my very own micro farm

[attimus]

Torrential down pour here since last night. Had a mad scramble through it this morning to get things under cover and make sure all the chickens were secure. This is some much needed rain but we are all a bit under the weather here so taking it easy. No since sticking myself out there to make it worse.
Onward and upward.

 

[attimus]

Weather is a lot better today. Moved the dottes out for the afternoon. Not to much longer and they'll be out permanently. I get excited every day I see new feather growth on them.
Only 2 more days til the first ducklings should be emerging. I watched her shuffle around on her nest for about 30 mins earlier. I could do it all day. Lol. She's turning all the eggs, so entertaining to watch.
Didn't mark the calender when the other one finally got to sitting bit I know it was about a week or so after the first even tho the second nest started later.
Weird birds. And the broody kelso is in the middle of them. Lol.
I spent some time leveling ground today for another pen, grow out, breeder, whatever pen, it will be a temporary home for the ducklings and mamas until they are a bit bigger.

Here's one of the olive trees we got from our friends in Montana. Doing well.

The rain was much welcome for the plant life bit now I'm going to have to re weed eat were I already have. I'm not moving fast enough. better get on that. I'll give it all a few days to dry before I tackle it again.
Onward and upward

 

[birdman55]

Thanks
When I planted 73 strawberries earlier this year I thought it was a lot now I want to plant 75 more. Lol.
My goal is to just add plants every year. More raspberries and blueberries, strawberries, fruit trees and herbs. Trying to help my thornless blackberry along to propagate more rooted runners( up to 5 currently). Can't have local strains around it tho, something about the mold one gets killing the other.
I would love some of those morels and my boss seemed just as interested when I mentioned your post. Definitely need to bring some on your trip, getting really ansy to start on the pond. One duck is a week out and the other has finally figured things out and isn't to far behind. On top of that I decided a bit before our trip to let the swedes lay in their own spot uninterrupted. 15 eggs and counting at this point so we'll see soon if one of them gets an incling to sit as well.

Everyone is doing well. Chicks second day outside for the after noon.



They were happy to have the space to run around

Got rid of one of the lorp roos today too. My boss needed one after an unfortunate incident with a dog.
Think I'm going to be keeping one for sure as long as he gets along with Rosco. So that leaves one more and a questionable that I'm keeping my fingers crossed is really a pullet.

Took a quick peek on Athena. She is hunkered down on those eggs like a champ.

She's not due much past the ducks. Lol. About to double my numbers within the next month.
Wow to actually say that, I mean I've always known that was the plan but, hahaha its happening right now.
Speaking of multiplying, my mealworms are doing fantastic. Pulling beetles from both pupae bins and moving more pupae in. The 1st batch is close to done with original worms, kinda crazy to think about going from 1100 down to a hundred or so. Second catch is still moving strong, added more oatmeal and always adding fresh carrots.

Gonna leave it here for now. I'm sure there's more.
Love peace and chicken grease.

wow 75 berries...yummy...expansion is going well...glad you got some rain...we have been getting rain all week...slowed me down a bit...
love peace and chicken grease...from the pest... i love it funny stuff there...see yah around

 

[attimus]

Just checked Athenas nest while she was up. Found a broken egg and was bummed and excited at the same time. Bummed that there's is one less chance for a chick. But the good news is they are fertile.

+#+warning not for the squeamish +#+

Posting embyriated egg
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I hope this was brains egg and not one of the kelsos
Hard to tell between them. End of this week they should be hatching.

wow 75 berries...yummy...expansion is going well...glad you got some rain...we have been getting rain all week...slowed me down a bit...
love peace and chicken grease...from the pest... i love it funny stuff there...see yah around

I'd rather have snow then rain when it comes to building but digging after a fresh rainfall is the best.
We won't get much more here so Im trying to get in what I can. Going to check prices on a few yards of filler dirt as well. Pesky gradual slants everywhere.

New pen is planned at 10x16 not sure about height yet somewhere over 6 feet tho. Picking up lumber shortly. Good day to run the table saw. The weathers pretty perfect here right now. Sunny no clouds, not to hot. Gonna take advantage. Work a bit then BBQ.
Onward and upward
Attimus

 

[attimus]

So 3 yards of dirt to be delivered tomorrow. I've got half of the frame done for the new run and coop. It will be 8x16 as a posed to the 10x. Easier time putting it together. That egg was a real eye opener to the fact that a lot of baby birds are on their way.
Lots to do in the next few days.
Party on Wayne.

 

[birdman55]

great news on the expansion....going to be getting a dump truck of sand hopefully this week...keep up the good work....going to be hatching close to two hundred beginning of may...
party on garth....lol

 

[attimus]

So got the dirt

Its spread and nearly leveled. One corner looks a little low. Frames going up and hardware clothe is lining the bottom.

No ducklings yet and she is still just hunkered down on that new. Who knows maybe there are some underneath her.

Been a while since I've posted the mealworms
Here are the first beetles. They scatter when the light comes. Lol

And the second worms

More to do and more to come.
Onward and upward

 

[birdman55]

oh man bob the builder slow down...your making me look lazy...hahaha....lol...great progress

 

[LindaB220]

Bob the builder is right. First time I've checked in in a while. I've had right knee replacement surgery. Six weeks ago and I'm slamming now. Can walk fast, more endurance and it looks like I never had surgery at all. BUT I had to let my son in law feed and water for a month. He did nothing else. So I come home to a bedraggled set of coops. I'm finally back in shape to shovel some and clean them out a little. BUT I was unable to do a garden this year. It was to be my first and I'm bummed that I have to pay for veggies. Living in La where growing season goes to mid Nov. I still have time to pick up some tomatoes and peppers and get a little going. If you have a water problem why not put buried 2 liter bottles or milk bottles with slight holes in the bottom around the plants. It concentrates where the water goes.

Keep up the good work.

 

[attimus]

Haha Bob the builder indeed. You all remember fraggle rock and the dozers. They just kept going regardless of the situation.
I went through a decent leg injury myself not to long ago. Partially cut achillies tendon. Scary stuff. Long story short im still here and its healed funny but hey im walking. Found out I was going to be a dad around the same time. Talk about motivation. Gotta just keep swimming and moving onward and upward.
with the new birds I need new pens and have this theory that you should always have more pens than birds. Kinda like a safety protocol. As long as I stay ahead it won't be overwhelming and geez it just feels good to build things with my own hands. I always hope that each build will stand above the last and as I see new ideas daily from many great byc members and I can only hope I cut a similar path for others that find there way here.
Strike first, strike hard, show no mercy.... kobra Kai.