Chiques chicks - my little corner - had to pick hottest day

chiques chicks

Loving the herd life
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Thought I should start a little thread about my place, hopefully post some pictures once in a while.

I'm bad about updating things, but everyone is so friendly here.


1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?

Pennsylvania, USA

2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?

Just me , male, 50- something, sperated. And my dog.

3. How would you define your farm?

Not a farm, just 5 actress nestled in farm country

4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?

Be self sufficient, solar/wind power, animals, more garden. And help others.

5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?

Redoing current 170yo house, built multiple chicken coops, did house construction for a time. Jack of all trades, matter of none

6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?

Steel stick, mig, oxy, all in a pinch. Used to have a rave car, had to.

7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?

Just happened. Grew up around farms. I do
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?

Hobby

9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?

Always learning. Primarily poultry, although I have rabbits, getting goats. Also a lot of trees. Always adding something

10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?

Never say never

11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?

Definitely

12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?

My happy place, outstanding in my field ;)

13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?

I have and can in a pinch, both. Was taught semi by someone throwing me the keys and having me drive it around the billing, pull through, then back through. I worked in commercial agriculture and was given the keys to lots of stuff, so I learned.

14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?

I try.

15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?

Don't ask don't tell. Zoned agriculture

16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?

Not really

17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?

Yes, lots of basics

18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?

Sometimes. Bait, explosives sounds like fun.

19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?

5 acres, country

20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?

I'm a journeyman in my trade

21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?

Don't know, really

22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?

Self reliance

23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?

All of the above to some degree

24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?

A little. I try to avoid medicating

25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?

Where I am, with more land and less people.

26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?

Heating, partially

27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?

Don't know

28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?

Some are, not a lot of family or friends.

29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?

Love coming, I can make almost anything on a grill. Year round. Even veggies.

30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?

Have to think about that

31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?

I eat my "lawn". Yes. And hunt sometimes

32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?

Ability to not only think outside the box, not to notice the box

33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?

Yes to all

34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?

Working on it

35 What is on your to do list?

All 300 projects. Right now, preparing for goats and winter

36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?

No, yes

37. In what do you trust?

My gut

38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?

All the time. And use other people's junk

39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?

They keep me going. A few years ago I lost almost everything and they gave me reason to continue.

Edited for spelling. No internet and my phone likes to change words
 

chiques chicks

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Working on an area for a couple goats I have coming. They will only be 9-10 weeks old and are ND wethers. Hopefully next spring they will help with my overgrowth!

Some of the posts set. Fence building, a new lesson.

IMG_20151009_150052753_HDR.jpg
 

chiques chicks

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Slow going. Work takes up so much time!

About a month until the goats come and so much to do! Got a few more posts in, but I still need about a dozen. And fencing, and got wire. And convert the shed. Glad I have a few days off the end of the month.

Turkey are growing well. Should have seven ready for thanksgiving. Keeping five for breeding for next year.

Rosters from this years hatch are ready for processing, just need time! A friend has a plucker of we can ever coordinate times. Of course then comes canning. At least while they cook I'll have an excuse to work on the enclosure.

Someone is coming on Halloween to pick up some hens from this springs hatch. They want three. I need to convince them they need ten. Maybe if I discount them? I almost give them away as it is.

Got one post in today, started to dog for the second one and realized there is a buried electric wire there. One more thing to work around.

Its always something.

Until I get back again, I hope everyone has a productive week!
 

frustratedearthmother

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You're making progress!

What kind of goats are you going to get?
 
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chiques chicks

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I'm getting two ND wethers. The will be 9-10 weeks when I get them. I need to upload their pics :)

I want to see if goats are a good fit in my lifestyle, and at the very least they can help with brush cutting. I have a couple acres of underbrush and two of my neighbors have access as well. Next spring will be time to figure out a movable enclosure that will work in woody areas.
 

OneFineAcre

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Didn't you say in another post you were in Lancaster County, or do I have you mixed up with someone else?
 

OneFineAcre

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I went to Lititz 3 times this summer on business
Flew into the Lamcaster County airport
Very nice area :)
 

chiques chicks

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Let's see, about 20 minutes from me. Depends which roads I use and time of day.

Lititz, hmmmm, rock?
 
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