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- #521
fuzzi's "Gardens and Chickens...and Goats? Oh My!" Journal and More Thread
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Baymule
Herd Master
That is beautiful.
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- #523
Thank you. It gives me joy.
From March 2020, adding the second pond.
I'd purchased the preform at a yard sale, think I paid $20. The blocks were the biggest expense.
Baymule
Herd Master
An old and respected member (RIP) Wifezilla, posted duckponics, where she set up her ponds to filter through aquaponics and raised vegetables.
www.backyardchickens.com
The Duck-ponics Experiment - Raising minnows
Duck-ponics is a type of hydroponics. The theory is that if you have a pond with ducks, you can take advantage of their natural tendency to totally mess up the water and use it to your advantage. All that duck waste is loaded with nutrients that plants love. So, if I filter the pond water...
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- #525
Thank you, I read about 8 pages.An old and respected member (RIP) Wifezilla, posted duckponics, where she set up her ponds to filter through aquaponics and raised vegetables.
The Duck-ponics Experiment - Raising minnows
Duck-ponics is a type of hydroponics. The theory is that if you have a pond with ducks, you can take advantage of their natural tendency to totally mess up the water and use it to your advantage. All that duck waste is loaded with nutrients that plants love. So, if I filter the pond water...
Each of the ponds has its own "skippy" filter. Originally I used a 5 gallon bucket with scrubby pads, but last year it started crumbling. I had a spare cat litter bucket, did the same set up. The second pond has a store-bought spillway, which I filled with scrubby pads. They do a good job of filtering.
Original skippy filter construction, 2018.
Replacement 2024
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- #526
Silas did something this afternoon that I hadn't seen him do before...
...he tidbitted!
When I have offered extras like bits of fruit or seeds Silas would gobble without regard for the hens. I threw a handful of wild strawberries in the run this afternoon, and noticed that when Silas found a strawberry he called the hens to come and get it!
He's almost 11 months, and growing up.
...he tidbitted!
When I have offered extras like bits of fruit or seeds Silas would gobble without regard for the hens. I threw a handful of wild strawberries in the run this afternoon, and noticed that when Silas found a strawberry he called the hens to come and get it!
He's almost 11 months, and growing up.
Baymule
Herd Master
A good rooster is a joy to watch. 
A bad rooster makes good soup.
A bad rooster makes good soup.
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- #528
I ordered a second elderberry, and am expecting it to be delivered this weekend, so I decided to prepare for it. I tried to dug a hole, but hit a piece of carpeting that got missed when they cleaned up the overgrown area. It required a lot of digging around, lifting up the edges, scraping off the disturbed soil, and then cutting a ton of roots that had grown through.
Once the carpeting was removed I finished digging the hole, hitting solid clay about 12" down. I added some older chicken bedding
, then some soil, then peat moss, and mixed it well.
By then it was about 11am, so I made a trip to Lowe's for concrete blocks (for remaining rain barrels' setup). I also needed two chain link fence hangers for the driveway gates. It was a very frustrating experience, website wasn't working so I couldn't ask for curbside service (heavy blocks!), and no one seemed to know what they were doing. Then Baily showed up and made everything work. I gave her a fantastic review.
Since I got home I have been puttering around the yard, about 4 hours, just cleaning up the ponds area, watering gardens, adding additional landscape staples around the coop, and extra screws/washers on the back, and overall making things look less junky. I took a couple breaks, sitting in the coops and enjoying Chicken TV.
The perch on the left is a little high, so I added a log underneath and a chair. They can easily access the perch with the chair.
Silas really likes the new log.
Esther likes the perch, but I put her there.
Afternoon sun, some but not too much direct, which will help keep the coops cooler on hot summer days.
Morning sun:
Mostly dejunked, mowed, but I need help moving the rocks.
Once the carpeting was removed I finished digging the hole, hitting solid clay about 12" down. I added some older chicken bedding
, then some soil, then peat moss, and mixed it well.By then it was about 11am, so I made a trip to Lowe's for concrete blocks (for remaining rain barrels' setup). I also needed two chain link fence hangers for the driveway gates. It was a very frustrating experience, website wasn't working so I couldn't ask for curbside service (heavy blocks!), and no one seemed to know what they were doing. Then Baily showed up and made everything work. I gave her a fantastic review.
Since I got home I have been puttering around the yard, about 4 hours, just cleaning up the ponds area, watering gardens, adding additional landscape staples around the coop, and extra screws/washers on the back, and overall making things look less junky. I took a couple breaks, sitting in the coops and enjoying Chicken TV.
The perch on the left is a little high, so I added a log underneath and a chair. They can easily access the perch with the chair.
Silas really likes the new log.
Esther likes the perch, but I put her there.
Afternoon sun, some but not too much direct, which will help keep the coops cooler on hot summer days.
Morning sun:
Mostly dejunked, mowed, but I need help moving the rocks.
Baymule
Herd Master
You had a good day!
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- #530
Yes! And after I posted here, my DS moved my concrete blocks from the SUV to the backyard. I had him place four of the "cinder" blocks and four of 16x8x4" next to the two rainbarrels I've not yet set up. The rest of the blocks went on a pallet by the old shed, underneath an overhang.
My leftovers:
