What did you do in the garden today?

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Spread out in the garden? Out of curiosity, what purpose would that serve?

I have a pellet stove. That’s how I heat my house.

 

[BReeder!]

I have a pellet stove. That’s how I heat my house.

Ah, sorry. You mean spread out as in make it last perhaps. I was thinking you were tossing them in the garden and was like "that's done expensive mulch." LOL

 

[igorsMistress]

@TropicalBabies
Here's close up pics of the feeders. Disregard the nails, we tried those first to keep pigeons off and they didn't work. The HWC does 2 things...it keeps the pigeons from getting under the lids we use to keep rain out and holds the lids up so they don't droop. The next thing was getting them up off the ground high enough pigeons can't just stand there and eat but the chickens can still have access. I used various bricks to try different heights. Right now at least 6" from ground to the bottom is perfect but when the younger birds grow we can raise them some more.

 

[WthrLady]

Sunny and 64 yesterday. Cloudy, 42mph winds, freezing rain and 25 degrees today. Typical.

Hauled manure yesterday.

I scrubbed the new bread trough within an inch of it's life this weekend and then double treated it with hydrogen peroxide. It dried all weekend and today I sealed and polished it with food safe materials. It looks amazing.

Small chores all day today;dusting, vacuuming, bits and bobs, here and there.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Ah, sorry. You mean spread out as in make it last perhaps. I was thinking you were tossing them in the garden and was like "that's done expensive mulch." LOL

Yes. We’ve had a lot of single digit temperatures earlier in the winter and I went through a lot of pellets.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I just finished cleaning the pellet stove. It was really dirty. I dumped the ashes on two of my raised beds where I will be planting veggies that are not fond of acidic soil. The next bucket will likely go on my peach tree. The soil there is also acidic.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Big mahalo for sharing @igorsMistress ,
My ears perked up with your pigeon solution. I too have a big problem w/ them but I also have a bigger problem with wild chickens eating at my bowl, so on the flip side of that is the endless buffet I'd get to sponsor. Deep sigh** I was so hopeful for a few minutes . I think for inside of the coop that would be good. Apparently there is no way around the bird netting I am going to have to put up.
I do love all of your improvements. Must feel great and I am inspired!!

 

[TropicalBabies]

Look what showed up this morning... She is not mine, just using us for feed, water and safety lol. I think she has 15-16 chicks that are Sancho's

She is currently camping out in the big coop, scaring my hens from the main box.

 

[igorsMistress]

Big mahalo for sharing @igorsMistress ,
My ears perked up with your pigeon solution. I too have a big problem w/ them but I also have a bigger problem with wild chickens eating at my bowl, so on the flip side of that is the endless buffet I'd get to sponsor. Deep sigh** I was so hopeful for a few minutes . I think for inside of the coop that would be good. Apparently there is no way around the bird netting I am going to have to put up.
I do love all of your improvements. Must feel great and I am inspired!!

You don't keep your chickens penned away from the wild ones? I was thinking maybe a small run where I can let my flocks out to eat unmolested first thing, then let them out in the yard with water all day, then call them back to the run for their evening meal. I didn't need that extreme measure. I would think your crew would have plenty to forage during the day in your area there? Perhaps something like that would work.

 

[TropicalBabies]

You don't keep your chickens penned away from the wild ones? I was thinking maybe a small run where I can let my flocks out to eat unmolested first thing, then let them out in the yard with water all day, then call them back to the run for their evening meal. I didn't need that extreme measure. I would think your crew would have plenty to forage during the day in your area there? Perhaps something like that would work.

I am now feeding them several times a day on a plant saucer. Big breakfast and then I let them out, give them light feeding in between locking them up in the afternoon, then let them out again about 3-4pm and then big feed in the eve when I lock them back up. I am saving on food and I am grateful to be around usually but I would love to not be robbed. Yes I have their run surrounded by a 5' run and 1/2 shade cloth but the wild ones hop the fence NO PROBLEM. Think bird netting for the rest would work.