Larsen Poultry Ranch - homesteading journey

[messybun]

Husband wants the dogs at the house already. Have to keep reminding him that we don't have a fenced yard for them yet, and I'd like to get more hiding/retreat spots set up for the cats. He then reminds me that his dog can jump/climb if she wants to...I really hope they can all get along. The dogs are purebred Havanese; his dog is retired from in-laws breeding program and the new puppy is actually her granddaughter.

I'd like to build a catio so the cats can safely enjoy the outside. Maybe someday. The dogs could probably use it too. Maybe have two pet doors? Floor level and head height leading to outside cat walks? That way the cats wouldn't be trapped by the dogs.

We actually have one of those lol! She is fine with chickens, rabbits, ducks, geese, lizards. Basically anything we can throw at her except cats. When we first got the animals she was around eight and didn’t have much experience with animals. Aside from chasing them for fun she was okay at first, then we had a bossy old hen peck her a few times and she learned. But when the goats got old enough they actually nailed her a few times and she has been extremely well behaved ever since. Not the nicest way, but we were new to animals and it worked out in the end. The only reason she isn’t fine with cats is because we have allergies and have never been able to properly socialize her around them. I would suggest a harness on the gentlest dog, let her sniff the cat (and probably lick it) and let them gently get acquainted. If she gets aggressive, a quick punishment, and if she behaves, a quick reward. Keep the harness so you can pull her either away or out if it goes south.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

We actually have one of those lol! She is fine with chickens, rabbits, ducks, geese, lizards. Basically anything we can throw at her except cats. When we first got the animals she was around eight and didn’t have much experience with animals. Aside from chasing them for fun she was okay at first, then we had a bossy old hen peck her a few times and she learned. But when the goats got old enough they actually nailed her a few times and she has been extremely well behaved ever since. Not the nicest way, but we were new to animals and it worked out in the end. The only reason she isn’t fine with cats is because we have allergies and have never been able to properly socialize her around them. I would suggest a harness on the gentlest dog, let her sniff the cat (and probably lick it) and let them gently get acquainted. If she gets aggressive, a quick punishment, and if she behaves, a quick reward. Keep the harness so you can pull her either away or out if it goes south.

The dog actually has been around goats, turkeys, and chickens, at least with a fence in between. Hasn't been around cats much because father-in-law is allergic to cats.

So far they are doing ok.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

So far only 2 accidents in the house since she arrived that I'm aware of, but dog got on my nerves this morning. Husband left for work before I did, so I took the dog outside (36 degrees!) and told her to go potty. She looked at me then proceeded to wander around the yard for more than 5 minutes without any potty business happening. I took care of the quail and left her locked in the laundry room with her food and water for the day. At least an accident there will be easier to clean up than the carpet.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

Husband's family came over to help us with the house this weekend, so the master bedroom is now painted and ready to start the flooring. The front room got painted as well, but it didn't get the kilz primer and there's several spots where the tannins in the wood paneling are bleeding through the paint. Also several spots where the paneling appears to be peeling due to the moisture from the paint. I think I can fix that with some wood glue and tiny nails. Mother-in-law also washed the blinds, it looks so .uch brighter in the front room now. The white beadboard was already there, I think they installed it when the addition was added.

On Saturday I put the 10x20 carport together for the rabbit zone, but there was a tree right next to where I wanted to put it which was damaged at the base. Husband had already marked it as future firewood (quite a few trees are standing dead or dying due to destructive bark removal by previous tenant's horses). He chainsawed it down but then the chainsaw ran out of gas. No gas can on the property yet. Second chainsaw was dull, no spare chain. So on Sunday husband bought new chain and other chainsaw related items, and brought his gas cans from his parent's house. Then chopped down maybe 8-10 trees which we had marked for removal.

The shipping container in the photo is where the quail chicks are currently and soon the adults will be moved to from my parent's house.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

I started a brooder project on Saturday and mostly finished it Sunday. The quail chicks were getting ridiculously crowded and smelly in their brooder totes. I bought a bunch of plywood and 2x2s, and built a brooder that is 2' deep and total of 16' long. I have removable dividers every 4', so I can separate the chicks by age/color/etc. 3 of the bays are done and housing chicks. The 4th bay needs more tablecloth, and I need to dig out a 4th heat lamp before it can be used. The group of 60 chicks can be split in half so all the bays can be used. The bays have: 10, 61, 41, 0.

