Nevadans?

[sherylreno]

Sad news this morning. We lost another hen. Do you guys have any idea on what would kill a hen silently in the ealy dawn hours and then not eat her? All of our dogs and cats were still in for the day, and I've never seen anyone elses domestic pets here. We're about a couple of miles from any other homes.

Mandy, in your area I know you have wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, bears, racoons, hawks and I can't remember what the animal was last year that Ron identified for someone on here, it's related to the weasel or something and I think you're in the range too but it was closer to Tahoe so perhaps not? If you don't have any outside signs though it's hard to say on your hen. Was this one of your leghorns? I'm sorry to hear you lost one though.

Sorry, I haven't been on today because I was doing stuff around the house and then outside. Was getting the rest of the mulch into the garden area for planting carrots, radishes, swiss chard, lettuce and my onions. I'll be putting the leeks in soon too.

I also let the little critters outside today to roam around for a bit but they loved it so much I decided to bring out half their brooder too and we all ended up being outside together for the last 4 hours. The wind just picked up so I brought us all in. Video is coming on their outing too.

 

[sherylreno]

Here's the video I said I was going to post.

 

[2seth2]

Cute video sherly and i don't think wolfs live in nevada.

 

[americanvalkyrie]

I wonder if you could repurpose your old feed bags to make grow bags. I am planning to sew some totes/purses from mine.

Actually, I planted two feed bags today! I'm sure they'll be great. I just rolled the tops down, and as they fill with dirt (potatoes) I'll roll them back up.

 

[americanvalkyrie]

Sheryl, look how big the ducklings are!!! Wow, adorable!

Today I planted potatoes, shuffled chickens around, and started transplanting some of these seedlings. When I started 500 seeds, what was I thinking? Honestly. I've transplanted 1 tray of 72 tomatoes, and 22 peppers, and filled 5 laundry baskets. About 400 to go. Looks like I need to build that temp-greenhouse tomorrow, no matter what, because I'll have nowhere else to put these.

 

[chicharomirinda]

I got the last two sections of wire put on top of the run today. Actually there is a little bit left right by the coop that I'll have to figure out how to do tomorrow but it's almost all done. I'll feel safe letting the chicks out there now. Mainly worried about hawks during the day. I started working on a divider for the run so the chicks have their own outdoor space. Maybe I can get that set up tomorrow so they can go out. It's supposed to be pretty nice.

I ended up taking my daughter to urgent care this afternoon. Got there 10 minutes before they closed and she does have an ear infection so I'm glad i brought her in. We got the medicine at the pharmacy so hopefully she'll be on the mend soon. Poor thing. She missed a birthday party this afternoon and she'll have to miss church tomorrow.

that my son doesn't get sick.


what a bunch of cuties, sheryl!

Sheryl, look how big the ducklings are!!! Wow, adorable!

Today I planted potatoes, shuffled chickens around, and started transplanting some of these seedlings. When I started 500 seeds, what was I thinking? Honestly. I've transplanted 1 tray of 72 tomatoes, and 22 peppers, and filled 5 laundry baskets. About 400 to go. Looks like I need to build that temp-greenhouse tomorrow, no matter what, because I'll have nowhere else to put these.

You are super gardener! Did you transplant the tomatoes and peppers into the Solo cups and then you take them in at night? My seedlings are doing good. I had a very good germination rate on the tomatoes, etc. Peppers aren't up yet, though. Maybe I need to give them some warmth.

 

[americanvalkyrie]

Elizabeth, I hope your daughter gets better soon!

Yes, that's the plan... Solo cups then in at night. But I have way too many plants right now. When they're all in Solo cups, I will HAVE TO have that greenhouse. I can run Christmas lights out there for warmth, and toss a blanket on top of the plastic when it's really cold. Freezing temps aren't over yet, but just a few degrees below freezing isn't too scary.

While we were out working on the yard, the new neighbors peeked over the fence and started up a conversation about all our efforts over here. It was nice to know that they think it's such a good idea. We gave them a dozen eggs to sweeten the deal. I keep worrying that we'll have cranky neighbors, but so far everyone is really down-to-earth.

 

[2seth2]

what is pigtails real name? and aburey how much do the chicks cost

 

[SunnyDawn]

Sad news this morning. We lost another hen. Do you guys have any idea on what would kill a hen silently in the ealy dawn hours and then not eat her? All of our dogs and cats were still in for the day, and I've never seen anyone elses domestic pets here. We're about a couple of miles from any other homes.

Oh Mandy I'm so sorry to hear that! My first thought was domestic dog. They will often kill and not eat the bird once they've killed it. But could be a predator that got scared away before they had a chance to feed. We did see a dog here one night that doesn't belong to any of the neighbors. I have no idea where he came from but we shot into the ground and he ran off. Haven't seen him since but that doesn't mean anything. He probably just takes off as soon as he hears us.

So, what's the first thought that comes to your head when you see this ad?

http://reno.craigslist.org/grd/2930492431.html

(Safe for work... it's selling a chicken coop.)

The first thought that comes to my mind is I know why they don't have any more chickens. That coop is a predator's dream come true!

Hmmm, am I hogging the thread today or what?

