Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[ozexpat]

Our seasons are a little crazy.

As we are in the Northern Hemisphere, we should have July as the hottest part of the year but its actually March April and May. This is because June-Sept is the wet season.

We put in 50 tomato plants about 6 weeks ago - small local tomatoes that ere not the tastiest but we are guaranteed they will grow. We also planted 10 seedling tomatoes that were seeds meant for last year's US summer season. I have 10 varieties I am taking over that supposed to be designed for the tropics so we will have a litte trial of each.

We have egg plant, okra, buk choy in. Lima Beans, spinnach, silver beets, corn, melons and squash will be planted in two weeks.

I managed to get 2 trailer loads of saw dust to use as a mulch and also to start composting.

After a small but successful garden planted 4 months ago, my workers suddenly see the value of home grown with the ability to sell the excess. The sales from any excesss veggies will be "sharefarmed" I get 50% and they get 50%. Of course they tend to the gardens on the clock so its all gravy for them.

I am hoping that between quail bird sales, some eggs and veggies, I wont have to remit as much in salaries.

 

[ozexpat]

well we put a couple in the incubator. we shall see.

We are getting an egg a day from the 6 local girls. I am hoping that we will get a bit of a boost before one goes broody. I am looking forward to a broody or six.

 

[Sweetpea3829]

well we put a couple in the incubator. we shall see.

We are getting an egg a day from the 6 local girls. I am hoping that we will get a bit of a boost before one goes broody. I am looking forward to a broody or six.

*sigh* I still have two hold-outs!

The two hens that are laying regularly, are doing a nice job. Can't understand why the other two aren't laying yet. One of those two is a weird chicken for sure. She's always hiding under the coop ramp, or under the nesting box (hubby left a gap). I keep peeking under there to see if she's hiding her eggs, but nope.

And when I say she's hiding under there, I mean she's spending a LOT of time under there...almost like she's broody! A few times, I've gone in to check on them, and can only see her tail sticking out from under the ramp, and she lays there so still, I've thought she was "gone" a time or two. But give her a poke and she squawks and jumps up. She's just soooo....odd.

 

[ozexpat]

Today we collected 2 eggs from the visaya/rir pen. Ita hard to tell if 2 or 3 are laying but I will take it either way.

Once we have 10 hatched I will put the black bresse roo in there.

 

[ozexpat]

Our original brown goat is definitely pregnant. Our new young brown goat is on heat. June and July should be kidding season

August will be the start of the farrowing of the pigs.

We will introduce Motza to a bull in October

By September we should have the resemblance of a sustainable little farm.

 

[hillfloweranch]

first salmon favorelle egg today!!!! woohooo!!! hoping she picks up on production here soon...so I can start collecting for ya Oz!! fingers crossed

 

[ozexpat]

first salmon favorelle egg today!!!! woohooo!!! hoping she picks up on production here soon...so I can start collecting for ya Oz!! fingers crossed

thats great heather!!

thanks

 

[scottcaddy]

Quote: Is she the low hen in the pecking order, and is she a bit shy also? That combo can give you a hen that hides most of the time.

Scott

 

[Sweetpea3829]

Is she the low hen in the pecking order, and is she a bit shy also? That combo can give you a hen that hides most of the time.

Scott

She is the low hen in the pecking order. She was the one that had a bad hatch, and we probably should have culled her, but I didn't have the heart to do so. After separating her from the others for about a week or so, she was finally strong enough to be put back with the other chicks. She was the hen that, for most of the summer and fall, didn't come out of the coop very much at all. When we swapped roosters (got rid of the mean one), she actually perked up quite a bit and seemed to enjoy a higher status than before.

Shy? Well, she isn't afraid of us and will come up for treats. But she's certainly not as friendly as the others, and definitely DOES not like to be picked up, lol.

 

[ozexpat]

She is the low hen in the pecking order. She was the one that had a bad hatch, and we probably should have culled her, but I didn't have the heart to do so. After separating her from the others for about a week or so, she was finally strong enough to be put back with the other chicks. She was the hen that, for most of the summer and fall, didn't come out of the coop very much at all. When we swapped roosters (got rid of the mean one), she actually perked up quite a bit and seemed to enjoy a higher status than before.

Shy? Well, she isn't afraid of us and will come up for treats. But she's certainly not as friendly as the others, and definitely DOES not like to be picked up, lol.

unless she has "womens problems" from her hatch, she will eventually start laying. give her until spring