Whew its been busy and the weather has kept us hopping! Rain, sun, rain sun and then of course super humid. However it has bright moments like the hay getting up without rain on it!
They raked with two rakes hitched together and that made a good heavy windrow for the round baler. 15 bales from the field which was quite good and it is very nice hay.
The poultry is happy the hay is down as now they can go further out into the field to forage and catch bugs!
The exciting news is the hens are going broody. Not a large number but enough to give us interesting crossbred chicks. There are three buffs who are seriously broody, one that hatched 5 on her own and adopted 3. One Buckeye hatched 4 of her own and adopted 2 more.
This buff is just snarly if you even look her way....when I took this photo she was making a growly kind of noise the entire process.
The turkeys have hatched ducks.....this little fellow is a Cayuga X Blue Swedish and the turkey didn't want him so he is in the nursery pen with a heat lamp and other ducklings and a couple of chicks.
I am not in your flower bed....really....a Cayuga Drake and his Khaki Campbell better half sleep here in the afternoon sun and always act like if they don't move I won't see them.
They are quite funny and don't hurt anything but they do have to hop quite high to get over the railroad tie border.
The Broad Windsor beans are a massive wall and are setting beans everywhere. I suspect with the onset of heat they will not set much more but we should have a good harvest and be eating them fresh next week.
And to finish up this farm tour...our Super Hen. She is a marvel with her 8 babies. They are fearless little things and the miles they put on in a day is surprising. She has taught them where to dust bathe, to sleep in the shade under the steps and to go back to the trophy room/ brooder room at night. They know where the best bugs are and how to scratch like crazy. They even catch earthworms that are bigger than they are. I somehow doubt we will have any issues like pecking with these but of course there are other dangers. The chickens keep an exceptionally close eye on the sky and they just hate helicopters!
There is another Chicken evaluation post in the works. There are some interesting characteristics to these breeds when it comes to motherhood.
Supper sees us eating fresh from the garden, peas, salads, beets and tatsoi. Irish potatoes very soon.
We shut down in the evenings sweaty and tired and watch the fireflies and plan the next day.
Take care and be safe this summer.....
Fiona - wonderful update post and yes - i AM jealous that supper was all from the garden!!! that super mamma hen sure is teaching those babies well...sounds to me like they will soon turn into some kind of chicken gang!!! i love seeing pics of everyone else's gardens and where they are at...so keep the pics and updates coming.
ReplyDeletesending love. your friend,
kymber
Have you tried Broad Windsor beans? They are cold weather tolerant and can go in early. I thought they might suited you because they are best "SLATHERED" in butter! :)
DeleteI have to remember to take food photos....the red romaine we have is a lovely color and let's face it pea green adds vibrancy to things like cous cous and pasta....I am glad the photo make you smile...take care 'o' mermaid!
Makes me smile to see the broody buff! I'm convinced I really did get a "happy buffday"- With a little luck at least one will be a gal, and I'll have my own broody buff soon!! Thanks for sharing the shots- Farm is looking picture perfect.
ReplyDeleteThe Buff's are such sweet hens, the Buckeyes give them a run though and the Australorps are just all around solid chickens....how can one choose a favorite! The little cross breeds are dark but have reddish heads and a faint gold hue to their baby wings. It is fun to watch how fast they can go!
DeleteWhat a great post! Hens are such wonderful mothers. We enjoy watching the wild geese that come to our area, they have goslings now and they are incredibly wonderful parents, too. I'm going to look into those broad Windsor beans for next year. Sustainable Seeds has quite a write-up about them and they say the plants can fix up to 200 pounds of nitrogen per acre, and all that's needed to feed succeeding crops is 60 pounds!! Wowee. Plus if they are planted close together they support each other and there's no trellis needed even though they can get seven feet tall. Big producers, too. Now. My question to you is, how do they taste? Do you eat them in the pod, or shelled? Any favorite recipes for them? Inquiring minds want to know. LOL Hugs
ReplyDeleteI like the beans, out of the pod, lightly steamed and then peel the thin skin off. Salt and pepper and either butter or homemade ranch type dressing. To me the simple prep just lets the bean taste the best. They support themselves very well and can go in early.
DeleteYour turkeys hatched a duckling? How funny! But the didn't want him? How sad! My poor broody duck is having a terrible time and I have no way to help her. :(
ReplyDeleteWe know how you feel for your duck. They work hard to hatch eggs. Our guinea hen had her nest in a really heavy burdock patch, Ralph got the neighbor to mow the patch to start eradicating it.....so that did not end well. I thought she was in there but Ralph thought she was in the blackberry thicket below the weeds.
DeleteMuscovies take such a long time. We hope you manage to get some ducklings.
I really like visiting here. Your place always looks so green and peaceful. You have more animals than I do, and that's saying something.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you like "visiting". Green and yes peaceful for the most part....it does get a bit crazy when the hens lay an egg and the roosters tell everyone about it!
DeleteI love the onset of dusk and the twinkling of fireflies on our lawn and in our Maple trees... it reminds me of John Coffee's delight at the world in the movie "The Green Mile". Your mountain must have that sense of awe to it as well!
I can't believe your wall 'o beans! My peas are about five inches high and my beans are just breaking the soil. It is so delightful to see a mama hen with her little bunch of chicks. I am hoping for a little combo duckling or two - Little Eva is glued to her four duck eggs!
ReplyDelete