f2

here is a f2 male. I've breed into him a Welsumer as his grandfather. the remaininh 3/4ths is orust. whatever gene is responsible (from the Welsumer male), has allowed for a more broad mottle expression. he is almost 0.5 years.

Happy Holidays

The Spot On Farm

RS 5.5months

Hello All,  Here is RS son of RJ, who was taken by the fox last week, so sad :(  

RS's spurs are erupting, his comb uneven, and mottle coloration on wing expression may be undesired, but he have a very even pretty Bl/bl dilution.

With David still around he is 2nd in line. 

Here is a photo of RS as a chick http://spotonfarm.blogspot.com/2017/06/hatchlings.html?m=1



RS surfing a toy truck.

I will attempt to breed him for the homozygous bl and get his descendants a rose comb. These single combers get so frost bitten.

With the first measureable snow falling, I hope everyone stays warm!

The SpotOn Farm

 

RS and Daphne.

the orange feathers are mottled. the rest is a bl dilution. I know this photo is blurry.  I promise to upload a better one off the camera soon!

here is Daphne along side RS. both have blue dilution.

can someone tell  me what the winter will b like?

when you use particle board in a coop..

when you use particle board in a coop, the moisture causes weakening till that special day you are stepping in to fix a perch and you fall through the floor.  no worries folks, i had extra pallets laying round.

coop upgrades

so, i made some improvements to freshen the co-op up. got rid of all particle board flooring and replaced with 1x4s. got more galvanized hardware cloth from the local hardware store.

Garden growth

New hatches

How adorable :-) newest additions!

Family Tree

Here we have a simple chart of Roo, Hen and resulting chick. I expected all chicks to turn out the color and pattern of their hen. We will see if I am right.



SpotOnFarm

Sleeping beauties

So first official day outside in the coop went without a hitch. They loved it. Come night they all huddled in the corner shivering, so I collected them up in a fuzzy sweater and brought them back inside for some well deserved warmth and rest.

Sick chick and recovery!

See the tiny chick? He sure did have a hard time this last week. As us chicken people know, pasty butt is lethal. that tiny chick seemed to thrive the first several days but come midweek that chick got sick with pasty butt and though I thought he was a goner, I was able to manage to massage the blood stained backed up poop out of him. After time overnight in the incubator and with help vacating the poop just inside the vent several more times, he lived... it was a True miracle.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/03/pasty-butt-in-chicks-causestreatment.html?m=1

Growing up - First week

Hatchlings :)

These two were a day early the other three are still drying off in the incubator

Mulberry

Yum. Harvested our four year old mullberry tree. And made some waffles :)

Day seven

Here is a picture I just took tonight of the eggs. Looks like I have a total of 5 that survived the power outrage and a vehicle ride. The sixth never developed.  Looking strong so far! I cant wait.  :)

Snow peas.

Really lovely breed of snowpea from seeds of change company. Grows well into November, starts easily in feb if covered. Pick before before seedpods mature for sweetest flavor. Indterminate,  2-3 foot tall. Needs trellis and able to grow in less than optimal direct sun  conditions. Beautiful snow white flowers. Keeper.

Incubating

New floor in the coop

 took apart some pallets to remedy a soggy and crumbling floor. Added sidewalls so my pine shavings stay over the flooring and keeping dry.

Foggy afternoon

Springing Up

Gina above, the yard below.

Crookneck squash below.

Northern beans below.

Garden so far...

Close up of the greens.

Mid April garden joy and the redone wire on coop

Whew, 80-something degrees out and just by chance a little raincloud passed overhead just before I snapped this picture. It felt so nice, the cold drops of rain on the hot and parched ground. I'm really excited that the garden crops are doing so well. I have two variety tomatoes started indoors. A plum and a small tomato.

I used staples for now. I had my nails but forgot the washers, doh! 

I need to secure the perches and still secure the outside run. (On the far side in black)

Wild flowers

Thought I'd post several native wild flowers I see I'm my yard. Such a precious surprise to happen upon them.

Sanguinaria canadensis aka bloodroot.

Sectional next steps.

Today I cleaned and straightened, organized seedling rows, removed debris and weeds on lower step.  i also added an arrangement of parsley, arugula, and thyme.

Upper step I planted frost hardy flowers, and two types of carrots.

I also prepped my squash mound for several special crookneck seeds I aquired.

Planted northern beans with a trellis. Tho they say they are Bush beans, they still need a support.

The past week we had over 4" of rain, in my first couple summers of gardening, I would suffer from rsoil run off due to the natural slope and exposure of my yard. So, I've learned that I needed to have raised beds. I've upcycled old window frames and pallets, and even bamboo poles, to help me. Every year I am pleased with myself as I build something bigger and better.

These bags are doing my composting. Left over from feed or seeds, they come in handy after their initial use is over. I love giving things a second life. So, it was time to shovel out the coops, for winter may be great for the deep liter method, but you still need to clean it out come the soggy rainy spring!

Every bag is 3/4 full leaving room for shutting the top and then flipping it over on itself. I gave them the southern facing view. The bags are still warm well after dark!

Tapping trees and the production of syrup.

Not an easy feat. Took about 30 hours of simmering in a crock pot to get two tablespoons  full of syrup. 

Below is my set up. I'm using a jar and lid used for pickling. The vinyl tubing fit perfectly. No mess!