Growing fodder for chicken feed (cheaply)

I'm sure by now you've seen all the posts about growing fodder for chicken feed. You've probably also read (or participated) in the countless forum threads happening on various chicken sites. I'm not going to bore you with the details you've probably already read. Instead, since I'm frugal I'm going to show you how to do it CHEAPLY.

I've seen some beautiful fodder systems, but many of them seem to be either very expensive to build (yes, I said build) or they happen to have access to a lot of raw materials that most of us don't have. I have to say I am mighty impressed with the automatic watering systems some have set up, but I can't wire a darn thing to save my life! 

So let's start with the easy-peasy cheap way to do it.

Living The Country Life interview

Last year I spoke with Living the Country Life about our Guineas here on the farm. You can read and listen to the interview here:

Country View: Lisa Murano - Tick Control with Guinea Fowl - Boyers, PA.

I also did a podcast interview with Scott of North County Farmer right after I wrote the article How to make $1,000 a month with just 15 chickens.

While you're at it, don't forget to sign up HERE for your FREE magazine subscription of Successful farming. You'll love all the great informative articles. Do some browsing on the website as well, I learn something new every time I visit!

~L

How to keep the chicken coop floor dry under the waterer

We've had wet floors from time to time in the coop. Of course there are times you can't do a thing about it! Like when the wind is whipping rain sideways or wet chickens come in out of the rain and drip all over the floor! Mostly though, the problem is the waterer. (or drinker, whichever you prefer to call it) 

I've tried putting the waterer up on blocks so the coop bedding doesn't get kicked in. I've tried putting the poultry waterer outside the coop (but I worried too much about them getting thirsty before I get up in the morning) We tried different types of drinkers and bowls, bottles and cups. 

We tried pretty much everything we could find, and the bedding was still wet underneath the water font! A little bit of wet bedding isn't a big deal, but once it gets a little wet...it spreads and spreads till the whole floor is soaked. Yuck!

As if the wet bedding isn't enough of a problem, the floor underneath it is wood. Eventually wet wood starts to rot. That is all I need is a rotted spot on the coop floor! Not only would that be expensive to fix but I have to worry about predators finding it and tunneling into the coop before I can get it fixed! No thanks! 

I needed to find a solution before the coop floor was ruined. Luckily I have some experience Using household objects in the chicken coop, so a solution wasn't far away!

New roo for the Silkie pen

Well, it's that time of year again. Time to add to the breeding groups and get things all sorted out for the new breeding season. This year there are 5 Silkie additions. A porcelain pullet, 1 black pullet and 2 lavender splits and this white cockerel. His name is Snowflake. (picture from when he was 10 weeks old)

Weirdest place to lay an egg

What is the weirdest place your chicken has laid an egg? The reason I ask is because we've found eggs in some really bizarre places around here!

Weird places that chickens lay eggs....

We've found eggs: behind the coop, under the coop, in the wheelbarrow full of dirty bedding, in the dust bathing box, in the pile of straw bales, in a bag of fresh shavings, between the cornstalks, under the tarp covering the woodpile and even on the patio furniture! 

My chickens can't be the only ones doing this. I think it's far more widespread then my backyard. I'm pretty sure chickens all over the world are laying eggs in strange places and I'm on a quest to find out the strangest place an egg has been laid. 

It's a funny question, I know...but my Muffy always tried to lay her eggs on the patio furniture!

Winter nest box herbs

I'm a gardener....and a bit of a foodie. Fresh ingredients are important to me and of course a huge garden is an important part of our summers around here. In the winter I bring some pots of herbs in so I can have my favorites all winter long. I always have basil, parsley and chives growing on the window sill. This year I added lemon balm.

What I didn't realize about lemon balm is that I wasn't going to get enough from a small plant for teas, or really any other recipe. Since I wasn't using it I wasn't trimming it back. This caused the lemon balm to start dying off. 

That's when I remembered an article that came to my email last year from Grit Magazine. Nesting box herbs for in the chicken coop. You simply snip some pieces of whatever herb you want to use and toss them in the nesting box. 

Germ free poultry handling

I got a call the other day from the Department of Agriculture. They asked me if I would hand out some information for them. They created a flyer of disease prevention tips. Since I'm registered as a poultry farm, they asked if I would post one on my wall and hand them out to customers. I thought I'd post one here too, just so everyone gets a chance to read it.

I know a lot of us know most of these things anyway, but it never hurts to be reminded. The only ones I ever have an issue with is the last two. The rest I do regularly. (I have hand sanitizer everywhere! lol)

Now excuse me while I go tell Sally that when I'm eating on the patio, she is not supposed to try to take a bite out of my food!
>Related reading: what is Avian Influenza and how to keep your chickens safe.

~L

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I am not a veterinarian or other animal care professional nor do I claim to be. I am simply passing on information that has worked for me and my flock. This information is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. Please see a vet if your chicken is ill. Click for my full disclaimer.