Transition Whatcom2024-03-28T17:54:39ZAlicia Willshttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/AliciaWillshttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2197503712?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/verysmallscalepoultryfarming/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=0c8plwb8ozspr&feed=yes&xn_auth=noSmall Scale Paddock & Pasturing System for Backyard Chickenstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2016-09-26:2723460:Topic:1082612016-09-26T02:27:47.751ZAlicia Willshttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/AliciaWills
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<p><img alt="Small Scale Paddock Pasturing System for Back Yard Chickens" class="CToWUd" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/yzPURmbiPPsGDlVLWSeHJDkGPhL1FyByoRaV-_nXkTjJmfrXoM6Lbj1Vz6_WO4yX-V1RTIb9Fwj32dCcK-T4nTddr3JFWOTm9bseF8UxGblHGS3iSezB9cXu7HIgIg0kPt12ADoHb74khy2k1dILuI45tzu62qw-7NZajKSIT7GCPagYBRd8eIEA9MxGBkaUVwRXYU5X9zHJYnQU_DD8B6gds1qvyLDlAz36y0sRAK822yM=s0-d-e1-ft#%3Ca%20href="></img></p>
<p>A mini workshop <b>Saturday <sup>October 8th,</sup> 10 am to noon. RAIN or SHINE!<br></br></b></p>
<p><b>Location: 3215 Cherrywood Ave. Bellingham (Birchwood Neighborhood).<br></br></b></p>
<p>Come see how I’ve created a small scale system of moveable fences and alternating paddocks around our chicken coop. Once set up it’s not a lot of work to keep it maintained and to continually give your chickens what they love – new fresh ground, greens and…</p>
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<p><img class="CToWUd" alt="Small Scale Paddock Pasturing System for Back Yard Chickens" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/yzPURmbiPPsGDlVLWSeHJDkGPhL1FyByoRaV-_nXkTjJmfrXoM6Lbj1Vz6_WO4yX-V1RTIb9Fwj32dCcK-T4nTddr3JFWOTm9bseF8UxGblHGS3iSezB9cXu7HIgIg0kPt12ADoHb74khy2k1dILuI45tzu62qw-7NZajKSIT7GCPagYBRd8eIEA9MxGBkaUVwRXYU5X9zHJYnQU_DD8B6gds1qvyLDlAz36y0sRAK822yM=s0-d-e1-ft#%3Ca%20href="/></p>
<p>A mini workshop <b>Saturday <sup>October 8th,</sup> 10 am to noon. RAIN or SHINE!<br/></b></p>
<p><b>Location: 3215 Cherrywood Ave. Bellingham (Birchwood Neighborhood).<br/></b></p>
<p>Come see how I’ve created a small scale system of moveable fences and alternating paddocks around our chicken coop. Once set up it’s not a lot of work to keep it maintained and to continually give your chickens what they love – new fresh ground, greens and insects. They will be healthier and happier.</p>
<p>Chickens love to eat fresh live greens and insects. In a permanent fenced in yard chickens will consume all the growing greens and most of the insects within a month or so, and then their yard is just dirt. Chickens living on the same ground are more at risk for sickness. Plus it’s just boring for them.</p>
<p>We have 6 chickens at our half acre place in the Birchwood neighborhood within the city limits. We’ve been keeping chickens here for 6 years. I love observing our chickens and learning what they like and need and I’ve enjoyed adapting their living space to make them as happy and healthy as I can.</p>
<p>For anyone just starting out and for those who already have a chicken set up for back yard chicken keeping and small farms, the principles of this system can be applied.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2060941324?profile=original" target="_blank"><img class="CToWUd" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/d_FJuc8g_UgoYeGA6RSOBWbUSAEliEpna4UVOzcdeAxqESr341UyIhoFpQFbSSlfZtOCEOUcfAnrCrKgmD4O7AgTZ7yiwPbEzs6FmYvPdQDOWGrZZrYfNowduQgFixTIHzi9G8VzJ6o02IB7T_8cdNgDB8GJSRvYvt5bJusXeX-xIX7sWbsvAxq1TRdgMkF7Vke2i7oCrD_26HzKN-4bO791ox2Edg=s0-d-e1-ft#http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2060941324?profile=original" width="442"/></a></p>
<p><b>In this mini workshop I’ll cover:</b></p>
<p>The system I’ve created and how I set it up, including fencing with multiple 'gates', moveable fences, sectioning a chicken yard and growing cover crop alternations.</p>
<p><strong>The benefits and advantages</strong> of using alternating paddocks and moveable fencing over free range, chicken tractors, and permanent runs. Maintaining the integrity of your yard/garden and it’s many uses while giving your chickens fresh growing greens and insects.</p>
<p><strong>The challenges of this system</strong>: the extra time it takes, the room needed and the ‘puzzle‘ of setting it up in the beginning.</p>
<p>We’ll discuss how to apply this system to YOUR yard, flock size and specific needs.</p>
<p><b>Questions? Call Angela at 733-3541</b></p>
<p><b>RSVP: Call and let me know if you’d like to come to this event.</b></p>
<p><b>FREE</b> (or small donations towards the chicken care would be gratefully accepted)</p> Homemade Chicken Feedtag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2015-03-08:2723460:Topic:1012122015-03-08T01:19:00.700ZAlicia Willshttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/AliciaWills
<p>I'm thinking of making my own chicken feed. Is anyone else doing this? I'd like to compare notes and research.</p>
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<p>I'm thinking of making it wheat free. My biggest hurdle is how to make sure the range of nutrients and the proportions are correct for the hens' health.</p>
