The Front Porch Swing

[LeslieDJoyce]

Breezing right past the opportunity to discuss my personal picker performance ...

Last night I sat straight up in bed when I had a brainstorm. Today I ran the idea past TPTB, and they were in agreement.

The background: There has been an ongoing fight in this household because some of us (me) don't like "useless" house plants. We have a LOT of plants outside, and nobody wants to take proper care of "useless" indoor plants, least of all me. Others believe even scraggly, sickly, stinky, messy indoor plants make fine housemates.

Then came my sudden urge to have citrus trees, except citrus trees need to be brought in for the winter. There was potential to compromise in this situation.

Suddenly I realized this area here ...



... could be put to better use as Winter Quarters for citrus trees. As long as TPTB agree to part with those scraggly, messy, stinky houseplants.

I proposed this idea at lunch ... and we all agreed. Current houseplants out, citrus trees in!

That collection of recyclables and Costco storables could find a better place to live. There are windows on three sides of this room, so it get lots of light. The patio on the other side of those double doors just has a bunch of garbage on it, so could make great summer quarters for the trees.

I'm very excited about this.

 

[Beekissed]

at the picker performance! That sounds like a much better use of the space and time. How fortunate those guys are to have you constantly working towards improvement...I can't imagine having to work against menfolks on introducing new farming/growing concepts...that would be like running in water...uphill...carrying a full pack.... of dead bodies.

How neat to have citrus trees!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

at the picker performance! That sounds like a much better use of the space and time. How fortunate those guys are to have you constantly working towards improvement...I can't imagine having to work against menfolks on introducing new farming/growing concepts...that would be like running in water...uphill...carrying a full pack.... of dead bodies.

How neat to have citrus trees!

Yes. If it happens. Thinking it and doing it aren't always the same thing, but there has already been some discussion about where to buy the trees, so signs are good. We shall see.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm having electrical difficulties in my coop so my coop water is not getting warmed...by tomorrow it will be frozen. That's not a big problem as they drink so little in the winter time anyway and carrying that little dab up there each day until I get it resolved is no big thing.

The dog water, however, will have to be carried to the nearest plug in tomorrow...not looking forward to that in this slush, ice and with how big that bucket is while going down hill....should make for some good entertainment for the animals if I should fall down with arms flailing and water flying.

This is a perfect example of the dangers of procrastination...I should have renewed all the electrical components when we had this last good day of weather. I had all the stuff sitting here, staring at me, and I neglected to take advantage of making hay while the sun shines. Live and learn....Murphy's Law always seems to be applicable.

 

[lindz8504]

My pullet that I thought wasn't laying..... well she is! I just didn't realize it because her egg is green/blue! I got 15 eggs today, out of 15 girls!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!
I also trapped the varmit that was getting into my feed, and ransacking my building!
The cat got a free meal, because all Hubby has is a 12 ga. There wasn't much left for us.

 

[Beekissed]

What a cute little booger!!!

That's an excellent egg count!

Mine are starting to pick up too and that is how it should be...by the end of Feb or the middle of March every bird that will be laying steady should be laying. I usually do a check for all layers at the middle or towards the end of March and cull all nonlayers.

Looks like you won't have to be doing any culling this year!

 

[lindz8504]

What a cute little booger!!!

That's an excellent egg count!

Mine are starting to pick up too and that is how it should be...by the end of Feb or the middle of March every bird that will be laying steady should be laying. I usually do a check for all layers at the middle or towards the end of March and cull all nonlayers.

Looks like you won't have to be doing any culling this year!

I know this makes me very happy! I'm hoping that it continues to pick up! I have 4 more pullets that are 21 weeks old, so hopefully they will be laying shortly. They are 2 bantam cochins, and 2 black copper marans. I think they are both breeds that take a while to mature and start laying.... My girls just started laying in October, so I think they are doing very well!

 

[DufferChick]

Breezing right past the opportunity to discuss my personal picker performance ... 

Last night I sat straight up in bed when I had a brainstorm. Today I ran the idea past TPTB, and they were in agreement.

The background: There has been an ongoing fight in this household because some of us (me) don't like "useless" house plants. We have a LOT of plants outside, and nobody wants to take proper care of "useless" indoor plants, least of all me. Others believe even scraggly, sickly, stinky, messy indoor plants make fine housemates.

Then came my sudden urge to have citrus trees, except citrus trees need to be brought in for the winter. There was potential to compromise in this situation.

Suddenly I realized this area here ...
.

I proposed this idea at lunch ... and we all agreed. Current houseplants out, citrus trees in!
.

I'm very excited about this. e  

I looked into growing citrus indoors during winter, about two weeks ago. Are you reading the same Gardening magazine that I am? Lol. I did some research and found out that indoor citrus trees/plants need high humidity. My home is too dry, even with a humidifier, to keep citrus. I have a nice sunroom with windows. I was hoping to grow lemons.

I also understand that citrus needs good ventilation. Your location is near a door, so it can be opened to provide the ventilation. I hope that you are successful growing citrus. It would sure brighten up the room and your spirits.

 

[DufferChick]

!  [/SIZE]

I know this makes me very happy!  I'm hoping that it continues to pick up!  I have 4 more pullets that are 21 weeks old, so hopefully they will be laying shortly.  They are 2 bantam cochins, and 2 black copper marans.  I think they are both breeds that take a while to mature and start laying.... My girls just started laying in October, so I think they are doing very well! 

Lindz: Do you sell your eggs? What do you do with 15 eggs a day? Your eggs are lovely. Do you share them with friends? I am getting 4-5 eggs day ( from 6 young hens) and have more than inca use for my family of 6.

 

[lindz8504]

Lindz: Do you sell your eggs? What do you do with 15 eggs a day? Your eggs are lovely. Do you share them with friends? I am getting 4-5 eggs day ( from 6 young hens) and have more than inca use for my family of 6.

I also have a family of 6 and we use quite a few. I have plenty to share and have also sold a few. I have only been getting 6-9 a day until about a week ago. Not sure what I am going to do with all the extra eggs.