my very own micro farm

[attimus]

Second batch of mealworms ordered along with a crow caller. That's right not a no crow collar, but a caller. I want those big black beasts hanging around my place they seem to do well with deterring the hawks. Although no longer landing in the trees just out of arms length above ones head, not that I've been THAT close but they were pretty low for a while, they still remain in the area and anything helps. I still
have yet to build my scarecrows, one thing at a time or is it ten at once, can never remember
Spread another layer of shavings in all coops and runs and got the garden run raked out. Need to stay on top of the flies. They're some real Buzz Killingtons.
Here's the smallest egg I've gotten on the bottom.

besides a wind egg that is. Came from the kelso pen. Totally Athenas, saw her in the box yesterday. Always feels like im walking in on a lady in a public restroom when i open the lid and they just look up at me like do you mind. Medusa has also been laying perfect little eggs since arrival.
Here's some chick pics. They are getting big fast.

Enjoi.

 

[birdman55]

nice keep up the good work...there getting big...im about to go let out the 13 chicks in the big run for the first time today

 

[attimus]

Here's those olive trees and some old school waterers I got on Monday too

 

[attimus]

Been driven the last few days towards the garden. 3 boxes complete. Framed wired and filled

with another ready for dirt and one more out of the ground half way to the same point. Also moved a substantial amount of ready to use compost through my screen today.

That's about 20 feet from unusable to usable compost. There is a small divider between the two piles and then again with the box, but obviously I need to make room, hence the digging. I'll top off my newly finished boxes with a layer of the good stuff.
Speaking of garden. My potato project is working out nicely so far

I have been adding siding and dirt as it grows, the hopeful outcome will be this whole box will be full of potatoes at the end of the season. But we all know never to count eggs before they hatch. Har har.

My new rotation of worms and crow caller came in as well and I already have them set up in their own bin with a beetle and pupae bin in the waiting

Group 1 on the left with worm, pupae and beetle boxes(should screen the beetle box bottom? And how?) And group A on the right, but this time I'm ahead of myself and have the rest of what they'll need. Beetles are doing great btw, pull a few out of the pupae bin everyday. They seem active and hungry, they love the carrots. Some are starting to get real dark at this point too.
The crow caller is fun

Although I feel like a complete idiot when I'm blowing into it. Lol it doesn't sound right but I'm sure with practice. Actually some flew over a short while after I showed my friend, during a game of discgolf and I accredited their presence to it.
It looks like im going to miss the Easter hatch this year but will still have some babies by the latter half of next month, ducklings to be exact if your just now reading this.

They will actually be born close to or on my ladies bday. the day the original ducks where acquired for our home. Curious and was thinking about it at work tonight. If I slipped a chicken egg in at the right time would it hatch? Has anyone ever used a duck as a broody for chicks?.
Speaking of chicks ours are getting big.

I need to band then all soon and get some pics to see what you all think of gender. I feel like there are 2 cockerals for sure and 3 pullets for sure with one up in the air.
Even younger then the chicks, my kelso eggs are cracking me up, so tiny

And apparently Athena does not appreciate my craftsmanship on the nesting boxes and decided the corner was better

It was literally just out of my reach through the entry, haha, had to use this scoop on a stick contraption a friend made when he gave me my other kelso and what is now the day pen, to reach a bit further. Lol.

 

[aart]

........
Speaking of garden. My potato project is working out nicely so far

I have been adding siding and dirt as it grows, the hopeful outcome will be this whole box will be full of potatoes at the end of the season. But we all know never to count eggs before they hatch. Har har.

....

This is a very cool concept...have seen several iterations and I think I like this one the best, sturdy and reusable.
Are the uprights (2x2's?) attached to the bottom siding section?
2x4's and 2x6's.....about a foot square?

 

[birdman55]

morning they chicken friend....one i can golf....lol...disc yep...and real golf well i landscape golf...one rough to another...so either way...lol...second if you take a razor and cut a big piece out of the bottom and leave like two inches all the way around..that should be good....then you get yourself a think screen with very small holes...and sure its thick cause if you get the thin one the bugs will eat thru it in a couple of months...then you hot glue on the outsides and you could put small bolts with a washer and nut facing the washer and nut on the underside...

 

[attimus]

This is a very cool concept...have seen several iterations and I think I like this one the best, sturdy and reusable.
Are the uprights (2x2's?) attached to the bottom siding section?
2x4's and 2x6's.....about a foot square?

Yes 2x2s and roughly a foot square. The 2x6 was to play catch up with the growth. Already pushing up past the dirt and almost time to fill in again. They grow fast. If this works I'll make a bigger one. I love that it takes up so little floor space too.

morning they chicken friend....one i can golf....lol...disc yep...and real golf well i landscape golf...one rough to another...so either way...lol...second if you take a razor and cut a big piece out of the bottom and leave like two inches all the way around..that should be good....then you get yourself a think screen with very small holes...and sure its thick cause if you get the thin one the bugs will eat thru it in a couple of months...then you hot glue on the outsides and you could put small bolts with a washer and nut facing the washer and nut on the underside...

That's good I'm always up for a challenge. Great video for the bins, I'll be picking up stuff for that tomorrow most likely. Looking at the calendar now, between work, holidays and birthdays the end of may will be best. 29th through the 2nd of June is about a full week and will allow me the most available time. This will also skip the memorial weekend rush.

Been messing around with the caller while typing this and I swear its working. Lol there have been a few that keep passing by. Now I'm determined to get good at it.

Lifes a garden, dig it.
Courtesy of Mr Joe Dirt.

 

[attimus]

Just built this for the kelsos

Still needs a lid but it holds quite a bit of feed. I'm happy with it and am now planning to build bigger ones for the main coop.

 

[aart]

Just built this for the kelsos


Still needs a lid but it holds quite a bit of feed. I'm happy with it and am now planning to build bigger ones for the main coop.

Nice... I just put a cover with holes over my bin feeder trough...stopped them from billing out so much feed all over the floor.

 

[birdman55]

very nice idea for the feed...cant wait to see it and the set up up close...im excited to get some hot sunny climate for this skin..maybe ill come back with a farmer tan...hahaha