Comments on: Life with chickens! http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/ farm blog, farming blog, country blog, country living blog, livestock blog, rural lifestyle blog Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:42:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Mike Anderson http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-30712 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:54:58 +0000 http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-30712 The good old days of Farming, Hard work, good times, Great friends! Home Town living is the way to relax and emjoy like with friends. Visit us at http://www.tractorhome.com The good old days of Farming, Hard work, good times, Great friends! Home Town living is the way to relax and emjoy like with friends. Visit us at http://www.tractorhome.com

]]> by: Niki http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-28204 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:45:40 +0000 http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-28204 WOW!! A dream come to fruition. I'm impressed. You've done it! Keep your chin up and remember you have done a big thing and it's exhausting but you've reached your goal. You made something from nothing....big open space. Chickens. Wow. WOW!! A dream come to fruition. I’m impressed. You’ve done it! Keep your chin up and remember you have done a big thing and it’s exhausting but you’ve reached your goal. You made something from nothing….big open space. Chickens. Wow.

]]> by: joelw http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-28108 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:05:04 +0000 http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-28108 mlytc, I think I have a bit of slack in one chain. Been putting off taking out a couple links for a week or so now. The equipment is the part that's driving me crazy. Especially the vent machine. The stops keep moving and it pulls the bracket loose from the wall. I'll try the bolt idea. Thanks for the comment and glad to have you reading! mlytc,
I think I have a bit of slack in one chain. Been putting off taking out a couple links for a week or so now. The equipment is the part that’s driving me crazy. Especially the vent machine. The stops keep moving and it pulls the bracket loose from the wall. I’ll try the bolt idea. Thanks for the comment and glad to have you reading!

]]> by: mlytc http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-28078 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:50:27 +0000 http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-28078 Joel, I have 4 breeder houses, so I feel your pain with the non-stop work. I will offer a couple of suggestions, on the Big Dutch feeders, check all chains as they will stretch and push the trough away from the hopper(as you have found out). Taking a couple of links out should cure this problem. There should also be some holes pre-drilled in the hopper where the tray goes into the hopper, drill a hole in the tray and put a bolt through them, nut side down, this will definitely cure the pushing out problem. As far as ground and slat eggs go, in the past when I have had that problem, I have stepped up walking the houses more often(sometimes 5-6 times a day). Wish I could tell you that it will get easier, but you are going to remain busy, getting your equipment straightened out will ease things some though. Good Luck. Joel, I have 4 breeder houses, so I feel your pain with the non-stop work. I will offer a couple of suggestions, on the Big Dutch feeders, check all chains as they will stretch and push the trough away from the hopper(as you have found out). Taking a couple of links out should cure this problem. There should also be some holes pre-drilled in the hopper where the tray goes into the hopper, drill a hole in the tray and put a bolt through them, nut side down, this will definitely cure the pushing out problem. As far as ground and slat eggs go, in the past when I have had that problem, I have stepped up walking the houses more often(sometimes 5-6 times a day). Wish I could tell you that it will get easier, but you are going to remain busy, getting your equipment straightened out will ease things some though. Good Luck.

]]> by: joelw http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-27142 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:29:35 +0000 http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-27142 John, I'll have to talk to my dad about doing a business plan. We had a good discussion yesterday about "all things farm related". I can understand the saying the best time of your life is right now. Seems like you go through life either looking ahead or looking back. Kaylee and I are gonna have to take some father daughter time and have a good long talk. Thanks for the comment! Kevin, I'm hanging tough. I don't think things are so bad yet and hopefully will get a lot better after yesterday. My dad and I had a good long talk. We've both got a lot at stake here. As slow as the economy is I doubt the farm would sell for much more than the mortgage. Add to that the fact that neither of us really want to sell and it just makes more sense to try to get along. I can relate to what Kaylee is going through. It's gotta be tough on her when her dad has a hammer pecking on the starter of his old blue flatbed while her friend drives off in a shiny new Hummer. I need to buy another truck and will when I find the right deal. She's just gonna have to be patient. Spring is almost here and it won't be long til she can ride around in the Trans Am with the t tops out. Surely that's better than an old Hummer? Thanks for the comment! Ray, I sure hope it all works out. I'd hate to leave here. I love the land and all that comes with the farm. Your right about it being early to be having problems. Had I known it would turn out this way I wouldn't have done this. I geuss we all live and learn. All I can do now is decide how much it takes to make me leave. Thanks for the comment! Melissa, My dad and I had a good talk yesterday. I'm hoping our issues are resolved except for who does the books. He feels very strongly about that one. I'm sure we'll figure it out. Kaylee has some valid points and I'm gonna do my best to work with her. Glad that spring is upon us and she can get back to ridng in the Trans Am. I'm sure that will satisfy her for a little while. Thanks for the comment! James, Going from working full time for Kingsford to more than full time here on the farm has paid twice the fringe benefits, but none of the money so far. I don't do this for the money though. Just being a stones throw from the kids is worth it in my book. Atleast I'm saving all that money I was spending on gas! Thanks for the comment! John,
I’ll have to talk to my dad about doing a business plan. We had a good discussion yesterday about “all things farm related”. I can understand the saying the best time of your life is right now. Seems like you go through life either looking ahead or looking back. Kaylee and I are gonna have to take some father daughter time and have a good long talk. Thanks for the comment!

