What did you do with your flock today?

[Nomadicus]

After putting a bale of new shavings down for a smaller coop of younger kids I went on my way. After dark I went out to close the door to find them huddled outside the coop. I had to pick them up 2 at the time and put them to bed like 2 year olds. Some that had been roosting on a high up roosting bar where right back on it. It was just the ones that had been huddling on the ground inside the coop that had launched a coup.

 

[PopoMyers]

I heard this type of commotion three times today. I didn't see anything in or outside the coop. If it's an egg song I didn't see any egg...

Psyche! Made you check!

 

[PopoMyers]

I feel ya! We're practically living on squash and runner beans right now - DH is making Sri Lankan runner bean and squash for dinner tonight.

Squash is not having a good year here. What is the best size to pick runner beans? I've never eaten them before. We just cooked the last sweet mama squash that's been my doorstop since last season. Think I'll go back to zucchini next year.

 

[PopoMyers]

How can it actually feel that hot??? Goodness I cannot imagine anything more miserable! I hope you get some relief soon!

I asked my son to explain it. He said, much like hot water can hold and dissolve more sugar before it becomes saturated, so it's the same with hotter air. It can hold more moisture. So the temp and humidity in this case is like a hot, wet blanket. Comparatively, the same percentage at a lower temp is less moisture in the air.

 

[PopoMyers]

Out of commission. My friend has scolded me for going out to do anything for the time being, so I have to resign myself to just saying hello to the chooks.
The pain meds make me quite sleepy, so just to keep up with you all is challenging. Can't hold my phone too well either.

 

[Shetland lover]

I heard this type of commotion three times today. I didn't see anything in or outside the coop. If it's an egg song I didn't see any egg...

Happens at least 3 times a day here! And it's usually the boys that kicks it all off...

 

[Shetland lover]

Squash is not having a good year here. What is the best size to pick runner beans? I've never eaten them before. We just cooked the last sweet mama squash that's been my doorstop since last season. Think I'll go back to zucchini next year.

It depends on the variety and if you can be bothered to string them or not. I tend to pick most varieties on the small side as they don't need stringing. I'm growing "Black Knight" this year. It's a lovely blackish red pod and I've picked them at over a foot long without having to string any! As an experiment, I'm going to allow some to form seeds to see if they're a good dried bean too. I will definitely be growing these again.

Why are your squash having such a bad year?

I really expected a poor year from ours given our terrible summer weather but they've still done very well. Especially our white patty pan. We're growing "Disko" from the Ukraine and it's been superb.
After a slow start our "Early Yellow Crookneck" has been producing good fruit and our zucchini has been producing abundantly since late. June. They're the only 3 types we've grown this year.
Not many people over here grow crooknecks but I tried them for the first time last year and fell in love. They (and the patty pan) have a much better flavour than zucchini, I find.

The flat green beans are also runner beans called"Pantheon". They have a really buttery taste but I only had 3 germinate out of 10 seeds so I might not bother again.

I've never heard of Sweet Mama squash, what are they like?

 

[Shetland lover]

Out of commission. My friend has scolded me for going out to do anything for the time being, so I have to resign myself to just saying hello to the chooks.
The pain meds make me quite sleepy, so just to keep up with you all is challenging. Can't hold my phone too well either.
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It will all be worth it in the end! Stay strong and recover well. Many hugs for you. I get how frustrating it is.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Out of commission. My friend has scolded me for going out to do anything for the time being, so I have to resign myself to just saying hello to the chooks.
The pain meds make me quite sleepy, so just to keep up with you all is challenging. Can't hold my phone too well either.
View attachment 3620509

Hope the surgery went well and this hand heals as well as the other!

 

[ChicksnMore]

We cooled down into the high 90's for a couple days but temps are heading back up again. I'm ready for fall...