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

[fuzzi]

This made me tear up:

 

[murphysranch]

Happy Belated Birthday. You're a blessing to this group!

 

[Baymule]

Aww…. That’s so sweet and thoughtful.

 

[fuzzi]

Wednesday Update

Weather continues mild and dry, perfect for yard work. I did a little mowing around the coops, about 10 minutes worth Monday, and then again on Tuesday, after work. I skipped today, don't want to push too hard as I recover.

I opened up the A-frame brooder, moved the nest box back with the other two.

Rahab called her chicks to join her under the A-frame, where crickets were hiding!

I added fresh straw to all three nest boxes, which was very, very interesting...

...the hens have not been laying much at all, but there's been a lot of feathers lying around, so understandable.

Look at the size of the Sussex chicks!

The Drama Darlings are frequently squawking, displaying Chicken Little reactions to being too close to one of the hens. Zaccheus seems to be keeping his offspring in order, though I saw him give one of the cockerels a sharp (and probably well-deserved) peck. No aggression evident, just "an attention-getter"!

Zack has been molting as well, and his wing feathers are coming in white.

Zaccheus and all his hens.

Hannah is the most white, Rahab is getting lighter as well. Joanna and Priscilla are still pretty dark, but they're not quite 18 months old.

And over in Coop Deux...

Silas and his hens, and pullets. Both of the Dominiques have stopped laying, are leaving feathers all over, but Esther is still leaving an egg every other day, yippee!

 

[fuzzi]

Gardens are not doing really well, but no rain since August 12th isn't helping. The watermelons withered on the vine, baseball-sized. One was rotting but the other two had seeds and smelled good so I gave them to the flocks. They appreciated the seeds.

One of my collards/cabbage beds is doing well. The other is being eaten up, can't figure out what's doing it. I need to be out there more.

Peas and turnips doing well, though turnips sprouted a bit unevenly.

I'll be replanting my beets, and probably the carrots, too. The beets only partially sprouted, then I was too sick to water, and they died.

morning glories...

Beautyberry!

I couldn't get a clear photo, but the obedient plants have, maybe, flower buds?

 

[drstratton]

Glad you're feeling good enough to be out in your yard. Good that you're not pushing it too hard.

Sorry about your garden issues. Hope you can figure out your pest.

My chicken pen has been looking like feathermageddon too...lol

 

[Mini Horses]

That time of year -- molting! Can be scary when one drops so many all at once. You start looking for a "body"

 

[Baymule]

You are making me want hens again. Hmmm….

 

[drstratton]

You are making me want hens again. Hmmm….

You should get some!

 

[canesisters]

I couldn't get a clear photo, but the obedient plants have, maybe, flower buds?
View attachment 121008

Yep! They'll be blooming by mid-late Sept. They'll start at the bottom & the spear will continue to get taller with more buds all through Oct... unless we get a really hard frost.