Kaarina Kreus

Chickens love pottering around looking for food. I always say, that a happy flock is one where you see lots of raised tails 😆
That (and the cost) is the main reason I feed them lots of grains: I scatter the grains around the run and the henhouse (not under the roosts though). That way, even those lower in the pecking order get enough.

I find chickens know how much they need. Unlike people.

As I live on the farm and rarely venture away, I forgot to comment on maintenance. Chickens eat food that doesn't spoil - like grains. So you can leave them for half a week or even more without problem, as long as the run is protected. Just fill enough feedes full, leave looooots of water in containers they can't accidentally topple over and you are all set.

Only problems arise in the einter if there is a risk of watrr freezing, or in the summer if they statt brooding on the pile of eggs that is accumulating.

Thekla - waiting and seeing before rushing to do anything is a great strategy. All too often we have visions about how we are going to live in a new place, but reality turns out very different. The location of different functions you envisioned turns out impractical, your storage needs aren't what you initially envisioned.

Usually these are small things, like where to keep tools or feed; close to the driveway or back there by the henhoise. Or where is the practical place for drying laundry; in the sunny spot far away or right next to your wash station. I find waiting and doing things for a while quickly shows your true needs.

You can tolerate almost anything for a while until you figure out what really suits you best!

Congratulations on the property ❤️

For me, chickens are essential for self-sufficiency. An egg is a fantastic package of nutrients and protein. The only vitamin missing is C!! Eggs keep well in waterglass without any gimmicks. They can be used in dozens of dishes. Eating eggs, I take care of my basic nutrition. The vegetable, berry and fruit harvest varies, but eggs are a great base.

My chickens multiply on their own. I do absolutely nothing. They hatch their chicks and tend to them endearingly. Extra roosters can be eaten.

Feed doesn't need to cost much at all, as chickens love various weeds. They eat all veggies apart from onions. My neighbor grows barley and wheat on the field bordering my farm, and I pay 10 snt for a pound of grain, delivered to my storage barrels.

They live in an unheated henhouse. It is amazing how hardy these Arctic landrace chickens are. They lived healthy and lively in frosts down to -15°F. Their plumage just grew huge and they ate like horses. So you don't really need fancy construction. Their henhouse is an 80 year old dilapitated sauna!

Then there is the joy of sitting in the henhouse and just looking at those endearing little dinosaurs ❤️

I am so lucky! I found this beauty on craigslist. It will be great. Wringing is not a minor task, as you do it four times between waters in each laundry.

Hi! An update.
We opened up the floor and ceiling. The insulation had been done real shoddily so that was worth doing. There were huge GAPS in insulation. Like an insulation panel having been cut 4 inches too short! It was an enormous undertaking (even in a tiny house like this), but I am happy with the decision to tear all shitty work down and do it anew. Patching a bad job leads to chaos.

I lived several months in a shed, as the house had to be emptied. But it was summer so no worries there. As I had a great carpenter, we also finished the sauna and built a harvest kitchen (it's being finalised now)

The house immediately felt different. No draughts. No moist chilly air on cold autumn mornings. Gee, when I boil a cauldron of water, the moisture fogs the windows! And it stays warm.

Of course, this is no zero energy house, but it stays nice and cosy even now when the temps are around 10°F.

I am grateful for the hardship last year though. It was no joke living in a house with inner temperatures around ten degrees, but I needed it. Now nothing scares me. I feel enormous gratitude for destiny throwing this challenge at me and proud of myself that I stayed put and managed.

Interesting to hear how different the winter can be climatically. I live at the same latitude as Anchorage. The white winter is here already and will last for five months. Days are really short, and there is very little work.

Chickens don't even count as work as I just bring them food and water. Of course heating with firewood, carrying water from the well, washing laundry by hand in the sauna and cooking and baking from scratch do take some time. But that's all quite pleasant pottering.

There is endlessly time to read and study. You never know enough 🙂!

It's just the right size to fit a bed. As my house is really small, I thought this would make a great summer guest house. In the winter nobody ever visits anyway. I already have two decent sheds, and don't really need more storage.

A friend found a shed of craigslist. "Dismantle yourself  and carry away free of charge"

So I got a pile or wood dumped into my yard. Built it back with some recycled foundation stones. The paint was peeling off and looked horrid. After several unsuccesssful attempts at trying to scrap lit off, I finally decided to burn it off.

I got a charming japanese-style charred surface.. Total cost about 30$ for the natural gas used for charring.

There was no roof,it had broken when dismantling the shed. So the roof had to built from scratch. Plywood plus roofing pieces.

I was told there is NO WAY you'll manage it. But here it stands.

"experienced craftsmanship and constructive maintenance can prolong the lifespan of burnt wood products from 80 to 100 years."

https://degmeda.eu/how-long-does-shou-sugi-ban-wood-last/