25 Feb Wed 2009
Big plans for 2009
We've got some big plans developing and I'm happy to share them with you! After the birth of our daughter, Emma, last fall, we realized how hard it might be to do all we want but here is what we are thinking about:
Expanding the flock and using netting to keep them corralled. There would only be about 14 birds in the portable pasture but they'll be protected with an electric mesh and our gardens will be protected from them! They will have access to the field and fresh air and we'll build them a more portable coop they can go in at night for some high quality roosting and egg laying.
We are working a small area next to our current garden to put some potatoes, peas, and other vegatables that won't fit in our current garden. I am personally excited about that but the area needs a lot of good attention so I've worked on it a lot this winter trying to build the poor soil back up.
We are also going to put a cow or two in with our horses and sell meat in the fall. The cow(s) will only be grass-fed and will have full-time access to pasture. I am talking now with USDA about setting up fields for rotational grazing and would love to find a market for good sheep fiber so if you're interested please let me know. I have what I think are very good sheep in mind that are supposed to produce beautiful fiber.
Our barn construction continues on and I hope in April to have it completely finished on the outside and ready for animals and woodworking projects.
Take care and thanks for visiting. Please email or call with questions or requests.
I've kept my 50 chickens in a mobile coop protected with electric poultry netting from Premier 1 for the past three years. We have lost a couple to hawks and a couple who got outside the fence and didn't get back in before the fox got them, but other than those it has been great. I like to use two fences, one keeping them contianed and one set where they are going next. That way there isn't a chicken rodeo getting them all moved. If you set the paddocks up side by side you can just lower the fence, move the coop across and the chickens will follow. It's great.