Minnesota!

[KlopKlop]

Here is another good Haylage article i just found

http://smallfarmcanada.ca/2014/making-forage-on-a-very-small-scale/

This seems to indicate that the grass clippings should be allowed to dry a little (a few hours or less)

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I've got some good small bags for this. I was envisioning the big black garbage bags -- 33 gallon. but since I have only 10 birds and I'm doing this as a treat. It seems right to just go small on the bags and pull them out every couple days this winter. Good idea.
I was going to get the lawn mowed here yesterday but saw the rain was coming and now have decided to let it grow up and have a bit more on my lawn harvest for the birds. ha.
Only so many weeks left of good lawn growing.
Interesting to hear of the mild winter coming. I had not heard. Last year my birds free ranged all winter except January and February. Only two months in the run.
The winters before they spent a solid six months in the run. That's a long time in a 10x 12 space. those are long winters for certain. The foraging during the freeze isn't the greatest but at least their not bored with the small space.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I like that article a lot. That last one. Gives you lots of detail on what kind of moisture to shoot for...and I think I'll avoid the haylage bergs. Good tip on the vaccum sealing with the shop vac. Maybe I'll go mid way on the size and use kitchen bags 12 or 13 gallon whatever they are. I think this will compress down to not much.

And I'm thinking you could jumpstart the process with a splash of apple cider vinegar with the mother. That's lacto bacillus I believe and could start the Lactic acid making or fermenting. Just thinking outloud.

 

[The BlanchRanch]

We had a group of about 5 or 6 eagles here last fall. Stuck around about a week if I remember correctly. Do they migrate as families? Some had white heads and the others were juvies yet. One was perched right behind my house. I walked right up to the tree and was checking it out. It just sat there looking at me. It was huge! They also perched above the goose house at the time. No bird losses last fall and I was surprised! They are incredibly loud also. The screech is indescribable. I am hoping they decide to not stop by our place this fall. I have way more birds and youger ones too.

My egg count was down 50% yesterday. Obviously I am assuming it was related to the heat the previous days. We already have more today.

I harvested some beans and got them in the freezer today. I tried to plant some peas, carrots and spinach for a fall crop. They look good so far. Been in the ground about 3 weeks I think. Coming up nicely. I pulled more beets so I will be canning those tomorrow. I am waiting ever so patiently for the cucumbers to come in so I can try my hand at pickles. I have 11 pints of Dill Beans already. Good times with the harvest coming in. I staggered my spring planting so I would not be overwhelmed with it all coming in at once. I have not done anything with zucchini but make bread with it. The family loves it so why not. I can grate it and freeze it for use in the winter months to make a nice yummy loaf of bread on a cold snowy day. MMMmmm smells so good!

What was on your menu for supper tonight? Been in the kitchen all day last thing I want to do is make supper. Not sure what we will have tonight. Tacos maybe. Easy enough and we get to use up some lettuce from the garden with out the kids fussing about salads AGAIN.

Wow! So much work!! Sounds like a good day. I just did some last touches on my center Island. Countertops go in tomorrow.
Minnie got me going on the zucchini dishes. So I made some sauteed zuccini with peppers, herbs, garlic and portobellos; rice and some fish. I do think if you don't make them right they can taste bad. But done right! Numm.

Quote: Ha!! That may get more of a reaction then you are looking for. LOL. But seriously. I like to go on a day they forecast rain. Best way possible to get a thin crowd.

Quote: If you go on the same day I will keep an eye out for you.

Mine actually laid more when it was hot the last couple weeks then any other time this year. crazy ladies! I do have fans on in the henhouse on those hot days, maybe it helps them in the nesting boxes not get as hot.

Yeah. Mine make no sense either. When I expect one thing I always seem to get another.

 

[duluthralphie]

BC..

Haylage is simply silage made with hay instead of wet corn plants.....

NOW..

As one that was forced to use a pick axe as a kid before and after school to dig out enough frozen silage to feed the cows.....let me assure you the hay bale would be considered soft in January compared to the haylage...


I think it is great idea , if you live south of the Mason-Dixon line...or further south yet..


I think Minnie mentioned in one of her posts a long time back about having to chop out frozen silage too.. BTW those big white bales of silage......they freeze too.....

 

[duluthralphie]

Sure, then we get to the next page.....



Interesting article,,, I still am a doubting Thomas on it being "feedable" during the winter, unless you keep it in your house I think it will be a big frozen bag.


I wonder though how it would work in the shoulder seasons....hmmmmm

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I remember helping Dad shovel corn silage out for the beef cattle. Maybe it wasn't winter. But the shoveling didn't seem that hard. I'm too old and it was too long ago to remember for certain. But silage, of course, was his winter feed. I'll have to ask him more about it. And in fact he has several acres of lush lawn-if I'm extra ambitious-I can rake up as well. I have half a notion to just let some of that grass dry a bit then just let it do what it's going to do with the lesser amount of moisture. With weight and a slight amount of moisture its probably going to start a form of fermenting I hope, anyways. Even if it is slower or less. or if I just end up with "grass bales"

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Shoulder seasons could use a little green too. Good idea.

My original thought was to just dry out that grass pretty good and store it in a pile - like an old time hay stack- and let them go at it as they need. But the barrel storage has me intrigued. As it's neater. The idea of it fermenting for greater nutrient value is also another bonus of course. I'm afraid I'd end up with the black or orange dangerous bi-product though....knowing me. shoot. What to do....

 

[duluthralphie]

I think, if it is too dry it will mold and not ferment. I know the top layer of silage was thrown away because it dried out and was moldy..

If you shoveled silage it was probably removed from the silo by a silo unloader, which chop up the frozen silage and blew it down the chute. so you could shovel it. When I talk about chipping it out that was LONG before we had a silo unloader. I loved when we got that. I think I was a senior in high school then..

 

[KlopKlop]

Shoulder seasons could use a little green too. Good idea.

My original thought was to just dry out that grass pretty good and store it in a pile - like an old time hay stack- and let them go at it as they need. But the barrel storage has me intrigued. As it's neater. The idea of it fermenting for greater nutrient value is also another bonus of course. I'm afraid I'd end up with the black or orange dangerous bi-product though....knowing me. shoot. What to do....

this is exactly why i usually dont share things until I have tried it. Now ive got you all excited and cant even offer advice. I think i will try several different mixtures and then store some in different areas and see exactly what happens. worst case i pitch it, best case ive got chicken feed then next year i can be the resident expert on chicken haylage