Maine

[Jazor]

Good to know-thanks for telling me! I do want to learn to shoot a gun.

On another "sound" topic: any doubts that I may have had about possibly having a cockerel were put to rest. I heard TWO distinct cock-a-doodle do's, this AM as I walked out to the chicken house. So now, I just need to be sure it's the RIR. It is about 20 wks, now, what are the physical characteristics I should see at this age?

I was pointed in the direction of the "what breed/gender is this?" forum, and they have been great so far. There are a lot of people that peruse that forum, might be good to get some advice/opinions.

 

[hoppy]

I'd like to know more about planting now as well. Last year, I started some things (I think maybe early September), but they never grew enough to be eaten and died during our many freeze-thaw cycles over winter. This year, I started seedlings in July, and then it was really hot, so I didn't transplant out for a while. A few things bolted in the pots, and all looked pathetic when I put them in. Now, the arugula and mustard look great! I have a little lettuce growing, and the spinach: half bolted, and one variety is hanging on.

Now I wish I had more plants, but I was thinking it is too late. I suppose if I can get it to germinate, maybe this will be a better overwintering year. Chard sounds like a good idea. Maybe I'll give it a shot.

 

[Widget]

Well my attack tom turkey seems to be getting the message that he needs to tone down his aggressive behavior towards me if he wants to not be invited to Thanksgiving dinner. For the past two days he has moved away when I get near him. At least when free ranging. In the coop run he is still a bit too protective but not as bad as he was last week.

I also have a duck who is on again off again broody. I keep telling her that this is not the best time of year to hatch out little ones but she just glares and hisses and continues to sit on her nest.

 

[CoopChick719]

It is easier to spot skunks there, plus all the dark bushes, logs, and trees look like lions, bears, and ax murderers to me. I never really lost my childhood fear of the dark. It makes for faster running!

I hear ya bucka! When I go to the coop after dark, our yard looks like there's been a prison break with the garage flood light & me sweeping the flashlight everywhere!

My run is really muddy and messy right now. I am thinking of cutting another pop door in the back of the coop and making a second run so that I can rotate them.

My run has been the same way, MT! Finally dried out this weekend. We decided to put the winter tarp on Sunday since we had good weather. I had heard it was supposed to rain Monday so I didn't want my now dry run to be muddy up again. Now it probably won't snow until February since we've partially wrapped the run.

 

[lazy gardener]

I can just see it!!! This being my first winter with my chicks...what can be planted now for winter? I read up on planting grass and sprouts, in doors for thr winter.

Bucka: Some spinach plants do better in spring, others in Winter. One that does well later in the year is Bloomsdale... either Bloomsdale long standing or Winter Bloomsdale. When you get your seed catalogs, they should list which varieties do best either time of year. You might order a couple packets of several types of seeds to hold over for fall planting... Or like me, search out your left overs from spring planting, and use those. I'm also a wimp when it comes to going out after dark. When ever I go out, I'm sure to announce it to my hubby... so if the axe murderer does get me, he'll know!

I'd like to know more about planting now as well. Last year, I started some things (I think maybe early September), but they never grew enough to be eaten and died during our many freeze-thaw cycles over winter. This year, I started seedlings in July, and then it was really hot, so I didn't transplant out for a while. A few things bolted in the pots, and all looked pathetic when I put them in. Now, the arugula and mustard look great! I have a little lettuce growing, and the spinach: half bolted, and one variety is hanging on.

Now I wish I had more plants, but I was thinking it is too late. I suppose if I can get it to germinate, maybe this will be a better overwintering year. Chard sounds like a good idea. Maybe I'll give it a shot.

MT: That second pop door sounds like a winner. That way you can keep the girls off the newly seeded area so it'll actually grow.

I've got chard, radishes, kale, lettuce, cabbage, spinach and peas still going. But they are going sloooooowly. I planted them in late august - some directly and some from transplants. I think with the change in the angle of the sun, they may be getting too much shade from one giant pine I have. My peppers are still going crazy too. They are soooooo late this year and pretty small. Same with the eggplant. After this crop is done we are going to till under and plant winter rye. I am going to try and plant some in the run. My run is really muddy and messy right now. I am thinking of cutting another pop door in the back of the coop and making a second run so that I can rotate them.

I hear ya bucka! When I go to the coop after dark, our yard looks like there's been a prison break with the garage flood light & me sweeping the flashlight everywhere!

My run has been the same way, MT! Finally dried out this weekend. We decided to put the winter tarp on Sunday since we had good weather. I had heard it was supposed to rain Monday so I didn't want my now dry run to be muddy up again. Now it probably won't snow until February since we've partially wrapped the run.

