Rammy's Ramblings

[Baymule]

I had my chickens turned out in the garden. We were outside yesterday and heard a commotion. I ran, Trip ran barking to the fence and a HUGE hawk jumped up and flew away. No chicken for the hawk! I opened the garden gate and Trip ran in, sniffed a couple of hens, sniffed around and was satisfied.

If I had those black headed buzzards attacking my animals, they would be shot.

 

[Rammy]

It just makes me wish I had gone out sooner. I might have scared it off. Chickens will be in jail for a while.

 

[Rammy]

Here is s pic of the chicken jail.

The boards in the middle got blown down so now I have just a 10 ft 2 x 4 holding up the middle.

 

[Bruce]

I've seen far worse for chicken runs! Though if they are like mine, they think anything other than "go wherever I want" is jail.

 

[Baymule]

That's a pretty decent looking chicken jail!

 

[Rammy]

Thanks. Did it myself mostly except for the brace in the middle. Its come down because of some high winds a while back. Plan on putting a post in the ground two feet deep then re- attaching the center braces to that to support the wire cover.

 

[Baymule]

See? You are building something! It ain't so hard.....you can do it.

 

[Rammy]

Thats been up for two years. The hardest part was putting up that chicken wire and sewing it together at the seems with thin hotwire to close the gaps. My arms got so tired! Im planning on redoing the wood bracing holding it up with a good sturdy pole in the middle and nail cross bracing to to it for better support. One side of the panels wants to lean in because there is a slight decline in the ground. The bracing will help to stop that.

 

[Rammy]

Ive been reading posts on here about pasture management and types of grasses some of you have used to seed them with. I have been considering redoing my pasture this year since its not had anything done to it for a few years. Since Im in Tn Im not sure which is the best grasses to use.
The CO-OP can order me the KY32 low endophyte seed but they say its too late in the year to do it. I also need and should spray the pasture for weeds first but was told that should of been done in September. Kinda cant do that since the cows are still on it.
Since I only have 2 1/2 acres fenced in Im just wondering whats the best option. I found a place to order the KY32. Its priced at $99 for 50lbs. I was going to get 100lbs but shipping is around $65 dollars. CO-OP can get me 50lbs for $110. Wow!
I keep it mowed every couple weeks but havent mowed it now for a month since the weather has made it impossible(rain) or now since its cooled down alot of its died, which it does every year.
Im going to get some soil samples when its dried out a little and get some lime to put on it. CO-OP wont come spread on my tiny plot but rent spreaders that maybe I can get my neighbor who has a tractor can spread for me.
I dont have enough land to justify buying even a small tractor, although I do have tractor envy.
So if anyone has suggestions on what is the best option for my tiny acres let me know. I may rent a sprayer to spray 2/4D on it if its still ok to do that once the cows are gone.

 

[Bruce]

What sort of vehicle do you have? You can put smallish sprayers on the back of pickup trucks and ATVs. I ASSUME the same can be done with small spreaders.