Nevadans?

[americanvalkyrie]

That is strange those ducks don't know where the food is. I haven't put the newest ducks outside yet, that's still several weeks away still until they can go into the grow out area.

I think they're figuring it out. Today, after being away for 4 hours, Sahara tossed some bread on the pond and they weren't even interested. Normally, they race over there and gobble it up. So I think they're finally figuring out where to go when they're hungry.

 

[2seth2]

what is a tomatillo

 

[americanvalkyrie]

I love how exuberance leads to abundance.... i.e., the potatoes. Hindsight is a wonderful thing "Next year I think I'll order 6 lbs instead of 14." OMG! Kinda reminds me of the time at the ranch I planted 32 tomato plants....for two people. Luckily I had a juicer, a freezer (LOTS of sauce that year) and a garden-deprived office staff to take them off my hands....oh, yeah. And the chickens. Most days I had one or two feed buckets worth and absolutely NO kitchen counter space. If I never see another little yellow lightbulb tomato again I'd be happy.

But, what's worse, is that a friend of ours in town did his back deck and thought he'd plant some seeds to landscape the slope in the back of his house.....It turned out to be 92 zucchini plants!

I told him he was crazy...that he'd never be able to give away that many zukes. Even his dog hated him by the end of the summer.

- - -

This year -- no fertile ranch terrace -- I'm limited to container planting. Last year we had a bumper crop of jalepeno chiles (which husband pickled a couple quarts worth) and I just harvested up some "Oops! Look behind this weed...I forgot I planted them" garlic. Got over a dozen nice heads. Got a few bean plants in, one tomatillo, two volunteer tomatoes (no idea what they are) and assorted peppers. We'll see.....

I've planted 20 tomato plants so far, and plan to plant 10 more. BUT... 16 of those are maskotka and tumbling tom yellow, which are container plants. AND... (see how I'm all defensive about being so overzealous?) when the garden starts turning out food, we plan to buy a used freezer from Craigslist and hope to fill it up. There are so many things you can do with frozen or canned tomatoes. And if I manage to harvest gallons at a time, I can make marinara and either freeze or bottle that up. And cherry tomatoes are what we use most, since the kids and husband all bring their lunches to work/school. I get sandwich bags and fill them with cherry tomatoes... they're always the first things eaten.

We did only plant 1 bed of zucchini, maybe 10 plants. If we end up getting too much zucchini, I can feed the extras to the chickens. Last year I grated a bunch of overgrown zucchini up for winter bread, and haven't yet used it.

We are planning over 20 winter squash and pumpkin plants. And planning to store that, as well. I can cook down the pumpkins and butternuts, and freeze the puree for muffins.

Seth, a tomatillo is a close relative to the tomato. It's cooked down into salsa verde... green chili sauce. They look like green tomatoes, covered with a papery leaf wrapper that's split on the end. The hispanic markets almost always have them.

 

[aubreynoramarie]

tomatillos are sticky green tomato-like thingys that you use to make delicious chili verde with!

 

[chickee]

How is the cochin brahama hatch going candy?

The bantam Buff Brahma eggs are arriving on Wednesday

Unfortunately for some reason the eggs from her bantam self blue Cochin's have had terrible fertility and she has only gotten one chick out of 3 hatches, so she won't be sending any of those I will keep you posted on how the BBB eggs are doing

 

[HighNDryFarm]

So, moving my broodies never worked with my husband being available only the weekends (OK, that's an excuse, I was worried they'd quit so I chickened out

) to move the broodies and the chicks are due Wednesday. This week I cleaned the largest laying box next to the two girls and replaced with fresh shavings, water and will add chick food tomorrow and Hal put hardware cloth up so the chicks won't fall out of the boxes but the moms can still get in and out.....so, I'm banking that they're protective enough to guard the chicks if needed and the two of them won't get in a squabble over the chicks. My plan is to move them into the barn after everyone's done hatching. Here's a picture of one of the girls and the divider between the two girls and the same on the side that divides them from the rest of the flock.....what do you think.....any heads up? I appreciate the prior advice to move the girls and I think that would have been the best but with my limitations after my back surgeries and Hal not being around except for weekends and those full of a long list of to do's it just didn't happen so what should I look out for in my current situation? Looking at this picture the dividers look shorter then they are. They're about a foot tall.

 

[SunnyDawn]

I love how exuberance leads to abundance.... i.e., the potatoes. Hindsight is a wonderful thing "Next year I think I'll order 6 lbs instead of 14." OMG! Kinda reminds me of the time at the ranch I planted 32 tomato plants....for two people. Luckily I had a juicer, a freezer (LOTS of sauce that year) and a garden-deprived office staff to take them off my hands....oh, yeah. And the chickens. Most days I had one or two feed buckets worth and absolutely NO kitchen counter space. If I never see another little yellow lightbulb tomato again I'd be happy.

But, what's worse, is that a friend of ours in town did his back deck and thought he'd plant some seeds to landscape the slope in the back of his house.....It turned out to be 92 zucchini plants!

I told him he was crazy...that he'd never be able to give away that many zukes. Even his dog hated him by the end of the summer.

