Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Jan. 28

Hi, everybody! Are you outdoors, or dreaming of outdoors? The lovely photo above, of winter blooms in Art Village in Balboa Park is from By-Tor.

Do you know what those flowers are?

Catalogs

Fedco is advertising potatoes. Totally Tomatoes is offering grafted tomato plants.
Baker Creek has spring garlic. Vermont Bean has Windbreaker Pinto Bean. Heh.

American Meadows has a primer on dahlias, including the various flower forms and plant types of these lovelies.

Here are some examples from a professional grower, Dorset Dahlias.

Do you grow either border or exhibition dahlias?

Remarkable Plants

Oldest olive trees in the world

This olivetree has been classified as 'monumental' by the Association of Cretan Olive Municipalities, due to the large size of its trunk, and due to the vicinity to the ancient settlements of Vrontas, Kastro and of the late Minoan and down to the Archaic Phase (1350-500BC) where several artifacts related to olive oil have been uncovered.
The tree is estimated to be 3250 years old, dating it back to the Post-Palatial Minoan Period. Just imagine what this tree has seen!
The tree is located next to the road leading up from Kavusi to Azoria. In 2004, the first female winner of the marathon of the Athens Olympic Games, was wreathed by a branch of a wild root stock of this tree. It is an amazing tree, huge and very alive and healthy. At the trunk it is between 4.7 and 7 meters in diameter, the canopy is around 10 meters in diameter and the tree is almost 7 meters high.

Ah, Nature

Western monarchs are still on the coast of California.

Near Santa Cruz

And near Pizmo Beach.
And some other places, too. Have you ever seen them hibernating in person? Sometimes they flit around some.

On the Farm

With eggs being so expensive, they might as well be interesting, too.

Rocky the Rooster

Yeti the Hen

Silkie chickens are very distinctive. They don't lay a lot of eggs, but are used to brood the eggs of other chickens.

Adventure

I'm skipping this one.

The route from Chamba to Killar, one of the riskiest routes in India 😳 pic.twitter.com/M9fJuuI7eX
— OddIy Terrifying (@OTerrifying) January 27, 2023

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

If you would like to send photos, stories, links, etc. for the Saturday Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden at g mail dot com

Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.

Week in Review

What has changed since last week's thread? Saturday Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Jan. 21

Any thoughts or questions?

I closed the comments on this post so you wouldn't get banned for commenting on a week-old post, but don't try it anyway.

Sunset, Great Salt Lake

Posted by: K.T. at 01:26 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Looks warm, rather be there
Good afternoon Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at January 28, 2023 01:31 PM (xhxe8)

2 It used to called "Spanish Village." Wonder why they changed the name.

Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at January 28, 2023 01:34 PM (TXFi7)

3 Winter is almost half over, here.

Posted by: BignJames at January 28, 2023 01:34 PM (AwYPR)

4 Love auracauna chicken eggs!

Posted by: Emmie at January 28, 2023 01:35 PM (Emce2)

5 Just imagine what this tree has seen!

Uh, olive trees don't have eyes.

And I thought that Bristlecone Pines were the oldest living trees.

Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at January 28, 2023 01:35 PM (TXFi7)

6 Eggs... the ones we get from the neighbor's chickens look like those in the photos. Many different sizes, shapes and colors.

And tasty too.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 28, 2023 01:36 PM (Q4IgG)

7 I wouldn't consider winter over until about March 15, by then it may snow ( as opposed to none this year) as we have had 3 foot snow storms in March but at least it won't last long.

Posted by: Skip at January 28, 2023 01:37 PM (xhxe8)

8 I'm working through my seed list to decide what to grow this year. It's very weird that I can't find "Arkansas Traveler" tomato seed out here in Arkansas.

Posted by: Emmie at January 28, 2023 01:37 PM (Emce2)

9 Have what my wife calls Snow Drops, litte bulb flowers with white drooping flowers. Looked today and Daffodils are 2 inches high

Posted by: Skip at January 28, 2023 01:38 PM (xhxe8)

10 Morning fellow gardeners. Wish I had some content for the thread but we have had a bit of a cold spell here and the garden is looking a little sad. Still getting some Chard, lettuce and spinach. Turnips are coming along. Still have some hot peppers and kale and the i'toi onions and garlic make some beds look lush. I know the rest of you have it worse. Peach tree is already budding out, not necessarily a good thing as it can get zapped by frost if we get it. I have to figure out what new things I am going to try this year but I will keep you posted!

Posted by: WeeKreekFarmGirl at January 28, 2023 01:39 PM (M8plP)

11 I bought a 110gal poly stock tank to grow my Irish potatoes in this year. I need to get my butt out there and plant them. I am pretty sure we are past the risk of a hard freeze, and in another couple of weeks we should be past the risk of any freeze.