I still need to finish the top, I really should have cut the back at 3' instead of 2', so the top will slant, but having that extra height will allow the heat lamp to be completely enclosed inside the brooder, rather than having to create a large hole for the lamp shield to protrude through. Rats have previously been able to get inside the shipping container and I don't want them to be able to reach the chicks.

The bottom is lined with a vinyl tablecloth, do hopefully that will extend the life of the plywood. I bought the wrong shavings and am kicking myself. I prefer the fine shavings and stupidly bought the flake. The bag says they are soft, but if you stick your hand in, it has sharp edges. Hopefully the chicks will be fine.

I gave the chicks some sand since I know they are probably going to be eating the shavings. Some did eat some of the sand, but no one started dust bathing yet, the sand is probably too cold. I also had to build a little platform to keep the water out of the shavings and level. The shipping container wasn't leveled yet, so there's a noticable slope down towards the front of the container.

 

[Bruce]

leap straight up and lick you - INSIDE your mouth.

Ewwwww!!!!!!!!

I read that the Royal Palms have the least breast meat of the heritage turkeys. Boo.

Yeah but how about the BEST parts, legs and thighs??

 

[messybun]

So far only 2 accidents in the house since she arrived that I'm aware of, but dog got on my nerves this morning. Husband left for work before I did, so I took the dog outside (36 degrees!) and told her to go potty. She looked at me then proceeded to wander around the yard for more than 5 minutes without any potty business happening. I took care of the quail and left her locked in the laundry room with her food and water for the day. At least an accident there will be easier to clean up than the carpet.

We got a 6 year old poodle mix, apparently he was “perfectly behaved and a great dog” who wasn’t even sort of potty trained. Apparently if you crate your dog most of the time it counts as potty training? Anyway, doggie diapers saved the day. We got reusable ones, so it’s just wash and go. The diapers also really helped when we had to evacuate, our family didn’t mind having him in the house(he was potty trained, but I was worried about all the stress regressing him).

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

Ewwwww!!!!!!!!


Yeah but how about the BEST parts, legs and thighs??

I haven't eaten the Royal Palms yet, so I can't answer that from personal experience. The mixed toms (standard bronze x red bourbon/blue slate) that we ate were quite tall and had a bunch of leg/thigh meat.

We got a 6 year old poodle mix, apparently he was “perfectly behaved and a great dog” who wasn’t even sort of potty trained. Apparently if you crate your dog most of the time it counts as potty training? Anyway, doggie diapers saved the day. We got reusable ones, so it’s just wash and go. The diapers also really helped when we had to evacuate, our family didn’t mind having him in the house(he was potty trained, but I was worried about all the stress regressing him).

I think she'll be fine, but she's not used to going on command. She's used to having a doggy door and going when she needs to go. I think husband needs to take her to an obedience class, so she and HE get trained on the commands. Apparently because she's cute she doesn't have to follow commands. He also feeds her human food at the table, and allows her to beg.

The family dogs I had growing up were trained to go on command, or could be tossed outside into the fenced backyard to be retrieved in 20-30 minutes. They were not allowed to beg, and had dedicated spots at least 6' from the dinner table they had to stay at if they didn't choose to be elsewhere in the house. We also never feed human food (carrots don't count), as it's not healthy and makes them fat quickly.

No fence yet. Talked to husband about fence today, so hopefully that will happen soon.

 

[thistlebloom]

Those oak trees will make some nice firewood! Getting the interior of your house painted is great progress too.

I bought the wrong shavings and am kicking myself. I prefer the fine shavings and stupidly bought the flake.

If you can find them easily, wood pellets made for pellet stoves make good bedding. I put them in a muck bucket and add a little water and stir until they swell up. The texture is very fine.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

Those oak trees will make some nice firewood! Getting the interior of your house painted is great progress too.


If you can find them easily, wood pellets made for pellet stoves make good bedding. I put them in a muck bucket and add a little water and stir until they swell up. The texture is very fine.

I can get the right shavings easily enough, same price as the other too, just have to remember which kind is correct when I'm standing there are the register. I think it was less than $7/"bale", maybe 3 cubic feet per bale? Have to look at the package.

How do you dry the pellet mixture after you moisten it to de-pelletize? The chicks need to be kept dry as they get chilled quickly when wet. I almost lost the large group on Sun after their water tipped over and they and their bedding got soaked. They made a mosh pit under the heat lamp once I moved them to dry bedding and were ok and fluffy again in about 20-30 minutes. Glad I caught it shortly after it happened.