The circle of life

[EE_]

I've been working on my system this year and am very happy with the results.
Even on a small scale you achieve a circle of self sustaining living.
I put in a small 6' X 20' garden this year that is producing food.
I started raising chickens that will provide me eggs.
I am now in the process of installing a water collection system that will provide water for the garden.
The chicks are eating the greens from the garden.
The chicks byproduct will provide valuable fertilizer for the garden next season from composting.
Which the garden will again feed me and the chicks.
It goes in a circle, over and over.
You take care of everything and everything will take care of you.
Anyone can do this on a small scale and add or subtract to your own desire and needs.
So far it has been a rewarding experience.

[Korbin Dallas]

Very nice! keep us updated.

[EE_]

Very nice! keep us updated.


Hi Joseph, I'll post 3 week pictures at the end of the week.
The birds are really growing! They go out to play in the pen twice a day and just have a blast flying around, dirt bathing and general mayhem.
They are much quieter then I expected. Most of them are very friendly and alert.

[Celtic Rogue]

Very cool... cant wait for the pix!!! :)

[MNeagle]

Congrats! You should be proud of your success!

[wildcard]

I've been working on my system this year and am very happy with the results.
Even on a small scale you achieve a circle of self sustaining living.
I put in a small 6' X 20' garden this year that is producing food.
I started raising chickens that will provide me eggs.
I am now in the process of installing a water collection system that will provide water for the garden.
The chicks are eating the greens from the garden.
The chicks byproduct will provide valuable fertilizer for the garden next season from composting.
Which the garden will again feed me and the chicks.
It goes in a circle, over and over.
You take care of everything and everything will take care of you.
Anyone can do this on a small scale and add or subtract to your own desire and needs.
So far it has been a rewarding experience.






What is crazy is that only a few generations ago everyone knew this. Then we were taught we needed a job to feed ourselves. And to get to the job and the supermarket we needed a car. Then we needed our own house. A big house! In a good spot! And lots of things to go in that house.

So we gave up the circle for a triangle: Job, House, Place to buy stuff.

I like the circle better too. It's much more satisfying.

[EE_]

What is crazy is that only a few generations ago everyone knew this. Then we were taught we needed a job to feed ourselves. And to get to the job and the supermarket we needed a car. Then we needed our own house. A big house! In a good spot! And lots of things to go in that house.

So we gave up the circle for a triangle: Job, House, Place to buy stuff.

I like the circle better too. It's much more satisfying.


Good analogy!

[EE_]

Almost three weeks old
The wife sure is attached to these critters!
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/3weeks.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/3weeks6.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/3weeks5.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/3weeks8.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/3weeks2.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/3weeks3.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/3weeks7.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/3weeks9.jpg

[willie pete]

Those are chickens? .....look almost like turkeys :D, grand parents had chickens back in the day, but the little bitties were all yellow, different breed huh? Cool Pics though, Keep'em coming

[EE_]

3 1/2 weeks
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/threeandahalfweeks.jpg

[crazychicken]

Very nice--

Not just the chick pictures--but your whole concept.

CC

[EE_]

4 weeks old and growing like weeds
All but one are very friendly and love their mom. I don't think she will ever be able to eat her pets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0GtRI4Ulo
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/birds.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/birds2.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/birds3.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/birds4.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/birds5.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/birds6.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/birds7.jpg

[Gknowmx]

I was visiting my brother last week. Last year he started with 15 chickens roaming the yard. Only lost 2 all last year. Then last week, he lost 2 in 3 days. One to a fox (found the feathers at the den site) and then one to a hawk (pic).

[EE_]

5 1/2 weeks old
So far one looks like a cockerel. There is probably more, but I can't be sure yet.
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/IMG_1089-1.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/IMG_1103.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/IMG_1090.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/IMG_1105.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/IMG_1108.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/IMG_1092.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/IMG_1091.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/IMG_1104.jpg
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/IMG_1100.jpg

[StackerKen]

yeah, Those don't look like any chickens I've seen

they kinda look like guinea hens or turkeys...

what kind are they EE ?

[EE_]

yeah, Those don't look like any chickens I've seen

they kinda look like guinea hens or turkeys...

what kind are they EE ?

Araucana
Precisely why I chose them. They also lay blue/turquoise eggs and are known to be friendly and quiet.
I bought the eggs from this breeder.
http://www.araucanasonline.com/page2.html

[StackerKen]

cool thanks :)

[EE_]

Nice bunch of birds, eh? (8 weeks old)

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/chilling1.jpg

just 3 more months until these
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/MaggiegirlEE/eggs-1.jpg

[StackerKen]

Very nice looking birds EE

Whats in the bottles? Ice?

[EE_]

Very nice looking birds EE

Whats in the bottles? Ice?


What I understand, is that chickens cool themselves with their feet.
These birds are in extreme heat.
They love the ice bottles! Also have a small sprinkler device to create a small pool to dig in. They love that too.
Uh, these are pet chickens!

[bellevuebully]

Uh, these are pet chickens!


Pet-able or p-eadible? Either way, great looking birds.

[gunDriller]

can the chickens eat Indian corn ?

just curious because i'm good at growing it but it's so hard, even when boiled, i don't think i could eat it unless i ground it into flour.

[StackerKen]

can the chickens eat Indian corn ?

just curious because i'm good at growing it but it's so hard, even when boiled, i don't think i could eat it unless i ground it into flour.


Just a guess....but I think you would want to "crack" it for them..and not feed them "Whole" Kernels

[gunDriller]

once i was in a management training class with a guy who worked his way through college at a chicken de-beaking plant.

i had never heard of it. i guess they use a hot wire or something to cut off part of the chicken's beak.

that's got to suck for the chickens.