What did you do in the garden today?

[TJAnonymous]

Whether you kill them now, or kill them when they get sick, it's still killing.
Unless they are sick and clearly suffering, Id go for, lets see if they get it or not. They may survive it too, now you have chickens who are IMMUNE to the flu, you know, sort of like that herd immunity thing that's been there ALWAYS !!

They are locked in their pens, they are not passing it on, it's the ones getting IN that are passing it. id try to save my flock instead of just killing them all. Im sure it's all about money, and thats it with these people, kill them all, and claim the insurance write off, and then F the investors come dividend time Preemptive killing just seems so wrong to me. that's just me tho, take it or leave it. Id probably go bankrupt because i actually cared for my flock instead of just seeing it as dollar bills running around.

Aaron

I had a long conversation with the head of the poultry dept at the University of Arkansas about HPAI. I asked if they have done any testing with Ivermectin on HPAI. Ivermectin has a documented history of efficacy against quite a few viruses - West Nile, Zika, Dengue....and Avian Influenza in people. I asked why they wouldn't test it as a preventative or a treatment in poultry. He said that you have to be a Level 3 biolab (they aren't) to do that kind of research but he was going to bring it up at an association meeting to see if there was any interest or if anyone was already doing this type of research. He did say that culling all these birds is hurting the industry who is pushing researchers to find a treatment....so I don't think they are as apathetic as you imagine.

He also said that if the government or state finds out any of your birds actually HAVE HPAI, they will mandate a cull of all your birds - with or without your permission. They won't even give you the OPPORTUNITY to try to treat them. Just FYI.... Oh yeah, and HPAI has a 95% kill rate naturally.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I had $60 in Kohls cash and used it to buy a little outdoor greenhouse. It's only about 4 ft tall... Really small but functional and free! I moved my broccoli plants into it. I'm hoping we can till next weekend!

 

[WthrLady]

I grabbed 6 seed potatoes from DH and DS.
I'll also be growing lentil greens for the birds to nibble on while they're stuck inside for the next two weeks. But I usually do this time of year anyway, well, a little earlier. No bugs, and no grass yet, and they just go hide when the winds are howling over 35 anyway, so better in than out anyway.
I'll also start rotational lettuce in the hoop today.

 

[WthrLady]

This is from the Michigan thread.

It's only reported in one mute swan and one flock of 43 so far.
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ou...e-information/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai

choose commercial or backyard flock or wild bird population and then scroll down a little and type in your state it will show you what is officially reported, where and when

 

[vall]

I had $60 in Kohls cash and used it to buy a little outdoor greenhouse. It's only about 4 ft tall... Really small but functional and free! I moved my broccoli plants into it. I'm hoping we can till next weekend!

Those are great! But keep an eye on the temperature inside - the little greenhouses heat up fast. I had to cut vents in mine.

 

[vall]

Continued emptying a raised bed so I can take the bed with me when I move. Need to set more gopher traps. Found an avocado on the ground today, this variety is supposed to turn black when it's ripe and it is indeed black, so it just has to soften on the counter a couple days. This is my first home grown avocado!

 

[TJAnonymous]

Those are great! But keep an eye on the temperature inside - the little greenhouses heat up fast. I had to cut vents in mine.

Yeah, I've figured that out already. I left the font zipper partially open because it got really warm inside. I wanted the unit because my chickens will try to jump up on the pots and create havoc. I wanted something with a cover that could keep my plants safe... It is great at keeping them out but I'm definitely going to have to figure out how to add vents to the unit.

 

[Ascholten]

His tour of duty was up.

How many roaches did he kill?

I honestly could not tell you. We'd see him eating them now and then, they were all over though, and he was a fat ass so we were hoping for every one we seen, there were 10 he got we didn't see.

The roach problem was, well, you don't want to know. The cooks... oh man... quote... I don't see what you all are bitching about, you've been eating roach stepped on food all month...end quote. Then he cries when he gets threats of going swimming over the Marianas Trench

After about a week we were considering ordering a box of them thru mail order and letting them loose all over the boat but were worried, being Guam they'd never make it thru customs and be dead by the time we go them.

Aaron

 

[WthrLady]

Lettuce, potatoes planted and peas watered.
52 outside and 100 in the hoophouse, which is warm for plants, but there aren't any in there yet, so it's warming the soil, which is good.

Seed boxes from Michaels came today, fast!
They're much larger than I expected. LOL. I might put the little cases into a smaller shoebox sized case.

 

[igorsMistress]

Good afternoon gardeners. I’m finally done at my moms, long day! I found a plastic coffee can with a rope handle that I brought home, perfect for carrying around small garden tools. Also found a metal something that looks like it might have been a plant stand but I’m going to use it as a trellis for something eventually. And a black ceramic pot. Everything is now on my patio, the uhaul truck is back and we went to the store for a few things. Hubs bought me this solar frog, I think he’s adorable!

Have a good night all, I’m going to shower and probably crash early. It was toasty today and I’m gross.