Thursday, March 31, 2016

A New Coop For the Hens

I had to do something in building something that my ladies will be secure in. I have been using a chain linked fence system in the old coop that was on the property when I moved to it. After a year and a half of no issues, I caught a raccoon killing two of my hens by reaching into the coop. The new building for them has reinforced chicken wire and a better place to nest and roost. I have also put a light out in the pen area at night so I can see inside it from the house.


Monday, March 28, 2016

Garden News

As of today I think the freezes are over although the temperature this morning was at 42. Garden is coming along with lettuce and greens up several inches. I also have squash, broccoli and cabbage up now a couple inches. I have carrots coming up about an inch and some from last year. I am especially happy with how the tomato plants are doing, already have some green tomatoes on the plants. :)




Monday, March 21, 2016

Maybe Gold?

I have been exploring the property when I take walks and I have looked at rock fossils and other things. I have been finding some quartz in an out crop of rock and noticed what appeared to be gold flakes on the dirt on the quartz. So I cleaned the quartz and panned the dirt and stones and yes I did find iron pyrate or fools gold, but with that I found small flakes of what I think is real gold. It has not been much and it really has just been fun to do. I have read that there have been small amounts of gold found by other people in the hill country that I live, but nothing that would be thought of as a real gold strike or worth much, but it has been fun..


Sunday, March 20, 2016

Two Hens

I took two young hens from a friend to add to the "flock". The other hens are not liking the new arrivals, but I think they will settle down after a while.


Saturday, March 19, 2016

Wildflowers are Back

Every spring, the wildflowers come out and the temperature has been warm till today after a cold front came through last night with thunder storms. The land gets invaded by them and they appear everywhere..




Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The Fox and the Hen House

I got up this morning and found One of my hens dead and another one missing. I went to have a look and it all was the work of a fox. I had one dead hen (Wanda) out in the pen and the other (Bossy) was taken by the fox. She looked like she put up a fight, I found feathers at different places in the pen where she had run. Now the hen house is inside the pen (which has a high fence around it) and is four feet above the ground and the fox got into the hen house by getting under the door made of wire. I have now reinforced the hen house door and put ammonia on the outside of the fence. I will see what happens..


Bossy and Wanda are on the left.. I will miss them, they are all pets to me despite the great eggs..

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Garden News

Been working in the garden lately and have planted all the tomatoes from pots and have planted squash and broccoli and now have lettuce and greens coming up..