Posted by: G'rump928(c) at January 28, 2023 01:40 PM (yQpMk)

12 One of the things we're looking for when we move is to be able to keep ducks. I've also heard quail are fairly easy to keep, so those would be an option, although you'd need more of them to get the same amount of egg volume.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 01:41 PM (nC+QA)

13

I identify the chicken but my efforts to insert and then lay eggs have been unsuccessful. Racism! I'm considering identifying as a golf ball manufacturing machine, simply for the ease of production...

Posted by: Chicken Anne at January 28, 2023 01:41 PM (e04Hg)

14 I started the Bob Ross Chia Pet the other day. It's a lot more difficult than one would imagine. The seeds are supposed to turn into a jelly like substance when soaked in water, which they do, but don't really stick well, so a lot of seeds wound up on the neckline or on the towel beneath.

Then, the clay figure leaks out all of the water in less than a day, so you have to constantly refill it or dump the water back in the pot. The seeds really appear to like a lot of water. It started sprouting, but by the time I noticed the pot was empty, they looked dead. I filled it and some did sprout again, but it looks moderately terrible.

I'll refill it again today, but not sure it's going to turn out like it looks on the box.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 01:41 PM (Zz0t1)

15 Love auracauna chicken eggs!

Posted by: Emmie at January 28, 2023 01:35 PM (Emce2)

Those are the colored eggs right? Any idea how easy/difficult the chickens are to keep?

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 01:43 PM (nC+QA)

16 'Happiness is a warm hen.....'

Posted by: Eromero at January 28, 2023 01:44 PM (1vBNQ)

17 [o]The route from Chamba to Killar, one of the riskiest routes in India 😳 pic.twitter.com/M9fJuuI7eX

— OddIy Terrifying (@OTerrifying) January 27, 2023

I'm not even walking that trail.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 01:44 PM (Zz0t1)

18 Chatterbox Mouse at January 28, 2023 01:35 PM

It doesn't say that the olive trees are the oldest living trees.

It says they are the oldest living olive trees. Some still make olives. Amazing.

Posted by: KT at January 28, 2023 01:44 PM (rrtZS)

19 My daffodils are about 6-8 inches up now. I don't know if this is normal or not as it's our first season here.

It's still January, right?

Posted by: Tonypete at January 28, 2023 01:45 PM (qoGsy)

20 And I thought that Bristlecone Pines were the oldest living trees.
Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at January 28, 2023 01:35 PM (TXFi7)

I think they are. They have used them to identify the date of the final eruptions of Thera (Santorini) which predated the bronze age collapse.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 28, 2023 01:46 PM (xhaym)

21 Sitting in the car at the post office now, got another order of seeds today in the PO Box, coincidentally butterfly milkweed the preferred food of monarchs was part of the order.

Posted by: KarlHungus at January 28, 2023 01:47 PM (++FlK)

22 Silkie chickens have black bones, are friendly and live a long time. Used to be a fruit stand near here that had a silkie chicken greeter.

Posted by: KT at January 28, 2023 01:47 PM (rrtZS)

23 Those are the colored eggs right? Any idea how easy/difficult the chickens are to keep?
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 01:43 PM (nC+QA)

I have no direct knowledge, but I have read they have great personalities and are pretty reliable layers.

Posted by: Emmie at January 28, 2023 01:48 PM (Emce2)

24 Thanks for the photos of that olive tree. Enlarge the second photo. That trunk is not just enormous, it is damn interesting. I downloaded the image to keep it handy as a sketching exercise.

Posted by: JTB at January 28, 2023 01:50 PM (7EjX1)

25 I've also heard quail are fairly easy to keep, so those would be an option, although you'd need more of them to get the same amount of egg volume.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 01:41 PM (nC+QA)

I keep thinking about keeping something that lays eggs. I've wondered if quail eggs are too small to be worth the trouble.

Posted by: Emmie at January 28, 2023 01:50 PM (Emce2)

26 My wife is now receptive to the idea of having chickens, before she didn't want them at all. She still won't accept ducks.

I suspect I could have sold her on a pig, but she would have named it and made it a pet.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 28, 2023 01:51 PM (xhaym)

27 Polii,
Chickens are pretty easy as long as you secure them at night. The Blue eggs are the aruacauna chickens. There are other breeds that will give you blue eggs but they all originate from auracauna's. I wish our HOA would allow chickens. I know, know but moving isn't that easy as we can't afford anything else right now that within 50 miles and I'm too old and lack the skills for a fixer upper...

Where are y'all moving to?

Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 01:51 PM (UUBmN)

28 Love the name 'windbreaker' pinto beans. Somebody in Vermont has a sense of humor.

Posted by: JTB at January 28, 2023 01:51 PM (7EjX1)

29 My wife is now receptive to the idea of having chickens, before she didn't want them at all. She still won't accept ducks.

I suspect I could have sold her on a pig, but she would have named it and made it a pet.
Posted by: Kindltot at January 28, 2023 01:51 PM (xhaym)

If we are able to get a piece of land this year and move, we're all in with chickens, goats, ducks, turkeys....the lot. It's going to be interesting.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 01:52 PM (Zz0t1)

30 I downloaded the image to keep it handy as a sketching exercise.

Posted by: JTB at January 28, 2023 01:50 PM (7EjX1)

You could probably spend a lifetime focusing on sketching the various areas on that tree. Would certainly make you a master at showing texture.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 01:52 PM (nC+QA)

31 Emmie, didn't you get any pickled quail eggs when you were at Corsicana?

Posted by: Eromero at January 28, 2023 01:53 PM (1vBNQ)

32 I wouldn't mind moving a bit north near Helena and Gingy but the husband isn't sold... and the kids want to finish school here.

Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 01:54 PM (UUBmN)

33 Emmie, didn't you get any pickled quail eggs when you were at Corsicana?
Posted by: Eromero at January 28, 2023 01:53 PM (1vBNQ)

I wore my AoS Horde shirt to work the other day.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 01:54 PM (Zz0t1)

34 Posted by: Kindltot at January 28, 2023 01:51 PM (xhaym)

There's a breed of smaller pig that seems popular with homesteaders. They're supposedly very friendly though, which would probably be a problem in your case.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 01:55 PM (nC+QA)

35 and the kids want to finish school here.
Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 01:54 PM (UUBmN)

This is why we're still here. As soon as the kid graduates, we might send her the forwarding address....

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 01:55 PM (Zz0t1)

36 Sponge,
hubby and daughter are in your area, she's shooting at a competition today.

Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 01:55 PM (UUBmN)

37 30 ... "You could probably spend a lifetime focusing on sketching the various areas on that tree. Would certainly make you a master at showing texture."

Polliwog,
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Graphite, charcoal pencils and/or Conte crayons. Years worth of learning and practice in that image.

Posted by: JTB at January 28, 2023 01:56 PM (7EjX1)

38 Sponge,
hubby and daughter are in your area, she's shooting at a competition today.
Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 01:55 PM (UUBmN)

NICE! She'll do well, I'm sure. That kid is a crack shot, for sure.

We're heading toward Ft. Worth this afternoon. Having a B-Day gathering for the Mrs. today.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 01:56 PM (Zz0t1)

39 Where are y'all moving to?

Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 01:51 PM (UUBmN)

The Amarillo area. We need time to actually go and *look* though. Hoping to be able to get up there in February and get a feel for the place.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 01:57 PM (nC+QA)

40 oh... and those pesky things called "jobs" are a bit of a barrier too.

Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 01:57 PM (UUBmN)

41 From what I understand regarding chickens... they're happiest when there are "many" of them. They're a bird, they like to flock together. An unscientific rule of thumb is no less than 6. In fact, the local Rural King where they sell chicks won't sell any fewer than a half dozen.

Our neighbors have about 16. And the fatality rate in the chicks is really high. Like up to half. Stress mostly.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 28, 2023 01:57 PM (Q4IgG)

42 I keep thinking about keeping something that lays eggs. I've wondered if quail eggs are too small to be worth the trouble.
Posted by: Emmie at January 28, 2023 01:50 PM (Emce2)

Certain breeds will start laying very young, and are supposed to be good for meat, even if they are so small. There is a lot of information out there online.
One of the Asian markets used to sell canned quail eggs.

Years ago I was reading about someone who built a quail run and claimed they were the most fun poultry to watch from the way they run around as a flock.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 28, 2023 01:57 PM (xhaym)

43 Western monarchs are still on the coast of California.

We released Monarchs as a part of our wedding ceremony barefoot on the beach just before sunset in Kawai'i.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 01:57 PM (Zz0t1)

44
The Amarillo area. We need time to actually go and *look* though. Hoping to be able to get up there in February and get a feel for the place.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 01:57 PM (nC+QA)

They got a load of snow there earlier in the week. Enjoy!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 01:58 PM (Zz0t1)

45 The Amarillo area. We need time to actually go and *look* though. Hoping to be able to get up there in February and get a feel for the place.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette
-----
That IS a move. Moving to Florida would be closer..😂🤣
Why the drastic change?

Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 01:59 PM (UUBmN)

46 oh... and those pesky things called "jobs" are a bit of a barrier too.
Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 01:57 PM (UUBmN)

I do have to stay tethered to this area for that reason as well. I don't have to go in every day, but when I do, I'm willing to drive up to 2 hours to get there. If I need to stay longer, I've got friends and family closer I can stay with if necessary.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 01:59 PM (Zz0t1)

47 Sponge, I wear a uniform at work but under it I've worn my Horde, Let's Go Brandon, Ashli Babbitt, etc, work and political not a good match. If I stop on my way home I just pull off my shirt and vest.

Posted by: Eromero at January 28, 2023 02:01 PM (1vBNQ)

48 They got a load of snow there earlier in the week. Enjoy!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 01:58 PM (Zz0t1)

Inspector would like that, actually. He thinks there should be more than two seasons.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 02:01 PM (nC+QA)

49 Sponge, I wear a uniform at work but under it I've worn my Horde, Let's Go Brandon, Ashli Babbitt, etc, work and political not a good match. If I stop on my way home I just pull off my shirt and vest.
Posted by: Eromero at January 28, 2023 02:01 PM (1vBNQ)

Nice. When I go in, it's just me in a colo facility, so there's just other companies in there. I don't really wear too much political stuff but it wouldn't matter if I did. Not many would see it anyway.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 02:02 PM (Zz0t1)

50 Boy F. and I wandered around the arboretum today looking for magnolias in bloom, but I think we are late because we didn't see many.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at January 28, 2023 02:02 PM (EZebt)

51
Inspector would like that, actually. He thinks there should be more than two seasons.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 02:01 PM (nC+QA)

They get that there, I believe. I have only been there a few times and didn't stay long as it was mostly on the way to somewhere else.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 02:03 PM (Zz0t1)

52 One of the morons that comes to Corsicana is from the Amarillo area. I can picture him but his nic eludes me...

Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 02:03 PM (UUBmN)

53 Well, my wife raised pigs in 4H and she adores them, but she is almost a vegetarian. She won't touch beef, and very little pork.
So cute porkers are problematic.

I am going to be putting in more plum and apple trees this year, if I can get them.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 28, 2023 02:03 PM (xhaym)

54 We would split the difference between family in Houston and family in Colorado. We would also be in a straight line to Inspector's employer's main office in Albuquerque and in reasonable driving distance to some of their clients on the border.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 02:04 PM (nC+QA)

55 Well, my wife raised pigs in 4H and she adores them, but she is almost a vegetarian. She won't touch beef, and very little pork.
So cute porkers are problematic.

I am going to be putting in more plum and apple trees this year, if I can get them.
Posted by: Kindltot at January 28, 2023 02:03 PM (xhaym)

We raised rabbits in 4H when we were kids. I got upset one round of dad slaughtering them, so he said "Fine. You'll take care of them then."

What an amazing pain in the ass that was. Learned my lesson. If you're raising food, remember it's food when the time comes.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 02:05 PM (Zz0t1)

56 We released Monarchs as a part of our wedding ceremony barefoot on the beach just before sunset in Kawai'i.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 01:57 PM (Zz0t1)

Do they migrate? Where to?

Posted by: BignJames at January 28, 2023 02:05 PM (AwYPR)

57 We get the occasional monarch butterfly in our abode. Whenever I see one I sing the old song "Big Fat Butterfly"

Posted by: gourmand du jour at January 28, 2023 02:06 PM (jTmQV)

58
Do they migrate? Where to?
Posted by: BignJames at January 28, 2023 02:05 PM (AwYPR)

Absolutely no clue. They were provided by the crew that did the ceremony and they flew away when we released them. There was a seal sunning itself on the beach as well, which we were told was good luck.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 02:06 PM (Zz0t1)

59 That IS a move. Moving to Florida would be closer..😂🤣
Why the drastic change?
Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 01:59 PM (UUBmN)

54 was the reply to this. Forgot the "paste" part of copy and paste.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 02:07 PM (nC+QA)

60 Monarchs go so far South they speak penguin.

Posted by: Eromero at January 28, 2023 02:08 PM (1vBNQ)

61 Polli,
Amarillo is completely different that where you are now...brown vs green, dry vs wet, they are both flat though...

Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 02:08 PM (UUBmN)

62 Do they migrate? Where to?
----
South America I believe

Posted by: dartist at January 28, 2023 02:09 PM (U2hGT)

63 hiya

Posted by: JT at January 28, 2023 02:10 PM (T4tVD)

64 I need to go to the HEB... I hate shopping. I can't get out for under $100 but it's usually closer to $200++ Darn, teenage boys!

Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 02:11 PM (UUBmN)

65 The narcissus, the tulips and the garlic are starting to poke up from the mulch. The Black Cap raspberries are starting to put out buds, and I am pruning back my grapes.

My wife brought me some cuttings of grapes she wants me to raise, so I have one whip stuck in the ground, two stuck in a jar of water to see if they will root like the books say they will, and a bunch in the fridge in case I have to try to graft them.

