joseph wittenberg

Swales and berms are a good idea while you are transitioning, though I don't think you would have the quick profit you are looking for. We are in the high desert of California and have swales/berm combos and right now the squash and beans are easily doing the best. I'm sure for your climate you could tomatoes fairly easy. Maybe try to find something that is lacking agriculturally in your area that would do well with minimal water and try to market that. Or you could grow something and turn it into something else for a larger profit (tomatoes, peppers, corn, onion, cilantro and make a unique salsa or something...) Establishing a food forest is going to take you a while. Is your main motive profit right now?

The beak clipping is probably due to whoever had them before didn't want them pecking at each other. If they get bored they will fight and peck. Given enough space and forage they shouldn't really be pecking at each other other than to establish order. Sounds like you are on top of the open sore so that is great! We have over 50 poultry and let them all eat all the time all day. They have a good bit of pasture to graze on and i leave out a bowl of layer pellets (from modesto mills) for them to supplement from.

I second the grounding advice. When we set up our electric fencing at first couldn't get the tester to show a reading over 2000. I had some loose rebar around and made 3 more rods in a circuit and now the tester goes over 8000. We love in a really dry desert area though with little moisture in the soil. Good luck!

In our shed we put up the peg board and have a little 2 by 2 table that can be easily moved around. On the table I have a vice and a drill press, both of which can come off pretty easy. Couldn't agree more with the above comment. Having the table be portable is a huge help. I can move it outside and set up the chop saw on it and it's a great base for a table saw. I'm sure you could even use it as your potting bench. I also built in a few little cubbies below the desk top.

Great! Happy I could help! They're really pretty hens, personally I love the plain looking ones.

Here's one of my son and I planting some trees. I'll have to get him a pair too.

Pictures would probably help, there are a few different types they could be...

Could be a buckeye, do you have any pictures? Maybe google buckeye and see if that looks like your hen. Buckeyes have a really small comb which makes them good for cold climates, a dark brown color and the small comb should be a good indicator.

Can you grow enough to feed yourself or have the time to go to a local farmer or farmers market? If so maybe you can just get whatever is in season and local, cook a bunch of different stuff, freeze it in reusable containers, and take it to work.

Count them while they sleep. We have 3 different coops and I have learned how many sleep in each coop and find it way easier to count when they aren't bouncing around.