What did you do in the garden today?

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

@Wee Farmer Sarah this rain is crazy, isn't it? We had a mallard duck in our yard this am. SWIMMING!!

I can't really free range them because of the hawks, but the pen is 80x25 so they have a good bit of room. They are doing ok today, as long as they move when the mean girl gets near they are ok. If not she chases them. I put tons of roosts & logs & pallets out there, & a pile of mulch & lots of feeders so everybody can hide & have something to do.

We have not dine electric fence yet but have been thinking about it. I'm hoping between sheds, tractors, vehicles, fences it's too much of an obstacle course to get to the coop & he sticks to the turkey food.

LOVE the babies! So cute!! We cant even get them around here, people are hoarding chicks! My neighbor raises meat birds but is on a waiting list till summer. I couldn't have a rooster, too much of a neighborhood. When we retire...

Hoping it warms up soon so I can plant the darn garden!

That’s a pretty big space for your chickens. I have nesting hawks here. I let the flock out into the fenced in part of the back yard and sit with them for about an hour. They actually get bored after about 45 minutes. Short attention span. My chickens are dual purpose so when I have room in the grow out pen I’m going to incubate some eggs as meat birds. Maybe you could find someone who is selling fertilized eggs.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@Sueby, is your bully hen actually causing damage such as bleeding to the little ones? If not, I would just leave them together and let them work it out. Things should settle down in two or three days. Every time you separate them and then put them back together they have to start over from Day One, so to speak. As long as there are places to hide and plenty of room, they will work things out. They will establish the pecking order and all will be well. Should be, anyway. If not, put the bully hen in a dog crate in the run for two or three days, in the shade of course, with food and water. I have had good luck with that. Gives her an attitude adjustment. But make sure she can see and be seen by everybody.

Typos

 

[Sueby]

That’s a pretty big space for your chickens. I have nesting hawks here. I let the flock out into the fenced in part of the back yard and sit with them for about an hour. They actually get bored after about 45 minutes. Short attention span. My chickens are dual purpose so when I have room in the grow out pen I’m going to incubate some eggs as meat birds. Maybe you could find someone who is selling fertilized eggs.

Then I'd have to find someone to butcher them. . I'm not quite there yet. We did have to cull one that was sick, but I'm not sure I could do it to eat it yet. I'll get there...

@Sueby, is your bully hen actually causing damage such as bleeding to the little ones? If not, I would just leave them together and let them work it out. Things should settle down in two or three days. Every time you separate them and then put them back together they have to start over from Day One, so to speak. As long as there are places to hide and plenty of room, they will work things out. They will establish the pecking order and all will be well. Should be, anyway. If not, put the bully hen in a dog crate in the run for two or three days, in the shade of course, with food and water. I have had good luck with that. Gives her an attitude adjustment. But make sure she can see and be seen by everybody.

Typos

Thanks for the advice. No blood yet, I guess I just didn't expect her to be so relentless & go out of her way to torment the little girls. But you're right, they'll work it out.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

@Granny Hatchet opinion please on this growth in Hawaii?

I cant advise sorry

 

[pinknblackchaos]

Tropical babies it looks like it could be violet but i am not 100% enough for you to go out and eat it. The leaf structure and flowers look very similar, though I can't quite see the front of the flowers which would make me more comfortable verifying. Here is a good photo of the variety that I have made syrup from so you can compare with your own. I did a quick google search that said there are some varieties in Hawaii (I believe that is where you are). If that is them looks like you have plenty!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning gardeners lost one of my peeps rest leave today .. Thanks Sue ...
alright crazy as can be stocked 9 in my bator 3 are pure blue marans

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I don’t plan on doing the butchering. There’s a guy up the road in New Hampshire that has a USDA facility that does it for $5 per chicken. Considering he deals with the feathers and clean up I think it’s worth it. Disposing of garbage in my town is a PIA. Btw: the rain stopped and the sun is peaking out through the clouds.

 

[NewBoots]

We lost 2 chicks last night. It was their first night in the outside coop and it might have been too cold. I've changed their set up temporarily, still outside in the coop but warmer and they all seem happy. We'll put our lost ones at the base of a tree we'll be planting later today. Hard not to feel guilty but I tell myself they could have had hidden issues and would have died sooner or later and could have been roosters that I'd have to send to freezer camp anyway.

The peas are growing like crazy and so pretty! This is the first time I've had such nice conditions for growing peas so I am really hoping for good results. The lettuce is now growing so well I'll be harvesting the whole thing instead of just pulling a few leaves. Got to get the radishes planted today. Mid 50s to 60s today and rain later so better get busy.

 

[AllenK RGV]

We lost 2 chicks last night. It was their first night in the outside coop and it might have been too cold. I've changed their set up temporarily, still outside in the coop but warmer and they all seem happy. We'll put our lost ones at the base of a tree we'll be planting later today. Hard not to feel guilty but I tell myself they could have had hidden issues and would have died sooner or later and could have been roosters that I'd have to send to freezer camp anyway.

The peas are growing like crazy and so pretty! This is the first time I've had such nice conditions for growing peas so I am really hoping for good results. The lettuce is now growing so well I'll be harvesting the whole thing instead of just pulling a few leaves. Got to get the radishes planted today. Mid 50s to 60s today and rain later so better get busy.

That is always sad, my poor broodzilla has one remaining chick. I do not know what is taking them but due to the coop changes we have made her last chick has survived 3 overnights since a rat could still get in there I am inclined towards possum as my predator. Or the additional night time lighting and her bad disposition has convinced her predators to move on. I have a new scab now on my foot from feeding her and the chick this morning in flip flops.

Update Also on the pineapple video thing. I am just going to make a photo centric article. The time to maturity thing is really relative to how many 45-50F+ full sun days you can provide them. For me it is 18 months until fruit out.

 

[pennyJo1960]

So sorry we all loose little at times .. Worst part of having them
Our rain is to be back tomorrow at least for the weekend