Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[satay]

I know someone up north grows avocado , not sure about bananas. I once got a mango to about 30 cm, then the frost hit it, kaput no more mango. We are having some huge frosts this week.

I'm pretty sure he grew them against a wall and covered them in hessian in winter.

 

[satay]

Rightio! Let's see if this stops the bloody crows from pinching my eggs.

Love it. She even has impressive shoes on. Let us know how you go with it.

 

[satay]

We have a lemon tree that is sooo laden at the moment, I think I will set up a stall out the front and sell them - undercutting the supermarket by 50% !!! 

Some people have good success in growing a particular type of orange ... delicious and sweet ... me ?  no luck there. 

Just thought mandarines ( or mandarins ) were strictly a warm climate fruit, for some reason, but notice that Fancy grows them in chillier Tassie.

I used to have a fairly green thumb but .......  seems to have disappeared.  

Cheers .......   

My lemon tree has heaps on it at the moment too. I have made lemon butter, lemon drizzle cakes and last week made my first lemon meringue pie.

 

[MyHaven]

Thanks Fancychooklady. I shall stress less, ensure she has seen the water, and I would like to try and create more airflow through her box. It's meant to get to 24degrees today so now I'm concerned she may overheat. I wonder if she's as nervous about her first clutch as I am?

I see other people have answered this, but I thought I might add that part of being clucky is a chickens body temp rises so she may seem hot.

I also meant to mention in my previous post that when a hen sits she doesn't get her daily dust baths and becomes a target for mites. It might be an idea to take steps now to protect her.

It may seem more work than a bator, but I find it far easier and less work to let the hen do the work when you're set up.

 

[MyHaven]

I have mandarin growing here, they even have fruit this year. Just like the lemon tree they need to be against a wall.

More chicks hatching today . I made these feeders up yesterday, cost me $30 for the x2
I found that if I place a feed bowl under it there is no waste.

Hi,
I was feeding up this morning and I wondered about your feeders. Are they first of that type you have made? Do you know how they go keeping rodents out?

Scrap that question I later saw you comment about that.

I do love the idea. Mine didn't like the purchased ones because of the dividers either and the feed went stale and got wet too. Yours, particularly with the cap would solve that.

 

[MyHaven]

Good morning folks 

The new build looks good sjturner79, lots of room to hunt and peck 

Tee hee satay thank you for the Thor v sensor light chuckle 

MullyAly as Fancy has mentioned, a broody hen will often only leave the eggs to poop, eat and drink etc and most do this.  However, Cilla did not get that memo and does not get off the nest. I know this because I have tested her.  For this reason, when Cilla is brooding, I make sure I take her off the nest twice a day.  Putting the food and water within easy reach is a good idea.  However, I do not do that as I would prefer my broody’s to have incentive to move.  So those that do get off the nest have to do so and go for a little walk to get food and water.

Also, as others have mentioned, I would not be concerned about Grace overheating, 24 is not too bad.  I have had broody’s sitting on a hatch in low 30’s.  I offer them drinks from a little cup I have while they are on the nest between actual breaks.  Most do not bother but Cilla does indulge … I think she secretly likes being waited on 

Fizzybelle I am pleased to hear that Agnes is on the road to recovery.

Anniebee yep, Chucky is doing well and continues to visit daily.  He has taken to sitting in the Mango Tree and singing to me if I have not put the food out early enough :/   He also gets very close and appears to be listening to me when I talk to him.  No sign of the parents since that one time sighting with the Turtle Dove carcass. 

His colouring does not appear to have changed but I will get an updated photo over the next few days.

I actually wanted an apple tree but was disappointed to learn that they do not cope well in Brisbane weather, no frosts etc to promote the production of fruit so Ming the Mandarin came to stay instead. 

Did you see the plastic wire on top of the soil?  I put that there to stop the girls digging him out of his pot and sure enough, I have caught Crystal up there a couple of times and the wire is working in that she can not scratch the soil.  She knows she is not allowed up there and when I scald her she jumps down and skulks off 

Neat feeders Fancy and good luck with the hatch .. looking forward to the pics.

I will probably jinx myself but so far we are still a broody free zone.  As mentioned before, Cilla did think about it for a day but appears to have changed her mind.  I think the fact that the evenings spent on the roost are still coolish is helping but once they warm up also I doubt I will be broody free for long.

