Texas

[Kilsharion]

cant wait to do my garden next year! everything is clay where i am so i am having to build my soil a bit before i can get anything really going. might do a little test garden this year though...now THATS going to be a real first time for me!

Sounds about like me...next year is when my garden can actually come together. This year is all about preparation. We're building coops and runs on either side of the area that is supposed to turn into my garden, and then fencing in each end - 7' high barriers to the worst nightmare my gardens will experience....Deer. There are about 20 of them that love our property. I'm hoping that between the Guineas and the dogs and the fencing, the deer will stay away from my garden.

We live on limestone....with very, very little top soil. So, everything is getting raised - I'll be doing a mixture between hugelkulture and keystone gardens. And, the walkways between them are intended to be sown with prostrate thyme and rosemary. Both handle walking relatively well, and smell divine when they are crushed. Add to that they both love Texas heat and limestone rich soil, so they should be wonderful pathway plants in my garden - I hope

So, hopefully, by this time next year, I'll have some greenery to show off, as well **crosses fingers** Seeing the garden here makes me wish I could have gotten it all done in three months ((the time we've been in the house)) so I could have it this spring.

 

[Texasmja]

Well, I have arrived home with 20 dorking chicks...adorable little buggers....




I'm off to go check for "eyeliner"...maybe tell what these little guys are. I tell you what, the difference in behavior between these guys and all the other chicks is amazing. So far, not a one of them has tried to run away from me; and, all sit very quietly on my hand while I handle them. No need to hold them down or wait for them to calm down...just sweet as pie.

We won't talk about the three crested Polish I got talked into, though.....

Are these from Dick? He is such an AWESOME guy. I love talking to him.

 

[Texasmja]

Yes I have

Maya puts a lot of other greys to shame.. I think it's because he has the animals to talk to plus he learns a ton from TV

he ALWAYS has something to add to a conversation (and he knows exactly what he is saying).. he has made up his own jokes and laughed at them.. and I have caught him comparing words.. he will sit there and say things like "carrot.. parrot.. ferret" and yell at the dogs or cats when they are doing something they shouldn't be doing.
The other day one of the dogs (Chiyo) was at the living room window and barking at the ducks outside.. ,Maya said "Chiyo, that's enough.. shut up an go lay down".. when the dog ignored him he cursed at the dog and added "stupid **** animal"
We never call the dogs "animal".. so that's something he picked up from tv. My husband and myself always refer to the animals as "critters". what I found interesting was that he knows Chiyo is a dog.. yet also called her an 'animal"

What an amazing bird! God has created the most wonderful animals.

 

[Little Wing]

Can I just say I am so excited...25 days until I get my shipment of chicks from McMurray! I can hardly contain myself. My sweet husband and his best friend are in the process of building the coop (it's a slow process as they both work long hours). YAY!


Little Wing great garden! We started ours indoors and moved all the seedlings outdoors two weeks ago. Our Spinach and Lettuce are taking off like crazy.

They need to get busy on a brooder unless you already have one ready. Good luck on your chicks and coops.
I broke down and bought 4 of those $3.49 ea (I usually buy them in flats) tomato plants at Home Depot, those are the ones blooming. They were 8" tall when I planted them. They are "Early Girls", they do good here. I was going to do spinach and lettuce but ran out of room. Gotta save room for Cream and Purple Hull peas. I've got 5 Cauliflower, 6 Jalapeno and 2 Bell Pepper plants in there too.

cant wait to do my garden next year! everything is clay where i am so i am having to build my soil a bit before i can get anything really going. might do a little test garden this year though...now TH ATS going to be a real first time for me!

Let me guess...red clay? lol Start composting this year and put it in the garden next year. You know how messy the brooders get right now? That's what the pens and coops do too. Makes lots of good stuff for the garden. I use pine shavings in my coops and put shavings, poop and all in the garden and till it up.

 

[Boydfarm1]

Hi everyone, so excited to see some of you are near me! My husband and I have had chickens for 25 years, we have had game chickens, and now we have game and layers, I have Barred Rocks, Production Red, Rhode Island Reds, and a few mixed breeds. It's nice to meet all of you.

 

[Cockle-Dood]

Let me guess...red clay? lol Start composting this year and put it in the garden next year. You know how messy the brooders get right now? That's what the pens and coops do too. Makes lots of good stuff for the garden. I use pine shavings in my coops and put shavings, poop and all in the garden and till it up.

You know it! yeah thats the plan...ive slowly been stocking up on the pine bedding every time i go by TSC just for that purpose! this weekend im going to attempt to set up some sort of compost area so i can get that pile going. gardens have been grown here, but was forwarned that they dont come easy...so im giving myself a prep year!

Got a couple old bath tubs around that are going to be great for the herbs i wanna grow!

 

[Kilsharion]

Are these from Dick? He is such an AWESOME guy. I love talking to him.

Nah, my eggs from Dick arrive the week of March 25th. I have 24 Reds and hopefully some SGDs, if he has any available, inbound. **crosses fingers**

These are actually from Ideal. I've been a bit shocked, truth to tell. We got them on a lark just to see what would show up....so far, every single one of them looks "right" for a chick...and, the toes seem to be proper....Yinepu will have to correct me if I'm wrong when she gets hers on Saturday.

 

[Kilsharion]

Hi everyone, so excited to see some of you are near me! My husband and I have had chickens for 25 years, we have had game chickens, and now we have game and layers, I have Barred Rocks, Production Red, Rhode Island Reds, and a few mixed breeds. It's nice to meet all of you.

I'm just down the way from yah on HWY 29, a bit west of Georgetown.

 

[GFamily]

They need to get busy on a brooder unless you already have one ready. Good luck on your chicks and coops.
I broke down and bought 4 of those $3.49 ea (I usually buy them in flats) tomato plants at Home Depot, those are the ones blooming. They were 8" tall when I planted them. They are "Early Girls", they do good here. I was going to do spinach and lettuce but ran out of room. Gotta save room for Cream and Purple Hull peas. I've got 5 Cauliflower, 6 Jalapeno and 2 Bell Pepper plants in there too.
Let me guess...red clay? lol Start composting this year and put it in the garden next year. You know how messy the brooders get right now? That's what the pens and coops do too. Makes lots of good stuff for the garden. I use pine shavings in my coops and put shavings, poop and all in the garden and till it up.

Oh yes, we have a brooder. I just want him to be finished with the coop and run so I can see the finished product....I'm a bit impatient. I've planted early girl tomatoes in the past and they actually have done really well where I used to live- it was all black clay soil too! This is our first time growing a garden in our new house though. Everything seems to be doing well thus far! I have - green beans, canteloupe, watermelon, red and green bell peppers, tomatoes (beefsteak & giant), cucumber, yellow onions, shallots, carrots, lettuce, spinach.

 

[Boydfarm1]

Hi

and the Texas thread. There are a few folks on here out your way. Do you have chickens now?

There is a link in my signiture to a map of BYC members.

Ken

Hi, yes I have a backyard full of chickens, we've had chickens for 25 years, we have game, and layers.