July 25, 2019
Looks like we got a second one this morning but then she moved the babies off of three eggs. I am wondering if one was bad and cracked open because there was an unpleasant odor and three eggs left. It is possible that there were three babies that hatched but, she had abandoned the last three eggs so I just buried them. Two had been long enough that I don't think they would hatch and the third was questionable. I hope she is happy with here two babies and that they grow well. I am excited for a better look at the chicks.
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Baby chick
June 23, 2019
We have a baby chick. Stir-fry hatched one baby, she still has 5 eggs we will give a couple days to see if they hatch out at all...
We have a baby chick. Stir-fry hatched one baby, she still has 5 eggs we will give a couple days to see if they hatch out at all...
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Macaroni
June 13, 2019
Our youngest has spent most the year asking for an orange kitten. We missed our chance months ago. Her sister expanded her vision of other possibilities. Yesterday we notice the shelter we like, had several more kittens. They headed out thinking they were getting a tabby, but came home with this one.
The shelter named her Macaroni. Our daughters liked her name.
She is cute.
Our youngest has spent most the year asking for an orange kitten. We missed our chance months ago. Her sister expanded her vision of other possibilities. Yesterday we notice the shelter we like, had several more kittens. They headed out thinking they were getting a tabby, but came home with this one.
The shelter named her Macaroni. Our daughters liked her name.
She is cute.
Friday, July 5, 2019
Broody Hen
June 5, 2019
Tuesday the 2nd we noticed one hen on the nesting box extra long. She has done this before, but at bedtime when she was still in the box we knew we had a broody hen! We were excited. Our Rooster has been active among our hens and though we have a mixed flock and know our chicks will be interesting, this is still exciting to us. We moved her and her eggs to the Broody coop and she settled right in. We have given her food and water right by her and open the door for her to get fresh air and sunlight during the day, and close it at night to keep her safe. We know she has 4 eggs. We are debating candling her eggs or just leaving her to her business and seeing what happens. I am so excited!!!
Update:
I have read about if you leave the Broody Hen with the others some become a little crazed and the other hens act afraid of her.
Today we put a better hinged gate on the broody run. (The old one was just a pallet tied to the post. Our quick fix when we needed somewhere to stash a few chickens someone gave us, for a couple days.)
Just as we were about to head inside, my Sweetheart noticed Stir-Fry (our broody hen) digging in the garden. Head feathers bristles like when she is annoyed. She was furiously digging so we guessed she wanted worms. We went to help her and dug up sections and gave her a pile of worms. She ate through them, then was wandering a bit more. When we were pretty sure she had enough worms we were trying to help her back into the coop area. She was NOT happy!!! When we did get her back in though she headed right for her eggs (Side note: Happy, happy, she laid another egg so there are 5 there now!!! Yeah!!!
She seemed to be the epitome of the jokes of crazed hormonal pregnant woman seeking their pickles and ice cream! Help where you can then get out of their way!
Tuesday the 2nd we noticed one hen on the nesting box extra long. She has done this before, but at bedtime when she was still in the box we knew we had a broody hen! We were excited. Our Rooster has been active among our hens and though we have a mixed flock and know our chicks will be interesting, this is still exciting to us. We moved her and her eggs to the Broody coop and she settled right in. We have given her food and water right by her and open the door for her to get fresh air and sunlight during the day, and close it at night to keep her safe. We know she has 4 eggs. We are debating candling her eggs or just leaving her to her business and seeing what happens. I am so excited!!!
Update:
I have read about if you leave the Broody Hen with the others some become a little crazed and the other hens act afraid of her.
Today we put a better hinged gate on the broody run. (The old one was just a pallet tied to the post. Our quick fix when we needed somewhere to stash a few chickens someone gave us, for a couple days.)
Just as we were about to head inside, my Sweetheart noticed Stir-Fry (our broody hen) digging in the garden. Head feathers bristles like when she is annoyed. She was furiously digging so we guessed she wanted worms. We went to help her and dug up sections and gave her a pile of worms. She ate through them, then was wandering a bit more. When we were pretty sure she had enough worms we were trying to help her back into the coop area. She was NOT happy!!! When we did get her back in though she headed right for her eggs (Side note: Happy, happy, she laid another egg so there are 5 there now!!! Yeah!!!
She seemed to be the epitome of the jokes of crazed hormonal pregnant woman seeking their pickles and ice cream! Help where you can then get out of their way!
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Summer
June 30, 2019
Wow, June flew!
We have reduced our Flock to 7 good layers, 1 Fair layer and 1 pet chicken, with our Rooster to protect them all. I am glad going into winter we should only be feeding those that should lay decently next year.
