What did you do in the garden today?

[jerryse]

Picked the last pathetic tomatoes . Sad to see it end .

 

[Sueby]

Good boy Buck!

I have a sick chicken. I guess shes shes. She is eating, pooping & drinking, just seems to be in a daze, she barely moves. Her head is tucked & her tail feathers are down. She let me pick her up (which is odd in itself) & I felt around thinking maybe she is egg bound. I didnt feel an egg but her abdomen seems a little swollen. She does this frequently but it usually only last a couple hours, this is day 2. She is not laying & has always been my best layer - frequent large eggs or double yolkers. I dont know what to do for her. I made up a warm mash & she actually ran for it. The most she's moved in days. I don't know if I sould treat her as egg bound & give her calcium & a soak or not, shes not contracting or waking funny.

(Fyi I posted this over in the sick board for ideas)

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning gardeners. My winter heath plan arrived and I got them in the ground yesterday. I thought the nursery was in California. Turns out in not too far from you @penny1960, in Shelton, WA. The plants were shipped USPS Priority 2 day mail. The shippers were concerned about the plants drying out, but they were very wet when they arrived. The ground here is pretty saturated and it was easy digging through the grass to plant them. I know it's a little sad to put the garden to bed for the winter, but there's so much else to do before the snow starts flying. I did a little reading on hydrangeas and decided to give them a reprieve for one more season. From what I read, they may be suffering a phosphorus deficiency. I'll give them a good shot of that and see if they bloom next year. Your dog Buck reminds me of a former neighbor before I moved to this property @microchick. My neighbor had a Pitbull. He was very cautious and made sure his dog did not become a nuisance. He eventually put in a chicken coop and got some chickens. After a few months the chickens started to break out of their pen and try to free range in nearby yards. Concerned for their welfare I called my neighbor and let him know the chickens were out and about. A few days later I ran into my neighbor and he told me that his dog figured out how to open their door and he was letting them out so he could steal their food. He never hurt any of the chickens, but rather liked their company. Have a great day everyone.

 

[Sueby]

I wonder about my hydrangeas, they haven't flowered in the 2 years I've been here but DH chopped the back one year & the poisoned them spraying the roof once, lol. This year they were left alone, grew big but no flowers.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I wonder about my hydrangeas, they haven't flowered in the 2 years I've been here but DH chopped the back one year & the poisoned them spraying the roof once, lol. This year they were left alone, grew big but no flowers.

You must have moved in around the same time as me @Sueby. My hydrangeas look really healthy, but no blooms at all. Not even buds. I read this is likely due to a phosphorus deficiency so will see how it goes next year. I'm sorry about your hen. I've not had any serious problems with mine so I don't have any wise words for you. I'm sure some of our experts will respond. Best of luck with her.

 

[microchick]

Could she be laying internally?

I'd probably just soak her and pop some calcium just to cover that base. Just incase.

Great story @Sueby. I had an Appaloosa/Morgan cross mare once who use to turn my rabbits loose. Had two rabbits return to the wild because that silly horse would 'nose' whatever latch I put on the rabbit pen open. I kept thinking she and the rabbits would have a conversation and the rabbits convinced her that they needed to be 'out' of the pen and roaming around on their own.

I actually remembered that I did do something in my garden yesterday. I love iced mint tea and was bemoaning the fact that I was out and had forgotten to pick some up while in town yesterday. Then I remembered , HEY, I've got a mint crop that hasn't been touched out in one of my flower beds. Sure enough, I cut and bundled up an arm full of mint branches and have them hanging in our 'hobby room' smelling delicious. I even made a big glass of iced mint tea for dinner last night. I can cross mint tea off of my shopping list for awhile.

 

[Sueby]

Thanks guys. I have her in a crate in the shed on a damp towel on top of the heating pad (don't want to soak her, its chilly). I mixed a tums in with some mash & shes eating. I gave her some save a chick too. I guess there isn't much more I can do. & She's very unappreciative, lol, she pecked me.

I do suspect some type of reproductive issue, possibly internal laying because shes done this before, tho not nearly as bad, but always beats it. Here's hoping!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning Gardeners how is it you show the other side of the country @Wee Farmer Sarah
confusing BF lived there all his years until 5 ago we moved here .....
dryer down here

 

[microchick]

I like the tums idea. I just usually grab a handful of oyster shell and start popping them down their throats until they pop out an egg for me.

Tums and mash would be easier.

We just picked the last of our apples, divided what we have left, about two+ bushels and gave half to our next door neighbor who has 13 kids...maybe 14 they never hold still long enough to count them. Miracle is that they aren't Amish!

Discovered that they have 4 sows and a boar hog so piglets are on the way. Gee, now I know where to buy a half a pig for the freezer!

 

[pennyJo1960]

I could say maybe catholic then as my polish uncle would say