California - Northern

[Aunt Angus]

Might need you some new birds

Might just.

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

That's very interesting about the oak trees. Aren't oak trees protected in California?

 

[tommysgirl]

Hello! It’s nice to have you back with the BYC crew There is a woman in the Placerville area that also sells Pita Pintas! She’s got a website and I think she does hatching eggs. Bari Farms https://www.barifarms.com/. They look like gorgeous birds! There are also a lot of people breeding CCLs but not sure who, I see them on the California Poultry and the Sacramento Poultry Facebook pages all the time.

Thank you for the welcome back! I just looked at the Bari Farms website. They have some lovely birds. Thanks for the tip. I will go on a CCL hunt in the spring time. Thanks for those resources.

I am confused by the current lack of Basque Hens, even the breeder's club has no recent updates or photos. I had ordered some from Sandhill but they weren't laying well so I got a substitution. I can try again in the spring.

 

[kurby22]

That's very interesting about the oak trees. Aren't oak trees protected in California?

Yes, most native trees are protected unless they are threatening homes/property or there are special circumstances and mitigation planned (planting new ones, etc.). Most cities have rules that are more specific, but in general they are protected from removal if over a certain size. That is why it's smart to pull out seedlings on your property if they are NOT where you want them to grow because it gets more complicated as they reach maturity. My neighbor has constant sewer issues due to valley oak roots in her sewer and they have to constantly cut them out. They are super trees for CA climate when they are in the right places, they just aren't always best for suburban backyards!

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

Yes, most native trees are protected unless they are threatening homes/property or there are special circumstances and mitigation planned (planting new ones, etc.). Most cities have rules that are more specific, but in general they are protected from removal if over a certain size. That is why it's smart to pull out seedlings on your property if they are NOT where you want them to grow because it gets more complicated as they reach maturity. My neighbor has constant sewer issues due to valley oak roots in her sewer and they have to constantly cut them out. They are super trees for CA climate when they are in the right places, they just aren't always best for suburban backyards!

Good to know! I have a few seedlings growing and I'm going to pull them.

 

[cherrynberry]

Is anyone planting anything in the garden yet? This is going to be my first year and I am in Zone 9. Thinking about starting some lettuce soon.

 

[Aunt Angus]

That's very interesting about the oak trees. Aren't oak trees protected in California?

They are, but when they die or are infested by bark beetle or if they have root rot, they gotta go.

In our area, a property owner can cut down any tree that is a danger, any oak that is 36" in diameter (unless I get a permit), or that is designated as historic. I have literally hundreds of oaks on my property, but only a handful that are that large. And certainly none that are historic.

A couple more fell in the past few days.

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

They are, but when they die or are infested by bark beetle or if they have root rot, they gotta go.

In our area, a property owner can cut down any tree that is a danger, any oak that is 36" in diameter (unless I get a permit), or that is designated as historic. I have literally hundreds of oaks on my property, but only a handful that are that large. And certainly none that are historic.

A couple more fell in the past few days.

Hope none fall near the home!

I'm not good at tree identification but this has sparked my interest to look more into the different trees. A lot of the trees they planted, when they built the houses in my neighborhood, have pretty much fallen or had to he removed due to pipe issues. I wonder if some were oak trees.
We removed a tree my dad planted when I was 6 and the roots were so huge, they looked like tree trunks themselves. Curious what kind of tree that was now.

 

[OffGridChook]

Glad to see everyone is okay! Rainy week #2 is coming tomorrow so I’m sure we are all preparing.

Yesterday I stapled plastic sheeting over the large hardware cloth window and side door as the drop cloths and uhaul blanket weren’t cutting it in 28-37F. We did get snow last week but nothing stuck except for the higher elevations across from me, which was beautiful! We did not lose oak trees this time. But it was pretty muddy everywhere. I had filled the chicken run with blue oak leaves we had raked up the week before from an earlier storm when we did lose part of an oak plus some short twigs to keep it from getting swampy. It really helped last week so I’m hoping it continues to. They do like scratching in it.

Two of my hens kept getting pushed or falling off the 2x4 roost Last week. I noticed a few poop piles on the ground in the morning where they should not be (by the door and by the waterer, it’s a small coop). Plus two times I had gone to check on them thereafter I had to put them back on the roost or shine light so they could do it themselves. One preferred to roost on a 3/4” inch end piece intended to keep them from being pushed off the end. It’s not as protected either since there are a few little gaps in between the wood panels for airflow up there. Well, now there’s a much wider/taller end piece that cannot be roosted on. She was quite confused when she went to bed last night. I added a second L bracket in case one absolutely needed to be literally up against another’s butt . I also added two low level solar lights at each end across from them in the upper wall that I charge during the day. It stays on long enough to keep them settled and enough light to jump back up if need be. I went to check last night and that were sitting all perfectly lined up next to each other as they should be. Morning Piles neatly spaced so the temperature was obviously acceptable. The temp/humidity gauge gives me updates in real-time via WiFi so I noticed it was 50-51.8F the whole night.

I’m thrilled my girls are happy now . But the upcoming 8 days of rain? They’re going to hate life.

 

[ronott1]

Glad to see everyone is okay! Rainy week #2 is coming tomorrow so I’m sure we are all preparing.

Yesterday I stapled plastic sheeting over the large hardware cloth window and side door as the drop cloths and uhaul blanket weren’t cutting it in 28-37F. We did get snow last week but nothing stuck except for the higher elevations across from me, which was beautiful! We did not lose oak trees this time. But it was pretty muddy everywhere. I had filled the chicken run with blue oak leaves we had raked up the week before from an earlier storm when we did lose part of an oak plus some short twigs to keep it from getting swampy. It really helped last week so I’m hoping it continues to. They do like scratching in it.

Two of my hens kept getting pushed or falling off the 2x4 roost Last week. I noticed a few poop piles on the ground in the morning where they should not be (by the door and by the waterer, it’s a small coop). Plus two times I had gone to check on them thereafter I had to put them back on the roost or shine light so they could do it themselves. One preferred to roost on a 3/4” inch end piece intended to keep them from being pushed off the end. It’s not as protected either since there are a few little gaps in between the wood panels for airflow up there. Well, now there’s a much wider/taller end piece that cannot be roosted on. She was quite confused when she went to bed last night. I added a second L bracket in case one absolutely needed to be literally up against another’s butt . I also added two low level solar lights at each end across from them in the upper wall that I charge during the day. It stays on long enough to keep them settled and enough light to jump back up if need be. I went to check last night and that were sitting all perfectly lined up next to each other as they should be. Morning Piles neatly spaced so the temperature was obviously acceptable. The temp/humidity gauge gives me updates in real-time via WiFi so I noticed it was 50-51.8F the whole night.

I’m thrilled my girls are happy now . But the upcoming 8 days of rain? They’re going to hate life.

Do they need more roost space?