the daydream fund challenge thread

troglodyte

Lots of useful info there - thanks everyone!
I'd add that like most things, the amount you can spend on self-sufficiency is almost unlimited. You could spend a fortune on buying ready made top quality timber chicken housing, raised veg beds, greenhouses, expensive ornamental fruit cages etc. Or you could make your own from reclaimed materials which is almost free. Personally I go for the latter approach. In the words of the author of a slim book of self-sufficiency I've cherished for years 'Skips are a fantastic source of everything from firewood to building materials...I never pass one by'. That has pretty much become my motto! I also cultivate good relationships with the site managers of any nearby building projects, they are a great source of wood offcuts for the fire as well as bigger pieces of timber to make stuff and odds and ends of other things too. We make our own compost of course (although I still buy commercial seed compost), collect free horse manure, grow plants from cuttings, most garden tools are second hand bought for a few pounds. The biggest expense is seeds, but even then one packet can last for 3 or 4 years or more if stored carefully.

stitching_witch

LMac wrote: »

Just out of interest, does anyone keep a running total on what it has cost them to become self-sufficient(ish) ?

I really wish I had done this from the start, but aim to do so from the beginning of January. Luckily a lot of our big expenditure has been done for now apart from the Daydream Fund Challenge money, which will be spent next month.:D

I shall also be keeping a record of yields of the allotment and garden produce to see which varieties do well, which need replacing with different varieties the following year and also those which did not perform well but tasted wonderful anyway! I do know we harvested over 50 bulbs of Garlic this year. That'll keep the vampires away! :rotfl:

Lotus-eater

choille wrote: »

I've used both methods & a shot is instantaineous, much less stressful for the bird - like lights going out.

Edited to add: It's not messy, nor dangerous. Takes two of you though. OH holds the chicken over the bucket. The pistol is placed right against the head - instant - sorry to anyone who is squemish.

I think the other way round, neck pulling is far far better, but if you've done both, you've got the best way for you.
Neck pulling is instant death if done correctly.

And to say it's not messy and dangerous is a bit silly, compared to neck pulling it is both,

Davesnave

troglodyte wrote: »

Lots of useful info there - thanks everyone!
I'd add that like most things, the amount you can spend on self-sufficiency is almost unlimited. You could spend a fortune on buying ready made top quality timber chicken housing, raised veg beds, greenhouses, expensive ornamental fruit cages etc. Or you could make your own from reclaimed materials which is almost free.

I agree up to a point, but once you have a house involved, it's important to balance the saving from making things yourself against the likely effect of having Heath Robinson as your builder. Out in the garden or on the allotment it's a different matter altogether, but home -made conservatories etc are a no-no, except as a stop-gap measure.

A second false economy in my book is using cheap fencing. I always put in Jacksons posts (and sometimes take them out again, knock the concrete off and re-use!) So far, I have never had to replace one of those.:D

choille

I think the other way round, neck pulling is far far better, but if you've done both, you've got the best way for you.
Neck pulling is instant death if done correctly.

I did speak to a DEFRA vet about this a few years back & he was of the opinion that a brain death is much more humane. I know in France that they pull the necks of rabbits also, but I wouldn't do that.
As long as it is quick & humane, then that's the main thing. The so called 'humane killers' for poultry crush the neck, which in my opinion is not quick, nor humane.
I have also seen the decapitation method & that lets you know where the phrase 'headless chickens...' come from.

Lotus-eater

I've chopped off chickens heads in the past and shot them in the head with an air gun, so I do speak from a certain amount of experience.
I've not used the humane killer though, so can't comment on that.

We pull the necks of rabbits in this country as well. Have done for ever.

choille

I have also chopped the heads off, but also haven't used the 'humane killer' which I don't believe is humane.
It's a powerful air pistol I use - so very acurate - but wouldn't advise it if not used to using one - obviously.

I hadn't heard about the rabbit thing in Britain, but I don't know people who breed them for food. I only have experience of catching/killing wild rabbits.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

not much to report really, except... there was a public meeting on thursday about the supermarket and petrol station being porposed right by our houses:eek: i didnt go, as i knew i would blow my top. hubby went, and by all accounts if it does go a head we will be compenstated:rolleyes: what we do not know,

so over the weekend the few of us that live here are all going to met up and find out what we would except as compensation or a buy out:D

we have floated a figure that would buy the smallholding i put a link to earlier quite nicely:D

double galazing etc has also been mentioned if htey do not want to buy our houses.

hoping to put some money in the daydrean fund over the next few days...

weather is flipping awfull here blowing a gale and wet..:o

Rummer

CTC That sounds as if there could be a happier side to this supermarket deal. Money is not a big thing to them so hopefully they will be amenable to your requests. It is important that the neighbours all work together, have you sought legal advice?

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Rummer wrote: »

CTC That sounds as if there could be a happier side to this supermarket deal. Money is not a big thing to them so hopefully they will be amenable to your requests. It is important that the neighbours all work together, have you sought legal advice?

no, but all correspondance will be done as a whole, so to speak, which will be the view of all, or the majority of the residence.

I honestly think it will go ahead, and so do our neighbours, we have just got to stick together with what we would except as a compensation package, or possible buy out, but i dont think the later is an option at the moment.

the planning comitte will be meeting in the middle of november, so we will know then if out-line planning has been approved.

the land owner/firm did say they were not interested in the land by our house, as hubby did say in no uncertain terms that our chickens have been there for 15 years, and they have hte right to stay there, if not there WILL be trouble...lol....