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<p>If anyone wants to discuss this topic please contact me.</p>
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<p>733-3541</p>
<p>I'm thinking of making my own chicken feed. Is anyone else doing this? I'd like to compare notes and research.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I'm thinking of making it wheat free. My biggest hurdle is how to make sure the range of nutrients and the proportions are correct for the hens' health.</p>
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<p>If anyone wants to discuss this topic please contact me.</p>
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<p>733-3541</p> Laying duckstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2013-08-16:2723460:Topic:925372013-08-16T05:11:29.394ZAlicia Willshttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/AliciaWills
We are moving and need to find a new home for our 7 Khaki Campbell's, one drake and 6 laying hens. They do not need a pond, just a deep enough water dish to clear their beaks/nostrils after eating. These hens lay most of the year with very little time off in the winter. They need no special housing; they shunned the nice house we built for them in favor of a nice pile of hay protected from the wind all winter! They have produced ducklings and are fun to watch. Their all time favorite food is…
We are moving and need to find a new home for our 7 Khaki Campbell's, one drake and 6 laying hens. They do not need a pond, just a deep enough water dish to clear their beaks/nostrils after eating. These hens lay most of the year with very little time off in the winter. They need no special housing; they shunned the nice house we built for them in favor of a nice pile of hay protected from the wind all winter! They have produced ducklings and are fun to watch. Their all time favorite food is slugs but they also like leftover greens from the garden. They do not come when called but can be slowly "herded". They are safe to scavenge among mature plants but will uproot seedlings or starts, so they are great at eating bugs and slug babies in a vegetable garden that is well established. Protect them from coyotes at night and eagles during the day and they will give you lots of yummy, rich eggs. I have a customer that buys 2 doz. eggs a week for $6/doz who would love to continue buying from you as long as the ducks stay on an organic, no soy layer feed. Google the nutritional value of duck eggs compared to chickens and you will be surprised. Call Pam at 739-3945. I would like $50.00 for the ducks and the feed. I just bought a $30.00 bag of feed today, bring buckets and you can take it with you. Keeping Chicken Feed off the Ground....To Keep from attracting Rats. What's your strategy?tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2013-08-03:2723460:Topic:925022013-08-03T17:53:48.788ZAlicia Willshttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/AliciaWills
<p>Does anyone have a way to keep chicken feed off the ground? I'd like to hear your method. (I mean the feed that the hens inevitably flick out of their feeder and onto the ground).</p>
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<p>We've had chickens for 3 years now and I'm still trying to figure out how to keep the feed in the feeder and off the ground. Because the feed attracts rats and other wild critters and because it's a waste of feed and money.</p>
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<p>No matter what kind of feed container* I've tried the hens…</p>
<p>Does anyone have a way to keep chicken feed off the ground? I'd like to hear your method. (I mean the feed that the hens inevitably flick out of their feeder and onto the ground).</p>
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<p>We've had chickens for 3 years now and I'm still trying to figure out how to keep the feed in the feeder and off the ground. Because the feed attracts rats and other wild critters and because it's a waste of feed and money.</p>
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<p>No matter what kind of feed container* I've tried the hens always manage to get feed on the ground. I know some people feed only the amount their hens will eat up in a few minutes to prevent this. But I haven't wanted to do it that way. My observation is that the hens are nibblers/grazers and left to their own preferences they like to alternate between feed from the bowl and grazing greens and insects. So I've left enough feed in the bowl that allows them to graze all through the day. Maybe that will have to be sacrificed in order to prevent the feed loss on the ground.</p>
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<p>*About feed containers: have tried the standard ones from feed stores as well as heavy deep dishes that are raised up on bricks. As well as trough styles with covered tops. Any other ideas <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">that actually work</span></strong>?</p>
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<p>We've preferred to use feed that has cracked grains and fines (supplements) rather than the pelletized feed. I believe the pelletized feed would be slightly easier to keep cleaned up or off the ground. But it seems the unprocessed grain type might be a higher quality so we keep using that.</p>
