Devonviolet Acres

[Devonviolet]

Well, I cut down two more trees today. MAAAN, that is hard work!!! I was exhausted after we trimmed branches, cut the trunk into 16” chunks, and stacked the leaves and branches. We had to cut down a tree, that was outside the property line (in the drainage ditch between the fence and the road. We were going to leave it, but then when we were assessing the big tree inside the fence, we realized the tree outside the fence would have blocked a big branch from going gown, after I cut it. So, I felled it into the road and we hustled to cut it up and get it off the road, before any vehicles came by. We did have to let a truck go by, before making the cut.

That’s a total of five trees so far. We’ve decided to leave the bulk of the waste (except for leaves we give to the goats), from the trees, in a pile, and once the trees are all cut down, we will do a burn pile.

Three good reasons to do that: we can use the ashes in the garden, we can burn the trunks and branches, rather than haul it all to the back of the pasture, where we have another huge burn pile, and finally, we have a hose right there, In case the fire gets out of control. The whole area is mostly dirt, save a few weeds and tree seedlings. So we shouldn’t have a problem with a fire getting out of control.

We have had a broody chicken setting on 11 duck eggs. We were SOO looking forward to having little ducklings running around!

Then, the other day, DH lifted the hen, to check the eggs, and there were only 10 eggs. There wasn’t a hint of egg or shell. So, it was a puzzle, as to what happened to the missing egg.

Then, this evening, when he was feeding the ducks and chickens, he found an egg in the pen, outside the hoopster (hut). Closer inspection revealed an area, at the end of the egg, that had been pecked in. DH suspected the hen had done it, or maybe it was a snake? No, the snake would have taken the whole egg. So, he took the egg away. When he came back, he saw the hen rolling an egg out of the hoopster and start pecking it!!!!! So, he took all the eggs away and put them in the compost pile, that we have behind a fence, so the birds don’t spread it all over, before we can get it to compost.

So, we are both really disappointed!!! We are talking about saving up a dozen Muscovy eggs, and putting one of the Muscovy hens in the hoopster with them. Maybe we can still have ducklings yet.

 

[Devonviolet]

I would have removed (permanently) the hen I found stealing and eating eggs.

Well, actually this chicken doesn’t belong to us. When a bobcat killed 2 or our neighbor’s 3 chickens, we offered to keep her for hm. The chicken really belongs to his son and he wants the chicken back, when he finishes building his new house and is able to build a chicken coop.

The other chickens were picking on her, so we are going to put her in the back chicken runs, so we can put one of the ducks in the pen, with the hoopster.

Sorry about the duck eggs, I wonder why she would do that.
Our experience has been, that if a chicken or duck gets a taste of an egg, they will continue to eat them. After all, they do taste good, and are full of nutrition.

Um, you are allowed to cut trees on someone else's property?

Well, actually the tree was technically 2 inches outside the fence, on county property. But, I don’t think they would mind if I cut a tree on the drainage ditch, especially since we are the ones who mow and maintain it. Since we have lived here, they haven’t mowed it once. So, we took over the job.

 

[greybeard]

We had to cut down a tree, that was outside the property line (in the drainage ditch between the fence and the road.

Are you sure it was outside the property line? Have discussed it before here at BYH...many actual surveys show property lines extending out into the ROW easement.

Bruce...it depends. On county roads, they rarely give a crap unless it is some kind of historical or scenic value. Also depends on the size (diameter at bole) of the tree and the species. Less than 8" in Texas has no commercial value.

State road ROWs are different. They can get a little picky about their pines along the FM roads and bill you for the value of the tree.

Even NFS trees, if one is causing me a problem, I can cut it down but I HAVE to either fell it into the Forest or push every bit of it back into the forest to decompose and add to the natural ecosystem.


In any case, what no one can do without permit is to use one for personal or economic gain. Can't saw it up into lumber and use the lumber, can't cut it up to use to supplement winter heat as fire wood, and most certainly cannot sell the tree or lumber from the tree.
If a tree began growing outside my fence, but it's girth has gotten so big it is pushing on my fence, I can cut it down, but I cannot use the wood or tree in any way for myself.

 

[Bruce]

Quite interesting Greybeard. Here a tree that is touching the property line at ground level, excluding surface roots, are "boundary line" trees and can't be touched by either party without agreement from the other.

 

[greybeard]

Bruce, I have seen an over zealous logging crew cut a line of 30 yr old pinetrees outside a property line and along the ROW of a State (FM) road and get billed for the value of the trees and threat of a fine, but for landowners, cutting an occasional problem tree..it normally is not a problem.
(I suspect the county wishes there no trees at all on their ROW, as it makes it easier to maintain and don't have to worry about getting trees and their limbs off the road when they fall............and they are always going to fall. It's what trees do.....gravity....it's everywhere.)

 

[Devonviolet]

Good points, GB. I guess I’m okay. This was not a pine tree. It was an Elm tree, which isn’t big enough to put in the lumber mill. We aren’t planning to use it for financial gain, and won’t be burning it for firewood. I guess burning the wood and using the ash for our garden, some of which we will be selling at Farmer’s Market, could be construed as using it “for profit”, but I don’t think the county is going to split hairs to that extent. At least I would hope not!

 

[Bruce]

SSS DV
Saw
Spread after burning
Shut up

 

[Devonviolet]

 

[Wehner Homestead]

X2!

 

[farmerjan]

Here, when there are trees along the road or on the property line with a ROW, the state will be thrilled if you cut it and remove it and do whatever... just don't take down power lines or drop it across a busy road.. haha...When we have large trees down, or branches or anything, the state guys will cut it up and LEAVE the chunks for the landowner or whomever comes along and gets it. They will chip the brush, but they don't want to bother with having to haul the "firewood" size stuff. And there are several places that they will dump the chips, and even have put larger logs that they have had to remove, and it is like a public spot where you can just go get stuff. They don't want to haul it all the way to the landfill. When they were doing some major chipping, they would look for landowners closeby who wanted the chips so they could get them dumped and get back to work. Used to put the firewood size stuff in the dump truck and go dump it at peoples houses close to where they were working until one old sorry sourpuss, who didn't have a wood burning stove, complained about favoritism. So now they just leave it by the side of the road or on the landowners property or take it to these "temporary" roadside "storage spots", and dump it. Makes sense to be able to "dispose of it" close to where they are working, and get back to work...

BUT GOD FORBID WE USE COMMON SENSE.......

Alot of people use the woodburning outdoor furnaces that will take large chunks so it is a win win for everyone when there are no stupid idiots complaining....