country living.... anyone trying to be more self-sufficient?

Kara_xxx
Kara_xxx Posts: 635 Member
edited December 26 in Food and Nutrition
We're about to move to a lovely house in the country, with a big greenhouse, plenty of space for vegetable patches and ... my great plans for a chicken coop / hen house!

Am looking forward to adopt some ladies from here http://www.bhwt.org.uk for some happy egg laying at our new home.

Just wondering if there are any folk here who grow their own veg, keep some chucks etc. :-D

Replies

  • ezavora
    ezavora Posts: 59 Member
    I wish I was closer to you. Before I moved to the middle of nowhere I kept a huge garden. I grew enough to eat almost year round. I can offer advice on what is easy to grow and what stores well if you are interested. As far as the chickens go, I have a friend that lives a little out of town from where I am from and she has chickens, pigs, and lambs. My husband hunts deer, elk, and antelope. We would trade out meats and veggies. I could put you in touch with her if you need advice for the animal side. It is the cleanest, most healthy way to eat.
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    Dont need to be in the country to reap the benefits of having a garden.

    14 varieties of tomatoes
    12 varieties of sweet/mild peppers
    6 varieties of hot peppers

    2 varities of cucumbers
    garlic
    chives
    about 15 different herbs...
  • JenaePavlak
    JenaePavlak Posts: 350 Member
    Can I just move in with you? :-)
  • Kara_xxx
    Kara_xxx Posts: 635 Member
    Yes any advice on veg growing and chicken keeping would be much appreciated! :bigsmile: :flowerforyou:

    My experience at the moment is VERY limited. Current garden is small, so we've grown some tomatoes in big pots, some cherry tomatoes in hanging baskets, radishes in a mini green house, bell peppers and chillies in pots and we've got some cabbage growing. But that's about it.

    I love the idea of giving some battery hens a new lease of life in a lovely coop and somewhere to scratch and bathe in dirt. Just researching this... http://www.suquamishfarmersmarket.org/Backyard_Chickens_Guide.html

    Where we moving there will be deer and wild boar, but as it's national protected forest I don't think they'd like it if we shot them. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • Kara_xxx
    Kara_xxx Posts: 635 Member
    Can I just move in with you? :-)

    There are some very handsome hen houses out there. :wink: :laugh:
  • squishycow7
    squishycow7 Posts: 820 Member
    I don't have chickens but I am hopefully getting some soon! :)

    I stumbled across this article/website the other day and found it interesting: http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/06/frozen-ice-pops-mint-helps-beat-heat.html


    As for veggies, I'm currently growing yellow squash, cucumber, tomatoes, jalapenos, 2 other pepper plants that I forget because my boyfriend got them, basil, mint, catnip (for my furbabies!), oregano, rosemary, thyme and chives. Last year I had peas, green beans and radishes as well. And even though my yard is super tiny right now (we're moving soon!) You'd be surprised how much you can squeeze in... and how much is successful even as a potted plant. My tomatoes and peppers and herbs are all in pots/grow boxes out on stone walls due to the lack of land.

    Water often, don't be scared to thin-out rows as they start sprouting, like with carrots and radishes for instance ..if you dont, what does grow wont be big and pretty, it will be skinny and tiny.
  • Kara_xxx
    Kara_xxx Posts: 635 Member
    Thanks for that. That reminds me that I must thin my radishes! :glasses:
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    We actually got 6 chickens 5 months ago...they JUST started laying last week. We have gotten about a dozen eggs so far.

    make SURE your coop is predator proof...and escape proof. hubby had to wire tie the mesh to the frame of the coop--he found one of the chickens roosting on the top of the mesh wall. Last month we lost one of our chickens. Either a skunk or a raccoon burrowed under the coop and ate the head off one :(

    chickens love treats! It is HILARIOUS watching them eat spaghetti. We call it "chicken football"... When it is hot outside, I give them things like frozen peas and carrots.
  • A_Shannigans
    A_Shannigans Posts: 170 Member
    I have promised myself we'll have a garden next year. I'd like to keep a couple of chickens but we're planning on moving so it'll depend where we move to.
  • Kara_xxx
    Kara_xxx Posts: 635 Member
    We actually got 6 chickens 5 months ago...they JUST started laying last week. We have gotten about a dozen eggs so far.

    make SURE your coop is predator proof...and escape proof. hubby had to wire tie the mesh to the frame of the coop--he found one of the chickens roosting on the top of the mesh wall. Last month we lost one of our chickens. Either a skunk or a raccoon burrowed under the coop and ate the head off one :(

    chickens love treats! It is HILARIOUS watching them eat spaghetti. We call it "chicken football"... When it is hot outside, I give them things like frozen peas and carrots.

