fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[Shadrach]

Yarrow planted
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Shaping up!

I decided to plant two Rose of Sharon saplings where they will eventually screen my backyard from the road.
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The Obedient plants are in the ground, but they don't look good.


Iris are next, maybe tomorrow?

You are making good progress. I'm still making crop frames for what I think I'll be sticking in the ground next week. I know I planted late last year and got away with it. It's been unusually dry here for the time of year and those who have the majority of their plants in the ground are watering daily or losing plants. Thanks to the plentifull rain (I'm being polite) we had from the New Year onwards...the ground a few inches down is moist enough.
It's due to rain a little in the next couple of days so that would be a good time to plant given the ground is warm and just needs water. We shall see.

I won't get much in the ground this year, too busy on my extended chicken run improvements.

 

[ChaosMom]

It's not the 90°plus that's difficult, it's the humidity that saps my strength.

But I can garden 9 months, 7 months frost free.

And we usually get one snowfall a year, 2"-4".

I do admire how early you got your plants in the ground! I have a surprise potato (leftover tuber) that broke ground a week ago, and some random bean plants sprouted last week; that’s about it.

I’m getting a total knee replacement in 2 1/2 weeks , and it finally occurred to me that serious gardening could take a back seat to chicken therapy this year.

Meant to ask, are you sorta near Fayetteville? My cousins lived there when my uncle was stationed at the military hospital (Womack? Can’t remember), and even at age 10, I just laid around and panted with their beagles.

 

[CoopBoots]

I’m getting a total knee replacement in 2 1/2 weeks , and it finally occurred to me that serious gardening could take a back seat to chicken therapy this year.

Chicken therapy; I love it. Chickens are definitely good at keeping me grounded and in the moment. They seem to have such relish for their simple lives. I think they are often wiser than I with all my daily anxieties.

I hope your surgery goes super smoothly!

 

[fuzzi]

I do admire how early you got your plants in the ground! I have a surprise potato (leftover tuber) that broke ground a week ago, and some random bean plants sprouted last week; that’s about it.

I’m getting a total knee replacement in 2 1/2 weeks , and it finally occurred to me that serious gardening could take a back seat to chicken therapy this year.

Meant to ask, are you sorta near Fayetteville? My cousins lived there when my uncle was stationed at the military hospital (Womack? Can’t remember), and even at age 10, I just laid around and panted with their beagles.

Thank you. I took a chance, planting before the official last frost date, and it worked out.

I had a THR (hip) 16 years ago, it made a tremendous difference in the quality of my life. I've heard that knees take longer for recovery, don't push it, just follow the surgeon and PT's instructions.

Fayetteville is a couple hours' drive from me.

 

[fuzzi]

You are making good progress. I'm still making crop frames for what I think I'll be sticking in the ground next week. I know I planted late last year and got away with it. It's been unusually dry here for the time of year and those who have the majority of their plants in the ground are watering daily or losing plants. Thanks to the plentifull rain (I'm being polite) we had from the New Year onwards...the ground a few inches down is moist enough.
It's due to rain a little in the next couple of days so that would be a good time to plant given the ground is warm and just needs water. We shall see.

I won't get much in the ground this year, too busy on my extended chicken run improvements.

Chicken improvements take priority. Everything else here was on hold while I was building the second hoop coop.

 

[fuzzi]

There's nothing like sitting and watching your flock to instruct you on their hierarchy and personalities.

After I mowed the yard I sat in each coop, offering carrot greens.

Rahab is top hen in the Sussex group, no surprise. Hannah is runner-up behind Rahab, but Joanna, not quite 12 months old, is working on second place, and is even more vocal than Rahab. Priscilla is the shy one, the outskirter, but has the best plumage imo. Zacchaeus does accept tasty handouts, but now lets his gals eat first. He did take a couple beakfuls of carrot greens, though.

Over in Silas' coop the Dominiques are a tad bossy. Naomi is the matriarch, though Abigail doesn't back down easily. Tamar is still lowest of the three, but not when Esther is eating. That may change as Esther is almost 12 months old, and excels at the snatch and run technique. Silas has matured into a good roo (12 months on May 31), but took advantage of me being the tidbiter this time, got himself some treats as well.

The bare spots on Priscilla and Esther's necks seem to be shrinking. I suspect that only having one rooster grabbing them is a contributing factor.

Next week will be the one month mark since I separated the flocks. The eggs I collect in the Sussex coop will be fertilized by Zacchaeus. All I need now is a broody.

Zack's Harem:

Silas' Bunch:

 

[fuzzi]

It rained all Monday, and all last night.

Yesterday when I got home the barrels were full. I added a soaker hose to the end of the overflow hose on the new barrels, to move the discharge farther from the house.

Downspout discharging into main barrel:

As of 5pm Monday:

Forecast was for at least 3 more inches overnight!

Yesterday the runs were wet, and the new hoop coop was a little muddy. I threw in a flake of straw, oh boy!

Silas and his gals.

Zacchaeus and his bunch. It looks like the two older hens are gossiping!

We need the rain, but why so much in such a short time?

 

[NanaK]

We need the rain, but why so much in such a short time?

Everything here is saturated. I wish it would let up but mets are saying more is coming over the next few days. It's raining here now. 2 tornados touched down late yesterday and another last night not far from here. A couple homes damaged and trees down. Thankfully no injuries. School here will be delayed 2 hrs.

I know I will be praying for rain this summer when it get's so hot and dry but right now I wish it would stop!

 

[1muttsfan]

We are very dry with a high fire danger, some rain here would be very welcome

 

[fuzzi]

In 24 hours we got another 4.5".

Then the thunderstorms rolled in about an hour ago...