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<p>We ruled out keeping the feed in the coop. We have a smallish coop and so keeping the feed inside the coop would result in poop getting into the food and food getting all over the floor which would still attract rats to the inside of the coop. Even though we have a double layer of hardware cloth lining the underside of the coop, I don't want rats to be attracted by food, to chew through or to enter the coop through the chicken entry door. And yes - Rats will just walk in through the coop door during the day if they are hungry enough.</p>
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<p>I've imagined building a feeding station raised up off the ground 2 or more feet*, with a cage floor that would allow feed and poop to drop through to a tray below. This tray could then be cleaned daily so no feed lays on the ground to attract rats. We haven't tried this (yet). It might solve the issue with attracting rats but it would still be wasting what falls on the ground as it will then be mixed with poop. (*having the feed station raised off the ground that high would make it easier to clean daily and would prevent rats from living underneath it.</p>
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<p>As far as setting rat traps.... I've done that quite a few times. Interestingly I found that we'd catch one rat right away then after that one - none. I'd keep putting traps out and none would get trapped. Smart critters!</p>
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<p>Care to share any thoughts on this subject?</p> We & Our Chickens & Gardens Are Being Impacted by Chemtrails- Come To Event Sept 16thtag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2012-09-07:2723460:Topic:834362012-09-07T18:03:11.273ZAlicia Willshttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/AliciaWills
<p>Please see this <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/john-hammell?xg_source=activity">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/john-hammell?xg_source=</a><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/john-hammell?xg_source=activity">activity</a></p>
<p>On September 16th, from 7-9PM I'll be showing the documentary film "Why In The World Are They Spraying?" at the Connections Bldg next to the Bellingham Food Coop.</p>
<p>All of us, our chickens and gardens are being massively…</p>
<p>Please see this <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/john-hammell?xg_source=activity">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/john-hammell?xg_source=</a><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/john-hammell?xg_source=activity">activity</a></p>
<p>On September 16th, from 7-9PM I'll be showing the documentary film "Why In The World Are They Spraying?" at the Connections Bldg next to the Bellingham Food Coop.</p>
<p>All of us, our chickens and gardens are being massively sprayed with very toxic chemtrails including Aluminum, Barium, Strontium, Arsenic, Iron, Zinc, also Antibiotic resistant bacteria containing man made nano fibers...</p>
<p>We are undergoing massive biological assault, yet most don't even realize it! You can watch this film here <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEfJO0-cTis">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEfJO0-cTis</a> This assault is causing a huge increase in Alzheimers, Cancer, Morgellons disease, upper respiratory infections, etc.</p>
<p>I would like to spearhead a legislative effort to pass a Clear Sky Ordinance similar to the one they're trying to pass in Maui, Hawaii- please see <a href="http://mauiskywatch.org/">http://mauiskywatch.org/</a></p>
<p>I can teach you how to protect yourself (and your chickens) from chemtrails, I know a lot about organic sulfur, spirulina and other detox methods. Please see this alert that I sent out last night to my double opt in email distribution list <a href="http://ymlp.com/zWl6p9">http://ymlp.com/zWl6p9</a></p>
<p>We are not powerless to fight back!! If you can help me organize this event and get more people to it, please call me at 1-800-333-2553 H&W or email me at jham@iahf.com</p>
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<p>John Hammell</p>
<p>Point Roberts</p> The Carnage Continues- Feel Powerless To Stop the Racoon(s) That Are Killing My Hens- Need Ideas Fasttag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2012-06-13:2723460:Topic:808782012-06-13T16:27:33.650ZAlicia Willshttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/AliciaWills
<p>A week ago I had 13 hens. Another was killed in the coop by a racoon last night. I have done my best to secure the coop and am not sure how this racoon keeps getting in, but at this point I have run out of ideas and am going away for 10 days leaving tomorrow on a trip i can't cancel.</p>
<p>Unless I can come up with something fast, I am sure I will return to find that every one of my hens has been killed by this racoon or racoons.</p>
<p><br></br>I shot a racoon at point blank range 3 times the…</p>
