We are now 10 days into 2016, as I put this post together. I am happy to say that I am working toward my goals... I am taking an hour a night off the computer and social media to read blogs, magazines and books- mostly how to's pertaining to animals, crops, homesteading and eating healthier and I can see the top of my desk again, the receipts and invoices have been filed. So with the paperwork handled, I was able to tackle the financials and objectively see what worked and what didn't in 2015.
The crops production was the area of biggest loss in 2015. I wasn't surprised since after building the raised beds late in the spring season and having to buy started veggies which were all ravaged by critters that burrowed when they could get to them any other way. I have formulated a plan that will hopefully solve that issue. At least I have the infrastructure already in place for this coming season.
I have started tomatoes and pepper seeds inside to get a jump on the season once things warm up a bit. I bought grape seedlings and bare root stock and have those starting. The person that I bought the bare root grape from suggested cutting a bit of the roots and soaking it for 24 hours before planting in soil. To be honest that worried me a bit as I bought cuttings last year, trimmed a half inch off the bottom, soaked and used rooting hormone but couldn't get a single one to root. I decided to soak the roots in the small tilapia tank in the house. The water is heated to 78 and the fish are providing fertilized water for them. I have been "soaking" them for two weeks now and I am seeing amazing root growth. I will be planting them into containers next week. The Boysenberry plants I ordered are enroute and should be here Tuesday. The Strawberries will arrive hopefully between February and March. I am excited about the crops this years, even though the 2016 major purchases will not be producing for a year or two.
The laying project was by far the most successful part of 2015 for me. Production averaged 71% for the last 11 months of 2015, when the girls started laying. We saw a high of 85% in May and June and a low of 43% in December. The drop in production was caused by the molt, shorter daylight hours and a much colder and wetter month than usual. Despite the low lay rate to end the year, I am very happy to share that the girls paid for their feed, the egg cartons used, the liability insurance and 6 months of feed for the pullets and still showed a nice profit!!
I have started tomatoes and pepper seeds inside to get a jump on the season once things warm up a bit. I bought grape seedlings and bare root stock and have those starting. The person that I bought the bare root grape from suggested cutting a bit of the roots and soaking it for 24 hours before planting in soil. To be honest that worried me a bit as I bought cuttings last year, trimmed a half inch off the bottom, soaked and used rooting hormone but couldn't get a single one to root. I decided to soak the roots in the small tilapia tank in the house. The water is heated to 78 and the fish are providing fertilized water for them. I have been "soaking" them for two weeks now and I am seeing amazing root growth. I will be planting them into containers next week. The Boysenberry plants I ordered are enroute and should be here Tuesday. The Strawberries will arrive hopefully between February and March. I am excited about the crops this years, even though the 2016 major purchases will not be producing for a year or two.
The laying project was by far the most successful part of 2015 for me. Production averaged 71% for the last 11 months of 2015, when the girls started laying. We saw a high of 85% in May and June and a low of 43% in December. The drop in production was caused by the molt, shorter daylight hours and a much colder and wetter month than usual. Despite the low lay rate to end the year, I am very happy to share that the girls paid for their feed, the egg cartons used, the liability insurance and 6 months of feed for the pullets and still showed a nice profit!!
I am hoping to double that this year with these new pullets. I plan on taking some of my 2015 girls and introducing a roo (ssshhhh! Don't tell anyone!) to start my own replacement flock at the end of this year.
I did not put any supplemental lighting inside the coop to stimulate egg production and am not planning to do that this year either. I don't want to push them beyond what is in their nature. As Joel Salatin would say, "letting the chickens express their chickenness."
Thank you for dropping by and sharing the journey with me!!
I did not put any supplemental lighting inside the coop to stimulate egg production and am not planning to do that this year either. I don't want to push them beyond what is in their nature. As Joel Salatin would say, "letting the chickens express their chickenness."
Thank you for dropping by and sharing the journey with me!!
RSS Feed
