
03/12/14, 08:21 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Northern Michigan (U.P.)
Posts: 9,491
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30 years ago, I had 200 chickens started and bought a farm 300 miles away. Had to sell our home where we kept the chickens, move into an apartment for the winter, then planned to move onto the farm in the spring.
The farm had a good chicken coup, concrete floor, lath and plaster walls and ceiling, glass windows with wire covers. I set up feeders that would hold 600 pounds of feed and made watering cups attached to 55 gallon barrels. I kept the chickens in there for the whole winter. We came up to add feed, drag a hose across the snow to refill the water tanks every two weeks. They did fine.
I have left cattle for a week at a time, during the summer when they have good fencing, lots of pasture, available water. I might not leave goats, they are crafty. I might not leave sheep, they have a will to die. I would not leave chickens free range.
I now have a rich neighbor that likes to hobby farm. He has a garden and some chickens and a few steers. He lives ten miles away from his "Hobby Farm". He has a big heavy trailer that he hauls water with, every other day. Also gardens, collects eggs and putts around. I'm sure he spends a lot on fuel and wear and tear of his vehicles. Costly to haul water, tank, trailer, pump, etc. To me, that isn't worth it.
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