NY chicken lover!!!!

[vmdanielsen]

I think your problem is due to the swings of dry weather and then heavy rains...I've copied here an explanation.

"
Often the problem has more to do with the moisture levels in the garden to regulate the delivery of nutrients than the amount of calcium available in the soil, and tomato rot will be more noticeable after periods of uneven precipitation such as when drought conditions are followed by periods of heavy rain.
Organic Control and Prevention of Blossom End Rot

So a better way to combat blossom end rot is to ensure that your growing beds contain plenty of organic matter to help maintain even moisture levels and by watering your tomatoes as needed during periods of low precipitation.
Some gardeners claim that planting tomatoes out in the garden before the soil has thoroughly warmed up can promote the occurrence of blossom end rot. Don’t plant those heirloom tomatoes, peppers, squash, eggplants, and watermelons out into the garden until the soil has had a chance to fully warm up.
Other precautions include avoiding cultivating too closely to the plants which may encourage blossom end rot by destroying the tiny feeder roots that grow close to the soil surface and supply moisture and nutrients to the plants.
Mulching the soil after temperatures rise will help to conserve the amount of moisture that is retained in the soil and prevent or lessen the amount of blossom end rot on your tomatoes and other vegetables."

For the past 3 years I've had early & late blight issues even though I planted in a different place each year. Lost all my tomatoes, so this year, finally, everything looks good....Its terribly frustrating to have your whole tomato crop be destroyed, especially when you are planning on canning & freezing to last the winter...

I have been having problems with early and late blight too. I put 2 tomatoes in large containers and while the tomatoes are smaller, the plants look much healthier. I may do fewer for a couple of years in pots and see if I can eradicate it from my soil. The other major pest I have is squash vine borer. I have covered the plants, moved the plants and dug the little grub buggers out of the stem. EEWW!!! I hate the things!!

 

[marquisella]

I have been having problems with early and late blight too. I put 2 tomatoes in large containers and while the tomatoes are smaller, the plants look much healthier. I may do fewer for a couple of years in pots and see if I can eradicate it from my soil. The other major pest I have is squash vine borer. I have covered the plants, moved the plants and dug the little grub buggers out of the stem. EEWW!!! I hate the things!!

For the first time I did raised beds, with pure composted horse manure for soil. Everything is doing well. I even got loads of cucumbers fo the first time, usually they shrivel up & die on me right away...My best crop it appears is Kale. I grew it for the chickens and it is terrific. If you cut off the top leaves, they regrow, so its an all summer crop. Dark green & great for the chickens. I even like it. I"ve made Kale chips and husband put it in a stew. I thought it would be "yucky" but really didn't have much of a taste, more for color & nutrition than anything else. I foundout about Kale being good for chickens last fall at Crossroads. The woman next to me had it hanging in her pens for the chickens to nibble on. Her birds were beautiful, so I decided to grow it for mine this year. My chickens also ate my extra zucchini, and love any kind of yellow squash.

 

[vmdanielsen]

For the first time I did raised beds, with pure composted horse manure for soil. Everything is doing well. I even got loads of cucumbers fo the first time, usually they shrivel up & die on me right away...My best crop it appears is Kale. I grew it for the chickens and it is terrific. If you cut off the top leaves, they regrow, so its an all summer crop. Dark green & great for the chickens. I even like it. I"ve made Kale chips and husband put it in a stew. I thought it would be "yucky" but really didn't have much of a taste, more for color & nutrition than anything else. I foundout about Kale being good for chickens last fall at Crossroads. The woman next to me had it hanging in her pens for the chickens to nibble on. Her birds were beautiful, so I decided to grow it for mine this year. My chickens also ate my extra zucchini, and love any kind of yellow squash.

That is funny because I grow kale for my chickens too! I eat it also. I actually really like it! My chickens get an arm load every AM. They love it. It also is growing exceptionally well. I pull off the bottom leaves and the top keeps growing.

 

[ChickPrincess]

That is funny because I grow kale for my chickens too! I eat it also. I actually really like it! My chickens get an arm load every AM. They love it. It also is growing exceptionally well. I pull off the bottom leaves and the top keeps growing.