Never did anything with grapes but cut them back, so this is terror incogniter here.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 28, 2023 02:12 PM (xhaym)

66 Those flowers look like some form of kalanchoe

Should probably bop over to Pacific grove next week (about 20 minutes) and go to the butterfly park there. For some reason I was thinking it was a little closer to spring, they swarm the eucalyptus trees there.

One thing that's cool about the new place is I can plant things I never could further north. I've been going nuts planting proteas (leucodendron) which grow really well here. So many cool varieties, and make great clippings! Also all kinds of fuchsias. I was told several years back there was some sort of blight that affected most of the hybrid varieties, but they seem to be making a comeback. Some of the OG species plants are pretty cool though, so I got a bunch of those. A trip to the nursery can get pricey pretty fast though!

Posted by: clutch cargo - Now fortified with CPM-S90V at January 28, 2023 02:12 PM (zB/T/)

67 Those flowers look like some form of kalanchoe

Gesundheidt !

Posted by: JT at January 28, 2023 02:15 PM (T4tVD)

68 Jordan Peterson on Joe Rogan just today. A lot going on with Jordan:

https://tinyurl.com/Rogan-Peterson-Today

Posted by: Sharkman at January 28, 2023 02:16 PM (ynVvt)

69 Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 02:08 PM (UUBmN)

I grew up in Colorado. Our house was situated on the middle of a hill in the first row of foothills and looked out over the Eastern Plains. On Independence Day you could see the fireworks from Ft. Collins, Boulder, and Greeley..

Inspector grew up in Arizona and California with time in Wyoming and Montana. If anything, Houston is the aberration in places we've lived.

We'd also like to be further from a major metropolitan area, but have to be in a big enough place to have good medical care.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 02:16 PM (nC+QA)

70 I need to go to the HEB... I hate shopping. I can't get out for under $100 but it's usually closer to $200++ Darn, teenage boys!
Posted by: lin-duh

A gallon and 1/2 of milk a day - amirite?

Posted by: Tonypete at January 28, 2023 02:16 PM (qoGsy)

71 Do they migrate? Where to?
Posted by: BignJames at January 28, 2023 02:05 PM (AwYPR)

Monarchs are not native to HI. But they've been introduced. Typically, they migrate from as far north as Canada and the left coast down to Mexico and back. There's places where they stop to chill, some well known parks in CA, Pacific Grove IIRC is the largest. Looks like current count almost 10k.

pgmuseum.org/monarch-viewing/

Posted by: clutch cargo - Now fortified with CPM-S90V at January 28, 2023 02:16 PM (zB/T/)

72 Polliwog, Mrs. E was born in LaJunta and raised on a ranch near Ordway.

Posted by: Eromero at January 28, 2023 02:21 PM (1vBNQ)

73 she's shooting at a competition today.
Posted by: lin-duh

Hope the sprout does well! (see a gardening reference!)

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 28, 2023 02:21 PM (ywZXi)

74 Butterfly park on Rio Grande in Hidalgo County close to Mission Texas. If it ain't been burned down.

Posted by: Eromero at January 28, 2023 02:23 PM (1vBNQ)

75 I love the silkie chickens, they are so funny looking.They're like the Persian cats of the chicken world.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 28, 2023 02:28 PM (yGmiX)

76 Little pigs are cute and amusing. Then they get big, ugly and rough. It's not too hard to let them go. But my livestock days are over and prices are okay for beef at the store.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 28, 2023 02:29 PM (4IUUf)

77 We have about 15 chickens. I keep losing some to the sparrow hawk, hate that hawk.

My chicken coop flooded from the heavy rain. I had rivers of mud flowing through my orchard, grapes. My wine barn was almost flooded. We lost a huge oak tree that fell across the road. That took two days to clean up. We lost a huge branch off of one the eucalyptus trees.
My guys dig a big trench prior to the rain to control where the water goes and it's filled with dirt now.
I wondered how you fared KT?
That was the heaviest rain I recall since the 90s.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 28, 2023 02:32 PM (yGmiX)

78 A question: Has anyone here managed to see the new comet, ZTF? It's said to be visible to the naked eye in very dark, clear areas. I love to skywatch, but here in SE Wisconsin, we haven't had a clear night since Christmas.

Posted by: Nemo at January 28, 2023 02:37 PM (S6ArX)

79 My wine barn was almost flooded.
Posted by: CaliGirl

Now you really have something to whine about!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 28, 2023 02:39 PM (ywZXi)

80 Somewhere recently read Ben's hog problem has been going on hundreds of years there, since the Spanish arrived.

Posted by: Skip at January 28, 2023 02:43 PM (xhxe8)

81 If you get little pigs, get at least three. And be sure at least one is a brickmason.

Posted by: Eromero at January 28, 2023 02:43 PM (1vBNQ)

82 >>> 41 From what I understand regarding chickens... they're happiest when there are "many" of them. They're a bird, they like to flock together. An unscientific rule of thumb is no less than 6. In fact, the local Rural King where they sell chicks won't sell any fewer than a half dozen.

