Holy Moldy, Batman!

A fellow chicken lover posted a great suggestion online:

Supplement your chickens’ diet with grocery store greens (not moldy!) that are past their selling prime.

Great idea! My free ranging flock doesn’t have much to munch on recently since the grass is dying back for the year, so I started calling grocery stores in the area.

The first store said they donate old veggies to charity, then the second store said they no longer give produce to the public due to health and legal concerns. They had to even switch to trash compactors instead of dumpsters due to people diving for food, and in the event they got ill, would sue the store. I would have never thought of such things happening – wow!

Needless to say, I didn’t find any greens for my chickens. I do have to call one store back tomorrow to talk with the manager, but I’m not hopeful considering all the other information I have heard today.

The House that Jack Built

After 5 months of weekends, the barn is finished. I now just have to add some finishing touches: paint, lights, cabinets, door knobs, shutters, and steps into the potting shed. My dad might even go as far as automating the chicken door and lights with solar sensors – awesome! My parents have been wonderful throughout this process supporting my crazy homesteading dream – chickens and all.

I have actually come to know my neighbors throughout this process: each coming over to pet a chicken, ask questions out of curiosity, or reminisce over guinea hen noises.

As worn out as I am now, I am excited to get back to work on the cute little barn in the spring. Pictures to come.