Moving the crew, a chicken update - September 8, 2012

Australorp "Jackie"

Black Copper Maran "CC"

 Today was chicken moving day.  They have been hanging out in the side yard in the perennial garden for a few weeks.  We finally doubled the electric fence so they can stay in a spot for a longer period of time.  This area was thick with bindweed and morning glories and I thought they would have a hard time getting around in the area.  They did just fine and to my great happiness have cleaned up under a lot of the plants.  The blackberry bushes are opened up as that was their favorite hang out space during the day and I don't blame them.  Perfect cover and fun sandy soil to toss up on themselves.  The bindweed was definitely trimmed away from the plum trees and sunflower/rosemary/asparagus area was cleaned up as well.  A definite win. 

Front yard garden

So where to next?  The winner is the front garden area with the hazelnut trees (actually I should say hazelnut sticks because they are so small and young), herbs like lemongrass and basil, serviceberry bushes (they don't look very good right now at all) and lots of amaranth, lambs quarters and bindweed.  I can't wait for them to work their magic in that garden!  Go chickens go!

When we moved the fence and coop I noticed that I couldn't find the old buff orpington named Honker.  So I started looking in the perennial garden for her and look what I found buried in the rosemary...

Clutch of eggs in the rosemary bushes in the side perennial garden

Those little boogers have been holding out on me!  I've been waiting and waiting for the eggs from the paddock crew.  I've been getting one or two here and there.  I kept saying...just be patient.  All along they were secretly laying in a cozy spot in the rosemary bushes.  I don't blame them.  I would like that MUCH better than the coop myself if I were a chicken.  Oh well, gotta rethink the nesting arrangement.  That is the thing I love about this whole permaculture thing...you just wing it and whatever isn't working you just tweek it until it does.  Chris and I have talked about having portable nests that we can place in strategic locations.  Might be a good idea.  For now I think I would like to focus on making the nesting boxes in the coop better.  

Shitake! September 8, 2012

Back in October we cut down a small oak tree in the back woods and dragged it down to the creek with the idea that it would be perfect mushroom territory.  We busted our humps and managed to innoculate 4 logs (don't laugh til you try it...that took a long time).  We drilled 1 inch holes in the logs and hammered in sawdust that was innoculated with shitake mushrooms.  Then we sealed them with beeswax and arranged them in a square elevated off the ground.

 Since Chris and I take the "natural/lazy" approach we let good ole mother nature do her thing.  We didn't dunk them in water or hit them on the ends with a hammer.  We didn't even visit them very much.  Funny thing about the natural way...definitely way less productive and other mushrooms joined in on the fun which I find a little scary.  But low and behold...almost a year later...we got one!  Ha ha ha ha! 

The shitake is on the right side top log, closest to the camera

Yes, a lone shitake finally reared it's head out of one the holes in the log.  Of course there are mushrooms popping up all over the place right now and the only way I even trust it is the fact it was coming directly out of one of our drilled holes.  So in one week we got an oyster mushroom at the house and a shitake from the woods.  Funny thing is that I think these very items are growing wild in our woods but I am way too chicken to go there. 

Tonight, we have to feed 9 people and that little mushroom will be placed lovingly on top of one of the homemade pizzas. 

May Pop! August 2012

Pole Green Park offers a lot of diversity in "wild edibles".  On one of our outings with the dogs, Chris and I noticed a strange vine growing only the edge of one of the fields.  Later we identified it as May Pop, otherwise known as the passion flower.  Of course we decided to keep watching, anxiously awaiting the fruit that comes with this vine, and on one of walks in mid August we actually saw blooms.  What an awesome flower!  The bees were loving on these UFO inspired blooms!  I will let you know if any changes...

September 10, 2012 - FRUIT!!!

Corn Smut - August 2012

So it appears we were able to grow a true delicacy - corn smut!  This little fungus supposedly is worth a lot more money than corn.  I'm a little afraid of cooking with it for now though.  Maybe one day.  It is just interesting to see it and know what it is. 

First egg from the pullets! August 20, 2012

So the chicks we got in the last week of March before Easter finally started laying on August 20, 2012.  That puts them close to 5 months old.  I do believe based on the color and chicken behavior that this egg is from one of the Australorps named Goose.  Apollo has been paying particular attention to Goose.  Since this photo we got a few more eggs and then a week break.  Then two green, leathery, soft eggs possibly from the olive eggers and two eggs yesterday, September 3rd, one light one (lavender orpington probably) and one a little darker which I suspect is from our silver pencil rock Gaylord (thank you Stella for the name).  I guess they are slowly coming online while the house crew is going offline.

The house crew has one broody silver pencil (10 months old), one silver pencil that just got over being broody, a wandering Rhode Island Red and two chickens - a Rhode Island Red and a Buff Orpington - that won't come out the coop at all right now.  They seem to be coming out of a molt and definitely do not want the attention of Owl, the Americauna rooster who desperately needs some hens to love.  I feel bad for him. 

I'm thinking about switching around the paddock crew and house crew.  I think the australorps are designed for foraging.  They are very good at it and would do well with the house crew which is true free range. I'm just worried about upsetting the balance we have now.  You know how it is...mess with a chicken's world and you won't see an egg for weeks!

Harvest Photo - beginning of September 2012

Harvest photo: September 4th, 2012:  I lost my color picture ability on my phone today.  Bummed.  But it is important to note that there are oyster mushrooms in that basket.  With some asparagus beans, close to the end of the tomatoes (mostly romas) and a few peppers.  Also, after a long hiatus, Ginger, our Rhode Island Red started laying again today.  I suspected she was laying elsewhere but everyone stopped and appear to be molting or broody or both!  We have a ton of chickens and very few eggs!  I'm sure we will get swamped soon!  Oh yeah...and lets not forget our first tomatillo harvest.  Volunteer plants along the outside of the fenced in garden.  Now that is easy food!

Harvest Photo - End of July 2012

Harvest July 20, 2012 photo:  Looks like squash, peppers and an early sunflower from a rogue chicken feed seed.