<p>A week ago I had 13 hens. Another was killed in the coop by a racoon last night. I have done my best to secure the coop and am not sure how this racoon keeps getting in, but at this point I have run out of ideas and am going away for 10 days leaving tomorrow on a trip i can't cancel.</p>
<p>Unless I can come up with something fast, I am sure I will return to find that every one of my hens has been killed by this racoon or racoons.</p>
<p><br/>I shot a racoon at point blank range 3 times the other night in the coop with a .22 and it did not die, it got away, and I am not sure if this is the same one that killed a hen last night or not. I am open to any ideas. There won't be anyone here to guard the coop at night while I am gone and even if there was I am not sure what they could do. This racoon or racoons seems hell bent on killing all my hens. Does anyone know anything about leghold traps? I thought about that as a possible solution, but think this critter could easily avoid them and a stray dog might get into it which I don't want. I dont know what to do.</p>
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<p>Please help! I can be reached by phone at 1-800-333-2553 H&W I am in Point Roberts. I am wondering how active this site is. I haven't posted on it in a long time myself. There was zero response to the post I made the other day.</p> We Finally Shot the Racoon That Raided My Coop Repeatedly This Past Week- It Killed Nearly Half My Henstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2012-06-11:2723460:Topic:806632012-06-11T07:05:08.831ZAlicia Willshttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/AliciaWills
<p>We finally shot that racoon that was raiding the chicken coop repeatedly all this past week. Shot it 3 times, <b><i><font color="#0000FF">twice at point blank range from literally only inches away as it was wounded, pinned between a tarp and the chain link fence on the outside of the back wall of the coop where it had been trying to scramble back to the ground</font></i></b>, and somehow it had the strength to run off somewhere, but we don't think it will live long, we think it probably…</p>
<p>We finally shot that racoon that was raiding the chicken coop repeatedly all this past week. Shot it 3 times, <b><i><font color="#0000FF">twice at point blank range from literally only inches away as it was wounded, pinned between a tarp and the chain link fence on the outside of the back wall of the coop where it had been trying to scramble back to the ground</font></i></b>, and somehow it had the strength to run off somewhere, but we don't think it will live long, we think it probably crawled under the neighbors porch or maybe went into the woods across the street to bleed to death. <br/><br/> Damn racoon got into the coop again, even after we just spen<b><i>t 2 hours today trying to secure it better</i></b>, but <font color="#0000FF"><b><i><u>it found a way in that we didn't see til just now</u></i></b></font>. It was in the coop and killed another hen tonight, so all told before we shot it, <font color="#0000FF"><b><i>it killed 6 hens,</i></b></font> nearly half my flock. What a pain in the ass, eh? Matt saw it on the roof of the coop, but we didn't have the rifle in the outbuilding where it should have been loaded and ready to use, we did have it out there, but we brought it in the house to clean it. By the time we got out there it was still there though, it was inside the coop, running along the 2x4 on the back wall, up along the roost, <font color="#0000FF"><b><i>chickens were terrified and flying all over the coop, the coon's eyes looked luminous yellow- a very eery sight in the light of the flashlight. <br/><br/></i></b></font> Matt had the rifle barrel stuck through the chainlink door on the coop while I shined the flashlight but he couldn't get a clean shot at first. Then the coon got back outside the coop through the same tiny hole he had been squeezing thorugh, a hole we hadn't even spotted, and Matt shot him, but he didn't drop to the ground, he was squeezed between the tarp and the chain link, wounded, so Matt put the rifle barrel about 6" inches away and shot him twice more. <br/><br/> We expected to find a dead racoon on the ground right there, <font color="#800000"><b><i>but he got away even with 3 shots in him.</i></b></font> We ran in to the neighbors yard with a <font color="#800000"><b><i>baseball bat</i></b></font> and the gun hoping to find him wounded so we could finish him off, but he was <font color="#800000"><b><i>nowhere in sight</i></b></font>. Somehow I don't think that racoon will ever try to get in the coop again, but I did (finally) fix the hole that he got through so no <b><i><u>other</u></i></b> one ever will either. <font color="#800000"><b><i>Amazing how small a hole they can squeeze through.</i></b></font> They have a lot of fur, but can squeeze their whole apparently much larger body through an <font color="#0000FF"><b><i>incredibly small</i></b></font> hole! <br/><br/> I hate killing an animal, but those chickens are like pets and I really like omelletes! He not only killed a bunch of hens, he was also eating a lot of eggs! Today I removed all the eggs so at least <font color="#0000FF"><b><i>this time</i></b></font> he got no eggs, but I feel bad the he got back into the coop at all! <font color="#0000FF"><b><i>The hens have been badly traumatized.