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<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nNow we just need some pullets and (I hate to say it!) a couple of guinea hens.\u00a0 Guineas are serious Tick Terminators.\u00a0 And here’s why we need them now when I seriously don’t want them:<\/p>\n
The land around us used to be owned by someone who mowed and took beautiful care of the grassy areas while letting the forest up to the top of the mountain stay completely untouched.\u00a0 That was perfect for us.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the land was recently purchased by a well-intentioned environmentalist who is letting everything<\/em> go back to the wild.\u00a0 That’s great for him but it’s not very considerate to his neighbors.\u00a0 Now we have ticks, ground hogs, foxes, raccoons, rabbits, skunks and opossums in abundance and they threaten not only my livelihood of growing organic produce to sell, but they endanger me, my husband and our own animals.\u00a0 And the wild grasses and weeds which now grow happily on the neighbor’s land are generously sharing their unwanted seed with my garden beds.\u00a0 Grrrrrrr.\u00a0 Anyway, back to the guinea hens.<\/p>\nI love the way guineas eat ticks and other unwanted bugs.\u00a0 Since the land around us is growing in, I’m finding them in abundance so in one way the guineas will be quite welcome.\u00a0 But I hate the way they scream at anyone (including the humans who feed them) any time someone comes near.\u00a0 I guess we need to look on the bright side and remember that no one can come on the property without us knowing about it.\u00a0 They are certainly excellent watchfowl.\u00a0 I would rather have the well maintained land from the new neighbor though.\u00a0 He better hope we never meet in person cause I will certainly give him an earful!!!\u00a0 Oh well.<\/p>\n
Now — what kind of chickens?\u00a0 I wanted Domineckers or Barred Rock just cuz they’re good layers and their black and white speckles are so cute!\u00a0 Also, a few Golden Comets because they are great layers and they tend to lay for a few more years than other breeds.\u00a0 Well, after some research, I may just get whatever I can find locally.\u00a0 The big companies only ship in minimums of 25.\u00a0 Holy chicken!\u00a0 That’s way too many birds for my small run.<\/p>\n
Although the “girls” will free range quite a bit, I’m planning on using the deep litter method in their run to generate some much needed soil building compost.\u00a0 Basically, you just keep adding layer upon layer of bedding in the run to keep the hens from walking in their own mess and then, when you’re ready, you fork all that lovely nutrient dense hen poop and sawdust into a pile somewhere for a few months before adding to your garden beds.\u00a0 Excellent compost!<\/p>\n
However bitter I may sound about the time it takes to get things accomplished, I do realize and accept that everything happens in the time that God plans it.\u00a0 I am grateful for the lifestyle we have here and we certainly are loving it.\u00a0 The North Carolina mountains are a beautiful place to live and we’re enjoying every day.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>