What did you do in the garden today?

[WthrLady]

Oh yeah ...everyone likes them free! I give them to people who’ve helped us out...like the family who picks up or drops off my kid to an activity, or the friend who has helped us out in a project!

In the summer I will sometimes give freebies, usually to gain a new customer, but then towards Fall, I start baking quiches to freeze.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I never gave free eggs oh wait first 30 maybe did give a dozen to the neighbor but he like crowing never had them quite so none till this year instead 12 got 6 so was okay ya I have 40 watt bulb in the main coop 40 in silky today the brooder light is 125 raised it a foot it was next to the hardware cloth cover

 

[karenerwin]

Thanks for all the well wishes for my Mom. Unfortunately she isn't doing as well as we hoped. She fell the first night home, her legs gave out when she was trying to put a tray in the sink. She has a skin tear on her elbow, but otherwise she was alright.
Then today I got another call, they say her legs gave out on her after her shower and the caregiver lowered her to the floor. My Mom has a different version of how it went.
Anyway the assisted living place said she either has to go to the Care Center until she gets stronger or she has to hire a 24 hour nurse/caregiver until she gets stronger.
She is going with the care giver option. She REALLY doesn't want to go to the care center. She hated it last time she was there!
I have to take her back to the leg surgeon tomorrow for a follow up to the follow up. I hope she does alright on this trip.
I'm going to ask for a meeting with the assisted living administrator and my mom so we can establish some goals that she will need to meet to be able to stay in assisted living and no longer need the 24 hour care person.

I am also watching my 2 year old grandson until Friday afternoon while his parents are on their honeymoon. So, I did not get to the garden or burning the tree stump today.

 

[chickmom3941]

Thanks for all the well wishes for my Mom. Unfortunately she isn't doing as well as we hoped. She fell the first night home, her legs gave out when she was trying to put a tray in the sink. She has a skin tear on her elbow, but otherwise she was alright.
Then today I got another call, they say her legs gave out on her after her shower and the caregiver lowered her to the floor. My Mom has a different version of how it went.
Anyway the assisted living place said she either has to go to the Care Center until she gets stronger or she has to hire a 24 hour nurse/caregiver until she gets stronger.
She is going with the care giver option. She REALLY doesn't want to go to the care center. She hated it last time she was there!
I have to take her back to the leg surgeon tomorrow for a follow up to the follow up. I hope she does alright on this trip.
I'm going to ask for a meeting with the assisted living administrator and my mom so we can establish some goals that she will need to meet to be able to stay in assisted living and no longer need the 24 hour care person.

I am also watching my 2 year old grandson until Friday afternoon while his parents are on their honeymoon. So, I did not get to the garden or burning the tree stump today.

So sorry to hear about the setback your mom experienced. I feel bad for her considering all she's been through. And you, too. I know it's hard watching a parent go through things like that. Hope you're both able to keep strong, and that your mom's recovery goes better in the future.

 

[chickmom3941]

Regarding broodies, eggs, lighting, etc. - We had one reliable broody, Bertha, who was also a black australorpe, but she died last fall. I was so sad.Our other australorpe went broody for the first time last summer, but unfortunately we didn't buy any chicks for her to raise (wish we had). No one went broody this year.
We often give away eggs to family and friends when we have lots of excess, although I never knew you could freeze them!
I personally don't really believe in adding extra lighting in the winter. I think that their bodies must need a rest from laying, so I just go along with their natural cycles. Also, I did read somewhere that certain studies had suggested that hens who are forced to lay year round by artificial lighting have shown more incidence of getting ovarian cancer and other reproductive issues. Not sure if it was substantiated or not, but it's just not worth the risk to me. I just buy eggs during their "laying slump".

