I picked raspberries, blackberries and blueberries off my bushes tonight. I want to make jam also. Haven't done that in years. We traveled to Maine last summer and bought Blueberry jam or preserves and it was delicious. Might try the blueberries with the others.
I don't think they reds rasp we picked were as tart as what were given me , but the blacks we picked are so I may mix them. Blacks were more expensive too. $4 a pound, Reds $3.
You're lucky to have some. I am having and dickens of a time getting mine to grow.
Do rabbits eat Gooseberry plants? . One of the new ones I just planted has been nibbled on and it's surrounded by chicken wire so it can't be the chickens.
There is so much to do around here and so little time left to the summer.
Morning Everyone!
Its Monday Funday...said no one ever! My job is getting to be such a joke, can't wait to be done with it.
Well I decided to take the plunge and try another rooster with my big girls so I can hatch some pure bred orpingtons from them. I was so upset when I had to rehome my big lavender roo because of how mean he was and thought I would never again get another large breed rooster. I just really wanted to hatch some lavender orps from the pair I had but he had to go. After talking with Glass yesterday morning and skimming around CL (as much I hate it) I came across an ad for a beautiful splash orpington roo. I didn't even think that was a color for orps. Anyway, I wasn't really searching for roosters, I was actually looking for coops and happened to see this ad and this bird just caught my eye. So I'm picking it up today. They state all their roos are very friendly and follow people around looking for treats, etc. So I figure I'll try it again, see how it goes, have some protection for my girls now that they're on their own again since my silkie roo is back in with his ladies. Not that Duncan was much protection before, but you know, he thinks he was. LOL And hopefully I'll eventually be able to hatch some chicks. So keep your fingers crossed for me this works out!
In my experience, Once she has kicked them loose to fend for themselves they can start laying as soon as the next day (Momma) or 2 weeks (Idiot Mom). So basically whenever she wants to. LOL
Morning all. Woke up to Mean Marge laying on the floor of the coop. Sadly, she passed about an hour ago. She was fine yesterday and roosting last night but I found her laying on the floor this morning when I went to let everyone out and I knew immediately that she was dying. I could find nothing wrong with her. Her crop was squishy this morning but that was it. She was one of our first girls, a diva over 3 years old and quite a talkative barred rock. She always had to be under foot of whatever you were doing, making suggestions and inspections and criticisms. She will be missed. I froze her so I can do an autopsy later. She was in good shape with nice weight on her so who knows. Maybe the autopsy will show what happened. The rest of the cheeps look fine. Everyone piled out this morning like they usually do and I observed them for a while but see no issues.
I had everyone out yesterday enjoying the cooler temps and freeranging. The terrorists are looking good and I got a few more eggs yesterday so I am sure they are happy the heat wave broke. My silkies enjoyed being out of their pen and Legolas was being a good daddy and calling the babies over to food when he found something. Of course, he had to go after Little Mans girls and promplty had his butt kicked by Little Man. Boy just doesnt learn. What was interesting is that Little Man never bothered with Legolas hens or chicks, even though he walked right by them. I love that rooster...he has the best temperment ever. He will live here comfortably until he passes. I may have to keep one of his sons though, just to have that gene continued. He is a looker and a great temperment.
Picked up Roger (my rir tater tot) this morning and he wasnt real sure what to do. He did allow me to hold him for a bit and look him over. He made no attempt to challenge me or come at me when I put him down so thats good. His brother Bill wont come near me. I am not sure if this is good or bad. Neither of the boys have shown any aggression as of yet but they are still young. I am hoping it stays that way. My hatchery rir boys were already challenging me at this age. Freezer camp filled up quick last year.
Pyxis--I knew you would fall under the silkie spell. And yes, the difference between hatchery and breeder stock is quite evident. Thats why I invested in breeder stock and it shows.
Morning Everyone!
Its Monday Funday...said no one ever! My job is getting to be such a joke, can't wait to be done with it.
Well I decided to take the plunge and try another rooster with my big girls so I can hatch some pure bred orpingtons from them. I was so upset when I had to rehome my big lavender roo because of how mean he was and thought I would never again get another large breed rooster. I just really wanted to hatch some lavender orps from the pair I had but he had to go. After talking with Glass yesterday morning and skimming around CL (as much I hate it) I came across an ad for a beautiful splash orpington roo. I didn't even think that was a color for orps. Anyway, I wasn't really searching for roosters, I was actually looking for coops and happened to see this ad and this bird just caught my eye. So I'm picking it up today. They state all their roos are very friendly and follow people around looking for treats, etc. So I figure I'll try it again, see how it goes, have some protection for my girls now that they're on their own again since my silkie roo is back in with his ladies. Not that Duncan was much protection before, but you know, he thinks he was. LOL And hopefully I'll eventually be able to hatch some chicks. So keep your fingers crossed for me this works out!
