Maine

[suzMEchicks]

www.gardenweb.com They had some good info. about poison ivy

 

[buckabucka]

Ugh, went to go put the ducks away and feed the horses. It is all slushy outside, so my shoes are soaking and my coat is wet too. Ducks seem to like it though, which is good. Horses are soaking wet though, cant tell which one is Dom and which one is Arizona, they are so dark now! Whenever we try to dry them off with towels, they freak out.

Even after dark arrived the ducks were out playing in the slushy mess. I had a heck of a time getting them in. I too was soaked, but mostly from trudging through deep snow that was strong enough to hold my weight and now no longer is. Let's just say, I hope no one was watching me out there.

Well, I hope no one was watching me, either! I went out to rake off the hoop houses and hoop coop before sunset. The hoop houses have big sloped banks on the sides from all the snow we raked off this winter. If you go inside the hoop, you can see that the spring sun has caused the snow at the base of the hoop to melt away and pull back, but about 4 feet up, there is thick ice pack that is still pressing into the sides.

So I'm standing outside near the top of the steep slope with my rake, when one leg broke through and I sunk right up to my hip. I was able to struggle out and continue raking, but the second time it happened, I was tilted sideways and unable to pull myself up. For a moment, I wondered how many hours it would take DH to realize I was taking too long out there.

Finally, I was able to get my other leg down in the hole and shift my balance. I pulled one leg out, but my boot was stuck in the other hole. Every time I pulled, my boot started pulling off. I had to dig out with my hands, and finally got both legs free!

We have 14 inches here and it is still snowing. I'm sure there will be plenty more wallowing around and getting stuck today.

 

[Branch Chickens]

We have 14 inches here and it is still snowing. I'm sure there will be plenty more wallowing around and getting stuck today.

Crazy that you have 14! We're just a few towns over, in South China, and I would be surprised if we got more than 4. There was a lot of rain and sleet during the night.

 

[lazy gardener]

We got at least 14" here too. Re: vinegar and poison ivy, I've wondered the same thing, but cautious because of fear of contaminating the growth around it. I'm wondering if one could make up a concoction of vinegar, salt and some dish soap to help give it some staying power on the leaves. If anyone has had any luck getting rid of it with natural means that haven't had a lasting effect on the surrounding growth, I'd love to hear what you did. I do know that mulch will clear it over a 2 year time span, but I have too much ivy, in shrubby places to be able to do that.

 

[anyasmifya]

Bleepity Bleep Bleep Bleep, rant, rant, rant, rant snow! We've gotten probably 24 inches of bleeping snow! I just spent the last hour and a half shoveling my birdies an area to roam in! It's still snowing, major bleeping drifts everywhere! I'm half hour north of Bangor.

The other day a raccoon snuck into the nest box and ate an egg! I found the scoundrels tracks. This nest box isn't in the main totally enclosed coop area, but it is fenced in. The little bugger must have scaled the fence. I think the egg was hidden underneath some hay because I did go and collect them before I went to bed!

I think the best way to eradicate poison ivy is to pull it all out, make sure you get the roots, lots of work. Make sure you cover up well and wear clothes you can just toss when done. That's probably the only 'safe and natural" way.

 

[CoopChick719]

We got at least 14" here too. Re: vinegar and poison ivy, I've wondered the same thing, but cautious because of fear of contaminating the growth around it. I'm wondering if one could make up a concoction of vinegar, salt and some dish soap to help give it some staying power on the leaves. If anyone has had any luck getting rid of it with natural means that haven't had a lasting effect on the surrounding growth, I'd love to hear what you did. I do know that mulch will clear it over a 2 year time span, but I have too much ivy, in shrubby places to be able to do that.

I've had good luck with boiling hot water & hot vinegar on weeds. I don't know if it would work on poison ivy though.

Well, I hope no one was watching me, either! I went out to rake off the hoop houses and hoop coop before sunset. The hoop houses have big sloped banks on the sides from all the snow we raked off this winter. If you go inside the hoop, you can see that the spring sun has caused the snow at the base of the hoop to melt away and pull back, but about 4 feet up, there is thick ice pack that is still pressing into the sides.

So I'm standing outside near the top of the steep slope with my rake, when one leg broke through and I sunk right up to my hip. I was able to struggle out and continue raking, but the second time it happened, I was tilted sideways and unable to pull myself up. For a moment, I wondered how many hours it would take DH to realize I was taking too long out there.

Finally, I was able to get my other leg down in the hole and shift my balance. I pulled one leg out, but my boot was stuck in the other hole. Every time I pulled, my boot started pulling off. I had to dig out with my hands, and finally got both legs free!

We have 14 inches here and it is still snowing. I'm sure there will be plenty more wallowing around and getting stuck today.

OH NO, Bucka! I've started taking my cell phone with me to the coop because I'd probably out there for hours before someone came to check on me!

Bleepity Bleep Bleep Bleep, rant, rant, rant, rant snow! We've gotten probably 24 inches of bleeping snow! I just spent the last hour and a half shoveling my birdies an area to roam in! It's still snowing, major bleeping drifts everywhere! I'm half hour north of Bangor.

The other day a raccoon snuck into the nest box and ate an egg! I found the scoundrels tracks. This nest box isn't in the main totally enclosed coop area, but it is fenced in. The little bugger must have scaled the fence. I think the egg was hidden underneath some hay because I did go and collect them before I went to bed!

I think the best way to eradicate poison ivy is to pull it all out, make sure you get the roots, lots of work. Make sure you cover up well and wear clothes you can just toss when done. That's probably the only 'safe and natural" way.

I think anyasmifya is right on the pulling it out just becareful when you do. I know someone who was ripping it out and got some dirt from the roots in her eyes. She had a terrible reaction to it! Safety goggles, gloves, long sleeves & long pants.

 

[mckenney]

Looking for experienced hatchers advice. Just got this in the mail with a small crack, should I try to incubate anyway, or is it a lost cause? I'm worried it may ruin the rest of the hatch if I tried?

 

[mckenney]

this one too

 

[MEMama3]

Looking for experienced hatchers advice. Just got this in the mail with a small crack, should I try to incubate anyway, or is it a lost cause? I'm worried it may ruin the rest of the hatch if I tried?

you can try sealing it with candle wax, but candle often. They're really dark, so by the time you would see a blood ring, it might be too late. It's risky, but it might be okay.

 

[mckenney]

you can try sealing it with candle wax, but candle often. They're really dark, so by the time you would see a blood ring, it might be too late. It's risky, but it might be okay.

Is it risky for the rest of the eggs? Wasn't sure if it failed that it would produce some kind of bacteria that may kill off the rest or something like that?