Tag Archives: chickens

Chicks First Day On Pasture

I Our 17 chicks are currently to young to be out of the brooder over night but we have great warm temps so we are now putting them in a tractor during the day and returning them to the brooder at night.

The tractor is framed form 7.5 foot stud lumber and covered with 1/4 inch hardware cloth.  The birds are two different types of red sex link hens, a male sex link (we think but it was labled a pullet by Tractor Supply but was in with all clearly sex linked pullets) and 8 Egyptian Fayoumi.  There are 4 standard Fayoumis and 4 that were marked as “cinnamon silver”.

We really don’t have a clue what a “cinnamon silver” is, we are not even 100% sure it is a Fayoumi cross or color phase as I can’t find any info on them.  The do appear a lot like the other Fayoumis in growth rate, size and other characteristics, so we shall see in time.

The dimensions of the tractor are 7.5 feet long, 24 inches high and 44 inches wide which leaves 2 inches of over hang on both sides for the oak pallets. This works great for day time use by small chickens that can easily get though 2 inch chicken wire and might strangle themselves with one inch wire.  Later it will be converted to my “Quail Mansion” tractors which I have long term plans for.

Note – I stated a 50 foot roll of hardware cloth in the video, what I meant to say was a 25 foot roll.
 

Episode-1066- Paul Wheaton on Paddock Shift Chicken Management

Paul Wheaton of RichSoil.com

Strap yourself in today folks for a great episode of TSP. Paul Wheaton is such an awesome source of knowledge on so many great topics.

Today we discuss raising chickens in a paddock shift system and why Paul considers it to be the ultimate method for raising chickens.

Make sure to check out Paul’s two awesome websites Permies.com and Richsoil.com. You can also connect with Paul on Facebook.

Today we also discuss ducks vs. chicken.  Our differing views on irrigation and using tanks in a permaculute system.

We also provide an update on the Holzer designed permaculture system in Montana and discuss why some big names in permaculture seem to turn into jerks.

Resources for Today’s Show

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

Episode-1041- Mark Hamilton on Homesteading and Running a Micro Business

Mark, His Wife Anna and Faithful Companion Lucy.

Mark, His Wife Anna and Faithful Companion Lucy.

Mark Hamilton was born in Ohio and did a 6 year stint in US Navy.  From there he moved on to copier repair doing that for over a decade.  He also went to for photography and video work and for a time wedding videography and miscellaneous  construction jobs and worked as a  substitute teacher  Today he feels he has found his true passion as a full time homesteader and micro business operator.

Mark joins us today to discuss modern day homesteading along with how he and his wife are making supplemental income from a chicken waterer micro business.  We also discuss chicken pastures, deer deterrents, high density fruit orcharding, mini root cellars and a varitety of his projects.  Along with how people can get started with a modern homestead, a micro business or both and the role the web and blogging can play in doing that.

Additional Resources for Today’s Show

Mark’s Links

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

Episode-1019- The Role of Animals in Permaculture

Properly Managed Chickens Can Convert Pasture to Forest

Properly Managed Chickens Can Convert Pasture to Forest

Geoff Lawton just released a great video that represents the beginnings of an awesome new project and it fits in great with today’s show topic.  In his video which addresses preparing for future crisis with permaculture Geoff shows how chickens can be used to establish a food forest 150 square meters at a time.

This is just one role that livestock both small and large can play in a permaculture system.  From talking to hundreds of people I am convinced that you can have some sort of livestock in just about any environment.

To me if you really wish to branch out into individual sustainability at some point animals must become part of the formula.  Today I discuss how to do that and how to actually sculpt land with animals being one of your tools in doing so.  We discuss how to do this on a large acreage or even a small suburban lot.

Join Me Today As We Discuss…

  • Why animals in the first place, what does nature teach us
  • Understanding soil creation both fungal and bacterial
  • Using chickens to restore a pasture OR create a food forest
  • Using ducks for pest control and free ranging them in “forest”
  • The role animals play in nutrient bioavailability
  • How improperly managed animals can destroy a system
  • How to adapt large scale animal concepts into small scale operations
  • Using animals in suburban environments
  • How to even use animals covertly in suburban environments

Resources for Today’s Show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

Episode-883- Victor Alfieri on the Urban Homesteading Movement

Vic Alfieri with His 3 Hens

Vic Alfieri with His 3 Hens

Victor Alfieri lives just 17 miles from New York City on a 1/4 acre lot but he hasn’t let that stop him from being a modern homesteader.  For Victor It all started after hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast when he started to see things a little differently.   While he wasn’t directly effected by the hurricane it got him thinking about being more prepared.  He began researching the aftermath and to him there was one thing that stood out.

No one was prepared not the general public, not the local government and certainly not the federal government.

Then a year or so later, he and his wife who both had financial business backgrounds began observing signs of bad times ahead. This put them on a course for research which began with the internet and frequent trips to the library.

Victor found an old book about the depression in 1930′s and started to remember the stories my grandmother would tell me about how they survived the depression.  Eventually he discovered square foot gardening and small livestock, specifically keeping laying hens.  His hens eventually put him on a course of conflict with his local government where he continues to fight for the right of people to simply provide themselves with top quality home grown food.

Resources for today’s show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.


Episode-842- Listener Calls for 2-17-12

So it is Friday and we have some calls today on some great stuff.  Today we hear about permaculture, data encryption, non intervention, the reality of poverty, libertarianism and more.

Remember to be on a show like this one just pick up your phone and call 866-65-THINK.  The best way to improve your chances of being on the air is ask your question or make your point up front, then provide details.  Also call from a quite area with a good connection and speak up so you can be well heard.  I can’t put all calls on the air but I do my best to get most of them on.