    That sounds great!! :laugh:

    And yes I hear you about predator-proofing the coop. We will have foxes where we live.
  • cheshirechic
    cheshirechic Posts: 489 Member
    That's definitely a long-term goal for me. I have no advice to offer, but much congratulations. I'm so happy for you and your future amazing meals! <3
  • TanyaGirl76
    TanyaGirl76 Posts: 113 Member
    I wish I lived in the same area as you! I would be all about that!
  • clehman71
    clehman71 Posts: 139 Member
    I love my garden!

    3 different types of tomatoes,
    Green, yellow and red peppers
    Asparagus beans, Italian beans and bush green beans
    Okra
    herbs
    3 types of potatoes,
    watermelon
    cucumbers
    summer squash
    zucchini
    leeks
    and season is over but had spinach and romaine lettuce.

    Gardening is awesome because the food tastes better!
  • dodihere
    dodihere Posts: 490
    I live in "country suburbs" and maintain an 8 x 8 raised bed vegetable garden. I grow my own tomatoes, peppers, bell peppers, eggplant, squash (acorn and butternut) and okra. I also have a few herb plants. There is absolutely nothing like homegrown tomatoes. Since April I haven't had to buy tomatoes or salsa. My next project will be canning next year.
  • Lize11e
    Lize11e Posts: 419
    My husband and I bought our house in October of 2010. It is in the country. We have planted 15 fruit trees, 6 grape vines, blackberry, blueberry and gooseberry bushes. We built a chicken coop and have a rooster and five hens. If you are wanting good, large, brown eggs (this is what I prefer) and gentler chickens I would suggest one of the following: Barred Rock (this is what all but one of our hens are), Black Australorp of Blue Wyandotte. Actually, any of the Wyandotte's are good.

    We also keep a vegetable garden and I have been canning for two years now. I have plenty of suggestions for you if you wish to know more. I'm at work right now though so I don't really have time to write it all to you. Oh, we also have a greenhouse (ours is tiny though). Add me as a friend if you wish and we can talk "shop". :flowerforyou:
  • Laoch_Cailin
    Laoch_Cailin Posts: 414 Member
    We have 4 hen (sussex), they lay year round and are a great investment. We fed ours on Layers pellets and whatever left overs I have in the kitchen. Make sure when you build your run to drop the wire at least 1 foot under ground, and place blocks/building blocks around the wire as well. We lost our first hens to the fox unfortunately. Make the run as big as you can because they love to roam about. Also in the hen house make sure that when you are putting up roosts to make them all the same level, hens fight for the highest one to show who is boss.

    Hope you enjoy living in the country.
  • RunningDirty
    RunningDirty Posts: 293
    Sounds pretty awesome! I belong to a couple of local farm coops and they have classes on how to raise hens and become more self sufficient. This is definitely a long-term goal for me. The long-term cost savings alone are worth the initial investment. I'm renting so for now I'm trying to keep my potted herb garden alive and well. :wink:

    Best of luck to you on your move! Very exciting. :flowerforyou:
  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,690 Member
    My husband and I bought our house in October of 2010. It is in the country. We have planted 15 fruit trees, 6 grape vines, blackberry, blueberry and gooseberry bushes. We built a chicken coop and have a rooster and five hens. If you are wanting good, large, brown eggs (this is what I prefer) and gentler chickens I would suggest one of the following: Barred Rock (this is what all but one of our hens are), Black Australorp of Blue Wyandotte. Actually, any of the Wyandotte's are good.