We have been trying preserving eggs in Slake Lime/Pickling Lime/Hydrated Lime/Calcium Hydroxide... and water. Supposedly this is one way people saved eggs for winter in "the old days". We have 2-3 dozen and are adding to it. We keep 2 dozen in the fridge and store the rest.
Some of the frozen plants seem to be making a come back. It may be too little too late, but we will see. I have lots of Kale that my family is not loving... sad.
The field across the road has a beautiful, though overgrown yellow rose bush. I have never been super fond of roses, but I really like these ones. I am thinking of taking a cutting or more from it. I have read about putting it in a potato to root it. I wonder if it would work.
My brother has finished putting pallet siding on the miny house. I want to oil it to keep it looking nice... I love it!
We have set aside wood my sweetheart salvaged for a picnic table and are talking about building beehives rather than buying them. We would still buy the frames but building the hives could save a lot and give us flexibility for different hive types. I have seen a horizontal one I like the idea of, but also like the traditional Langstroth hive too. A top bar could be interesting too...
It would be awesome to have honey and have bees to pollinate plants.
I have high hopes for bees in the spring and more plants :) June berries, currants, sun chokes, ramps, walking onions, miners lettuce.... food and beauty!
Wow, June flew!
We have reduced our Flock to 7 good layers, 1 Fair layer and 1 pet chicken, with our Rooster to protect them all. I am glad going into winter we should only be feeding those that should lay decently next year.
We have been trying preserving eggs in Slake Lime/Pickling Lime/Hydrated Lime/Calcium Hydroxide... and water. Supposedly this is one way people saved eggs for winter in "the old days". We have 2-3 dozen and are adding to it. We keep 2 dozen in the fridge and store the rest.
Some of the frozen plants seem to be making a come back. It may be too little too late, but we will see. I have lots of Kale that my family is not loving... sad.
The field across the road has a beautiful, though overgrown yellow rose bush. I have never been super fond of roses, but I really like these ones. I am thinking of taking a cutting or more from it. I have read about putting it in a potato to root it. I wonder if it would work.
My brother has finished putting pallet siding on the miny house. I want to oil it to keep it looking nice... I love it!
We have set aside wood my sweetheart salvaged for a picnic table and are talking about building beehives rather than buying them. We would still buy the frames but building the hives could save a lot and give us flexibility for different hive types. I have seen a horizontal one I like the idea of, but also like the traditional Langstroth hive too. A top bar could be interesting too...
It would be awesome to have honey and have bees to pollinate plants.
I have high hopes for bees in the spring and more plants :) June berries, currants, sun chokes, ramps, walking onions, miners lettuce.... food and beauty!
Friday, June 21, 2019
Happy First Day of Summer
June 21, 2019
Happy First Day of Summer...
I woke up to unexpected frost :(
It has been chilly the last couple days but I did not see a frost warning. I should have checked specifically for it or thought about it more, but did not.
I think 2 tomato plants by the house, a couple patty pan squashes and two Loofah plants, a couple peppers all by the house seem ok,
Most the squashes, peppers and tomatoes were in raised beds or the main garden and they may not survive. If they come back are likely severely stunted. I ran water on them as soon as I noticed but I think it was too late.
Happy First Day of Summer
(First frost of the year happened the Night of September 29th, many of our plants came back but not fast enough. We harvested some squashes and a few tomatoes, but most were still just solid green. I guess we could have done friend green tomatoes or green tomato salsa but I didn't. I was busy getting others stuff done and had to let it go.)
Happy First Day of Summer...
I woke up to unexpected frost :(
It has been chilly the last couple days but I did not see a frost warning. I should have checked specifically for it or thought about it more, but did not.
I think 2 tomato plants by the house, a couple patty pan squashes and two Loofah plants, a couple peppers all by the house seem ok,
Most the squashes, peppers and tomatoes were in raised beds or the main garden and they may not survive. If they come back are likely severely stunted. I ran water on them as soon as I noticed but I think it was too late.
Happy First Day of Summer
(First frost of the year happened the Night of September 29th, many of our plants came back but not fast enough. We harvested some squashes and a few tomatoes, but most were still just solid green. I guess we could have done friend green tomatoes or green tomato salsa but I didn't. I was busy getting others stuff done and had to let it go.)
Monday, June 17, 2019
Note from our daughter
While I am
at camp please:
1. Check the
bunny bed for eggs.
2. Check
Bunny food and give her fresh water
3. Let her
out in the morning
4. Check for eggs
again.
5. Tuck her in
at night and give her a treat (raddish or lettuce are her favorites).
Our chickens share about 1/2 an acre with our daughters bunny. We have learned the bunny will stay in the fenced area so during the day she lets her run around and just props open a door for her to go in and out. Apparently the chickens have discovered and claimed it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)