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Thank you!
fuzzi's "Gardens and Chickens...and Goats? Oh My!" Journal and More Thread
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Awake early, making To Do list in my mind.
It's forecast for the 90s this week. I have tried but have learned that I cannot work outside when it's that hot. I get heat exhaustion, which is no picnic. So, what is really important?
so hopefully I can get some of this done in the next couple days.
Now...coffee...
It's forecast for the 90s this week. I have tried but have learned that I cannot work outside when it's that hot. I get heat exhaustion, which is no picnic. So, what is really important?
Mow around the coops where it's getting tall- Even out the ground by the woods where Frank's Bobcat made ruts
Finish raking up the cleared area, prune roots(mostly done)Clean out the coops, place debris in the cleared area of the backyard- Work on pollinator garden, want to get Joe Pye weed and beautyberry in the ground soon
- Transplant annuals (dusk)
so hopefully I can get some of this done in the next couple days.Now...coffee...
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Boaz and Ruth
Got Coop Deux raked out, mostly. I put some fresh straw under the roost and the older hens got a'scratching.
Doesn't look like much, does it?
Main coop will be harder to clean out, as there are more obstacles to rake around, including new chicks.
Speaking of chicks, I opened the fourth egg. It was all liquid except for a little thickened area. Probably was an early quitter.
In, taking a break. It's not hot, but extremely humid. I'm soaked through already.
Got Coop Deux raked out, mostly. I put some fresh straw under the roost and the older hens got a'scratching.
Doesn't look like much, does it?
Main coop will be harder to clean out, as there are more obstacles to rake around, including new chicks.
Speaking of chicks, I opened the fourth egg. It was all liquid except for a little thickened area. Probably was an early quitter.
In, taking a break. It's not hot, but extremely humid. I'm soaked through already.
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I went back outside after a break, and managed to get about 2/3 of Coop Uno raked out.
The entire right side and most of the open area was raked down to the dirt. I threw some fresh straw in the back right corner to keep the flock distracted while I shoveled out the debris.
Except Rahab. She watched, then started scratching in the moist dirt I'd uncovered next to the waterer. Joanna joined her.
The door sill has never been strong, so I rake everything up to the door, then shovel onto a tarp (shower curtain this time), and then into my cart. It's tight quarters outside the door, poor planning by a newbie (me).
Two loads with this coop, woo!
I dumped and spread it all out around the planned locations for the elderberry bushes.
Now we just need some rain.
By 11am it was over 85° but felt 90° with humidity, and the sun was intense. I was borderline overheating, so I came in to cool down.
I might try to mow a little at sunset, once the sun isn't beating down.
The entire right side and most of the open area was raked down to the dirt. I threw some fresh straw in the back right corner to keep the flock distracted while I shoveled out the debris.
Except Rahab. She watched, then started scratching in the moist dirt I'd uncovered next to the waterer. Joanna joined her.
The door sill has never been strong, so I rake everything up to the door, then shovel onto a tarp (shower curtain this time), and then into my cart. It's tight quarters outside the door, poor planning by a newbie (me).
Two loads with this coop, woo!
I dumped and spread it all out around the planned locations for the elderberry bushes.
Now we just need some rain.
By 11am it was over 85° but felt 90° with humidity, and the sun was intense. I was borderline overheating, so I came in to cool down.
I might try to mow a little at sunset, once the sun isn't beating down.
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Nope, was still feeling overheated, will try to mow tomorrow, as early as the grass is dry.
Better view of the chicken run litter.
Better view of the chicken run litter.
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After taking Caleb to the park for his walk, and stopping at Aldi's I decided to tackle mowing around the coops. I also mowed in front of both sheds.
Momma Lois
The Sussex "built like a brick" on display!
Zaccheus and his gals
Watching over his flock.
Checking me out!
Not much else is going on. I'm still cooling off from mowing.
Momma Lois
The Sussex "built like a brick" on display!
Zaccheus and his gals
Watching over his flock.
Checking me out!
Not much else is going on. I'm still cooling off from mowing.
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I overdid on Tuesday, felt borderline heat exhaustion, so took it easy today. I did go outside briefly to water plants, feed and water chickens.
DS went outside around 3pm
and mowed all the front, the ditch, and the side yards including the woods area that I was going to trim myself. 
He dumped the mower bags in my Gorilla cart. Whenever it was full I rolled it over to the newly cleared area and dumped the clippings all around the spots selected for elderberries.
Come on, rain!
The soil is SO dry that water just runs off. The plan is to soak up moisture with the organic matter of yard and chicken run litter. The worms and millipedes will then do their thing.
I'm planning to trim the front slope tomorrow. Then there's just a couple small areas in the backyard that still need to be mowed, not crucial.
Lois and chicks
Wild variety elderberry I planted last year!
Crinum lilies blooming
Bee on carrot blossoms
DS went outside around 3pm
and mowed all the front, the ditch, and the side yards including the woods area that I was going to trim myself. He dumped the mower bags in my Gorilla cart. Whenever it was full I rolled it over to the newly cleared area and dumped the clippings all around the spots selected for elderberries.Come on, rain!
The soil is SO dry that water just runs off. The plan is to soak up moisture with the organic matter of yard and chicken run litter. The worms and millipedes will then do their thing.
I'm planning to trim the front slope tomorrow. Then there's just a couple small areas in the backyard that still need to be mowed, not crucial.
Lois and chicks
Wild variety elderberry I planted last year!
Crinum lilies blooming
Bee on carrot blossoms
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First thing this morning I put half of a pork butt in the slow cooker, on top of a bed of "baby" carrots and sauerkraut. Once it's cooked I divvy it into my glass storage containers, and have 4 dinners for the week.
After Caleb's park walk I left him at home and went to Aldi's. DF is getting more forgetful, went to the store and forgot his bottled water. I volunteered to go get it for him, glad I did , look what I found!
I love these children's gardening tools. The rakes are made of metal and with wooden handles. I already have a couple I use in the coops. They are narrow enough to reach into tight corners. I've even used the rakes to retrieve eggs laid in inaccessible locations!
The push broom is handy for sweeping heavier straw and dirt, though I have used similar brooms in the past to wash vehicles.
After I got home from Aldi's I started trimming the front slope, but I was drenched and hot after not even doing half, probably less than a third.
I came inside to cool down. It was already 90°.
Walked Caleb about 7pm. Look at those clouds...but no rain, yet.
I went back outside after the walk. There was a light breeze, and I was able to all but finish trimming the slope. I need to do one little section by the sycamore, but it will be okay for a little longer. I got the honeysuckle, trumpet vines, and Poison Ivy (!) down to the ground.
Come on, rain...
After Caleb's park walk I left him at home and went to Aldi's. DF is getting more forgetful, went to the store and forgot his bottled water. I volunteered to go get it for him, glad I did , look what I found!
I love these children's gardening tools. The rakes are made of metal and with wooden handles. I already have a couple I use in the coops. They are narrow enough to reach into tight corners. I've even used the rakes to retrieve eggs laid in inaccessible locations!
The push broom is handy for sweeping heavier straw and dirt, though I have used similar brooms in the past to wash vehicles.
After I got home from Aldi's I started trimming the front slope, but I was drenched and hot after not even doing half, probably less than a third.
I came inside to cool down. It was already 90°.
Walked Caleb about 7pm. Look at those clouds...but no rain, yet.
I went back outside after the walk. There was a light breeze, and I was able to all but finish trimming the slope. I need to do one little section by the sycamore, but it will be okay for a little longer. I got the honeysuckle, trumpet vines, and Poison Ivy (!) down to the ground.
Come on, rain...
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- #2,200
P.S.
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