I just finished ordering 4 more types of beans from Burpee. I got on to order red mulch film for the evaporation shield for my Global Buckets, and ended up getting beans. Sahara wants lima beans, but the pole variety reach 10 feet high, so I found a bush variety. Anyway... apparently Reno has caught on to using buckets for gardening, because only ONCE have we found surplus buckets at Whole Foods. In December. Nothing since. So, this year, I'm going to experiment with using reusable shopping bags. I can set them on the driveway, or hang them up on the fence, out of reach of the chickens. Walmart sells theirs for 50 cents... lots cheaper than about any other growing container. My biggest concern is evaporation in the hot weather... we'll see how it goes. I might have to wrap the bag in something less permeable. So many people who garden in them do it in areas that actually receive rain.

So anyway, 2 links to consider if you want to try it out. First, this one is from the Global Bucket kids, talking about their success of growing in bags. These boys are going somewhere!
http://www.globalbuckets.org/p/grow-bags.html

And another really important one on which reusable bags NOT to use because of lead and cadmium content. From reading this, I'm seeing that you should be fine if you use cloth bags, taking out the rigid insert if it has any plastic in it. http://www.consumerfreedom.com/downloads/ccf_bag_report.pdf Which is kind of a detriment, since plastic will retain moisture better. But I'm all for eating food with no lead content.

Great info. Thanks!

So wow has things been hectic at my house & its definately springtime! My new mini aussie pups showed up last nite. So I had to share pics!!

Oh Katz!!! They are adorable!!!!! I want to see more pics of them as they grow!

sooooo adorible

sorry about the hen

what shold i sell the cockrels for?

I'm the wrong person to ask. I often just give my roos away. It's hard enough to find homes for extra roos. I mean if someone happens to be looking for a roo great. I've seen them for as much as $15 on CL. What the heck, try an ad and see what happens.

Here's the video I said I was going to post.

They are really growing! They are so cute!

I got the last two sections of wire put on top of the run today. Actually there is a little bit left right by the coop that I'll have to figure out how to do tomorrow but it's almost all done. I'll feel safe letting the chicks out there now. Mainly worried about hawks during the day. I started working on a divider for the run so the chicks have their own outdoor space. Maybe I can get that set up tomorrow so they can go out. It's supposed to be pretty nice.

I ended up taking my daughter to urgent care this afternoon. Got there 10 minutes before they closed and she does have an ear infection so I'm glad i brought her in. We got the medicine at the pharmacy so hopefully she'll be on the mend soon. Poor thing. She missed a birthday party this afternoon and she'll have to miss church tomorrow.

that my son doesn't get sick.


what a bunch of cuties, sheryl!
Quote:
Poor thing! I remember going through that with my DD. My son never got ear aches which is weird cause it is supposedly a Miller male thing. My Dad had them horrible as a kid and so did both my brothers but not me or my sister. I sure hope she feels better soon!

I've never grown peppers so I know nothing about them. My leeks and eggplants took forever to come up but everything is finally coming up now. Great to hear that the rest of your plants are doing well.

I went to Missy's today and she has got some very healthy looking seedlings sprouting everywhere! I just love to see baby plants doing so well!



GUESS WHAT?!!! I have a pip!!! One of my marans eggs has a pip! I didn't think they would hatch cause they are from brand new layers! HeeHee! I am soooo excited!!!!!

 

[americanvalkyrie]

I'm the wrong person to ask. I often just give my roos away. It's hard enough to find homes for extra roos. I mean if someone happens to be looking for a roo great. I've seen them for as much as $15 on CL. What the heck, try an ad and see what happens.

I've never grown peppers so I know nothing about them. My leeks and eggplants took forever to come up but everything is finally coming up now. Great to hear that the rest of your plants are doing well.

I went to Missy's today and she has got some very healthy looking seedlings sprouting everywhere! I just love to see baby plants doing so well!
GUESS WHAT?!!! I have a pip!!! One of my marans eggs has a pip! I didn't think they would hatch cause they are from brand new layers! HeeHee! I am soooo excited!!!!!

My garden must be another one of my kids, because you made my day with the "healthy seedlings" comment. They are doing very well, aren't they? Hardly any legginess, thanks to the decent weather.

I've seen roos for sale for $25 on CL, but they were fancy ones... really, about as fancy as the ones we have. A blue wheaten ameraucana is pretty rare and fancy. There was one post that I was trying to follow for a blue ameraucana and another fancy roo, and I didn't see it reposted more than once, so hopefully the seller got $25 per roo. I'm planning to advertise "designer cockerels" and see how far that can go. Might as well give it a shot. You can always offer them for free if you can't sell them, or offer them for a trade of some sort. Maybe you can get something you can use, if no money.

Elizabeth, how long have the seeds been planted? What did you plant, and where did you buy them? How soon did the tomatoes sprout after putting them on your fridge? All of my peppers sprouted within a week, except for the exotic ones... and they sprouted in 10 days. If all else fails and you don't have time to replace seed, I'll gladly share some of my seedlings. I have sweet banana, jumbo jalapeno, 2 kinds of anaheim, purple jalapeno, thai, rainbow cayenne, and 4 exotic ones (peter, chicken heart, fatali, and cow's horn.)

Chick pics are a must!!! That's so awesome, especially with the low hatch rate for marans.