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

[fuzzi]

So much for discouragement...

That was some powerful cat/animal. The fence panel was moved off the squash hill. Fortunately it was the one squash variety that didn't germinate.

More discouragement...

I thought I had more chicken wire (18") but couldn't find it. I used a short section of 1/4" HWC, not long enough but it might help.

Plum tomatoes

Green and wax beans

Peas, turnips, and possibly a squash volunteer!

"Is it good to eat?"

The Day After...

Hannah

The hens found something good...

...grass seeds stuck to my shoes?

The Dominique is probably Naomi, but the Sussex matriarchs are Hannah, Rahab, and Martha. Martha pecks my skirt for attention.

My ponds:

Wisp is the other TNR feral. She's friendly but doesn't allow me to touch her.

 

[fuzzi]

I was going to work on the coop today, but I got distracted by gardening. It is about 60° but the wind is very cold and damp.

Collards

Plastic chicken fencing started crumbling, so I put up a temporary barrier using row cover cloth.

Then I did my second sowing of beans.

A friend gave me an elderberry plant, and I decided to prepare the soil and transplant it.

After transplanting it I mulched with pine straw.

Facing south

Facing west

The cardboard boxes will be melon planters. The red Folger's coffee can is where a second elderberry will be planted. They produce more and better fruit if two varieties are planted next to each other, so I ordered a wild variety from an online source. The green netting fence is around the blueberry bushes.

Break is over, back outside now, to the hoop coop!

 

[Mini Horses]

Elderberry likes some shade, a moist dirt. You might want to consider a location closer to the trees. I have several patches of them & those along ditch banks, tree lines, partial shade are the best bearers. Just a thought, as those will be in direct sun most of day -- or so it appears.

 

[fuzzi]

Elderberry likes some shade, a moist dirt. You might want to consider a location closer to the trees. I have several patches of them & those along ditch banks, tree lines, partial shade are the best bearers. Just a thought, as those will be in direct sun most of day -- or so it appears.

Thanks. The research I did before choosing the site said sun or partial shade. Oh well.

The cedars on the north side of the yard have roots that make it extremely difficult to dig even a shallow hole, so I am not sure where else I could place the elderberry bushes.

But I appreciate the input!

 

[fuzzi]

After dark this evening I found Martha on the ground underneath the roost. She must have died just after dusk, and I didn't see it coming. She was broody earlier this week, and her uncharacteristic quietness yesterday I attributed to that.

She would come up and peck on my skirt for attention.

She was the broody mother of Zacchaeus, too.

She was my favorite.

Go back to God, little sparrow.

 

[Baymule]

Aww… I’m sorry. Martha was a special hen with a special place in your heart.

 

[fuzzi]

After I moved the Dominiques, Esther, and Silas to the new coop Zacchaeus started crowing, over and over. His world has been upset.

 

[SageHill]

After dark this evening I found Martha on the ground underneath the roost. She must have died just after dusk, and I didn't see it coming. She was broody earlier this week, and her uncharacteristic quietness yesterday I attributed to that.

She would come up and peck on my skirt for attention.
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View attachment 116996
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She was the broody mother of Zacchaeus, too.

She was my favorite.

Go back to God, little sparrow.

View attachment 116998

So sorry.
You know, that first pic is amazing. It should be a picture of the week.

 

[fuzzi]

So sorry.
You know, that first pic is amazing. It should be a picture of the week.

The four-legged chicken? It made me laugh.

Thank you.

 

[murphysranch]

How sad. I'm sorry for the loss of your bestest buddy.