fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

Sweetgum "balls"

They're sharp, best to wear gloves when picking them up.

 

[Molpet]

Sweetgum "balls"
View attachment 4283408

They're sharp, best to wear gloves when picking them up.

I assume those don't go to the chickens

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Sweetgum "balls"
View attachment 4283408

They're sharp, best to wear gloves when picking them up.

I LOVE sweet gums, so beautiful in fall, but dang, as a confirmed barefoot-goer, their gumballs are vicious.

(Liquidambar spp.; per Wiki called “star gum” in the UK. Incredible fall colors.)

 

[fuzzi]

I assume those don't go to the chickens

They're mixed in with the leaves, but as they're heavier they settle to the bottom of the litter in the run. Eventually they soften and deteriorate in the dirt. The chickens don't eat them.

Lawnmowers don't pick them up, and hand removal is beyond backbreaking, as well as tedious. So I rake.

 

[fuzzi]

I have clay pots and assorted buckets around the yard for collecting the
gumballs, to toss in the burn pile, but they often cover the ground like a carpet. Raking is best.

 

[Molpet]

They're mixed in with the leaves, but as they're heavier they settle to the bottom of the litter in the run. Eventually they soften and deteriorate in the dirt. The chickens don't eat them.

Lawnmowers don't pick them up, and hand removal is beyond backbreaking, as well as tedious. So I rake.

I was worried about bumblefoot coming down from a roost.
I use a nut wizard for black walnuts, a life saver. 4 wheelbarrow daily, every day.
Supposed to work on gumballs Large Nut Wizard https://share.google/XcdPRszbkNYS0FdGr

 

[fuzzi]

I was worried about bumblefoot coming down from a roost.
I use a nut wizard for black walnuts, a life saver. 4 wheelbarrow daily, every day.
Supposed to work on gumballs Large Nut Wizard https://share.google/XcdPRszbkNYS0FdGr

Thank you.

They've had leaves and gumball pods in their run for almost three years, no foot issues yet.

 

[fuzzi]

Today...!

All pullet eggs.

I hardboiled 13, pickled 8, ate one, saved four for later.

 

[Shadrach]

I was worried about bumblefoot coming down from a roost.
I use a nut wizard for black walnuts, a life saver. 4 wheelbarrow daily, every day.
Supposed to work on gumballs Large Nut Wizard https://share.google/XcdPRszbkNYS0FdGr

What do you do with the walnuts? I spent many hours cracking open walnuts for the tribes, and myself.
That nut wizard is something else.

 

[Molpet]

What do you do with the walnuts? I spent many hours cracking open walnuts for the tribes, and myself.
That nut wizard is something else.

They are black walnuts. Yes the poultry love them. Most of the good ones the squirrels plant in the garden and forget about. Since I got covid in 2020 I just pick up the ones where I walk and move to an out of way spot. In the Poultry yard I mow the ones in the paths for the poultry. Easy way to open them. Otherwise I used a vise to pop open... or my favorite put in a burlap bag on a gravel driveway and run over. Much easier but not sanitary I suppose.
Places in other states will buy them.. but 4 hr drive one way and would just about pay for the gas.