Join Us Today as we Discuss…

  • Establishing perennial plantings on remote unoccupied property
  • Some fun rants and practical advice from “Carson from Canada”
  • Protecting chickens while you are away
  • More on what real poverty is like from someone who has seen it
  • When is it time for to declare bankruptcy
  • No you don’t “make money” with credit card programs
  • Prep with food or save cash, making the decision
  • Judge Andrew Napolitano asks, “what if elections don’t matter”
  • A listener tells us how TSP has changed his life and world view
  • Designing a home business based on creating tax write offs

Resources for Today’s Show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

Episode-598- Paul Wheaton from Permies.com on Permaculture, Hugelkultur, Survival Housing and More

Paul Wheaton of RichSoil.com

Strap yourself in today folks for the longest episode of TSP ever recorded, this honestly could have been two episodes because Paul Wheaton is such an awesome source of knowledge on so many great topics.

Make sure to check out Paul’s two awesome websites Permies.com and Richsoil.com.  You can also connect with Paul on Facebook.

Note near the end in a conversation about CFL lights Paul does drop the F-Bomb one time, I decided to let it ride even though I generally don’t use that word on the air.  Anyone objecting to this should see section three of my content disclaimer.

Today we discuss a huge variety of topics that range from raising chickens, to the complete elimination of the need for irrigation, to the ultimate eco building and even the use of rocket mass heaters.

Join Us Today As We Discuss…

  • What we can learn from the work of Sepp Holzer
  • Why it might even make sense to plant poisonous plants were livestock feed
  • How and why permaculture should be profitable
  • What is hugelkultur and how can it eliminate the need for irrigation
  • Why you may want to practice paddock rotation with livestock like chickens
  • What is a wofati building
  • How you can build a home with no need of air conditioning or heat at 1/5 the conventional cost of construction
  • Building and using rocket mass heaters
  • More!

Resources for Today’s Show

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

Episode-357- Call in Friday 1-15-10

Today we do our second edition of call in Friday where I take listener calls and comments on the air.  To call in an leave your own question for me just dial 866-65-THINK and leave a message and you might hear yourself on the air.

Join me today as we discuss

  • Where to find chickens for your homestead
  • How many eggs does an average hen lay
  • What protection do chickens need in winter
  • What about filtering water during a city water contamination
  • What is a good book for your BOB
  • If you are buying your first two guns, should both be handguns
  • What is the purpose of a handgun
  • What can people in very cold climates do to be able to grow food
  • Is liberty given as a gift not understood and valued the way liberty fought for is
  • What can we learn from the earthquake in Haiti
  • What would Jefferson say if he was around today
  • Why are three Navy Seals in trouble because a terrorist got a bloody lip
  • Is a solar rebate “taking the governments money”
  • How do you store food long term with Mylar, buckets and O2 Absorbers

Resources for today’s show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

Episode-252- Let’s Start Getting Ready for Fall

I know it is over 100 degrees in many places right now, the pool is even getting to warm right?  Fall is a million miles away, I am here to day, no sir it isn’t.  For many fall is less then 60 days away, in many instances the cool fall air and the changes with it are only 30 days out.  It is time to start thinking about fall and winter expecially with your gardens.

In the intro segment I announce Nancy Pelosi as “assclown of the day” for her swastika comments.  I also recognize a group of retired people as “heroes of the day” for standing up as members of the AARP and not being walked on by the far younger people that were dictating to the members how they should think.

Then before the main subject I do a review of the Kaito Voyager Radio, my recommendation is do not buy this.  Tune in for full details today, it isn’t all bad I just don’t think you are going to get your money’s worth at this price point.

Tune in Today to Hear….

  • The bounty is comming how will you store it
  • Is it time for you to break down and buy that canner or dehydrator
  • Start thinking about saving seeds
  • How you can get free food and free seed right in the middle of most cities soon
  • How to get free peach seeds, free agave seed and free yucca seed
  • How to use cuttings before the killing frost to propagate peppers and tomatos for next year
  • Time for winter legumes for harvest or even just green manure
  • Winter humus from fava beans
  • Storing some items is easy, just leave them in the ground
  • Now is the time to start plants for your fall crops
  • Harvesting firewood from trees via “topping”
  • How to get a HOA to consider allowing chickens (I hope, God but I do hate HOAs) Check with the “chicken whisperer

Resources for today’s show…

I left up these videos on Safe Deposit Boxes from Yesterday,  You Really Should View Them Both

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show.

You also now can call in questions or comments for the host at 866-65-THINK, (866-658-4465) please read the suggestions for calling in before you do for the best chance of getting your comments on the air.

Episode-232- Listener Call In Questions 7-1-09

I was in the home office/recording studio today so I decided to do a call in show today and let the audience be heard.  Remember we are on vacation from July 2- July 6 so there will be no shows Thursday and Friday this week or on Monday next week.

Tune in to hear these questions asked and answered today…

  • How do you keep your morale high in a tough situation?
  • How do you use a compass or primitive forms of navigation?
  • What about dental health post SHTF?
  • Why do I insist on calling many people sheeple?
  • How do you prevent cross pollination if you want to save seeds of two varieties of one species?
  • What are some ways to prepare for and deal with stress?
  • What is the proper way to water your garden?
  • What do you do for square foot gardening if you can’t get vermiculite?
  • Are chickens the perfect small livestock animal?
  • How do you create a rationing plan if you get to a point where you need your preps?
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of a manufactured home for a BOL?
  • Are grain production and permaculture compatible?

Resources for Today’s Show

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show.

You also now can call in questions or comments for the host at 866-65-THINK, (866-658-4465) please read the suggestions for calling in before you do for the best chance of getting your comments on the air.