    We also keep a vegetable garden and I have been canning for two years now. I have plenty of suggestions for you if you wish to know more. I'm at work right now though so I don't really have time to write it all to you. Oh, we also have a greenhouse (ours is tiny though). Add me as a friend if you wish and we can talk "shop". :flowerforyou:


    This is basically my dream.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    We actually got 6 chickens 5 months ago...they JUST started laying last week. We have gotten about a dozen eggs so far.

    make SURE your coop is predator proof...and escape proof. hubby had to wire tie the mesh to the frame of the coop--he found one of the chickens roosting on the top of the mesh wall. Last month we lost one of our chickens. Either a skunk or a raccoon burrowed under the coop and ate the head off one :(

    chickens love treats! It is HILARIOUS watching them eat spaghetti. We call it "chicken football"... When it is hot outside, I give them things like frozen peas and carrots.

    That sounds great!! :laugh:

    And yes I hear you about predator-proofing the coop. We will have foxes where we live.

    you might want to see about digging a trench and burying some chicken wire or hardware cloth--that way if something tries to burrow, it'll run into problems. We have done OK since we started locking the girls in at night--I put them away around 930p and let them out around 730a.

    we made a gravity feeder out of PVC pipe and a Y shaped piece. I only have to feed them every 3 days or so right now.
  • Laoch_Cailin
    Laoch_Cailin Posts: 414 Member
    Ohh there is a brilliant book with loads of good information and plans:

    'The New complete book of self-sufficiency - the classic guide for realists and dreamers' by John Seymour. Its a brilliant book, well worth having.

    Also about the hens, definately lock them in at night. :-)
  • dlwyatt82
    dlwyatt82 Posts: 1,077 Member
    About the closest I get to being self sufficient is walking to the bakery on the corner... at least I didn't use a car! :laugh:
  • Kara_xxx
    Kara_xxx Posts: 635 Member
    Ohh there is a brilliant book with loads of good information and plans:

    'The New complete book of self-sufficiency - the classic guide for realists and dreamers' by John Seymour. Its a brilliant book, well worth having.

    Also about the hens, definately lock them in at night. :-)

    Thank you for the book tip. Will have a look on Amazon later. :flowerforyou:
  • Kara_xxx
    Kara_xxx Posts: 635 Member
    you might want to see about digging a trench and burying some chicken wire or hardware cloth--that way if something tries to burrow, it'll run into problems. We have done OK since we started locking the girls in at night--I put them away around 930p and let them out around 730a.
    we made a gravity feeder out of PVC pipe and a Y shaped piece. I only have to feed them every 3 days or so right now.

    Excellent ideas thank you!! :drinker:
  • _Mimi_
    _Mimi_ Posts: 233
    We're about to move to a lovely house in the country, with a big greenhouse, plenty of space for vegetable patches and ... my great plans for a chicken coop / hen house!

    Am looking forward to adopt some ladies from here http://www.bhwt.org.uk for some happy egg laying at our new home.

    Just wondering if there are any folk here who grow their own veg, keep some chucks etc. :-D
    I only keep one Chuck....my husband <GRIN>

    Actually, this is my dream. 5 ro 10 acres, and to be as self sufficient as possible! For now, just a small garden and wonderful friends who share their eggs. beef, and pork. :)
  • Kara_xxx
    Kara_xxx Posts: 635 Member
    We have 4 hen (sussex), they lay year round and are a great investment. We fed ours on Layers pellets and whatever left overs I have in the kitchen. Make sure when you build your run to drop the wire at least 1 foot under ground, and place blocks/building blocks around the wire as well. We lost our first hens to the fox unfortunately. Make the run as big as you can because they love to roam about. Also in the hen house make sure that when you are putting up roosts to make them all the same level, hens fight for the highest one to show who is boss.

    Hope you enjoy living in the country.

    Thank you so much! Will also send you a FR if you don't mind so I can pick your brains a bit more in 2 months when we've moved in. :drinker:
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    We are on tank water, have around 4 acres with a decent veggie patch and a 'herbs and spices' area. Our strawberries are coming on great this year :)

    You cannot, absolutely cannot, beat food grown in your own back yard.

    We used to have chickens but unfortunately they were taken by foxes and we have yet to fortify the coup enough to get some more.
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