Building a Hobby Farm- from woods to eggs

[scgargoyle]

Tony- What size are your rear tires? I bought a pair of ag tires about that size for $220 (new) from a place in TN. I'll check on turf tires. Someone needs to invent tire covers to go over ag tires for turf work. Maybe I'll work on that....

[Tororider]

I had checked on ebay for tires, you may want to check there, I know they were less than $700.

Tire covers sound good, the only thing I see as a problem would be fender clearance. You could probably get away with it going from turf to ag as the inside of the cover could be flat. If you tried to go ag to turf you would have to form fit the inside to the ag pattern and it would end up being pretty thick. Let me know when you have a prototype, I will be a tester for you, hehe.

[tony123]

SCGargoyle, funny you mention that. I was thinking that if I went with turfs I could maybe get a set of chains for the work I needed traction for? similar theory.

I looked at ebay quickly and didn't see me size. If I get serious I'll contact some of those sellers.

Woke up to rain this morning....darn, I don't get to mow or plant the veggies. But, my grass seed is getting what it needs. And I am forced to hang out in the garage and get the chicken tractor under way.

[Adam23]

Tony - No worries, I won't go over there and mention you or the price. That is pretty much the identical unit and size that I am looking for. Do you recall what the price of the units without a discount are? Good looking ladies! Do you have an issue with them wanting to run around or scatter? It seems that the chicks I have are VERY sketchy and run around trampling on each other in the brooder so I am leary of putting them all out in the lawn. I am concerned that they would freak out and go in all different directions.

The rain sucks - I am a soccer coach at the Pickens YMCA and we got rained out again this weekend! I was planning on planting a little in the garden and that will have to wait as well. They are calling for good weather tomorow.

I just bought a 500 pound broadcast spreader for the tractor yesterday. Found it used but in very good shape locally for $260. Tony - let me know if you ever need to use it. Now that you have a trailer - you can do those things! Also let me know if you run across a similar deal on a bushhog around you. I would jump on it!

[oldhippy]

Tony some time back I was thinking about going to a less aggressive tread on my tires and posted at the post below. These are not as agressive as the Ag tires that came on the tractor. I think that you will need to be carefull to keep the same ratio front to back on tire diameters. LMTC had these for sale at the time I posted. I had just bought fronts and had them foam filled so was not willing to buy new rears that were larger diameter. big dan

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/y...00d-tires.html

[Adam23]

Well I was finally able to go out and get some pictures of some of my little projects so that everybody can see. Please do not think that I am trying to hijack this thread, that is not my intention at all. I just want to jump in and participate. People learn better together and putting multiple heads into the thinking. So with that said here is where I am with things.

The chicken coope was constructed from an old out building (8'x12' shed) that was just about to fall over. I had to tear off the old sideing and replace a number of studs. During the process I took a tow strap and strapped it to the corner of the building and pulled with the tractor in an attempt to relevel the structure. It was leaning VERY bad. I was able to get it somewhat level and straight but it still has a lean to it. I then resided it and re supported the weak areas. I then put a 10'x12' totally enclosed pen on the side of it which also acted as more support to the main structure. Since it is totally enlcosed to preditors i leave the little door open all the time so that the chickens can choose to be in the hen house or come out to the pen at will.







The garden area is in between my house and the coop. It measures out 20' x 60'. I have not had an opportunity to make my rows yet, but that is what I plan on doing once the weather clears and becomes better. Probably tommorow. Not much else to say about the garden except we are excited to get it up and producing.





I have 13 chick in a "brooder" cage that I put together. I have 2 100w heat lamps keeping them warm. They are currently hanging out in the main garage awaiting the day that they get moved out into the main coop with the 2 roosters and 4 other hens. Does anybody know when is best to move them to the large coop with the other chickens? How should I aclimate them together?

[POC]

You guys have been busy! I was going to suggest that you build raised beds for your garden. You can plant more intensively that way.
I'll frequent this thread. I haven't read every post, but I skimmed along....

Patrick

[tony123]

Originally Posted by scgargoyle

Tony- What size are your rear tires? I bought a pair of ag tires about that size for $220 (new) from a place in TN. I'll check on turf tires. Someone needs to invent tire covers to go over ag tires for turf work. Maybe I'll work on that....

They're 8.3-22 Sure would appreciate if you had an affordable solution.

[tony123]

Adam, thanks for the offer on borrowing the broadcast seeder. My property doesn't lend itself to seeding with the tractor though. It's nice to know a neighbor close by has one though....you never know. The listed price on the cutter was $575. I bargained hard as part of the package with my tractor, and think it might be awkward if they knew I spread the price around. Probably shouldn't have mentioned it. They only have one more on the lot. Two weeks ago they had 4 of them. I'd go there and bargain a bit. I know they'll do less than the $575, and even that is a good price for it.

My chicks don't scatter at all. Tend to stay within 5 feet of each other. One thing I've noticed, is that they don't like to be away from the pack. They have a call they make out to each other that signals they are lost.

Thanks for posting all your photos. This isn't a one man thread. It wouldn't be very interesting without participation. Your place looks great! How long have you had the mature hens? Any trouble with predators tearing through the chicken wire? I'm using chicken wire too, as nothing else came in a 48" roll (that worked anyhow). The coop looks great! I wish I had an old building like that. For now, the chicken tractor will have to work. I may have a coop similar to yours in a year or two.

The garden look "ready". Did you do anything to your soil? Lime? compost? I'm sure you saw the process I went through. I'm about to start up my second set of rows. At that point my total planted garden area will be 8' x 55'.

From the looks of your chicks, they are about a week behind mine I would guess.

[tony123]

Patrick, welcome to the thread! The main reason I didn't consider raised beds was that it seemed that would make it tough to use the tiller. And let'
s face it...if the job don't need a tractor then it ain't as much fun.