What did you do in the garden today?

[Justagalwithchicks]

What do super high temps and lots of rain cause 'Blush" onions to do you ask? Bolt. They bolt when they still have quite a few growing days left unfortunately..I pulled all the bolted ones and tomorrow I will chop them up and freeze. My eyes are going to hate me. These are kinda strong so will definitely cause tears. So much easier when you can just dry them!

 

[WthrLady]

Yes, well at one point when we got our first egg we figured it cost about $600.00

My neighbor spent $500 his first year, found out he loved it, started and registered a business for honey invested another $1000. Year 3, got stung, for the billionth time, but the was his overload point, he dropped. Spent two days in hospital, now carries an epi 24/7. The bees are now gone.
So it cost him A LOT, but all most cost him too much.

 

[WthrLady]

Do you think it ever becomes cheaper to have backyard eggs than buying? I built and outfitted ourselves for about $1500.00 figuring 5 hens. We ended up with 6, 2 of which were roosters, which we got on the 2 of July this year. By the middle of December we got our first egg….so, I guess the first egg cost $1500.00 not $600.00. Of course, these gals have been pumping eggs out at an average of three a day. So, per egg price obviously dropped a lot but I always wonder whether it ever actually becomes cheaper.

No it doesn't. We've done the math, even with selling the eggs to offset the feed.

 

[WthrLady]

You probably have a few acres for them to forage on, don't you?

Mine free range 8 acres, but we still have to supplement feed with drought and 6 months of the year not free ranging. The coop and run have to be huge for airflow and warmth and entertainment value when the blizzards come.

 

[Backroadlogic]

I'm more of a rancher/ homesteader than a backyard chicken keeper so I have different goals. It's not a problem when I loose a chicken or 2. I try to hatch as many as possible. I've got 2 incubators with 30 each right now, my hen hatched 9 today, had 6 hatch from one mom and 2 from another the other day plus I have a hen sitting on a dozen eggs. Still a few hens laying enough for the 4 of us. I will eat all the roosters and might sell some hens. I have so many eggs that the 4 dogs get some with dinner daily which reduces dogfood costs for me. I couldn't keep chickens if they cost me more than they give me.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I discovered my three year old splash marans is sterile.
Did get him from my friend he is a sweetheart.
chatting with her now. I think the birds have job like I do caring for them.

 

[Paz]

Garden tour...

Dill started flowering
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Butternut squash is doing ok on top of chicken run compost pile
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Beans sprouting behind cabbages
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Kale
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Beets, onions, shallots
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Beans next to onions and shallots still growing
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Snow peas
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Little roma tomatoes
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Zucchini front, picking cukes rear
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Garlic
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More yellow onions
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Poppy flower
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Pepper patch with bush beans at rear
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12 big roma tomatoes, two indeterminate Krim tomatoes and 4 black currants in rear, rattlesnake beans right rear
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Slug damage??? on bean leaves. Sluggo on the ground
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Neglected horseradish
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Cabbages
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Lettuce sprouts
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So pretty

 

[Paz]

This is my harvest today

The photo should be enjoyed sideways lol.