Kevin,
I’m hanging tough. I don’t think things are so bad yet and hopefully will get a lot better after yesterday. My dad and I had a good long talk. We’ve both got a lot at stake here. As slow as the economy is I doubt the farm would sell for much more than the mortgage. Add to that the fact that neither of us really want to sell and it just makes more sense to try to get along. I can relate to what Kaylee is going through. It’s gotta be tough on her when her dad has a hammer pecking on the starter of his old blue flatbed while her friend drives off in a shiny new Hummer. I need to buy another truck and will when I find the right deal. She’s just gonna have to be patient. Spring is almost here and it won’t be long til she can ride around in the Trans Am with the t tops out. Surely that’s better than an old Hummer? Thanks for the comment!

Ray,
I sure hope it all works out. I’d hate to leave here. I love the land and all that comes with the farm. Your right about it being early to be having problems. Had I known it would turn out this way I wouldn’t have done this. I geuss we all live and learn. All I can do now is decide how much it takes to make me leave. Thanks for the comment!

Melissa,
My dad and I had a good talk yesterday. I’m hoping our issues are resolved except for who does the books. He feels very strongly about that one. I’m sure we’ll figure it out. Kaylee has some valid points and I’m gonna do my best to work with her. Glad that spring is upon us and she can get back to ridng in the Trans Am. I’m sure that will satisfy her for a little while. Thanks for the comment!

James,
Going from working full time for Kingsford to more than full time here on the farm has paid twice the fringe benefits, but none of the money so far. I don’t do this for the money though. Just being a stones throw from the kids is worth it in my book. Atleast I’m saving all that money I was spending on gas! Thanks for the comment!

]]> by: James http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-26965 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:30:20 +0000 http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-26965 Hi Joel, Been reading your site for awhile havn't commented before now. Going from working for someone else full time and working on a farm part time is a tough descission. Throw in working with family makes it even harder. But isn't working on a farm making your own descissions and being responsible for the success or failure of the venture what it's all about? Hang tough in my experience living and working on a farm is worth it. Hi Joel,
Been reading your site for awhile havn’t commented before now. Going from working for someone else full time and working on a farm part time is a tough descission. Throw in working with family makes it even harder. But isn’t working on a farm making your own descissions and being responsible for the success or failure of the venture what it’s all about? Hang tough in my experience living and working on a farm is worth it.

]]> by: Melissa http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-26945 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:52:16 +0000 http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-26945 Hi Joel, Sounds like you are having a time of it already. It is hard to separate family and business, especially when it is a new business. Maybe sit them both down and let them know that in the barns, you need to be treated not as a family member but as an executive employee that is capable of making some decisions. I worked for my father for years and in the end, that's what I had to do. As a mother of an 18 year old girl, I can relate to what you are going through with Kaylee as well."What people think" is big business to a teenage girl, but trust me, she will grow out of it, and realize that what you and your family has built together is more important than any Hummer. Hope you and yours had a great Easter. Hi Joel,
Sounds like you are having a time of it already. It is hard to separate family and business, especially when it is a new business. Maybe sit them both down and let them know that in the barns, you need to be treated not as a family member but as an executive employee that is capable of making some decisions. I worked for my father for years and in the end, that’s what I had to do.

As a mother of an 18 year old girl, I can relate to what you are going through with Kaylee as well.”What people think” is big business to a teenage girl, but trust me, she will grow out of it, and realize that what you and your family has built together is more important than any Hummer. Hope you and yours had a great Easter.

]]> by: Ray http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-26933 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:58:46 +0000 http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-26933 Not that I really have any reason to be saying this, but it sounds like just what happens when you mix family and business. And especially when instead of running as a farm as a family it becomes a farm ran as a business by family. Hopefully it will work out in the end and all will be happy, but I have my doubts with bumps like this in the road at so early a point in the process. Not that I really have any reason to be saying this, but it sounds like just what happens when you mix family and business. And especially when instead of running as a farm as a family it becomes a farm ran as a business by family. Hopefully it will work out in the end and all will be happy, but I have my doubts with bumps like this in the road at so early a point in the process.

]]> by: paintsmh http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-26814 Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:32:06 +0000 http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-26814 Happy Easter to you and yours!!! Happy Easter to you and yours!!!

]]> by: paintsmh http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-26687 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:18:07 +0000 http://blog.mahindrausa.com/2008/03/19/life-with-chickens/#comment-26687 Oh and Kevin. If we had the room we have a ready market for freezer beef. We are just ridiculously overstocked with heifers at the moment. And as they are worth about 10 times what dairy beef is up here, we keep them and raise them instead of the bulls. We're hoping within the next three to four years to have a facility for steers but we need a larger dairy facility first. What we have raised so far we've done on waste milk that was left in the line from milking. We've done pretty well with the few beefers we've raised so far, also have the issue of our cows are bred for extreme dairy quality and don't really gain as well as an average calf. Ah well we're hoping that we don't get too many for the rest of the winter/spring calving. Then we don't have to worry about it. Oh and Kevin. If we had the room we have a ready market for freezer beef. We are just ridiculously overstocked with heifers at the moment. And as they are worth about 10 times what dairy beef is up here, we keep them and raise them instead of the bulls. We’re hoping within the next three to four years to have a facility for steers but we need a larger dairy facility first. What we have raised so far we’ve done on waste milk that was left in the line from milking. We’ve done pretty well with the few beefers we’ve raised so far, also have the issue of our cows are bred for extreme dairy quality and don’t really gain as well as an average calf. Ah well we’re hoping that we don’t get too many for the rest of the winter/spring calving. Then we don’t have to worry about it.

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