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Mranimal Farm

All About Silkies, Nigerian Dwarf Goats & More

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How To Predator Proof a Chicken Run

By MrAnimal Farm 2 Comments

How to Predator Proof Chicken Run

How to Predator Proof Chicken Run

One of the things we struggled with when looking at adding a flock of laying hens was how to keep them safe while still having plenty of space outside in the grass and sunshine.  We have a lot of potential predators on and near our property including raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and a whole family of fox.  We have been extremely lucky (thus far) and have not lost any birds to predators.  I believe that our preparation to keep predators out is a big part of us not losing any birds to predators.

Although we do try to let our birds free range when possible, they do spend time in a predator proof chicken run.  Although, I am not sure if you can call it a “run” exactly.  Most “runs”  are small wire cages that allow the birds their minimum space requirements.  Our “run”  is a fenced area that allows them almost 1000 square feet of space (and we are about to expand this, since we have of course integrated in new birds since building it.).  In order to allow them maximal space, but still keep them safe, we took several precautions when putting the fencing up.

Three Ways to make a Predator Proof Chicken Run

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Filed Under: Basics, Chickens, Flock Management Tagged With: chicken run, how to, predator proof

How We Started With Small Scale Farming

By MrAnimal Farm Leave a Comment

How we started with small scale farming
How we started with small scale farmingI suppose our journey to starting with small scale farming started several years ago in a small fishing town in sunny Florida.  Even though the sun and surf were spectacular, the housing market was not one that suited us well.
Though we by no means owned a farm, I would say we still had a small herd of dogs….4 of them at that point.  We were really looking to buy a house with, at the very least, a decent sized yard.  Unfortunately, that was not really one of the selling points for properties in our location.

We had tossed around the idea of moving to various locales.  But, I was not buying the pitch to move back to Virginia.  At least not until the promise of a goat.  I guess animals have always been my weakness.  (I suppose a goat was not the only thing that convinced me.  However, it was at least an important item on the list).

That was just about three years ago.  At that point we were not actually thinking about small scale farming or homesteading.  Since then we have purchased a house with a small amount of acreage and started to build out our very own small scale farm (or mini-farm as I like to call in). When we first moved in, I would look out our back window and ponder what we would ever do with that huge field…..now I start to ponder how many more things we can fit back there (now that my goat promise has been cashed in I am holding out for something else exciting.   How about a mini cow, sheep, a mini horse, a wallaby even!).

How we got started small scale farming:

We started out gardening.  We try to stick with organic foods and, well, they can get quite pricey!  So, what better way to save a penny or two (as well as have delicious veggies) than by starting a garden.  We quickly added in a flock of 17 laying hens for farm fresh, organically fed eggs.

During the last few years we have not only discovered how very tasty homegrown and home raised food can be, but how rewarding it can be as well.  Since we have so enjoyed the journey and adventure of starting our small scale farm we thought it would be fun to create a space where we can share our stories.  And so, here we are 🙂

We can’t wait to start growing our mini-farm this year.  We are looking to expand past supplying just ourselves with farm fresh items.  In the short run, you can expect to see our Blog continually updated and expanded.  We are excited to share our experiences  growing the mini-farm.

 By mid-year 2015, we hope to start offering products such as day old to point of lay chickens and  free range, organically fed eggs.  By end of year 2015, we are looking to add goat milk products from our new Nigerian Dwarf goats.

Thanks for taking the time to learn about us and how we got started with small scale farming!  Please feel free to leave a comment so we can also get to know you! 🙂

 


Filed Under: Small Scale Farming Tagged With: getting started, how we started farming, small scale farming

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