- - -

This year -- no fertile ranch terrace -- I'm limited to container planting. Last year we had a bumper crop of jalepeno chiles (which husband pickled a couple quarts worth) and I just harvested up some "Oops! Look behind this weed...I forgot I planted them" garlic. Got over a dozen nice heads. Got a few bean plants in, one tomatillo, two volunteer tomatoes (no idea what they are) and assorted peppers. We'll see.....

They are probably little yellow lightbulb tomatoes. haha I have about 50 tomato plants in right now but we get a much shorter season than you do down south and I plan on selling the extras.

Happy Mother's Day!! Hope it was a good day for all. I bought some feed at 1 Stop Ranch & Feed yesterday and got a carnation for mother's day. That was so unexpected and nice.

Glad all your chicks and chickens and ducks are getting along for the most part, sheryl. My 12 week olds and big girls are getting along well. Just a few pecks here and there but nothing serious. My BLRW blue girl even roosted up on the big roost next to a BO and an EE the other night. The other 12 week olds are still a little confused at night and really want to get back into their favorite corner in the divided section.

Missy, you will have potatoes coming out of your ears! I made a raised bed out front of concrete blocks yesterday and planted squash and zucchini. i still have some more beds to make but need to make several trips to the store. the potting soil and blocks are heavy.

can't wait to see photos of your new chicks, Sunny.

I'll try to get to them tomorrow.

Happy Mother's day to all my BYC adopt-a-Moms

Then I'll tell you what I tell my own kids. Thanks Kiddo!!! and... We miss you!!! When are you coming up for a visit?

 

[SunnyDawn]

OMG I missed the whole last page of posts. Too tired to do more than skim. Pam I wish you great success on your broody eggs hatching and the girls protecting their babies well! I've had no valuable experience in this area but I will keep my fingers crossed.

Loved all the Mother's day wishes from everyone! Thank you from all of us mothers!

 

[pigtail21]

Happy Mother's Day!!  Hope it was a good day for all.  I bought some feed at 1 Stop Ranch & Feed yesterday and got a carnation for mother's day.  That was so unexpected and nice. 

Glad all your chicks and chickens and ducks are getting along for the most part, sheryl.  My 12 week olds and big girls are getting along well.  Just a few pecks here and there but nothing serious.  My BLRW blue girl even roosted up on the big roost next to a BO and an EE the other night.  The other 12 week olds are still a little confused at night and really want to get back into their favorite corner in the divided section.  

Missy, you will have potatoes coming out of your ears! I made a raised bed out front of concrete blocks yesterday and planted squash and zucchini. i still have some more beds to make but need to make several trips to the store. the potting soil and blocks are heavy. 

can't wait to see photos of your new chicks, Sunny. 

I got a Mothers Day carnation from 1-Stop TOO! They also give a 10% discount on feed for the 4-H animals feed!! This is where NNPFA will be hosting it's next swap 9-2pm... May 20th... Sunday! Hope to see everyone again... There will be a showmanship clinic at 11am, we will be having several informational poultry basic clinics throug out the day.

NNPFA is raffling a custom built vinyl chicken coop in July and it will be at the swap to check out and purchase $5 raffle tickets. I will try to post a picture on here later... If you have birds to sell come on out just give a donation to NNPFA for their fundraising efforts to put on the show.

 

[pigtail21]

So, moving my broodies never worked with my husband being available only the weekends (OK, that's an excuse, I was worried they'd quit so I chickened out ) to move the broodies and the chicks are due Wednesday. This week I cleaned the largest laying box next to the two girls and replaced with fresh shavings, water and will add chick food tomorrow and Hal put hardware cloth up so the chicks won't fall out of the boxes but the moms can still get in and out.....so, I'm banking that they're protective enough to guard the chicks if needed and the two of them won't get in a squabble over the chicks. My plan is to move them into the barn after everyone's done hatching. Here's a picture of one of the girls and the divider between the two girls and the same on the side that divides them from the rest of the flock.....what do you think.....any heads up? I appreciate the prior advice to move the girls and I think that would have been the best but with my limitations after my back surgeries and Hal not being around except for weekends and those full of a long list of to do's it just didn't happen so what should I look out for in my current situation? Looking at this picture the dividers look shorter then they are. They're about a foot tall.

so how many eggs is each setting on? (sorry if I missed this in an earlier post) I have used broodies before and to be honest I usually take the chicks away as they hatch to save them from being picked on by curious hens or trampled by their own over protective mother hen. If there is only 2-3 chicks it might be ok. If you can block them in as soon as first chick hatches so that curious (motherly or not)hens can't jump in with the broodies that will help and then move entire brood to a new location 48 hours after 1st chick that will help too. I have had good results and tragic results from natural brooding. A hen can only do so much to protect from outside forces...i have had chicks left behind because they couldn't get back inside or gotten stuck in fencing, stolen by squirrels and hawks, accidental drownings, tramplings and unknown things too. One time a chick strangled when it got entangled in it's own mothers cushion(butt fluff).... Just be prepared for anything, and chick proof everything, they get into the darndest predicaments!! Good luck!!