</i></b></font> Only one was up on the roost after I finished fixing the hole so no more coons can get in, the others were all down on the ground, scared shitless by the racoon that had been getting into the area right up on the roost where they were sleeping. I feel really bad that this coon ever got into the coop. It is my fault, but now I know better. This will <b><i><u>never</u></i></b> happen again.<br/><br/> I've now got this coop more secure than <b>Fort Knox. I thought it was before after all the work I did on it earlier today, but now it is truly secure finally. I have a healthy respect for these varmints after this experience, racoons are <font color="#FF0000"><i>very smart animals! Anyone got any hens for sale? No racoon will ever get in my coop again! I live in Point Roberts, we have a lot of coons, eagles and coyotes here and a lot of people who aren't careful as hell lose birds to predators, but I vow that this will never happen again!<br/><br/></i></font></b> John</p> Khaki Campbell flock for saletag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2012-05-14:2723460:Topic:803312012-05-14T02:19:20.273ZAlicia Willshttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/AliciaWills
<p>I have 2 groups of Khaki Campbell ducks (5 hens and 1 drake in each group). I want to sell one group (they are all 2 years old). They are actively laying, friendly, and raised totally organic. Duck eggs are larger and more nutritious than chicken eggs (Check it out by googling a comparison of duck eggs to chicken eggs). Ducks are voracious slug eaters. They also love bugs, greens, and earthworms if you dig them up (ducks don't scratch but use their beats to search for goodies. I keep my…</p>
<p>I have 2 groups of Khaki Campbell ducks (5 hens and 1 drake in each group). I want to sell one group (they are all 2 years old). They are actively laying, friendly, and raised totally organic. Duck eggs are larger and more nutritious than chicken eggs (Check it out by googling a comparison of duck eggs to chicken eggs). Ducks are voracious slug eaters. They also love bugs, greens, and earthworms if you dig them up (ducks don't scratch but use their beats to search for goodies. I keep my ducks in a very large yard with netting to keep the eagles out (we live a stone's throw from an eagle sanctuary). I would like $50.00 for the group. </p>
<p>I may also have ducklings later in the year.</p>
<p>Pam Novotny 739-3945</p> Keeping spring chicks warmtag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2012-05-09:2723460:Topic:803902012-05-09T16:53:23.662ZAlicia Willshttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/AliciaWills
<p>I got this from Mother Earth News and thought it might be helpful to those of you with chickens. :)</p>
<p>"I have a special setup to keep my young chickens warm. I place a patio block inside the henhouse and top it with a small crock pot from the thrift store. I cover the pot and block with an old washtub.</p>
<p>The young birds perch right on top of the washtub, which is warmed by the crock pot. On warm days, I simply turn off the crock pot."</p>
<p>Carol Hyzer<br></br>Grayling,…</p>
<p>I got this from Mother Earth News and thought it might be helpful to those of you with chickens. :)</p>
<p>"I have a special setup to keep my young chickens warm. I place a patio block inside the henhouse and top it with a small crock pot from the thrift store. I cover the pot and block with an old washtub.</p>
<p>The young birds perch right on top of the washtub, which is warmed by the crock pot. On warm days, I simply turn off the crock pot."</p>
<p>Carol Hyzer<br/>Grayling, Michigan</p>
<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br/>Read more:<a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/modern-homesteading/keep-chickens-warm-crock-pot-zm0z12amzhun.aspx#ixzz1uONTVSbf">http://www.motherearthnews.com/modern-homesteading/keep-chickens-warm-crock-pot-zm0z12amzhun.aspx#ixzz1uONTVSbf</a></div> Anyone have Pilgrim Geese?tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2012-04-20:2723460:Topic:795202012-04-20T01:14:19.320ZAlicia Willshttp://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/AliciaWills
<p>I'm getting interested in adding a few Pilgrim Geese to my new flock of ducks. They sound like an incredibly useful breed for the homesteader. The eat pasture, they raise their own babies, you can tell the boys from the girls when they are born (most geese you can't), they are alert and help protect your flock from predators, and they are yummy. Does anyone have them locally? I'd probably look to get a pair during the summer sometime, goslings or fully grown.</p>
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<p>I'm getting interested in adding a few Pilgrim Geese to my new flock of ducks. They sound like an incredibly useful breed for the homesteader. The eat pasture, they raise their own babies, you can tell the boys from the girls when they are born (most geese you can't), they are alert and help protect your flock from predators, and they are yummy. Does anyone have them locally? I'd probably look to get a pair during the summer sometime, goslings or fully grown.</p>
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