Our neighbors have about 16. And the fatality rate in the chicks is really high. Like up to half. Stress mostly.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 28, 2023 01:57 PM (Q4IgG)

If you're losing *half* the babies the hatchery sucks donkey balls. Possibly the seller too. My first set of birdbrains were from Hoover's Hatchery (found by my neighbor), one of Tractor Supply's vendors. They don't ship their chicks out until the day *after* they hatch.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2023 02:44 PM (llON8)

83 Pretty much all "farm" critters don't do well when they're the only one.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2023 02:45 PM (llON8)

84 Sky & Telescope dot org has a map to find the comet
right down the middle between the Big and Little Dippers

best time is after 1am MT, because the fairly bright half moon will have set

https://tinyurl.com/2p8jk25a

Posted by: DB at January 28, 2023 02:45 PM (geLO8)

85 We had a hawk attack yesterday and lost some chickens anyone have any ideas for good hawk detrerant?

Posted by: KarlHungus at January 28, 2023 02:45 PM (MhCcX)

86 >>> 29
==
If we are able to get a piece of land this year and move, we're all in with chickens, goats, ducks, turkeys....the lot. It's going to be interesting.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 01:52 PM (Zz0t1)

Milk goats or meat goats or both?

Does 'the lot' include cows, pigs, sheep, guinea hens, bees...

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2023 02:48 PM (llON8)

87 Trump's breath would kill the flowers !!!!

Posted by: Dorcus Blimlime at January 28, 2023 02:48 PM (VRFhU)

88 Love that olive tree! Mind-boggling to think what it has survived.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 28, 2023 02:50 PM (Mzdiz)

89 >>> 52 One of the morons that comes to Corsicana is from the Amarillo area. I can picture him but his nic eludes me...
Posted by: lin-duh at January 28, 2023 02:03 PM (UUBmN)

Pretty sure it's Catch Thirty-Thr33 (I know the nic includes numbers but I'm not sure that's quite right)

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2023 02:50 PM (llON8)

90 If we are able to get a piece of land this year and move, we're all in with chickens, goats, ducks, turkeys....the lot. It's going to be interesting.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 28, 2023 01:52 PM (Zz0t1)

Do you have experience with any of those already? That's a hella lot of work you're setting for yourselves.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 02:51 PM (nC+QA)

91 We had a hawk attack yesterday and lost some chickens anyone have any ideas for good hawk detrerant?

Posted by: KarlHungus at January 28, 2023 02:45 PM (MhCcX)

A run covered with chicken wire or camo? We're thinking about chickens this year and there are a fair amount of raptors in the area (we had to keep an eye on the kittens for that reason).

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 28, 2023 02:52 PM (Mzdiz)

92 A question: Has anyone here managed to see the new comet, ZTF? It's said to be visible to the naked eye in very dark, clear areas. I love to skywatch, but here in SE Wisconsin, we haven't had a clear night since Christmas.
Posted by: Nemo

I'll be out tonight and tomorrow at sunset.
I can usually see Ursa Minor with ease.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 28, 2023 02:52 PM (ywZXi)

93 We had a hawk attack yesterday and lost some chickens anyone have any ideas for good hawk detrerant?
----
The gun thread is tomorrow, I keed

Posted by: dartist at January 28, 2023 02:53 PM (U2hGT)

94 Do you have experience with any of those already? That's a hella lot of work you're setting for yourselves.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 02:51 PM (nC+QA)

Yes, do your research! I highly recommend Appalachia's Homestead channel on Youtube.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 28, 2023 02:53 PM (Mzdiz)

95 >>> 90
==
Do you have experience with any of those already? That's a hella lot of work you're setting for yourselves.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 02:51 PM (nC+QA)

Heh, that too.

Um, I have books, and I've been watching some ewetoob vids...

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2023 02:53 PM (llON8)

96 We had a hawk attack yesterday and lost some chickens anyone have any ideas for good hawk detrerant?
Posted by: KarlHungus at January 28, 2023 02:45 PM (MhCcX)

The neighbors leave their dog in the back yard to chase off the red tail hawk, some people put up covering nets or chicken wire to keep the hawks out.
If you could figure out how to attract blue jays and the crows and get them to nest in the area and they will mob a hawk

Posted by: Kindltot at January 28, 2023 02:53 PM (xhaym)

97 85 We had a hawk attack yesterday and lost some chickens anyone have any ideas for good hawk detrerant?
Posted by: KarlHungus at January 28, 2023 02:45 PM (MhCcX)

Shotgun?

