Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

They actually sicken my stomach to smell them. I tried honeydew melon once because I was told it was better and I couldn't do that either. I don't even allow them in my house. They just wreak too much. When I've accidentally gotten some in a fruit mix here or there and ate some, I almost gag.
I like water melon but that isn't in the same category to me. I should just grow some to feed the birds but I sure don't want that taste to end up in my tomatoes or other melon. I would never turn down free food but nothing says I have to eat it myself. I have animals that can benefit and enjoy whatever I don't.
My ex husband loved them and we grew some but then the cucumbers and tomatoes had a slight canteloupe taste.

 

[HEChicken]

I don't grow them because they spread and take up so much space. If I really loved them it might be worth it but since I don't, it isn't.

We've been digging more potatoes this morning and found several huge zucchini that were only tiny the other day. That's what I love about growing zukes, is how fast they grow.

The 15 ducklings that hatched 9 weeks ago are now huge as well. I actually pulled one in last night to butcher - he is already large enough to make it worth it. However this morning I changed my mind and let him go again, figuring that if he's this big at 9 weeks, another couple of weeks will only grow him bigger. I would really like to get out of ducks but decided to let them go ahead and hatch this summer and grow them out for meat. So optimally, I would have liked most of the 15 to be males. Did I get my wish? No, of course not. Of the 15, only 4 are drakes - can you believe my luck???? DH keeps saying "well, we can eat females too, you know", which I know is true but for the same amount of time - especially with the muscovies - the ducks yield so much less meat that it doesn't seem as worth it for the hassle of butchering and skinning. Sigh. On the other hand, I certainly don't need to over-winter that many ducks so maybe I'll have to.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I too thought I was the only one offended by cantaloupe!

Watermelons are good occasionally and I grow them but canatalope is gross, I have to cut it for work a lot and I can't stand the smell on my hands

!

 

[RoosterLew]

Lol....Ya'll are an entertaining Lot!!

I love Cantaloupe, I need some ducks, our Maters are finally red, punkins got bugged to death , got a chicky here, more Chickies there , Chickies everywhere. Use the pex danz, you'll never regret it. Gotta go, silkies need a new roof, sprayer sprunged a leak and I'm outta smokes. Coffee is on, stop by anytime, not responsible for lost or stolen feathers, y'all come back now!!!

Roo

 

[Trish44]

Well I guess I'm the odd one, I actually like cantaloupe. I don't eat it often but lately I've bought some for my chickens. It turns out that's their favorite treat. I know, spoiled birds. We bought them a small watermelon the other day & they've really been enjoying that on these hot days. They don't like it as much as cantaloupe though. Another thing they eat like candy is over-ripe bananas. I buy them for DH's snacks to take to work & he doesn't like them when they get too ripe so the chickens get them.

 

[chicken danz]

Rooster I am definitely using pex. Once I pay for the crimping tool and some fittings the rest is gravy. I think I'll end up putting in some more water lines if this goes as smoothly as I think it will. My birds have really been enjoying pumpkin lately. I did plant the Sweet baby pie pumpkins instead of the jackolantern type but they didn't eat them well before this year. I just throw them down to break them open and they do the rest. Some of them have even devoured the outside skin. But they all seem to really enjoy treats regardless of what they are. Cucumbers are by far their favorite. I need to take a wagon out the the pear tree and collect a ton of those for them. They don't mind the bugs like I do.
TerrabellaBirds I think I'd demand hazard pay to cut cantaloupe.

 

[RoosterLew]

Sorry-bad humor

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

TerrabellaBirds I think I'd demand hazard pay to cut cantaloupe.

LOL I should!

My birds are luckier than most as they have an endless supply of old produce that I get from the store I work at! Apples, bananas, cucumbers, tomatoes, and all kinds of other goodies. The only thing that I turn down is potatoes, and citrus. I throw the apples out whole and let them entertain themselves by pecking them throughout the day! They have quite a varied diet and they wouldn't have it any other way

 

[RoosterLew]

Oh and the crimp fittings aren't expensive... Have you priced the shark bite or other brands of push together fittings?? Good gravy dem thangs mo spensive than Cadillacs!!

 

[chicken danz]

My brother's step son installs pex for a living. He suggests only crimp fittings so that is what I am using. Lots of the fittings are super expensive but I really don't have all that many to put in right now. The most pricy things are the darn shut off valves. I sure won't skip those. Reality is if you don't put in a shut off valve every where you think you could use one that will be where you have a leak some day. I'm not installing a manifold because for this job I really don't need one. I would if I were doing a whole house for sure. Unless my plans change I only plan to have a max of three lines out there anyway.
Terrabella how come you don't feed citrus? Just curious. I'm very envious of having produce to feed. I tried to get the stuff from the local grocery they toss, but they trash it and won't allow anyone to take it for liability reasons. I think it's pretty lame they lock their trash up so no one can get access. That is just a total waste. Too bad cause I'm not too proud to dumpster dive.
The whole amount of waste that goes on these days is insane. I could probably feed my birds just with the stuff from our small little town that gets tossed every day. Nothing gets trashed around here. I have some animal that will eat about anything I have in the way of garbage. If we had enough rain I needed to mow I even give the grass clippings to the birds. They love picking through them.