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[Smart Red]

Thanks. I'm shooting for both.
Grandson just reported both hens gone. Door shut. No feathers or bodies. I asked about window? He'll check in daylight.
Coop will need to be reworked before new chickens can go there.

 

[so lucky]

I saw that our feed store has a new batch of Easter Eggers. I should get them now before the mindless employees there manage to let the chicks get poopy butt. I saw a little one, different breed, that had so much poo built up on his rear end, I think it weighed more that the chick. I started to say something to the employee, like "That chick is going to be dead soon if you don't clear off his butt and put some ACV in the waterer," but I figured he would just roll his eyes at me.
I wonder if they would let me work there for a few hours for free to get those poor chicks straightened out.

 

[flowerbug]

I saw that our feed store has a new batch of Easter Eggers. I should get them now before the mindless employees there manage to let the chicks get poopy butt. I saw a little one, different breed, that had so much poo built up on his rear end, I think it weighed more that the chick. I started to say something to the employee, like "That chick is going to be dead soon if you don't clear off his butt and put some ACV in the waterer," but I figured he would just roll his eyes at me.
I wonder if they would let me work there for a few hours for free to get those poor chicks straightened out.

i have a very hard time going in any place that sells animals as those poor creatures are so often mistreated. makes my blood boil.

 

[Beekissed]

Got the beds for everything tilled for the last time and that soil is so very black, soft and lovely that I almost cry when I look at it!!! You see, I've never had a garden with loamy, black soil before and I can't really get over it just now....it's the deepest topsoil layer we've ever had also.

All beds are dressed with hay, all pathways dressed with leaves. Finally. Well...except the corn patch, which may or may not get mulched with hay when the corn sprouts. Will have to see.

Got the maters planted tonight and hilled up that lovely soil around the base of the plants with my hands, loving the feel of it all! Looks like really high quality potting soil...feels like it too.

Planted 6 yellow Brandywine, 6 Jetstar, 4 red Brandywine and 4 Mr. Stripeys. That's all the room I'm allowing in my garden for maters this year, as I can't eat them any longer due to pseudo gout....but I can use them to make soup, salsa, and such for others in the family.

I extended the rhubarb/strawberry/asparagus bed and will transplant those items further along into the extension so as to give them all more room.

My garden ducks are loving their home, though I know they'd rather be out ranging with the rest of the fowl. I haven't seen a slug yet this spring, since getting these garden ducks. Can't wait to see what they do to horn worms and squash bugs!

 

[ninnymary]

Bee, your soil sounds wonderful! Can't wait to see your harvest and your bug numbers go down. It's exciting!

Mary

 

[Beekissed]

Here's a few more pics of the top soil created by the hay....it's a joy to work with such stuff!

 

[flowerbug]

Here's a few more pics of the top soil created by the hay....it's a joy to work with such stuff!

View attachment 31636 View attachment 31637

yes! life brings life. i'm glad it is working out for you.

 

[ninnymary]

Well good news and bad news regarding my hay as mulch. The good news is that when I move it to the side I see new worms! The bad news is that I also see lots of rolly polly's. I've been picking them and giving them to the chickens but I don't think I'm staying on top of them.

I have noticed my zucchini plant is a little chewed. Don't know if it's them or something else. Two of my butternut squash that had just sprouted were also down to the nubs.

Mary

 

[Beekissed]

Well good news and bad news regarding my hay as mulch. The good news is that when I move it to the side I see new worms! The bad news is that I also see lots of rolly polly's. I've been picking them and giving them to the chickens but I don't think I'm staying on top of them.

I have noticed my zucchini plant is a little chewed. Don't know if it's them or something else. Two of my butternut squash that had just sprouted were also down to the nubs.

Mary

Yeah...mulch is a good place for bugs to hide. But, beneficial predators love to hide there as well. Snakes, frogs, newts, etc. all love to live there too.

You might want to get a duck or two....they LOVE pill bugs!

 

[flowerbug]

Well good news and bad news regarding my hay as mulch. The good news is that when I move it to the side I see new worms! The bad news is that I also see lots of rolly polly's. I've been picking them and giving them to the chickens but I don't think I'm staying on top of them.

I have noticed my zucchini plant is a little chewed. Don't know if it's them or something else. Two of my butternut squash that had just sprouted were also down to the nubs.

Mary

they may do some slight damage, but more than likely they are coming in and cleaning up after something else has caused the damage. if you have slugs or other chewing insects around those are more likely the initial cause. where i might find them the most is on strawberries that a bird, chipmunk, hail, etc. have damaged or on some of the root crops but i don't really mind them.

i transplant thousands of them into the gardens each spring (they are a part of the worm bucket communities i get going) and i don't find them a big problem.

i don't think it is an issue to get rid of them or to feed them to the chickens as they are only one of several creatures which are the detritovores, but i think they'd be pretty hard to get rid of completely in a moist environment where there is any organic material being used.