Garden Pictures...

[Methos]

Originally Posted by Conig

I know this is an older post, but I never get this far into the Forums - always get stuck looking at the Cub and Implement posts. I hand tilled (@300 sq ft) of soil and clay last spring at a house that was new to us then. The photos are from last summer when we were in full bloom. In one of the photos you may be able to see the two wooden stakes with white string strung between them. That supported our cukes without any problem. I plant bush beans so I didn't need to worry about a trellis or support for them.

We also put in a chicken house (4 hens) so I included a pic for fun. Since this was taken we've opened up the coop area so that the enclosed run is about twice the size seen in this photo. A winter's worth of chicken manure is enriching the garden soil right now.

I'm waiting on parts for a 3 point hitch assembly for my 104, and still need the brinly adapter. I've a plow and disc harrow I'm picking up in a couple of weeks. Hopefully this year I'll be able to expand the size of the garden some.

Hope this is helpful.
Conig

Conig, that's a sweet garden and chicken house!

[CADplans]

I can move our chicken coop with the IH!!

[Conig]

DWayne,
That's a home-brew henhouse. I had some work done on the house and when they pulled up the old subfloor (5/8' ply/particle board) I asked that they be taken out carefully - so I had a half-dozen 4/8 sheets. I ripped one in half, bought some 2x4 for the corner frames (doubled up to be 4x4). The posts are sunk in concrete and the frame is bolted to the posts. Walls are 1/4 inch plywood, as is the roof. A little tin covers the plywood to cut down the weather effects. The coop is enameled wire, 1", it's stronger than chicken wire and keeps out the critters; and that wire covers the sides and the roof - to deter hawks. I'm no carpenter - you can see less than straight lines and a gap here and there. And I just 'made it up as I went along'.

Read up on hens, it's not all that hard. We got some advice from friends who keep chickens, and there is a "Backyard Chickens for Dummies" book that is really helpful. We've lost a couple of younger birds to illness, and had to give away a rooster that we didn't know was a rooster when we bought him, but we've been getting about a dozen eggs a week out of four hens, this winter. Can't beat a home-grown fried egg, with a mess of grits, some good bacon, and a biscuit! Good luck with it.
Conig

[Conig]

Originally Posted by Methos

Conig, that's a sweet garden and chicken house!

Thanks Duke. The way our side yard gets sun, I think i could expand that plot from 10' x 30' to 12' x 40' if my wife isn't watching. I got my 3 point hitch today and hope to find the brinly adapter soon. I'm going up to Virginia in early March to get a moldboard plow and disc harrow my brother is giving me. If I can get everything assembled properly it's going to be another fun gardening year.
Conig

[_DX3_]

Originally Posted by Conig

DWayne,
That's a home-brew henhouse. I had some work done on the house and when they pulled up the old subfloor (5/8' ply/particle board) I asked that they be taken out carefully - so I had a half-dozen 4/8 sheets. I ripped one in half, bought some 2x4 for the corner frames (doubled up to be 4x4). The posts are sunk in concrete and the frame is bolted to the posts. Walls are 1/4 inch plywood, as is the roof. A little tin covers the plywood to cut down the weather effects. The coop is enameled wire, 1", it's stronger than chicken wire and keeps out the critters; and that wire covers the sides and the roof - to deter hawks. I'm no carpenter - you can see less than straight lines and a gap here and there. And I just 'made it up as I went along'.

Read up on hens, it's not all that hard. We got some advice from friends who keep chickens, and there is a "Backyard Chickens for Dummies" book that is really helpful. We've lost a couple of younger birds to illness, and had to give away a rooster that we didn't know was a rooster when we bought him, but we've been getting about a dozen eggs a week out of four hens, this winter. Can't beat a home-grown fried egg, with a mess of grits, some good bacon, and a biscuit! Good luck with it.
Conig

Thanks for the info. Four is about what I figured would be a good number to keep for eggs. I love fresh farm eggs. Much better tasting and richer. I may work on building me a set up this spring or summer. I know your winters don't get as cold as our's, and I wasn't sure how well the hens hold up in cold weather. I also didn't know if the cost of the feed outweighed the benefit of the number of eggs you can get per week. I'll look for the Dummies hand book, that is about the only kind I can understand .

[Conig]

Originally Posted by _DX3_

Thanks for the info. Four is about what I figured would be a good number to keep for eggs. I love fresh farm eggs. Much better tasting and richer. I may work on building me a set up this spring or summer. I know your winters don't get as cold as our's, and I wasn't sure how well the hens hold up in cold weather. I also didn't know if the cost of the feed outweighed the benefit of the number of eggs you can get per week. I'll look for the Dummies hand book, that is about the only kind I can understand .

Oh, make no mistake - the cost-benefit ratio of my "farming" is not something to consider. I'm guessing my eggs are about $50/dozen right now and I know my veggies last year probably cost $25/pound! I do it for the good eating and the chance to dig in the dirt. We got our layers at @ age 6 months in the spring last year and they started laying by June. Feed is fairly expensive and going up, pine shavings to keep coop smell down, and straw for the nesting boxes is not that big a deal. In really cold weather the birds can get a little frostbite (discussed in the book). I have a 60W bulb for extended light in winter (they lay better with extended daylight) probably helps a little and I put plastic over the windows to cut the wind for the winter. Fresh water daily so it doesn't matter if it freezes overnight. The Dummies book covers it all. If you are lucky your local library has a copy.
Conig

[_DX3_]

Think I'll run up to the library and see if they have anything on that this weekend.

[ACecil]

Nice pics, Conig! Thanks for showing us. You have some good looking property!

[Conig]

Thanks Allen. For a bunch of city folk we're pretty happy with our new "country life".
Conig

[ACecil]

Originally Posted by Conig

Thanks Allen. For a bunch of city folk we're pretty happy with our new "country life".
Conig

I hear ya! That's all that matters.