Red Dorkings that make a really good meat bird. They have a loooong breast with a lot of meat on it.

Also, Sussex are a great dual purpose bird. I have both Coronation Sussex and some Light Sussex. They are pretty nice eye candy and the roo's get big enough to make a nice, meaty carcass. The hens go broody and are good mothers. Plus, they are a nice, calm bird and don't cause drama in the barnyard.

I'd say those two are my favorites.

I also have Barred Hollands. (In case you haven't noticed - I like the heritage breeds.) The Barred Holland roos butcher out nice. Not as heavy as Dorkings or Sussex, but nice.

Also have some Faverolles, but haven't butchered any of them. They are a very gentle breed and the roos are big. I HAVE butchered some crosses and they were fine.

For several years I raised some of the Cornish crosses for the freezer - but I don't do it anymore. I don't mind the extra time for the heritage roos to grow out and the flavor of the meat is just so... ummm... chickeny, lol.

Now - having said all of that.... all my breeds are very gentle. I will NOT tolerate a mean roo. I must have at least a dozen roos around here and not a single one of them is mean to people.

My other breeds are Black and Lavender Orpingtons... love them. Right now I have more Ameraucana's than any of the other breeds. They grow quickly, lay early and are good foragers. I've butchered a couple roos and have some penned up now to butcher in another couple weeks. Not a big carcass, but definitely edible.

Oh, have a Turken hen that's trying her best to hatch out a rock...and a silkie who sat and sat but finally gave up because we kept pulling her eggs. I used to keep all my breeds penned separately for breeding purposes - but I'm not looking for any more birds so they are all running together now. I don't want any more chicks until next year, so I am discouraging any broodies.

Didn't mean to write a book or hijack this thread, lol!

 

[Jshubin]

My In-laws have hundreds and hundreds of acres in Porterville. Nut farm.

We got a lot of tax breaks and special financing (Hero Program) for energy our efficient improvements. We got breaks for the Coolwall paint, Cool roof system and the solar panels. I think my wife also mentioned that we got breaks for our new Washer/Dryer.

Cool wall and roof make big difference. Have good windows too, but they were with the house when we bought it.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Hey again! This is your 'official' welcome to SS! Glad you're here and I'm sure we can all learn from each other!

 

[baymule]

This is a great site with lots of information on how to be a little more independent. If you can stay out of the grocery stores, and stores in general, you are better off. Please note that Tractor Supply, Atwoods, feed stores of all kinds and Lumber, building supply stores do NOT count as stores to stay out of.

If you want to garden, then click on the link to the right, TheEasyGarden.com Anything and everything you want to know, ask any questions you want, friendly folks who love to help, go check it out.

 

[MoonShadows]

Welcome again! You have some great looking chickens. Would love to hear more about the aquaponics system you're working on.

 

[Jshubin]

Welcome again! You have some great looking chickens. Would love to hear more about the aquaponics system you're working on.

Still a work in progress. Right now I have 300 Gal acrylic tank (8ft x 2.5ft x 2ft) and 3 random pumps I've collected. I have it filled about 1/4 with water and just circulating water, fish and aquatic plants right now. Used play sand on the bottom and volcanic rock in the overflow chambers.

I dont have it watering any plants right now and dont have edible fish in there (just guppies and goldfish for time being)... Ultimately I want to circulate the water up to some trays to grow barely fodder and trickle back down into tank where I want to raise Talpia.


plants grown now..

 

[Jshubin]

I feed the little floating duck weed plants to my chickens as super healthy green stuff. It has little snails in it too for extra protein

It multiplies at an amazing rate.