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning all. Sorry about your Mom's setback @karenerwin. I managed to get a little more cleaning up in the garden accomplished on Monday afternoon. Yesterday was exhausting. I went to Boston for a Bone Density Scan at one hospital then after a quick lunch went to another hospital for an Echo Cardiogram. Fun times. I didn't get back home until 4:30 pm. About the eggs. Anticipating a lean egg collection over the winter, I cut back on selling eggs in mid-August. I have 14 dozen eggs in the refrigerator in the basement. I have 3 pullets that lay an egg everyday and at least one of my RIR hens is still laying. So I'm still getting 4 eggs a day. I turn on a battery operated lantern and a solar light about one hour before the sun comes up. I'm on the fence as to adding more pullets for next year. I may skip a year and then add to the flock. My back-up plan is a chicken farmer not too far from here who always has eggs. I ate my very last fresh tomato yesterday. The only fresh thing left are my leeks and the herbs I moved indoors. Have a great day everyone.

 

[Acre4Me]

Regarding broodies, eggs, lighting, etc. - We had one reliable broody, Bertha, who was also a black australorpe, but she died last fall. I was so sad.Our other australorpe went broody for the first time last summer, but unfortunately we didn't buy any chicks for her to raise (wish we had). No one went broody this year.
We often give away eggs to family and friends when we have lots of excess, although I never knew you could freeze them!
I personally don't really believe in adding extra lighting in the winter. I think that their bodies must need a rest from laying, so I just go along with their natural cycles. Also, I did read somewhere that certain studies had suggested that hens who are forced to lay year round by artificial lighting have shown more incidence of getting ovarian cancer and other reproductive issues. Not sure if it was substantiated or not, but it's just not worth the risk to me. I just buy eggs during their "laying slump".

The studies are done on high production breeds in production facilities using industrial lighting. The money to research is related to the money coming in, usually, so no one is studying backyard chicken keepers that use 1 bulb or a string of Christmas lights to try to stimulate production. Because of this, I’m personally not concerned about causing ill effects. Rather, my kid over feeding them whole corn and grass that was too long, have proven much more lethal to the birds! Statistically speaking, I’m better off spending my time keeping tabs on the kid as it relates to treats, than my single coop bulb used during the winter. I still had to buy eggs last winter too (even with the lighting), despite having pullets that turned 1 year old in late Feb! Overall, whatever someone chooses to do (add light or not) is fine for their needs.

 

[chickmom3941]

Acre4Me - Yup, to each his own. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, and can take care of their flock as he/she sees fit.

 

[Sueby]

Do you give eggs away when you have a lot? I used to, but I'm freezing them for baking in Winter so I can save any fresh we get for eating scrambled etc. I ended up with a shortage of eggs last year. Plus, everyone loves fresh eggs if they're free but ask them to contribute to the feed bill and they balk

I don't generally give aways eggs, I have, but it doesn't happen often. I've never accumulated enough to freeze!

OH good lord. You want to borrow some of my broodies? My light sussex never STOPS being broody in the summer. She's a pain in the butt!

Why yes, yes I'd love to borrow her!!

Thanks for all the well wishes for my Mom. Unfortunately she isn't doing as well as we hoped. She fell the first night home, her legs gave out when she was trying to put a tray in the sink. She has a skin tear on her elbow, but otherwise she was alright.
Then today I got another call, they say her legs gave out on her after her shower and the caregiver lowered her to the floor. My Mom has a different version of how it went.
Anyway the assisted living place said she either has to go to the Care Center until she gets stronger or she has to hire a 24 hour nurse/caregiver until she gets stronger.
She is going with the care giver option. She REALLY doesn't want to go to the care center. She hated it last time she was there!
I have to take her back to the leg surgeon tomorrow for a follow up to the follow up. I hope she does alright on this trip.
I'm going to ask for a meeting with the assisted living administrator and my mom so we can establish some goals that she will need to meet to be able to stay in assisted living and no longer need the 24 hour care person.

I am also watching my 2 year old grandson until Friday afternoon while his parents are on their honeymoon. So, I did not get to the garden or burning the tree stump today.

I'm sorry to hear that. My best friend is going through the same thing right now, it's not easy.

 

[WthrLady]

Daisy drives me BOnkers. She'll start laying with everyone else in the spring. Lay for two weeks and go broody. It takes a solid 7-10 days to break her. She'll not lay eggs for two weeks, then lay one or two and then go broody again. Rinse and repeat....alll....summer....LONG.

I think she likes the workshop hen spa in the summer. little booger.