The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[deek]

Whew! Couldn't sleep. Happens a lot lately. Bored, so I looked up using fish by products. There is a ton of information for gardeners. I found it online so I'm not sure of its validity. Here's some of what I read:

Nutrient rich fish has been used as a fertilizer for centuries. The pilgrims knew to bury fish in the soil to assure vigorous plant growth and plentiful harvests.

Fish products are excellent sources of N-P-K and trace minerals

digestion of fish allows the minerals and amino acids to become readily available to plants and makes those nutrients water soluble



DragonLady, this is probably why your koi water works wonders in your garden.

 

[thedragonlady]

Whew! Couldn't sleep. Happens a lot lately. Bored, so I looked up using fish by products. There is a ton of information for gardeners. I found it online so I'm not sure of its validity. Here's some of what I read:

Nutrient rich fish has been used as a fertilizer for centuries. The pilgrims knew to bury fish in the soil to assure vigorous plant growth and plentiful harvests.

Fish products are excellent sources of N-P-K and trace minerals

digestion of fish allows the minerals and amino acids to become readily available to plants and makes those nutrients water soluble



DragonLady, this is probably why your koi water works wonders in your garden.

The koi poop works wonders on plants, but the real growth boosters are the thousands of tiny toad pollywogs that I throw out under all my hydrangeas. There are sometimes so many that they turn the water black. They have to go, as they foul the water with too much ammonia for the koi. No, the koi won't eat them.

 

[galanie]

I get a nasty string algae in my ponds that I just scoop out and throw on the garden. It's great stuff and often I'll just scoop out half the pond at a time, water lillies and all, and throw on the garden. Makes things grow like crazy. And it doesn't hurt the water lilly population at all, they multiply like mad.

But with the island I'm betting it's not the water itself but rather the bugs, etc. that are present because of the water being there. And possibly water plants as well, even if they're tiny.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

I get a nasty string algae in my ponds that I just scoop out and throw on the garden. It's great stuff and often I'll just scoop out half the pond at a time, water lillies and all, and throw on the garden. Makes things grow like crazy. And it doesn't hurt the water lilly population at all, they multiply like mad.
But with the island I'm betting it's not the water itself but rather the bugs, etc. that are present because of the water being there. And possibly water plants as well, even if they're tiny.

If I am understanding this correctly..... here is the thing,.... she is having to move the birds because they are not thriving,,,So with that in mind... makes me question what's wrong with the other yards.

 

[deek]

If I am understanding this correctly..... here is the thing,.... she is having to move the birds because they are not thriving,,,So with that in mind... makes me question what's wrong with the other yards.

Her management techniques are very different than mine. It would obviously have to be since she cares for 100 and not just a small flock. She doesn't worm and feed quality/ budget is different. Her birds live 1-3 years. Doesn't medicate or intervene (other than puts them on the island). Survival of the fittest strategy. No babying going on. That said, her place is immaculate. She cares for her birds. Works 6 hours a day just keeping everything tidy. I would be proud to have such a nice setup. She doesn't consider them pets, but you can tell she is keeping them in the best environment for her purpose -eggs. She allows some to go broody so that she can replace the ones that die. I need to clarify, they're not really sick. But when egg production goes down and they're just not "chipper", they get moved to the island. A few weeks later, magically, those moved are back to laying and are "happy" again. There's just something about that water or island that for 8 years she gets the same results. If she has sick birds, she quarantines and some get better, some she culls, and some just die.

You're right though Renie. Something makes their egg production go down or stop, not due to something obvious like molting, and they aren't acting "happy". She doesn't do anything but puts them on the island and they start laying and are happy again. It's really weird. She's not curious as to why the island makes them better. She just knows that for 8 years moving them there does. Perhaps there is a trace of vitamins and minerals from the fish waste and that perks them up. I know I had read the vitamin K will do that and according to the information, which I don't know if it's valid or not, fish by products are high in K.

Would love to really know. I will ask her if I can have a sample of the water. I was just trying to befriend her so that I can learn from her. She'll be convinced I'm a nut job when I show up wanting to test the water.

 

[tdhenson86]

Quote:
Personally, I think it is going to be all in the way you present it. If you say something along the lines of "I am so impressed with the way you raise your birds. I would love to learn from you. I've noticed that when you move the birds to the island, they do better. I'd love to find out what it is about the island that makes them do so well. Do you think it would be okay if I took a small sample of the water to see if that's it?" I think you'll have better luck.

Best of luck!!!

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

Would love to really know. I will ask her if I can have a sample of the water. I was just trying to befriend her so that I can learn from her. She'll be convinced I'm a nut job when I show up wanting to test the water.

LOL probably soo... perhaps the others are being disturbed at night..... maybe too much noise or there is a light left on... But you know the girls just don't lay when they ain't happy.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

Personally, I think it is going to be all in the way you present it. If you say something along the lines of "I am so impressed with the way you raise your birds. I would love to learn from you. I've noticed that when you move the birds to the island, they do better. I'd love to find out what it is about the island that makes them do so well. Do you think it would be okay if I took a small sample of the water to see if that's it?" I think you'll have better luck.

Best of luck!!!

Yep... I agree with that too.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

I picked up my new baby buff Britt today... and you know what.... she felt like a duckling. The feathers are so thick they make the baby feel squishy

 

[aveca]

not selling online magazines here, just wanted to share my freind rev roland romig is on the cover this month of this magazine..he likes all of the orps import and domestic..judges to SOP but enjoys the rest.