***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Kassaundra]

I think this will be close to the last of the sweet pod pea harvest until fall. It has been the best year I have ever had for sugar pod peas.

 

[Ksane]

For chicks in need of help I heat up a couple sopping wet thick paper towels or a really wet washcloth, have some tweezers ready & wrap the egg in the warm wet cloth with only a tiny bit showing and pick little pieces of the shell off. Squeeze some of the real warm water in the membrane (obviously not in the chicks face) and keep going a chip at a time keeping it wet the whole time. As soon as you see a blood vessel or hit one, just stop and put the egg (cloth and all) back into the incubator. Those last 3 days are not as "crucial" IMO as some people claim. I've seen mama hens hatching chicks and I know darn well they're moving all around and not locked down on top of the eggs. If you can pull a tiny piece of the membrane off to give him and airhole and just keep him wet you should be fine.

 

[Ksane]

Jackie, does Maddie walk around with her head way up in the air? Or stand up tall when she hears a noise or run? Hens will usually duck when in doubt and boys will watch.

 

[ourhouse51]

that is awsome! he finally has a flock..so important! I think you are right - little man always has been more reserved i think he has no sight, listens for sound, Big man seems to see movement-

what brand did you get?? I am spraying, strips and still inundated!

Dollar Store special..

 

[NanaKat]

I think this will be close to the last of the sweet pod pea harvest until fall.  It has been the best year I have ever had for sugar pod peas.

I'm still picking....planted Snow peas, Sugar Snap and Marvel in early March....the Snow peas started a second flush and the other two varieties are still going strong. I mulched them with aged cow manure and hay compost when they were about 12 inches high. They are growing up a cattle panel in each bed. Rows of spinach and lettuce on either side also keep the roots of the peas shaded and cool in one bed, beets and carrots in another and tomatoes and broccoli in a third.

This has been a good spring for gardening. I had to tie up my potatoes plants that we're spilling over the sides of the raised bed so I could run the weed eater around the boxes...never had to do that before. I've tied up tomato plants to the cattle panel in the boxes for a third time already and have picked our first ripe tomato.
First time I've gotten Snow King cauliflower to make a huge white head without yellowing and have the best beets ever.

Now if I can trap the vole that is gnawing on my beets and carrots I'll be thrilled. Murdock the cat has been spending time in the garden and watching a wood pile outside the garden fence pretty close the past several days...hoping he gets it before I do.
Did you know that voles are monogamous and can raise several litters a year!

Chicks are hatching in the incubator today...so far three are out.

 

[huntseat]

You sound as busy as I feel. I'm crossing my fingers that my tomatoes aren't that far off.

Congrats to you!

 

[artsyrobin]

she - yep i think is a she looking at the posture, reminds me of my hannah

 

[HeyBigRhondaq]

My broody's eggs are hatching! Blue Orpington over Black Marans (possibly not a pure bred) should make for some BIG chickens. I can't wait to check on her in the morning so I can see how many made it!!
I'm hoping she can raise them with the flock. I am spent on raising chicks right now. I finally got the chicks I incubated moved out of my garage!

 

[NanaKat]

My broody's eggs are hatching! Blue Orpington over Black Marans (possibly not a pure bred) should make for some BIG chickens. I can't wait to check on her in the morning so I can see how many made it!!
I'm hoping she can raise them with the flock. I am spent on raising chicks right now. I finally got the chicks I incubated moved out of my garage!

Congratulations on your hatch. Give her a few days with her chicks in a cage or small floor pen so her chicks learn to follow her calls and then put her with the flock. You may need to enclose her and her chicks at night and when you give chick feed. The other hens will eat the chick feed if you don't provide a separate feeding station.

 

[Kassaundra]

I'm still picking....planted Snow peas, Sugar Snap and Marvel in early March....the Snow peas started a second flush and the other two varieties are still going strong. I mulched them with aged cow manure and hay compost when they were about 12 inches high. They are growing up a cattle panel in each bed. Rows of spinach and lettuce on either side also keep the roots of the peas shaded and cool in one bed, beets and carrots in another and tomatoes and broccoli in a third.

This has been a good spring for gardening. I had to tie up my potatoes plants that we're spilling over the sides of the raised bed so I could run the weed eater around the boxes...never had to do that before. I've tied up tomato plants to the cattle panel in the boxes for a third time already and have picked our first ripe tomato.
First time I've gotten Snow King cauliflower to make a huge white head without yellowing and have the best beets ever.

Now if I can trap the vole that is gnawing on my beets and carrots I'll be thrilled. Murdock the cat has been spending time in the garden and watching a wood pile outside the garden fence pretty close the past several days...hoping he gets it before I do.
Did you know that voles are monogamous and can raise several litters a year!

Chicks are hatching in the incubator today...so far three are out.

My first tomatoes are turning color, but nothing ripe yet, they are loaded though.

I had always heard peas don't like nitrogen rich soil, but this year I threw caution to the wind and planted where I knew the chickens had pooped a lot (one of the chicken highways in their yard). So the myth that peas don't like nitro has been busted.

I have two broodies co-setting. They are sharing one nest and 12 eggs. The one went broody and was broody for a week or so when the other one decided to join her. We were trying to figure out the logistics of giving the second girl eggs so long after the first w/ just one broody area, then they figured out the solution and shared,