Happy Harvest Blog
Greenhouse goings-on
Earlier this year in the greenhouse. Now it’s a little wilder. Even at this point, though, the guineas were getting lost. The “aisles” have kind of disappeared. I went to open the far doors, and there was a white guinea in the melons. Chirp chirp. Her boyfriend came back in for her, bushwhacking towards her to lead her out. I have a theory that the guineas have kept down the beetles this year. I don’t have a problem this year, although I saw eggs on the leaves earlier.
Hangin' out
Afternoons are for perching. The Silkies have their dirt baths refilled, and they are all looking very fresh. Whiter than white. Sidewinder in her tattered coat, and Sidekick. Still a duo. Now way I’m going outside, but I will sample some snow.
guinea lift
I can’t believe this just happened. I was closing up the birdies’ coops in the almost completely dark, and there was one guinea that wasn’t up on the perch. It’s tough; their perches swing, and they fall off, or knock each other off, but they are usually all back on by nightfall. He was sitting on the edge of the chickery slash confinement module. I was already crouched beside him to shut the big coop, so I reached out, like, here, I’ll help you up (haha).
Let the chips fly where they may
We brought in a quantity of wood shavings today (free for the pickup at a local sawmill). The chips arrive: What is it? Oh, we’re watching. We’re watching intently. Here they come. A cautious approach. Here comes everyone. First, the investigatory pecks – Is it edible? They were underwhelmed that it was not. Then the whole crowd sort of circled around the mound. Later, they were up on top of it.
Roof sitting
Apparently the coop roof is the place for the guineas to camp out. It's nice to work in the greenhouse for some time, enough to see them relax into completely ignoring me and resume their chicken activities. Dozing on the roof. Grooming...Chilin' This is the gang that hangs out on the other roof. Too bad the roofs don't get washed by the rain when in the greenhouse.
Everyone out!
Everyone found the chicken doors yesterday. I finished tying down the mesh around the fence, so it should be guinea tight.It's kind of dead and slim pickin's, but it's outdoors. They also noticed right away that it's quite cold outside, so most of them had a look around, and then went back in to warm up. Spoiled bunch. They seem to much prefer being in the corn stalk strip. In the open they act nervous, exposed. Heard some of the most pathetic, unsure, low-volume crowing out of the roosters, too.
All in!
What a load off my mind! Everyone is in. I thought it might all be too crowded for the numbers I have now, but it's ok. It's sloppy and slapdash right now, but it will work out. There's plenty of room for the coops, and a pool, and more. The guineas are being very tolerant about this mass invasion. They very much like to sit up on top of Silkieland. Perhaps we'll poop on you. I think they're so cute. They treat the chickens more like pets they're fond of, than equals.
Co-mamas
Brown Bonnet and Marsha (Marshmallow) are cute. They hang out together, their chicks spilling over into each other. Brown Bonnet is very maternal and relaxed, and all seven of the little Silkie chicks will sometimes be with her. Marsha's a bit nervous. At night sometimes they share a box, and they readily share patches of food without competition. Our kids are the same age (and size), we should be friends. This little one is already developing an extravagant hairdo.
Frost casualties
The frost was surprisingly fierce. The tomatoes took a bigger hit than I thought. The watermelon was obliterated. Same with the basil. The greenhouse is full of little birds scampering around. She'll be coming through the peanuts when she comes. They're all sneaky and hidey in the pepper jungle.
Birdland
Ketchup and Mayo, hangin'. They're so mild. I think it was from being raised by a Silkie hen. They won't leave Silkieland, even though they can. They come and go from inside to out, visiting the roosters on the outside, but always back in at night. There was a hummingbird trapped in the greenhouse, zooming back and forth, stopping to refill at tomato flowers. I thought it best to not interfere and hope he got out.
I forgot, harvest starts at the beginning of August
Had a very promising canteloupe, despite the vine leaves being all weird like they're blighted. But then I opened it, and it was green, green, green. Pretty, though. Pigs and hens enjoyed it. There are a couple of little watermelons coming. The tomatoes have hit stride, so there are 1-2 gallons ripening every day. I'm so not ready to start canning already. Too soon. I wondered if I'd get any of these. Exactly what the song sparrow couple in the next shrub was also thinking, watching me pick.
Ripening
The tomatoes are reddening up. The chickens have even already gotten to enjoy some overripe ones.If all these come red at the same time, I'm gonna have a real glut. Despite the load of tomatoes on these, I'm disappointed with this variety (Earlirouge). It's like they can't decide if they're determinate or not. And the peppers are coming. And the eggplants seem to be doing even better than usual.The first Silkie chicks are on their way. Two so far, both white, and she has three more eggs. There's one tiny beak poking out there from under Daisy. It's always a surprise how teeny tiny the Silkie chicks are compared to full sized chickens.
Definitely a dirt bath day
It's a dirt bath lineup. They're lovin' it. They get really satisfying results from their pint-sized scratching practice in the fine mulch of the greenhouse. The dirt flies! She's panting because she's hot, so within a few minutes, they were back out on the grass. The heatwave wasted no time arriving. We got the rain overnight, and early, and then the sun came out again, and wow, it's already hot, and muggy, and the bugs are terrible!! The mosquitoes are awful, lying in wait in big clouds, and the noseeums are eating me alive, right now.
Drama in the high winds and an injury
HW brought in a chick in the morning with a lower-body injury. It didn't have the use of its left leg, although I couldn't figure out exactly what was wrong. I wrapped it up while HW held it (a little chicken cast), and then it stretched out and fell asleep. Even with its head hanging off. Later on, discolouration and swelling let me know it was a broken foot/ankle, and I put a proper splint on it. Hopefully, in a tiny soft boned chick, it will fully heal, even if I don't have it lined up exactly right.
Bloom
The quince is a blaze of hot pink. I have one little tiny magnolia bloom starting to open. Cute. I'm pleased that it survived the winter. It's covered with little green buds. Outside, the chickens are doing very well at large. Even the wretched roosters are acting less like weirdos, finally. The Colonel keeps them at bay from the hens, but they are part of the general flock now, and have even been observed food clucking (which the hens totally ignore). I got something good! I really do! Why doesn't anyone listen to me? Actually, there's been a surprising usurpation!
Ready for rain
Tomorrow is greenhouse planting day, so today I reinstalled the famous greenhouse gutter (ok, it's not famous, I'm just smug about inventing it). Or at least, the framing for the gutter. That's the part that requires walking around inside, that needed to get done before the plants go in. I put it off after moving the greenhouse. The gutter will just clip on afterwards. It went very well. Smooth, just took time. All sealed up, chicken tight. I'll be happy to not have to remove it again for a couple of years.
Instagram.
I may not make a blog post every day, but at least I Insta.
Bite size.
