Ian Williams

We picked up 5 hens almost 2 years oldabout a month and a half ago. I have been giving them organic feed and scratch regularly up I till last week when I started weaning them off feed to get them to forage more. It seemed to backfire.

They adjusted within a day or two after recieving  them and were eating a lot! Both grain and foraging, exploring more and more each day. We have a very bio diverse property abundant with all the food they could eat. They are eating about 1/2cup/day/hen of grain and getting 1-2 c of scratch per day Between them. When I took the grain away during the day and gave them 1cup of scratch to share, they seemed to lay around and not forage much. Completely opposite of what I thought, take feed away- they forage more. Not the case.

Anyone else gone through something similiar? Any suggestions or recommendations?

This is pretty ambitious! Nice work.

As a potter and a builder, I would strongly advise not using pure clay for anything structural, unless maybe you are able to bake bricks. Another way is adding sand, and using earth bag walls reenforced with rebar, or solid cob walls (not necessary for tropical climates). If you have access to bamboo, using bamboo for structural would work. Email me if you have any questions.

I've been designing a Hydronic RMH system for some time now. I believe using copper tubing in-between a double wall riser of the RMH which then goes into a fluid heat exchanger system w/ pressure pop off valve is the safest way. Using PEX From the exchanger to the floor system would then be fine. In almost all scenarios a circ pump would be required to move fluid through the floor system. Having said that I also believe that having in floor heat in the same room as the RMH would be redundant and possibly not needed. Redirecting the in-floor system to other spaces of the dwelling would make more sense in my opinion, or having each zone on its own circ pump and thermostat for temp control.


Ian Williams
Ian.bub@gmail.com
Master carpenter
Permaculture Designer
Natural builder

My name is Ian Williams. I have been in construction and carpentry for about 15 years. I recently ( In the last few years) have become passionate and motivated in learning about Natural building and permaculture. I am now a certified Permaculture Designer and natural building enthusiast. I can help in project designs ranging from Grey water systems, rain catchment, rocket mass heaters, high efficiency natural homes and more.

My family and I are currently living in Homer Alaska (where i grew up)  but we also have home base In Barry's Bay Ontario and hopefully soon in Puntarenas Provence de Costa Rica.

I am available for Long distance Consulting and design projects, Please Contact me for questions or information.
Ian.bub@gmail.com

Thanks