Posted by: Sarai Delenn at January 28, 2023 02:55 PM (qyH+l)

98 any ideas for good hawk detrerant?
Posted by: KarlHungus

Fish hatcheries around here use nets.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 28, 2023 02:56 PM (ywZXi)

99 >>> 85 We had a hawk attack yesterday and lost some chickens anyone have any ideas for good hawk detrerant?
Posted by: KarlHungus at January 28, 2023 02:45 PM (MhCcX)

I am skeptical of any predator deterrent as opposed to a physical barrier. I let mine run out of the coop all the time to eat grass and hunt bugs, but I never leave them unattended. Even so, I'd prefer to put a fence around the coop and put up some kind of netting or other cover so big birds can't get in at all.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2023 02:56 PM (llON8)

100 Bristlecone Pines

Remember years ago researchers drilled into "oldest living thing" but the drill bit broke. They cut tree down to retrieve it. Expensive instrument you know. California.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenko Solutions at January 28, 2023 03:04 PM (7gV/K)

101 I beautified my garden view with one simple trick:

I offered the back neighbors $20 for their unused plastic furniture.

The husband was surprised but he took the cash. His comment (half to me and half to his wife) was "We don't really use it." I just said, "I know. Thanks."

The wife doesn't want to see lumber scraps and other I'm-gonna-use-it-someday stuff. So the husband piled it on the side of an outbuilding. The lumber scraps, barrels of whatnot, and piles of "firewood" (aka wood that will rot before it's ever moved) aren't so bad.

But for almost three years, the main view from my kitchen/dining area has included plastic chairs lying wherever the wind blew them and a mold-blackened plastic table.

Into the garbage they go!

Posted by: NaughtyPine at January 28, 2023 03:05 PM (/+bwe)

102 The Hummingbirds are going crazy at the feeder. They fight to get to one of the feeding spots....

Posted by: Ferd Berfall at January 28, 2023 03:05 PM (PYJJG)

103 Yea I'm figuring some sort of cover but it's a chicken tractor with a mobile run so it would be a PITA to cover and move all the time. I'm thinking running lines over the run with flash bird mylar strips, maybe that will confuse and disorient the hawks enough to thwart and dive bombing.

Posted by: KarlHungus at January 28, 2023 03:07 PM (Lyci9)

104 Slavic gardening:

Ukraine is not getting the reverse extended double secret super dooper armor that American tanks have. Also the Russians are deploying robot tanks designed to destroy tanks and other what not. Shouldn't be long before a whole lot of dirt gets turned and churned.

And the beat goes on ....

Posted by: The Earl of Shacktown who broke the bank at Monte Carlo at January 28, 2023 03:07 PM (9X60i)

105 Trump's breath would kill the hawks !!!!!

Posted by: Dorcus Blimlime at January 28, 2023 03:07 PM (VRFhU)

106 They fight to get to one of the feeding spots....

Posted by: Ferd Berfall at January 28, 2023 03:05 PM (PYJJG)

As is their way. The kids used to call it "wing to wing combat".

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 03:08 PM (nC+QA)

107 22 Silkies have black bones??

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 28, 2023 03:08 PM (Mzdiz)

108 91 We had a hawk attack yesterday and lost some chickens anyone have any ideas for good hawk detrerant?

Posted by: KarlHungus at January 28, 2023 02:45 PM (MhCcX)

A run covered with chicken wire or camo? We're thinking about chickens this year and there are a fair amount of raptors in the area (we had to keep an eye on the kittens for that reason).
Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 28, 2023 02:52 PM

My grandfather used clothesline crisscrossed between poles.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at January 28, 2023 03:10 PM (/+bwe)

109 Silkies have black bones??

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 28, 2023 03:08 PM (Mzdiz)

Which reminds me, the last of the 3-4 chicken bone needles I made about 6 years ago snapped recently. Trying to decide if I want to make more or not. If we got Silkies I'd pretty much *have* to figure out what to do with the bones.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 03:11 PM (nC+QA)

110 Clothesline sounds like a clever solution!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 28, 2023 03:12 PM (Mzdiz)

111 I'm not sure if the birds have found a better feeding area or if there's been a drop in population, but there are noticeably fewer birds at the feeders this winter.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at January 28, 2023 03:14 PM (/+bwe)

112 Silkies have black bones??
Posted by: Miley

I live with someone that has been know to create black chicken bones on a weber grill.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 28, 2023 03:16 PM (ywZXi)

113 Thank you for getting rid of the spam.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 28, 2023 03:17 PM (ywZXi)