I'll have to grow kale next year! We have a copycat recipe for Olive Garden's tuscany soup that dh loves... lots of kale. We also have a russian tortoise that would live on kale. My chickens would be the oddball if they didn't. I've heard it's so good for you!

 

[ChickPrincess]

Rancher Hicks, what's a CR?

 

[PhoebeLou12]

I'm wondering if anyone here uses Ivomec Eprinex on any animals besides chickens?

 

[Henicillin]

This is what I see every night when I go to close up the coop. It's like a miniature chicken version of the Hollywood Squares.

My second BLRW is back on the roost as of tonight, her mothering urges apparently satisfied by a couple of weeks of looking after older chicks. Her/Lenore's chicks are in the bottom left box, looking pitiful. My avatar girl is still hanging in there with her three on the bottom right - I guess she figures she'll milk this whole broody thing for all it's worth since it took her so long to get there. In the top left corner is Mrs. Beasley and her Buff Orp/Sussex daughter, who thinks that Mama should be Mama again, and sticks to Mrs. B like a burr. In the top right are two more of Mrs. B's offspring, also wanting to be taken back under the maternal wing. The fourth one isn't there, since she's up on the roost next to Papa like a sensible pullet. Obviously she's a daddy's girl.

I turf Mrs. B and the big chicks out onto the roosts, but haven't started doing that with the others yet. I do occasionally pick up the little cockerel facing out on the bottom left and snuggle him for a moment while he's sleepy, even though I know it's not a great idea to love on the boys. He's still in the sweet and trusting baby stage, and I never do it in the daytime, so he shouldn't be too confused. It's a pain to clean the nest boxes out daily, though, so I'll have to start tossing that lot as well. Goofy things.

 

[featherz]

I love Kale! I shall have to try that next year. Have a big bag of it in the fridge to make chips with, but hubby is in the hospital so I didn't get around to it. (hubby picked up some sort of knee infection - my guess is MRSA for the fellow medical peeps) and has to have iv antibiotics and maybe surgery eww!).

Heard the fox(es) screaming outside last night. Ran out there in my pj's but all the coops looked fine. Hope they are this morning! I keep my electric netting on at night - doesn't seem to impact the electric bill and I was concerned even a non predator (like my own barn cats) would damage it at night if it were not on. The coops themselves have just hot wires run around them - those are always kept on.

 

[java girl 2]

Quote: Let me know if you need to rehome any more!

I'm wondering if anyone here uses Ivomec Eprinex on any animals besides chickens?

I am using it on my 2 kittens as I did not know what kind of worms they had and I could not find a broad spectrum wormer for them. It works great on them!! The 1 kitten was small than her sister and when I gave them this, BOTH of them gained weight and they are eating more now so I am very happy with it! I am thinking of using it on my rabbits and lambs but not sure if I should.

 

[java girl 2]

This is what I see every night when I go to close up the coop. It's like a miniature chicken version of the Hollywood Squares.

My second BLRW is back on the roost as of tonight, her mothering urges apparently satisfied by a couple of weeks of looking after older chicks. Her/Lenore's chicks are in the bottom left box, looking pitiful. My avatar girl is still hanging in there with her three on the bottom right - I guess she figures she'll milk this whole broody thing for all it's worth since it took her so long to get there. In the top left corner is Mrs. Beasley and her Buff Orp/Sussex daughter, who thinks that Mama should be Mama again, and sticks to Mrs. B like a burr. In the top right are two more of Mrs. B's offspring, also wanting to be taken back under the maternal wing. The fourth one isn't there, since she's up on the roost next to Papa like a sensible pullet. Obviously she's a daddy's girl.

I turf Mrs. B and the big chicks out onto the roosts, but haven't started doing that with the others yet. I do occasionally pick up the little cockerel facing out on the bottom left and snuggle him for a moment while he's sleepy, even though I know it's not a great idea to love on the boys. He's still in the sweet and trusting baby stage, and I never do it in the daytime, so he shouldn't be too confused. It's a pain to clean the nest boxes out daily, though, so I'll have to start tossing that lot as well. Goofy things.

whats wrong with loving the roosters?

I pick them up all the time and they LOVE IT!!! If I don't then they will fly up on my shoulder and talk in my ear till I do pet them!