A work colleague's sister grows apples in Brisbane. You have reminded me that colleague was going to get the details for me. I will let you know what I find out.

Cheers

 

[MyHaven]

It's pretty simple, 2 x caps, 2 x inverters , a piece of pipe cut in half and the junction connectors were the most expensive part. My dina-chook has a reducer to stop food spilling out but as you say ' a little over engineered ' . In the afternoon I just scoop a bit into the bowl below and then pop the cap back on for the night. The possums haven't managed to work them yet.

Had a silkie chick pip and then roll into the used shell of one that had already hatched, by the time I found it the poor little thing was exhausted. Last night it was still pipping so I chipped away enough shell to reveal the beak and I could see that the internal membrane was shrink wrapping. At midnight there was a little too much blood for my liking so I left it alone. This morning it had hatched and seems to be doing fine. Poor little thing is a real fighter , I will have to think of a very courageous name for him, I say he because all of the ones I help turn out to be cockerels.

Congratulations on another save. I have lost a couple that way over they years. That was when I decided - while I still let nature run its course mostly I need to check incase she needs some redirecting.

 

[MyHaven]

Unfortunately it's a common belief that upping the protein will increase egg yield. Once a bird is mature protein levels should be kept stable . Over weight birds aren't productive birds . Treats and table scraps should be kept to a minimum as they usually contain levels of protein and calcium that most people fail to recognise or calculate when they are justifying the birds dietary consumption. Meal worms are very high in protein.
Commercial hybrids and table birds are fed high protein diets for maximum growth. The producers aren't interested in the possible organ damage to the birds as they aren't expected to be ' long lived ' . Where as backyard breeders with heritage breeds may expect their birds to live 8-10 years.

So true about the attitude to commercial hybrids and table birds. My girls always did extremely well on the lower 15/16% protein, I'll look at going back to it. I just like the crumble mix of Red Hen 17 which is why I changed. My girls free range a lot too so that on a whole drops the proton level, but they do like the compost bugs.

Thanks

 

[MyHaven]

Good heavens.   That is the very BEST looking scare-crow ever to be seen.    

Am making one myself - old fashioned hat, filled up empty dog food bag painted with eyes etc.,  straw hands, an old coat  all on a T stick thingy  made of tomato stakes.   

That is to scare away any predator / raptors etc.   ... Well that's the idea anyway.  

You might have a different problem ... predatory guys on the roam, coming in to visit your beautiful maiden in the garden, ask if she need help.  

Which reminds me of a story my mother used to tell, from her childhood - early 1900's.    Greengrocers, butchers etc. delivered goods to the back door and were paid  then by the maid.  My  Nana had a mannequin ( from heaven only knows where ) which the girls including my Mum,  dressed up and stood just off a pathway to the back door.  [ one of their favourite play pastimes - that mannequin ]


Chinese greengrocer - very very perturbed, arrived at the back door to deliver his goods, and pointed frantically back over his shoulder.   Nana herself went out to see what the kerfuffle was all about .... Chinese gentleman, poked his fingers on the mannequins chest repeatedly ( naughty chappie ) ... and said in a big panic "she no talkie - she no talkie - she sick ?? " ...  Nana was not impressed, the girls were in stitches for hours.  .... and nobody ever told their father, my Papa.

Cheers ..........     

I love old stories. Thanks for sharing.

 

[MyHaven]

From on line description of ingredients for Barastoc Golden Yolk layer pellets ... it states protein - 15%. (minimum) ?

THEN I decided to have a look at the actual 20Kg bag I have.  :/  .... Same thing - protein - 15% ( minimum ).   

So I think most likely there is not too much protein in the pellets.  At least I very much doubt they would go over 17%.   They have to keep some kind of quality control, or would damage the business pretty quickly, from developing a bad reputation.  

" Mums' Mash " is going to be ultra un-interesting for the girls for the next 6 months - until it is time to moult again - and then it will be far less protein than I have given before.   

Also, like you, didn't realise that pure breds can be harmed by too much protein.   Chookies can be a strange lot.  !!    

Thanks for the observation though ... everything helps. 

Cheers ....... 

AB I have no ideas for you. I am so sorry. Sounds like she can get about when it suits her.