Well it's been more than two weeks and I'm running low on eggs! LOL I've already upped their protein, right now the only one laying is the BR.
I could have given you some eggs to hatch. I have four lav hens, one BBS and two black roos. I'm still debating on giving them up in favor of the CR's.
As for eggs even with the broodies I just gave away four dozen.
It seems the Blue EE hen I wanted to go into the BM coop has decided to do so on her own as well as the two blue BR's. AND the young Del pullet went into the Del run last night all by herself too.
I've moved the BM roo chicks to the BM coop so it is a little crowded. They were not so easy. One has yet to show any markings. Three hens are brooding, but I don't expect much of anything, even with two of them being on eggs. They've made so many changings of the guard, I'd be surprised.
I could have given you some eggs to hatch. I have four lav hens, one BBS and two black roos. I'm still debating on giving them up in favor of the CR's.
As for eggs even with the broodies I just gave away four dozen.
It seems the Blue EE hen I wanted to go into the BM coop has decided to do so on her own as well as the two blue BR's. AND the young Del pullet went into the Del run last night all by herself too.
I've moved the BM roo chicks to the BM coop so it is a little crowded. They were not so easy. One has yet to show any markings. Three hens are brooding, but I don't expect much of anything, even with two of them being on eggs. They've made so many changings of the guard, I'd be surprised.
If I couldn't have a roo, I would take you up on that offer! It's just that I've been getting so many eggs from birds up until this summer. So I figured with so many eggs if they were fertile I could hatch them. Once they start laying I get more eggs than we need for a family a four. So when they do start up again, I'll have a roo here and hopefully I can hatch some out.
I don't think they reds rasp we picked were as tart as what were given me , but the blacks we picked are so I may mix them. Blacks were more expensive too. $4 a pound, Reds $3.
You're lucky to have some. I am having and dickens of a time getting mine to grow.
Do rabbits eat Gooseberry plants? . One of the new ones I just planted has been nibbled on and it's surrounded by chicken wire so it can't be the chickens.
There is so much to do around here and so little time left to the summer.
I don't think any of the berries that I've picked are as sweet as last year. I've blamed it on all the rain we had earlier. And now we aren't getting any rain. Between the rain and the chickens, I got very few strawberries. Most of the raspberries that I'm picking are wild. It takes forever to pick those tiny berries. Ugh! I'm thinking I need to really trim my rasp bushes back. I think they are too full.
I finally move the 3 supposedly barnies out of the grow out pen and into the wolf pack today. I say supposedly because they don't look like barnies. 1 might even be a wellie. I picked them up earlier in the year at the Finger Lakes poultry show as Barnevelder's from a woman named Sue. The little roo is the only one that actually looks like a barnie. They'll get to grow up until fall when I finally clear out 90% of the layers to change over to Barnevelders. I have 12 barnies that were hatched June 23rd from Donna at Fossil Rock and they will make up my permanent layer flock.
I got some barnevelders this year as well. So far they're a little shy, and don't like to have their picture taken. Have you had them before? I tried them this year, I heard they were supposed to be good winter layers.
And on another note, My BO squatted for me last week! Egg any day!
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So sorry about Marge! That's terrible, especially not knowing what was wrong. I had a hen that just passed away randomly a month or two ago. No obvious signs of anything. I was going to do an autopsy but I would have no idea what I should be looking for.
I got some barnevelders this year as well. So far they're a little shy, and don't like to have their picture taken. Have you had them before? I tried them this year, I heard they were supposed to be good winter layers.
And on another note, My BO squatted for me last week! Egg any day!
This is our first year with them. After doing a ton of research and talking with Donna, we took the plunge. I was totally amazed when I actually saw them in person. Beautiful birds and very calm. She actually keeps multiple roo's together with no fighting. The 3 in my pic are nothing like they should look, very poor lacing and 1 isn't even the right color. Live and learn I guess. They'll be sold in the fall. Where did you get yours from? Chris
