Chickens for meat - plans for next year

I did this page in my journal to remind me what to do when next year rocks around and I raise another batch of chickens for meat.

I've been thinking and thinking about how I can streamline the process and the budget, now that I've got a bit of experience.  Raising the chicks was a lot of work, and the main thing that was a pain was catching every one of 17 chickens by hand, and carrying them into their box in the laundry, when I needed to bring them in.  I'd let them out for an hour or two when it was sunny, and then suddenly a cold wind would spring up.  They were only half-feathered at this stage and couldn't really cope with the cold weather.  So frantically we'd try to round them all up, one at a time.  Training them to come for food seemed impossible.  Then ten minutes later the sun would be out again, and I'd want to let them back into the yard, because they really didn't seem happy cooped up in their box.  You can see how it ended up being a lot of work.

I think next time I need to have a smaller fenced in yard specially for my little chickens, where they are protected from the big egg laying chickens.  And I need to set it up so that the chickens can access their home themselves, from the yard.  That way I can have their food and water in there at all times, and they should quickly learn to go in there as required.  Now I know how handy the broom is, I think with a set up like that, I could just about sweep the chickens through the door with the broom!

Their home would need to be very well insulated, so that the light bulb keeps them sufficiently warm.  I'm thinking a low, insulated wooden box, preferably lined with some kind of thermal mass such as bricks on the floor, to hold their heat.  The box would have two rooms - a small one for when they are tiny babies, and a bigger one for when they outgrow the little room and don't need as much heat.  I would then use the smaller room to sequester the chickens the night before dispatch (so they don't eat, and hence are cleaner to butcher).

The roof would open up, an insulated lid, so that I can easily change the water and food.  There should be a joist with hooks so that I can hang the waterer and feeder - hopefully their food and water will stay cleaner that way.  And ideally, the roof could be locked in a slightly open position, so that on hot nights they have good ventilation.

I did a page in my journal about my plans for next year.  I'm not sure if I will actually make this ideal chook house - I will probably find a way to do it though, because I plan for many years of chook raising now that I know I can do it.

Comments

[Jen]

Hello,

I've just received the latest Grassroots magazine in my letterbox. Your article is so inspiring! - I'm amazed you can pack so much into 450m2 - it has me thinking of all sorts of possibilities for our suburban farm. My eight year olds (I have twins) and I were discussing having a month without buying anything new and making the most of what we've got or could scavenge, and I think some of the great ideas you shared will help guide us in actually doing it. Thankyou!

Cheers, Jen Owens

BTW I blog at www.jenowens.com.au

[Danielle Wheeler]

Hi Asphyxia,
I've just read you're article in Grassroots, too. Your blog is absolutely fantastic!!! I'm a permaculture teacher in outer Western Sydney - I'm going to refer all my students to your site. I also homeschool. Your blog post about getting Jesse going in the mornings gave a me a good giggle. My 11 year old son would love to read all day to. Another potential "couch-bound prince", although he is in the shed recycling an old whipper-snipper motor at the moment.

Thanks for a really inspiring and informative read.
Danielle Wheeler

[Asphyxia]

Hi Jen,

Wow! Great to meet you! I read your article in Grass Roots about the sum up of your Challenge, which sounded magnificent. I haven't been able, yet, to lay my hands on the earlier Grass Roots in which you talk about embarking on the challenge. Hopefully soon. And I see you have a new book about pigs, which I also found out about from Grass Roots! Once I've recovered from my chickens for meat journey, I'm interested in learning about raising pigs. But can it be done in suburbia? I'm also trying to get ahold of your book to find out all! In the meantime, it's great to meet you and it's lovely to discover other people out there who are really doing their bit to live as sustainably/sufficiently as possible.

Cheers!
Asphyxia

And Danielle, Hi!
Lovely to meet you too! I'm really tickled that you'll send your students my way - thank you :) I was inspired, partly at the thought of that, to make a guide to this blog, which you can now find in my side bar, to make it easier for newcomers to find their way around. And another couch-bound prince.. I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only mama struggling with this one! :) Do you have a blog too?

Best wishes,
Asphyxia

[Daniela Novic]

Woah! I just read your article on urban farming in grassroots. I loved it!! I always wish for more room to grow things, but you have really inspired me with what you do on less than 1/8 acre! So I came onto your blog site and who do I see commenting... my permaculture teacher Danielle!!!! Hahaha, looks like we found you before we even got referred! It's a small world huh!?

[Asphyxia]

Hi Daniela,

Ooh I too always wish for more space. Though to be honest it's plenty of work for me just to keep up with the space I have. And when I look carefully I do see spots where I could squeeze in a few extra veggies etc. My limitation is more time and energy than anything else. But there's a hell of a lot 1/8 can offer, so go for it! I'd love to see what you've been up to if you feel like commenting in future :)

Happy permaculturing!
Asphyxia