What did you do in the garden today?

[pennyJo1960]

I have 4 sex links like that they are nearing 3.
The hatchery birds that are bred to lay do not have as long a life as a given.
Very wet here nothing in the garden but pullig plants to give to birds

 

[Sally PB]

Wet, grey, dreary day. Another inside day. Good day to watch football. Or nap. Or hang out on BYC.

 

[Ascholten]

Well, got the garage majorly sort of sorted and cleaned up. Ok not cleaned but crap put in piles that are organized crap so I can go thru later and keep / toss whatever. Important thing is, I have a pathway so that when I need, I can get all my plants that need it, wheeled into the garage in about 15 minutes to keep them out of the frost. Im tired, sore and want to just goto bed now. Tomorrow maybe Ill roast some coffee

Aaron

 

[Sueby]

I just don't understand my strawberry plants, lol. We have had weeks of frosts/freezes & yet they look fantastic. There was a coating of ice on the deck this am when I walked out, yet not a spot of brown on my strawberry leaves. I really want to cover them & be done with it!

 

[Elyrian1]

It does sound like mites. This is my RSL Green (she's named after the color of her leg band) in the middle of molting. She could stand to lose a couple tail feathers, we'll see, but I think she looks pretty good. She's still laying eggs & she is just about 3 years old, so not even a pullet.View attachment 2898282

I swore I wouldn't buy them again because I've had nothing but reproductive issues, they don't live past 3 or 3.5 - but man do I already miss the unbelievable egg production with only 2 of them left. They lay pretty much every day no matter what. My other birds are freeloaders compared, lol.

Yeah, it's got to be mites, because your bird looks waaaaaay better than all the ones I've seen for sale locally. Hmm. Have to make sure I set up a proper dust bath for my birds when I get them (most likely EEs). That's probably why they can't fight the mites, I'd be willing to bet nobody makes dust baths for their birds around here. There, uh, isn't a whole lot of good chicken keeping practices in the area it would seem.

The neighbors for instance. They keep their chickens, goats, dogs, and horse all in one small paddock about fifty by fifty. It smells like a petting zoo and when the wind blows just right, and produces more flies than the chickens can handle. And their chickens look bad.

 

[NewBoots]

I swore I wouldn't buy them again because I've had nothing but reproductive issues, they don't live past 3 or 3.5 - but man do I already miss the unbelievable egg production with only 2 of them left. They lay pretty much every day no matter what. My other birds are freeloaders compared, lol.

Sounds like my amber links. The only time they don't lay every day is a couple days during their molt. All the ladies that hatched last year had really hard molts, this years chicks just a light molt.

 

[WthrLady]

Yeah, it's got to be mites, because your bird looks waaaaaay better than all the ones I've seen for sale locally. Hmm. Have to make sure I set up a proper dust bath for my birds when I get them (most likely EEs). That's probably why they can't fight the mites, I'd be willing to bet nobody makes dust baths for their birds around here. There, uh, isn't a whole lot of good chicken keeping practices in the area it would seem.

The neighbors for instance. They keep their chickens, goats, dogs, and horse all in one small paddock about fifty by fifty. It smells like a petting zoo and when the wind blows just right, and produces more flies than the chickens can handle. And their chickens look bad.

Battery hens and hens in over crowded pens and dirty conditions usually look terrible. I have a friend that keeps hers in a corner of a barn, no windows, no outdoor time. Criminal.

 

[Elyrian1]

Blegh. I get that pens can look a bit gnarly, but there's a line between gnarly and just not well taken care of. I think folks around here just feed their critters and... well that's about it. I've never seen so many stray dogs, stray cats, kittens and puppies up on craigslist... The personal responsibility seems to be a little lacking. We're getting outdoor kitty fixed the first of December, then indoor kitty gets her turn the first of January. As early as the vet says is okay.

We built two more garden box sections and then DH started tinkering on our future coop crate. I got one box about half full of dirt before I was done. Ran out of steam. Watered everything that I planted, and ran the dang cat out of the garden box. Love that cat, but sheesh, garden does not equal toilet! Oh, and outdoor kitty isn't even technically ours... but landlady is slow to get things done and is fine with us "helping." My dad turns around and helps us pay for shots and whatnot.

 

[chickengr]

Yeah, it's got to be mites, because your bird looks waaaaaay better than all the ones I've seen for sale locally. Hmm. Have to make sure I set up a proper dust bath for my birds when I get them (most likely EEs). That's probably why they can't fight the mites, I'd be willing to bet nobody makes dust baths for their birds around here. There, uh, isn't a whole lot of good chicken keeping practices in the area it would seem.

The neighbors for instance. They keep their chickens, goats, dogs, and horse all in one small paddock about fifty by fifty. It smells like a petting zoo and when the wind blows just right, and produces more flies than the chickens can handle. And their chickens look bad.

what breed of dogs do your neighbors have? mine would kill chickens instantly.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Oddly enough Pugsly is good with the birds they ganged up on him pecking when he was young I pulled him out but gave them respect .. Both white and my bird dog lab Moose cannot be with them