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

[fuzzi]

Can't find any of their last year, 2026, of The Farmers Almanac... I always used the Old Farmer's Almanac when I was up north and continued down here... but The Farmers Almanac, seemed to be more accurate for down here so would get both... Hate that they are discontinuing... Would like to find one to have... TSC always had both but none this year... got the Old Farmers Almanac already...

https://www.farmersalmanac.com/fond-farewell-from-farmers-almanac

Sold out on their website, and on Amaz0n.

 

[fuzzi]

Jacob is almost as big as his daddy, Zaccheus!

Patrolling and guarding as a team!

Zack is 20 months old, Jacob is 5 months old.

 

[fuzzi]

The Swiss chard has not been happy with the cold weather, even under a row cover (not plastic). I've started pulling up the plants, two daily, and putting an entire plant with rootball and dirt in each of the chicken runs. The flock has been stripping them down to bare stalks.

The chickens prefer collards, but those I don't pull up, just snap off a couple lower leaves which I anchor with a brick to make it easier for the chickens to eat.

 

[fuzzi]

ENC's Sunday evening forecast is for extreme cold, 15°F. I removed the remaining hose, did the best I could to insulate the faucet.

Maybe I'll wrap it with an old towel or t-shirt to cover the gap. The foam covers fit great on the other two outside faucets.

I'm afraid I'll be losing most of my remaining crops, blast it! It doesn't get this cold very often, and not usually until January. I have carrots and cabbage that just need a few more weeks.

Outside/feral cats have foam shelters with dry straw. They should be fine, they're survivors.

I topped off my birdfeeders, added a second peanut feeder.

And my chickens have dry and sheltered roosts, they'll just need to get over their quarrels so they can huddle together.
But Esther has decided to start molting!