fuzzi's "Gardens and Chickens...and Goats? Oh My!" Journal and More Thread

[fuzzi]

Dragging a bit today, went outside about 2. I decided to remove the piles of branches from the ditch by the road and the front yard, so we can mow. Someone else was going to do it, but...

All the brush is now in the woods, no point in adding more to my Mt. Fuji burn pile, we're still under a burn ban.

I pulled out the mower, was thinking of cutting by the fig tree, but then I started thinking about those sad irises on the north fence, the ones that I trimmed around yesterday. They have bloomed once, I think, in 10-15 years. I don't think they get enough sun.

Impromptu iris bed project!

I weeded a bed by the steps, loosened the soil, added dirt from the chicken run, then dug up and moved irises there.

Other irises I have moved in the last couple years have bloomed dark purple, and butter yellow. There were pink, orange, and peach in the original bunch, maybe some of those survived.

Started feeling the humidity, so I put things away and came in to rest. I'll go back outside in a few to water the new transplants.

 

[fuzzi]

We got rain Thursday morning, about 1am! It came with some loud thunder and frequent lightning, woke me up from a deep sleep.

Caleb was sitting up in his crate, very tense, but made no noise. I was pleased with his response. I sat where he could see me acting nonchalant, and he eventually relaxed, laid down. Once the storms had passed I went back to bed.

Wish it were more, but I'll take it. It's supposed to rain again on Saturday.

There were some things I was needing for my trip to Gilmanor on Saturday, so I went looking in my little shed. Didn't find everything, but I tidied up and reorganized while I was looking.

I can walk to the back again!

Empty bins on the right hold unopened bags of chicken feed, wildbird seeds. They have gaskets in the lids that keep out critters. Metal can in front holds an open bag of feed. More feed is on order.

I need DS to put cardboard up on the loft boards.

Speaking of, I mentioned to DS again about moving blocks from the pallets to the garden bed area and he immediately moved a bunch, enough for me to finish the first bed! I could have moved them, but it will make the job easier if I don't waste my time dragging the blocks myself.

Lois continues to be a faithful broody. However, Hannah has now gone full broody as well, first time in almost three years! I checked the coop after they'd gone to roost, and sure enough, Hannah was back in the nesting box, on top of Lois. I removed Hannah and placed her on the roost.

I did a little reorganizing in the big shed while looking for a few things, just enough to make access to the tool area easier. Amazing how things just get dropped, and nothing put away properly?

And at 5pm I took Caleb for a ride to a local gathering called Yappy Hour. It was at the suggestion of his foster. She met us there, and found us seats at the back of the outside area where Caleb could see the other dogs without feeling threatened. He did really well, eventually having positive interactions with two other dogs, and one that wasn't positive at first but worked out to cautious sniffing before we left.

All tuckered out.

Time to make coffee and get going. I'd like to get some things done today while the mild weather holds.

 

[Mini Horses]

Glad "Yappy Hour" went well. It's a process.

I only got the dark clouds from that system. Maybe some mist? Nothing wet, just the air felt damp.

Gilmanor weather looks like a jacket will be nice! What I'm seeing well barely get 60* at noon Better than sweating bullets.

 

[fuzzi]

It's been cold and damp all morning, which progressed into cold rain showers. No complaints, we need it.

Caleb went with me on errands, then the rain arrived so we skipped his usual walk at the park. He's been napping since we got home, exhausting day yesterday.

 

[fuzzi]

Hannah is still broody. Fine, go for it, except she keeps climbing on top of Lois who is sitting on four Sussex eggs.

There are two other nesting boxes, in which I had faux eggs, but NOOO. Hannah wants Lois' box, and eggs.

I have removed Hannah from the box at night, put her on the roost, but she jumps down and finds her way back to Lois even in the dark.

So, I put Hannah in the brooder, gave her a couple faux eggs, water in a tub, and closed the brooder flaps.

She escaped, back in on top of Lois.

Put Hannah in the brooder, secured the flap door with bricks.

You guessed it, escaped and back on top of Lois.

So last night I put Hannah in a escape proof jail.

I let her out to eat and drink. And after eating, what did she do?


I am really unhappy at this point. All this jostling of the incubating eggs cannot be good for them.

She can stay in the Pet Taxi until she breaks. I will let her out to eat and drink, supervised.

 

[fuzzi]

Sussex chicks & their broody mother Dinah:

Chick on right screams "cockerel" at me.

 

[fuzzi]

Busy morning, I had my coffee about 7:30, then headed out.

Caleb got a long park walk, 1.5 miles approximately, then we ran errands. Habitat for Humanity had some rugs that were perfect for the back seat. I can hear Caleb slipping on the seat protector, so this should help.

I mailed a package ($$!) and stopped at the nursery. I couldn't find red pentas, but they had lots of portulaca, which are drought resistant. I bought 6 4-packs, plus 2 3" pots of what is portulaca, but looks more like purslane. Those will be most of the annuals I plant this year.

After I got home I mowed around the coops, and dumped the clippings inside...happy chickens!

Before heading out this morning I let Hannah out of her broody prison (cat carrier). When I came back later she was NOT on top of Lois, but had installed herself in another nesting box that had a faux egg!


If she's still broody tomorrow I might give her a couple eggs. It might be good insurance in case Lois' eggs don't hatch, a possibility due to all the fighting.


Hannah

Faithful Lois

She's not even 10 months old!

Then I sat in the shade with Caleb, drinking my water and cooling down.

Yep, this area needs to be mowed, too...

 

[fuzzi]

Worked on the woods side of the property for about two hours today. Using my reciprocating saw I removed every root, and every large wisteria vine (some were almost 2" in diameter!) that were in the the way of the lawnmower.

The two black pots are covering tree stumps too large for me to remove. If I leave the stumps covered the millipedes will start working in earnest.

Then DS went outside and mowed. Everything. Front, back, side, ditch...EVERYTHING. Wow.

What a difference!

I still need to trim that ivy growth on the right, but using my hedge clippers will be the most efficient method. Tomorrow, maybe?

Grass/yard clippings were dumped on the remaining raised beds, north side pollinator garden project, south side new flower garden project, and spread as mulch around the recently transplanted irises.

Volunteer morning glory photo below. Fifteen-ish years ago I planted two varieties: white with blue stripes, and magenta. And every year the volunteers produce an amazing mixture of colors, sometimes even blossoms of purple.

As you can see, this one has purple stripes.

 

[drstratton]

Worked on the woods side of the property for about two hours today. Using my reciprocating saw I removed every root, and every large wisteria vine (some were almost 2" in diameter!) that were in the the way of the lawnmower.
View attachment 128144
The two black pots are covering tree stumps too large for me to remove. If I leave the stumps covered the millipedes will start working in earnest.

Then DS went outside and mowed. Everything. Front, back, side, ditch...EVERYTHING. Wow.

What a difference!
View attachment 128145

I still need to trim that ivy growth on the right, but using my hedge clippers will be the most efficient method. Tomorrow, maybe?

Grass/yard clippings were dumped on the remaining raised beds, north side pollinator garden project, south side new flower garden project, and spread as mulch around the recently transplanted irises.
View attachment 128146

Volunteer morning glory photo below. Fifteen-ish years ago I planted two varieties: white with blue stripes, and magenta. And every year the volunteers produce an amazing mixture of colors, sometimes even blossoms of purple.
View attachment 128147
As you can see, this one has purple stripes.

Your yard is very pretty!

 

[fuzzi]

Your yard is very pretty!

Thank you.