tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post5206089015477142958..comments2024-03-28T14:37:45.575-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: Around The HomesteadLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-6580913589116189932013-07-19T05:37:39.128-04:002013-07-19T05:37:39.128-04:00Janice, we caught the culprit! Click here.Janice, we caught the culprit! Click <a href="http://www.5acresandadream.com/2013/07/chick-killer-caught.html" rel="nofollow">here.</a>Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-44256780842645581512013-07-19T02:58:36.894-04:002013-07-19T02:58:36.894-04:00I'm anxiously waiting to hear that you trapped...I'm anxiously waiting to hear that you trapped the culprit harming the chicks. The bottle-fed baby is nothing but adorable. AND oh-my-gosh, I'm envious of that blueberry harvest! They looks scrumptious to say the least!CaliforniaGrammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05137556336315915924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-34996796388054119482013-07-18T22:04:59.892-04:002013-07-18T22:04:59.892-04:00Cassandra, I'll have news of that culprit in m...Cassandra, I'll have news of that culprit in my next post, which should be up in a couple of hours!<br /><br />I just have to finish a spot of painting, and then I can show off the bathroom. :)<br /><br />Peaceful, thanks!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-31263258331596862332013-07-18T10:06:36.306-04:002013-07-18T10:06:36.306-04:00Love your photos!
Num-nummy and cute :DLove your photos!<br />Num-nummy and cute :DSeeking Serenity https://www.blogger.com/profile/13358829892824305992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-81346888142350305452013-07-18T09:08:25.218-04:002013-07-18T09:08:25.218-04:00Ah, I am sorry about the chick. I hope you catch t...Ah, I am sorry about the chick. I hope you catch the culprit. Sounds like it might be an opossum. <br /><br />Riley is such a handsome beast (and I think he knows it!)<br /><br />Looking forward to seeing the remodeling pics. Your pics always encourage me to get moving with my own projects.Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02074532906052222281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-21762020014497918912013-07-18T08:08:04.006-04:002013-07-18T08:08:04.006-04:00Nancy, gotta love those kitties. :)
Sharmayne, wo...Nancy, gotta love those kitties. :)<br /><br />Sharmayne, wow, what's up with Blogger? I'm sorry you're having problems but am thankful for your persistence!<br /><br />The blueberry bush from which I'm harvesting is an old one. <a href="http://www.5acresandadream.com/2009/08/what-neighbor-told-us.html" rel="nofollow">Our neighbor had to tell us where it is</a> because it was hidden in so much brush. The first year the berries were small and sour. I planted two small blueberry bushes instead. The next year our drought ended and that year's blueberries from the old bush were huge and sweet! Water made all the difference. They like their soil acidic as well. Having said all that, I confess that the two bushes I planted have never grown very big and only produce a small handful of berries. <br /><br />Bettina, because of the chicken incident we have learned that weasels are not plentiful around here, but not uncommon. We always felt our chicken coop was fairly critter proof, but being an old converted outbuilding, all those little openings you mention have been harder to cover than we thought. There have been no more losses so far, fortunately!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-28600958534641524492013-07-18T07:46:28.031-04:002013-07-18T07:46:28.031-04:00I don't know if you have ferrets/weasels/minks...I don't know if you have ferrets/weasels/minks in your area, but a friend of mine had problems with them a while back and told me that they fit through very small openings - and go for chicks etc... I hope you'll catch the culprit soon, it must be very disheartening to loose your chicks like that:( Woolly Bitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11961632742998726155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-75470411953163361642013-07-17T23:52:23.963-04:002013-07-17T23:52:23.963-04:00Lovely to come and have alook around your homestea...Lovely to come and have alook around your homestead! We are still in winter mode here..... your blueberries look fantastic!!! I have had sooooo much trouble trying to get blueberries to grow here. We have been here 3 yrs now, but I'm going to have to give it another try after seeing yours!! Any tips?? (LOL, even though we are at opposite ends of the world LOL) Hugs Sharm (ps, hope this gets through, I'm up to attempt no 9)Sharmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00083171054233507648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-15805258051215802972013-07-17T21:41:12.544-04:002013-07-17T21:41:12.544-04:00I envy your blueberries! Cute baby goat and kitty....I envy your blueberries! Cute baby goat and kitty. My cat does that too :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00576053785355324560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-5100024260244512072013-07-17T14:12:55.995-04:002013-07-17T14:12:55.995-04:00TL, that's a good idea about the corn. The oth...TL, that's a good idea about the corn. The other thing I thought was that even if it doesn't make ears, I can harvest and dry the leaves and stalk for the goats. I just went out and checked the soil there, and my feet still sink into it too much. Hopefully it will dry out today and I can replant tomorrow (along with getting my fall garden started.)<br /><br />Val, is that you? Good to hear from you! At first we thought it was a snake, but now a rat or weasel does seem more likely. Only two of the bodies have been left, the other 5 completely disappeared without a feather of a trace. Hopefully I'll have results to post soon. No worry about catching a cat. He can't get into the chicken coop at night .:)<br /><br />Anonymous, we do have possums in the area but ruled that out because there is no way one could get into the chicken coop. It has a cement floor and all openings are covered; the chickens are shut in at night. That leaves a few mouse size openings such as the chicken wire covered door plus a few cracks here and there. So far five of the chicks are gone without a trace. Only two were left, the only clue being the bites at the neck, but no dismemberment of the head or body. Hopefully I'll have something to show you all soon. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-34131703378913418002013-07-17T13:29:10.291-04:002013-07-17T13:29:10.291-04:00May I offer an opinion? I am not sure where and ...May I offer an opinion? I am not sure where and am you live, so I don't know what varmints are present in your area. However, from the evidence, it sounds very much like your chicken killer is a possum. They usually go for necks and heads when killing chickens. Most often they take the head completely off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-31489224914287571012013-07-17T11:03:11.351-04:002013-07-17T11:03:11.351-04:00Leigh it sounds like you have a weasel in or near ...Leigh it sounds like you have a weasel in or near the barnyard. They are the only animal I know of that will kill chicks and not take the body. We've been there and they are hard to catch. Liver or other organ meat is the best bait if you can get something local and fresh. The fresher the better but you have to watch you don't catch a cat.<br /><br />Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13832438144014487941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-1565119805214949262013-07-17T08:39:51.574-04:002013-07-17T08:39:51.574-04:00you got more rain in one month than I got all year...you got more rain in one month than I got all year.<br /><br />Plant more corn then pick the baby ears. I always thought the canned baby ears of corn were a special variety, but 2 years ago when I planted corn I picked the baby ears, and they were just liked the canned ones. Only problem is they never made it to the house, I would eat them raw while I watered. Great for stir fry.Tombstone Livestockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07022776395762826903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-83085597857741151422013-07-17T08:25:26.203-04:002013-07-17T08:25:26.203-04:00DFW, I'll have to measure Riley's height. ...DFW, I'll have to measure Riley's height. Everyone who sees him says he's a big cat. If he does a good stretch, he's easily 36" long not counting his tail!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-29121840248307630342013-07-17T08:24:13.454-04:002013-07-17T08:24:13.454-04:00Theresa, it's that busy time of year. :) This ...Theresa, it's that busy time of year. :) This is the first bottle baby I've had and I have to say I've enjoyed it in spite of myself. <br /><br />Stephanie, so it is with the homesteading life!<br /><br />Ed, that is a possibility. This is Truckers Favorite which takes about 100 - 105 days (? I think). We can have a frost as early as the middle of October, only about 90 days from now!<br /><br />Nina, I may have to look into that, although I really like this variety for cornmeal and feeding the chickens. It might be fun to experiment anyway.<br /><br />Renee, yes, that rain can certainly interfere with gardening plans! Sounds like a good idea for your potted plants. <br /><br />Vickie, rats are at the top of our suspect list! And it's true corn needs plenty of other plants to do well. Fortunately, the bare patch is one big one! The growing corn plants will mostly be close enough to do the job of pollination. <br /><br />Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-70738269724857905712013-07-17T08:21:42.897-04:002013-07-17T08:21:42.897-04:00Thanks for the update. Those blueberries look luci...Thanks for the update. Those blueberries look lucious! Riley is huge. How tall is he?DFWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345712839702427280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-37390678451947413242013-07-17T08:18:54.090-04:002013-07-17T08:18:54.090-04:00Love that you measured Riley. I should do that to...Love that you measured Riley. I should do that to my Max. I wish we had the space to plant corn. We tried one year in a small bed but they didn't do well. I would love growing our own blueberries too. I eat them nearly everyday. I hope you find out what's killing your baby chicks. I sure am curious. Could it be a rat?vlb5757https://www.blogger.com/profile/05444876262831798051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-8374244722944987152013-07-17T08:01:49.710-04:002013-07-17T08:01:49.710-04:00Love the update and seeing Riley again.
We've ...Love the update and seeing Riley again.<br />We've been getting a lot of rain also. Which is making for some very slow going in the garden and after our late start, I'm worried that I won't get anything. I hope that perhaps I can extend our growing season by moving all the pots to my porch and covering the plants at night maybe.Renee Nefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08167893445846427824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-40453159845796982302013-07-17T07:46:59.121-04:002013-07-17T07:46:59.121-04:00Can you find a shorter season corn to use? I'...Can you find a shorter season corn to use? I'm pretty sure that there are varieties which mature in fewer days than others, in use not to much farther north.<br /><br />Goat kids and blueberries..sigh, some of my favourite things. Sounds like it should be a song :)Ninahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07049476969325691637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-17096446685791100762013-07-17T07:35:39.691-04:002013-07-17T07:35:39.691-04:00I would think that down where you are, you would h...I would think that down where you are, you would have plenty of time before frost. Up here where I live, we've planted corn during the first week of July before and still had an okay crop, though generally we switch to shorter maturation corn.<br /><br />I can't help it but my mouth is watering looking at all those blueberries!Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13214319366049620074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-70941413870434393992013-07-17T06:58:58.351-04:002013-07-17T06:58:58.351-04:00Lots keeping you busy, but it looks great!Lots keeping you busy, but it looks great!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-73930856885744685152013-07-17T06:34:47.969-04:002013-07-17T06:34:47.969-04:00Busy as always! And awwww, bottle babies are so da...Busy as always! And awwww, bottle babies are so darn cute.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09574936988046982209noreply@blogger.com