Homesteading Chicken Coop Build, Chickens, Pond, Garden & Projects

I’m loving the pics of your pole barn in use. So nice to have equipment out of the weather! Keep an eye out and maybe you’ll find a good deal on a box blade. That’s the type of thing I don’t mind buying used- pretty easy to see all its faults, unlike with an engine or precision tool.

 

We are well, but family has had issues that have kept us hopping. I had to drop my sugarhouse build and cancel a barnyard renovation project because I’m going to Maine each weekend, but things are leveling out a bit now. The current big project underway here is having the Mrs’ company mark trees for a logging job this winter. The forester was pleased with what he saw for sawlogs his first day out, and I expect I’ll keep a bunch of the firewood that comes off. I should end up with a much better network of tractor roads, too.

 

Thanks. We are pretty rocky and gravely soils, and everything is hillside, so there won’t be much for access issues. I’m worried they are saving ours to do when it is too wet elsewhere. They move the wood on forwarders, which will help keep it from getting too messy. But like you say, a good hard freeze would be ideal. No real snow here yet - Sunday’s storm was an inch of snow and then mostly rain.

Coming back to driveway maintenance, our driveway is a town road, up past the house to the barns. Graded yearly, plowed and sanded every storm. I feel guilty at times, but not bad enough yet to ask the town to “throw the road up”.

 

Oh, I am very very proud. The entire project is his design. Mostly he builds projects like school, gyms, hotels etc. All that sure has taught him alot. He had it all figured out, right to the nails etc. He subcontracted what he couldn't do and the rest he has his friends working with him. He cleared the lot and cut out the 1000 ft long road leading to his building sight. He subed out the septic, well, electric poles and lines, plus all the digging and foundation work. He ordered all his wood supplies, windows and doors and had that all delivered. He rented machine to help place the trusses and move the plywood. The building of the house, floors, placement of windows and doors etc. he did with whatever extra hands he could get. His wife contributed with her ideas, go and get, and keeping the crews fed. He bought a John Deer to help out. He also picked up a truck and plow. I have to say he paid attention when it came to how to. He also can do finish carpentry. Just amazing to see it come along so fast and so good. He isn't going elaborate, but is using all the right materials, and conforming to codes. The plumbing and electrical will be done by licensed professionals.
Thanks for the comments.

 

Bad news for chickens in our area last night. Minks killed my entire flock and the neighbors entire flock last night. Over 50 chicks killed in one night. WE never had any Mink trouble for the last 10-15 years. Yes we would loose 1 or 2 chicks per year to coons, possums, foxes, etc. I don't know if its possible to stop a Mink. The neighbor across the street recently put in a pond and I think this brought the Minks into our area. Guess I'll be changing my Avatar. It was a really gruesome sight because Minks don't eat them they just break their necks and move on to the next one that moves.

 

Can't like this. I know the feeling about loosing a whole flock. Had a neighbor's dog kill one on Sunday morning a few years back, he came back the next day, dug under fence and killed 22 Jen's and the rooster. I had some smaller chicks in another pen. He came for them, but I was home, heard him, now he's sleeping next to chickens.

 

That price for a truckload of gravel sounds better than what I pay. This load of 1-1/2 inch crushed stone was $425 from about 10 miles away.

There are 6 others on this part of the road that is private so hopefully they would be willing to kick in some $ when the time comes.

 

Mink areA notoriously hard animal to shoot. Hard to see them, I would consider contacting a local game warden and see if they have a good old fashion trapper on file.

 

Small Havahart trap, and a bucket of water,

 

That sucks! Imagine being that last chicken...watching your friends get their heads bit off one at a time all night long until you're the only one on the roost...knowing what comes next in vivid detail!

Ah the life of a chicken is a hard one indeed...

 

Sorry to hear that.

 

had something killing my birds off a few times. I would find them in their fenced in areas with their heads missing. Only my laying hens which I kept locked in their area that had just the half inch wire screening remained safe. When they were gone, that was the end of it all. Wife wanted no more of the carnage.

 

Don't know. But from what I've read Minks can come day or night and are very fast and won't stop until they kill everything.