Ideally, the crops for winter should have been planted in late July, however, being an almost member of the procrastinators club (I'll send in my dues NEXT week), I never get that started until late August, Early Sept. Same thing for winter rye. If you want to get some going, better do it soon so it can get some growth on. A very simple winter cold frame can be made with bales of hay or straw to do the sides. Lay a couple of 2 x 4's across the top, then put your plastic or storm window panels over that. What ever you cover the top with, it has to be rugged enough that the snow and ice won't sag it down! I don't know how I ever lived without cattle panels. I've found that a length of cattle panel provides wonderful support, you can roll the plastic back and reach through the panel to do your harvesting. It's awkward to get in to, as you have to lay across the bales to get into it, but it works real well. Then when the weather gets cold enough that you don't expect that you'll be accessing it until it warms up a bit, you can lightly mulch the bed with some straw. I don't want to put my straw too thick: want to still see a bit of soil peeking through. Even if you don't plant stuff until now, it'll get some growth on now, then when the weather starts warming up again in Feb, it'll begin growing again. You'll be eating salads in March. I think I'm going to move my hoop green house over to the hoop coop, cover it with some chicken wire and poly for the girls to have a winter sun room, and do a hay bale tunnel for my winter greens. You can plant anything for a fall/winter crop that you would normally plant early in the spring. A couple of fun little plants to consider for an other year are Claytonia, and Mache. Don't forget that if you plant under plastic, you'll need to be able to water it!!!!

Have you ever tried radish with peanut butter? My favorite variety is French Breakfast. It's a very mild radish. I slice it length wise, and spread a dollop of PB between 2 radish slices. It's a wonderful combination.

 

[chickery-do]

Before I give one of my roos away! One is a GLW and the other is a SLW. All my hens are Ameriucana'sand Buff orpingtons. This is the first time I ever had any roos but next year I would like to use one! Should I do, could I tell if it's a male or female, since the male will be a species that I do not have.

 

[ashandvine]

Are they birds or eggs? Am I on incubating standby?

BIRDS. Here tomorrow.... hear me chewing my nails in anticipation?

Well my attack tom turkey seems to be getting the message that he needs to tone down his aggressive behavior towards me if he wants to not be invited to Thanksgiving dinner. For the past two days he has moved away when I get near him. At least when free ranging. In the coop run he is still a bit too protective but not as bad as he was last week.

I also have a duck who is on again off again broody. I keep telling her that this is not the best time of year to hatch out little ones but she just glares and hisses and continues to sit on her nest.

Yey for the trainable Tom. The visual of this duck got me to chuckle. Does she sit on nothing or other birds eggs that are awaiting the kitchen?

 

[Widget]

BIRDS. Here tomorrow.... hear me chewing my nails in anticipation?

Yey for the trainable Tom. The visual of this duck got me to chuckle. Does she sit on nothing or other birds eggs that are awaiting the kitchen?

The weather looks great for bird arrival.

And yes she is sitting on whatever eggs are in the coop. Fortunately I have one chicken who lays elsewhere so I sill have table eggs.

I was just offered a seasonal position at LL Bean in their Portland call center. I do shop there so that counted as points towards keeping my Maine citizenship but working there gives bonus points and a great discount. I have also climbed Mt Katahdin which is major points towards being a true Mainah.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

BIRDS. Here tomorrow.... hear me chewing my nails in anticipation?

You must post pictures tomorrow!

I was just offered a seasonal position at LL Bean in their Portland call center. I do shop there so that counted as points towards keeping my Maine citizenship but working there gives bonus points and a great discount. I have also climbed Mt Katahdin which is major points towards being a true Mainah.

Congrats on the position!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

BIRDS. Here tomorrow.... hear me chewing my nails in anticipation?

I'm so happy for you.

The weather looks great for bird arrival.

And yes she is sitting on whatever eggs are in the coop. Fortunately I have one chicken who lays elsewhere so I sill have table eggs.

I was just offered a seasonal position at LL Bean in their Portland call center. I do shop there so that counted as points towards keeping my Maine citizenship but working there gives bonus points and a great discount. I have also climbed Mt Katahdin which is major points towards being a true Mainah.

Widget, your duck and my turkey must be on the same bad schedule. I told her now was not a good time to sit, and she just sat there, hunched over her eggs. She didn't seem to think I knew what I was talking about. And then she started to molt and slunk off to the coop, abandoning her eggs. I was too afraid to say I told you so.