Shelly Graham

Thank you for your responses! I am reading and re-reading info. Love this website to get info on all methods and the pros and cons. The paddock method will work well for our space and lifestyle- may start with 10 and add more as I see how we do. I did try to watch the video on how to kill and clean a bird. I know I can do it- it just belabored the cutting of the throat and I stopped the video- get r done and move on! I'm not a suirmy most of the time and I will probably be the one stuck with the chore as pregnant young ladies will not be required to do that in my house. My husband is a tender heart- and I thank God for that. I would have been a good prairie girl. backyardchickens here I come.... Thank you all!

I'll look into those. Thanks!

I love the rocket mass heater but the home we are getting ready to move into to house 20+ (unwed mothers and our family) is a massive 6100 square feet. It has three large living areas and bedrooms that are larger than most peoples living rooms. No- most of you wouldn't want to live in this and believe me we have never lived in such a beast!! I am hoping to heat it with rocket mass heaters )) Not just because they would save on our utility bill but they are wise for the environment. How many will I need to heat such a space? I have no idea how to calculate. I can imagine getting carried away and turning it into an oven. We will be grinding our own grains and making our own bread but let's not go overboard! I also need the best, detailed instructions on building them so as to keep all of us safe!

We are soon to leave the monotony of 40 hours a week and joining the 80 hours a week of "Oh my God, what were we thinking!" Ha! It is our dream to run an unwed mother's home. I could take pages telling you of the miracles that have happened since Jan but I will cut to the chase. We will be moving into a home large enough to house 20+ (heaven help us!!) and want to live off the land. We have 2 acres that have been kept mowed down and another 3 that are going off into the woods. I want to raise chickens (paddock method!!) First- how many to start with and eventually get to where we can feed that large a crowd eggs and have some meat in the freezer? We are in the north western part of Alabama, hot humid summers, mild but sometimes ice storms- occasional snow in the winter. There is an area of the acreage that used to be a very large swimming pool that has been filled in with rock, dirt and various other (?!?) who knows. It is mostly enclosed and butts up to the walk out basement. Cover with a foot of tree chips and use it next year for a garden? Or haul a layer out and put in top soil- take into account we don't own big equipment but there are tree services in the area still cleaning up after the tornadoes of April 27, 2011 and need a place to dump..... There is nothing growing on it now so not a place for chickens...