Selfsufficientish.com

1) my main tip is; use tips. avoid many potential pitfalls by using sites like this and talking to old geezers, etc.
2) Walk through puddles not around them, wet boots dry easier than muddy boots.

I'd like to keep rabbits myself, but find it easier to barter a dozen eggs for a bunny that's ready for the pot, from an old chap in my club. I have a bit more land now, so am considering raising a few myself, as they provide such a healthy as well as tasty source of protein. I should imagine the ma...

Good luck, mind the roads!

I've spotted a few on my local canal in Blackburn, Lancs, a family of mink devouring a swan on one occasion! I hope they don't come near my chickens; it's bad enough that they are preying on our rare water mammals. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2091/2270952135_33ebd277ea_m.jpg I thought this was an...

I've just noticed a "Self Sufficientish" Flickr group for sharing photos of your efforts etc.
here's the link: http://www.flickr.com/groups/714006@N25/

cheers
Andy

A deep litter of Pine shavings is my recommendation, absorbant and de-oderising- smells nice. (Also has antiseptic properties)
Straw or hay should be avoided.
(Cedar, as allready mentioned, is toxic to chicks)

Thanks for the link Shirley, an excellent blog Stonehead. Eric is Sparty's surrogate mum, the fertilized eggs I got off ebay. I bought the new hens from the same breeder who sold me the hatching eggs. Knowing his genetic history she kindly provided birds she thought would be the best mates for Spart...

My large hen Eric successfully incubated one egg from 6 Pekin Bantam eggs I bought via Ebay. It turned out to be a cockrel, I named him Sparticus. His love for his 'mother' quickly turned physical, ie: he is constantly bonking her. :oops: So today I bought 2 Pekin pullets as more suitable mates for ...

That's it excactly Fee; 'Smashed Apple Cider'.
If you don't mind my plagiarism I’ll put that on the labels of the bottles I use for gifts / barter .

Thanks for your kind comments. In answer to your query Deb, Eric is the hen, I'm not sure what breed she is but she has a fine beard which gives her a very masculine look, hence the name. Sparticus is a little pekin rooster hatched by Eric from ebay eggs this spring. http://i12.photobucket.com/album...

I've built a new coop. It's the first time that I've attempted DIY on this scale and I'm quite pleased with it. I'm so proud of myself in fact, that I felt moved to show you some photos of my creation and would welcome any comments. The coop has a 4'x 4' floor and is 6' high at the front. I'm instal...

I had a go at making cider-ish from the recipe on this site. Not having use of a press my brother and I resorted to violence, placing each apple on a sturdy board and thwacking it with a hefty piece of wood. The mess of apples was soaked for a month in a 5 gallon plastic fermenting bucket and I crus...

After considering your advice, I bought 6 hatching eggs via Ebay and put them under my hen. 3 weeks later she hatched one chick which is now a week old. She's a keen mum and is giving her undivided attention to the new arrival. Hopefully next year she will do better, otherwise building my flock will...

Thanks for the advice, I'm hoping to find some suitable chicks in the next week or so. Hopefully my hen will still be broody and take them on.

If not I will be prepared, as you say, to do without her.

How long will my hen stay broody?- it's been almost 4 weeks now, but the eggs have failed to hatch. I would like to get some day old chicks to put under her, if I can find a supplier in time. She seems very determined and is solidly sticking to her task still, but I am worried that she may quit befo...