Ben, a recent college grad who is here at Gamboula to home school Timothy Turk, has an inordinate love for and drive to raise chickens. Upon arrival to Gamboula in September, he immediately started to try to build a “chicken tractor” (movable pen which “cuts” the grass) out of local materials:
But after the bamboo proved too unruly, Roy thought about our local basket makers, and ordered a basket just the right size!
So Ben just drags the basket to a new area of grass each day or so. He has had to put some palm leaves over one end to give rain protection, but this way of keeping the chickens protects them from predators and keeps them out of your buddies’ veggie gardens! Note the frisbee water dish.
But, during our visit to northern Cameroon, Roy heard about raising turkeys and got all excited. So, a part of Roy’s trip to Yaounde right now is to pick up live turkeys, and of course, though unheard of ’til this year, a big turkey for our Thanksgiving supper! Whoo-hoo! As craziness happens, during a recent trip to our nearby (45 minute drive) shopping town, out of the blue, Roy was offered a pair of turkeys. Now we have turkeys on the way and turkeys here already. The couple from the local source are temporarily in a chicken basket, and though they can stand up, it really is too small for them:
They are either stressed or very happy, because the hen has already laid an egg! We have some dear friends who are hoping to come visit us after Christmas, and they have raised turkeys in the past, so you can bet we will be peppering them with questions!
