The Middle Tennessee Thread

[HBuehler]

I'm leaving..too many cute pics this morning for me

no really if I don't get out the door I'll forget to get Reeses and be playing with my cute fluffy chicks

 

[Shelly_WNC]

Holly - I am so glad to hear you finally have your baby chicks home safe and sound. Oh boy they are adorable!

Farmerval - you take the best pictures - those of such cute fuzzy butts. I really really want some but I'm thinking I will slow down on the chicks for now.

I have to build TWO coops and runs this weekend for the two pairs of bantams I bought last week. I feel so bad I have each pair in big ole horse stalls nice and safe but even with the faint barn lights on they aren't getting to enjoy this sunny weather we have been blessed with. Oh the bright side both hens started laying the tinest eggs I have seen (half the size of my Wyndottes). I am collecting them and will try incubating to see if they are fertile ... so I don't want to start collected a lot of chicks right yet until I see if the bantams hatch. I am so hoping they do!!!

citygirl - oh please buy those lambs so I can come visit. I see them on craigslist too but can't afford them. I think we ALL would be at your house all the time to visit the sheep and YOU! LOL


Jenski - I am so excited about my first spring here in TN and planting. I never knew what those yellow shrubs were and now I want to but a bunch and plant them for next spring. Seems a lot of folks have them .. but our property is pretty bare . I have so many things I will to grow I can't wait. Should we be waiting until April 15th to start gardens? I heard this somewhere for TN.

Tish - I am so happy for you, I know how bad you two wanted to move to GA and I'm so glad it is all working out so great. Your new home is wonderful. I can't wait until you move in and send us pictures of your family and the silkies/showgirls enjoying the place.

I hope everyone has a great SUNNY weekend ... I will be hauling crushed gravel to the backyard for a patio I'm building and building a 4x8 coop (with a wall between to seperate the two bantam breeds) and run. Lots of manual work in my future *smile*

 

[HBuehler]

Shelly...sounds like your in for a full weekend

Reeses has settled in with her buddy Toast and 2 other MF Cochin pullets...she's so sweet and fun...Reeses fits her well dark chocolate on ends and buff in the middle just like a Reeses PB cup

My Lav Orps are about done hatching...a real good hatch for shipped eggs and they are so dark..beautiful chicks. Now nothing goes to lockdown again until next Wed and most of those are already sold-really hoping for a good hatch on those
I don't need sheep no matter how cute..I don't need sheep...Thankfully I can't afford cute sheep

 

[Jenski]

Morning, everyone! Let's cross our fingers that we have enough decent weather to get out there and get more yard stuff done this weekend!

Shelley, my mother always says there is a frost in Tennessee near Mother's Day, so watch any tender plants until then. For things like bushes, though, March is a great time to plant since the weather is damp and the bushes can develop their roots before the heat comes.

I do seedlings for veggies like tomatoes and squash right around this time of year, but I keep them indoors at night until early May. I have already started strawberry crowns and I seeded my European baby greens bed. . . those do great in raised beds. There are some herbs that will overwinter here, like sage, oregano, thyme, St. John's wort, lemon balm - - but I usually lose the rosemary to winter cold and have to replant. Some, like my cilantro, reseed themselves and I don't have to replant.

I no longer put in a lot of ornamental plants in my yard - - I prefer that my plants feed me, LOL! If I had more room, I would plant more apple trees (there are some good TN natives, like Kinnaird's Choice); plum trees; peach trees; pear trees; persimmon trees (native and delicious!); fig trees; hazelnut bushes; a ton more grapes, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries; tons of veggies; huge beds of culinary and medicinal herbs (and a whole field of lavender!); and even patches of native flowers like tiger lily, which has many edible parts. Native redbud trees are a lovely little understory tree with nice edible purple flowers in spring. That would be the start of my dream farm planting, LOL!


So what's everyone got cookin' today?

 

[HBuehler]

Jenski needs to move

Our apple,peach,and plum trees are in full bloom..need to check the cherry and pear trees I haven't noticed.Blueberries will be later on...so much yummy fruit and the chickies just love it...what we are willing to share that is

We can't begin to get the garden in yet..it's too wet to till up still.He's not in any rush though those late frosts happen nearly every year and take out a part of the fruit crop as it is. Then our garden help is relentless...but sure are pretty
Ahh today is another trip to the feed store..as many chickens as I have sold I'm still feeding a full bag of layer every day and nearly one baby a day

then my house is threatening to lock it's doors if I don't clean it but my chick pens need cleaning as well.How is it my chick house is cleaner than MY house? I'm moving in there

Hopefully people will come out and buy more pullets..running a weekend special for $5.00 pullets 2-4 months old

 

[cpegram]

Well let's see before I left for work I had 3 of the 8 making it to lock
DOwn pipped before I left for work this is day 21 this is the
First. Taking their time...meanwhile putting an order for chicks
In with Bobbi Porto oooh excited!!! Not this Monday but next I have some
More hatching eggs. Just 2 dozen. Then I think I am done to let every thing
Grow out. I have been busy with all this hatching and chicks, I would
Have never thought 5 years ago that I would be doing this now
I Am addicted to chickens lol ok I have said it LOL. As for the garden I did not
Do one last year. I had my first chicks and did not think I could do both. Now I know better but will wait till the middle of
May. We have turned our dirt but that's about it. Hope everyone has a great
DAy in this nice weAther!!!

 

[Jenski]

Wow! Did anyone else see that gorgeous misty peach-colored full moon this morning? When I let the dogs outside at around 6:20, it was setting in the west over the white pear blossoms, in a hazy blue sky. What a beautiful way to welcome the vernal equinox!

I got the front half of the banty playhouse garden weeded yesterday, and also put up some nice home-made garage door trim (fun!). I also put in my handy-dandy recycled funky old wood steps for the banty playhouse, so I don't fall and break my ankle coming in and out of the coop. Very important that.

Now I really, seriously, desperately need some pansies for the coop window box. We must have flowers. Now .

1newegg, you've got your hands full with chicks, LOL! Aren't they fun, though!


And on that note, I must make a shameful confession. All the chick-talk and cute pictures (not to mention the dang video, thank you CityGirl) were just too much for me . . . so I caved and set some eggs under one of my crazy broody hens. A pox on you all! Everyone who posted a cute chick photo is obligated to come and pick up one of these chicks if they hatch.

Holly, that better not be you laughing over there!

Enjoy the day, and take your Zyrtec, Allegra, Sudafed, super-histamine-mega-sinus-itchamundo relief, and all the other drugs of the season!

 

[HBuehler]

it was sorry..

Such a pretty day..got to get some wire doors made on the chick house today..don't like leaving them open with my favorite puddy tat roaming around but it's too hot in there.Have more people coming out today..hopefully to get some chicks..I will get down to where I want to be I will.
Oh Jenski-the Ol Marans lady...remember when I said she had laid several eggs in a row..well I stuck those eggs in the bator before I put her in the Marans pen and you should see this chick we hatched with Megs big white Rooster..I think I have found my meat bird cross...biggest darn thing..and not only size but he's all breast meat..Glad I now have a bunch of Marans nearly at pol so I can get more and still have some Marans.Cornish had better watch out now
Ok back out side to play in the sun...

 

[cpegram]

Hey anyone going to the double batam show at Ft Payne,Al. It's only an hour and half from me. I am thinking about taking the kiddos And checking it out..another gorgeous day can't wait to get home to play!!!

 

[Troyerchicks]

1newegg - when is it?