Selfsufficientish.com

Hey glad this is being discussed. There is less than 24 hours now until the decision! Personally I believe the most effective course of action is to email the decision makers directly. This site aims to make that easy for people to do in a few clicks: http://open-seeds.org/bad-seed-law/ The most pop...

Hi all I have just found out about Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae, aka Pheonix worms. For those that don't know they will turn poultry waste and food scraps into self harvesting, high protein grubs! Intro to BSF http://www.microponics.net.au/?p=175 In more depth http://www.esrla.com/brazil/frame.htm...

"I have been looking at an eglu, but it would cost about £400 for one egluand two chickens, is this a total waste of money?" I would say so yes, I built a strong waterproof hen house from an old chest freezer. It cost precisely nothing. It is strong, insulated, well ventilated and easy to ...

Wulf A fox weighs from 3–11 kg A chicken weighs 1-2kg Clare - Why not put a mesh roof on that run? A couple of bits of heras fencing would probably do from about £10 a piece http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Heras-fencing-12-each-stockholder-07803027808-ws15_W0QQitemZ250474641246QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_localservi...

Well I cut out the bits where the teeth had punctured.

Roasted up the chicken was tough but flavourful, not all that much meat on it but worth doing..

Thanks for the reply Gert, I will try sneaking one in after dark.. On a related point is it OK to eat the chicken? It mainly has puncture wounds on the neck which I have now removed. However I have just found some bite marks on the back too. I imagine urban foxes have pretty grim mouths. Will heat k...

Hi all I lost one of my two chiclens to a fox last night. (before anyone asks I had not been experimenting with the fox-proof run - I wish I had.) So this leaves one chicken, this does not seem very good but I know that there can be problems introducing hens that have not grown up together. Should I...

I have been thinking about how to fox proof my chicken house for when I occasionally forget to shut them in. I think I have finally solved the problem. I plan to make a see saw on the raised up door. The weight of the chickens will not close it, the weight of a fox will... I will post photos once I ...

Hi all For the last couple of days one of my chickens has been ill. Runny droppings unsteady on feet Unusual posture with tail down pale around the eyes and comb Not laying I cannot see any evidence of lice or mites. There does not appear to be any swelling around the abdomen or vent She is eating I...

Thanks for the replies everyone..

The hens have now got the hang of the perch, and the nest box..

So it seems 28cm is fine for larger hens.

Thanks all

Sam

Hi all I have just got a couple of ex battery hens. I have made them a well ventilated house out of an old freezer (which has all the gas removed). I have made them a laying box at the back which is about 35 cm high and 40cm square. I have put a hard boiled egg in it to help them get the idea. I hav...

OK thanks for the responses. I guess I will need to find someone who is prepared to check on them once a day in return for free eggs... One thing that did occur to me that might make that persons job easier is if they could be made to put themselves away at night.. Do you think this might work; 1) G...

I am considering establishing a 5 acre apple orchard. It would be some distance from my house so I would only get to it once a week. The land would have a natural stream. I am wondering if it would be possible to use geese to keep the grass down. Basically just provide them with a shelter and a stre...

"I will also put in some extra ventilation holes in the door."


(do you really need an auto one????)

I think that I do yes. I am fairly absent minded and don't want them to get eaten..

Cheers

Sam

Hi all I am planning to get three hens. I happen to have a broken chest freezer which I am considering making into their henhouse. I hope that the insulating properties will keep them warm.. The freezer would be put on it side. I would make a hole in the door and attach a automatic opener http://www...