114 NO PETS THREAD NO PEACE!!

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenko Solutions at January 28, 2023 03:17 PM (7gV/K)

115 I'm having a hard time visualizing the mobile run. But seems like one could put chicken wire over the top. PITA to cut and wire it in place, but once it was wired on it should just move with the mobile run.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 28, 2023 03:19 PM (3cGpq)

116 Pets thread usually drops about 3:30 Eastern time Commissar.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 28, 2023 03:20 PM (3cGpq)

117 I'm having a hard time visualizing the mobile run. But seems like one could put chicken wire over the top. PITA to cut and wire it in place, but once it was wired on it should just move with the mobile run.
Posted by: PaleRider

I searched 'chicken tractor mobile run' and there are lots of images with clever techniques for protecting the chickens..

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 28, 2023 03:22 PM (ywZXi)

118 My neighbors have chickens. They initially just had hens but they have a rooster now. They say he is quite watchful and drives the hens into the coop if he spots a hawk or something.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 28, 2023 03:23 PM (3cGpq)

119 Unfortunately, my Owlbert decimated the chickens that lived 2 streets back from us. They are no longer so he is back to squirrels and scratching up the fence to visit me. He is a menace, but a pretty one!

Posted by: Piper at January 28, 2023 03:23 PM (ZdaMQ)

120 Pet nood

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 28, 2023 03:28 PM (ywZXi)

121 Posted by: Piper at January 28, 2023 03:23 PM (ZdaMQ)

Was Owlbert hunting the chickens during the day, or were they not in a coop at night?

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 03:28 PM (nC+QA)

122 I got 4 chicks from my pet chicken when my daughter had her school project. They arrived and all survived.

Posted by: lin-duh (y'all/all y'all) at January 28, 2023 03:31 PM (dQ0AW)

123 From Boise area: Lows 16-37 F, highs 30-46. No sprouts from the hyacinths yet. A few crocus tips showing. About the only thing to report is raking up leaves behind the house, under the silver maple. The part with the most oak leaves went into the trash, the part with the fewest oaks went into the leaf bins for making compost later.

Posted by: Pat* at January 28, 2023 03:34 PM (nBCCV)

124 The mobile run is just a fenced in area around the chicken tractor coop, it's that white electric fencing, pretty easy to move then restake in new areas.

Posted by: KarlHungus at January 28, 2023 03:34 PM (MhCcX)

125 Pale rider- one of the casualties was a young rooster that we think died trying to protect the hen being attacked.

Posted by: KarlHungus at January 28, 2023 03:40 PM (MhCcX)

126 Posted by: Pat* at January 28, 2023 03:34 PM (nBCCV)

Why do the oak leaves not go in the compost?

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 03:51 PM (nC+QA)

127 Helena, catch33 is him!

Posted by: lin-duh (y'all/all y'all) at January 28, 2023 04:00 PM (UUBmN)

128 I see. I was thinking something like hog panels on a light frame that pulled along with the mobile coop.

With that light electric fencing any covering would have to be supported separately. You probably could run some clothesline between poles that could be staked up and have lightweight camo or sunshade netting over the clothesline, it would add a fair amount of work to moving the run.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 28, 2023 04:02 PM (3cGpq)

129 Why do the oak leaves not go in the compost?
Posted by: Polliwog

Tannins and acidity.
But the real reason is they take much longer to breakdown into compost due to their strong leaf structure.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 28, 2023 04:05 PM (ywZXi)

130 I know why the olive tree is so old. Ever tried to prune one? On young olive trees, a chain goes dull in about one minute. On one that age, probably seconds. In Minnesota, where they grow wild in freeway intersections and other green spaces, MNDOT doesn't bother with saws. They just bulldoze.

Posted by: Gordon Scott at January 28, 2023 04:23 PM (HNQAY)

131 Gordon Scott at January 28, 2023 04:23 PM

Those aren't olives. They are Russian Olive.

Posted by: KT at January 28, 2023 04:25 PM (rrtZS)

132 Those aren't olives. They are Russian Olive.

Posted by: KT at January 28, 2023 04:25 PM (rrtZS)

Which are edible, but the texture is mealy and the flavor uninspired so it's probably not worth dealing with the thorns.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 28, 2023 04:32 PM (nC+QA)

133 My bed is composted and turned and the taters are in the ground.

It's beer time.

Posted by: G'rump928(c) at January 28, 2023 05:23 PM (yQpMk)

134 126 Polliwog, in our case, it's because the oak leaves have a waxy coating, don't shred well even when run through the leaf shredder, and don't break down in the compost as well as the softer leaves do (leaves like maple break down much better).

Posted by: Pat* at January 28, 2023 11:35 PM (nBCCV)

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