The Front Porch Swing

[OHhappychicks]

We built the fire but did not have the frost, thank goodness. Will be setting out the last of the plants into the garden today and the temps are supposed to go even lower (40s still, supposedly) in a few days. It's a beautiful, gorgeous, scintillating day!

Just look at the day that the Lord hath made!!!! I'm going to rejoice and be glad in it!

Right Bee! Better to be happy than grumpy!! There is nothing we can do about it anyway!!

Might be getting the pyrenees puppy today!! Trying to make connections. It is in Kentucky. I'm going to meet her half way. We haven't been able to get in to the garden yet. It is plowed, but it has been to wet. Hopefully soon! Can't wait for a good garden fresh mater!!

 

[enola]

Dad standing in the Delaware run today.

Truly a beautiful picture for so many reasons!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Truly a beautiful picture for so many reasons!

Thanks everyone who commented on this!

We planted those trees along both sides of a path a bazillion years ago just so some day we could have the pleasure of walking under it when they were in bloom ... which is only a few days per year. The path leads from the house to the farm yard.

So of course when I was putting up a chicken coop and run, I put the fence around those trees so the birds could have the pleasure instead of us. The nice, tall trees keep the birds safe from the hawks that hunt that field. I used to have my garden to the left of the photo, and I got buzzed by a hawk every time I was out working in it.

Currently I've got all the poultry pastures in areas with lots of bushes and trees.

The open fields to the left and the right of that photo were just seeded for poultry pasture yesterday. We're going to have to put in some hawk protection, I think. BK suggested my favorite idea: get a burrow. But I think I'm going to make some single-section hoop coops like Blooie's and put them out in the fields. I wouldn't even really need wire on them ... just bow up a cattle panel and put stakes at the corners and leave both ends open ... maybe with a tarp for shade ... and I think the birds would use it, they are already great at running for cover when they get the signal.

 

[Tomtommom]

I'm lucky to have a large tree for cover.. my poor birds are toast when they step out in the open though. I've had two hawk attacks... managed to patch them both back up, but it was pretty horrific looking.

 

[LBejaran]

I might end up trading some of my painted eggs for heritage cotton patch goose eggs! I think that breed is beautiful and even though we have a couple goslings right now, I'd really want to hatch out a couple of these.

This is the first time I've made a trade, so it's really exciting. Heck, if I could trade locally, I'd probably trade for chicken feed. Have those chooks really pay their way, haha!

 

[LindaB220]

Yesterday I went to the store and got some BOSS and layer feed. While at the feed store I found Top Pick Pink eye Purple Hull Peas. Taadaa! I've been looking for it online forever and there it was in a huge bag. Knowing my limitations, I bought 1/2 lb and hope to put out 2 or 3 rows soon. Easy peasy growing them. I know this because of youtube

Never had a garden before. Would it be worth my time to plant BOSS?

 

[LindaB220]

One more thing, has anyone heard about this?

http://www.motherearthnews.com/home...ed-chicken-eggs-zmaz74zhol.aspx#axzz31uNZqlN8

 

[BCMaraniac]

One more thing, has anyone heard about this?

http://www.motherearthnews.com/home...ed-chicken-eggs-zmaz74zhol.aspx#axzz31uNZqlN8

Yep, I have. Since I am just raising for meat, I don't mind the cockerels. So I haven't tried selecting eggs.

 

[perchie.girl]

One more thing, has anyone heard about this?

http://www.motherearthnews.com/home...ed-chicken-eggs-zmaz74zhol.aspx#axzz31uNZqlN8

did you look at the date on the article... 1974.

I wouldnt bet money on it...

deb

 

[enola]

Choosing certain shaped eggs for certain sex of chicks doesn't work. I have tried it for years........ literally I have hatched 300 - 400 chicks per year.

My chicks still hatched roughly 50/50. But since I raise my own layers, I have noticed one thing, the only thing I have managed to do is raise hens that lay odd shaped eggs.