Peachicks Arrive, Garden Still 2 Weeks Behind

3 day old peafowl

     On Sunday, Amber, grandson Alex and I made another trip to Sharon and Earl's farm to pick up our 3 baby peachicks.  Sharon and Earl are such nice folks and have such a pretty and picturesque farmstead. It's always a pleasure to visit.

The Guinea Choir

     It's been 3 weeks since we were there to pick up our 6 guinea fowl.  At 4 weeks of age you can see that they're already learning how to sing in a choir.

Our 2 Roosters watch over the remaining flock

      Of course we can't forget the chickens.  After the stress of losing 7 of their fellow hens to varmit violence, they seem to be recovering.  With the 10 remaining hens, we're coming back to 6 or 8 eggs on most days.

Other Garden News as of July 20

     We continue to run about 2 weeks behind due to the cold spring.  I know you're tired of hearing that, but I'm not complaining, it's just a fact.

East Garden Tomato and Pepper Patch

A Few Small Green Tomatoes

Tomato Cage Factory

     A roll of woven wire fence that I got from a friend who was cleaning up an empty lot makes better tomato cages than the commercial ones I bought previously.  Cost a lot less too.

Home made Cage in Use

South Garden, Cabbages, Broccoli and Sweet Corn

     No flowers on the broccoli yet, but cabbage heads are beginning to form and the corn is beginning to tassel.

New Garden Cart in front of Beets and Beans

     I made my new garden cart out of  a discarded gas grill.  I just removed the grill portion and added a platform on the bottom to hold a sack of compost, and a box on the front to hold small tools and seeds.  The long handled tools are held in place with the same holder that formerly held the gas bottle in place.  Whatever the project may be, I just load up with what I plan to use, a few things I might use, push the igniter button to get me going and the job gets done in half the time.
     The beets are almost ready, but the beans haven't blossomed yet.  The pumpkins and sunflowers in the back have a ways to go.

3 Sisters with Arugula in Front

      The 3 sisters, corn, beans and squash, have a ways to go.  The arugula in front is something I just discovered this year.  It's easy to grow and a few leaves added to a salad, a sandwich or a stirfry, adds a little peppery seasoned taste that just makes life a little nicer.  If you see me in your neighborhood next year with a sack on my shoulder and throwing something in your yard, you'll know it's just Johnnie Arugulaseed, adding a little spice to life.

     It's often the little easy things you can do that make the biggest difference.

Guinea Keets Arrive, and Deer for Dinner

     For some time Amber has been singing the praises of Guinea fowl.  They announce the arrival of visitors (or intruders) with their "goodle goodle" cry and they wander about the yard devouring insects and weed seeds, without doing significant damage to the flowers and plants.  We have enough ants, woodticks and other insects to keep them happy for a long time.  They also produce eggs at almost the rate of regular laying hens.  Though the eggs are about half the size of regular chicken eggs, they are edible and good for home use.

Guinea Keets about a week old

     A while back, Amber's friend Sharon told her that she had some excess guinea keets available.   Last Tuesday Amber, my grandson David and I made a field trip to Sharon and Earl's farm near Shevlin to pick up some week-old guinea keets.  We decided 6 was a good number to start with.

Compost sifter on top keeps them from jumping out

     Before we brought them home, I had fashioned a nursery for them out of a cardboard box, which I set on the porch.  We already had a feeder, waterer and a heat lamp, but were told we needed a cover because they can easily jump out of the box, even when they're that young.

     The cover shown in the picture is a homemade compost sifter; a wooden frame with chicken wire nailed to one side.

     In two or three weeks, they'll be moving out to their new home, a four by twelve foot section of the garden house, formerly used as a chicken house before we enlarged our chicken flock.  None too soon, as I understand the peacocks are about a week away from hatching on Sharon and Earl's farm.  Amber and I were both eyeing them longingly while we were there, and they'll be ready for transport about a week after hatching.

Our Dinner Guest

Sunflowers for Dinner

     We had Deer for dinner Friday night.  Not as a main course, but as a guest.  You can see from the pictures that he ate his fill, and then left his calling card, so I would know he was here.

With a Side Dish of Tomato Leaves

     Friday at dusk when I went out to close up the chicken coop, I saw a deer standing in our garden.  It was my own fault as I had left the garden gate wide open.  He left as soon as he saw me, without a thank you or a fare thee well.  Like some other unwelcome guests, he left a mess behind.  

Deer's "Business Card"

     I think these plants will recover as long as they don't get attacked again.  Last year the chickens ate almost all the leaves off my young cabbage, but they recovered and produced a fine crop of cabbages. I'll try to keep the gates closed, and may try some of the garlic,cayenne,soap mixture that I use as a spray for cabbage worms.  It sounds like something that might keep other unwanted guests away.

Skunk and Me

     I haven't seen any evidence of Skunk since we last met in the chicken house about a week ago.  Maybe he heard that I bought a 22, and decided to cross us off his nightly hunting route.  At any rate, I'll be watching for him.

     I don't know who our next guest may be, but let's remember in this hot weather to keep our animals watered and our powder dry.

When Skunk and I Met in the Henhouse

     Monday night at dusk, about 9 PM, I went out to close the henhouse.  As usual, I first closed the north door from the outside, then went into the coop from the west.  The chickens were all on their roosts, but walking on the floor below them, looking up, was Mr. Skunk.  I told him he wasn't welcome, and should leave, but I don't think he was listening.  I went outside, re-opened the north door so he would have 2 exits available, and quickly returned with a stick in my hand.  I threw the stick at him, which got his attention.  He looked at me, but even after I told him again, he refused to leave.

Scene of the Skirmish (after window reenforcement)

     I left to get another diplomatic tool, my air rifle, and quickly returned with rifle in hand.  It isn't powerful enough to kill, but could offer further encouragement for him to leave.  When I returned, he was gone.  No chickens were lost, and there were 3 eggs from late afternoon that were unharmed.

     2 weeks ago, there were broken windows in the coop.  As it was summer, and we hadn't had trouble for several years, I put off the repairs while I worked on other projects.  After I lost seven hens over a period of a few days, I repaired the windows and started closing up the coop at night. That stopped the mass killings, but I didn't know until Monday night what kind of predator I was dealing with.

Tweety is stationed on the South Fence

Battle Plans

Buckethead guards the North Perimeter

     Pictured on the right are two of the sentries who have been rather successfully guarding the main garden for several years. However, they have their hands and talons full protecting the tomatoes and the carrots. Buckethead has some effect on the North side of the henhouse, but is in need of re-enforcements.

Left to right: Peekachu and Charmander, new recruits

     Below that are two new recruits, coming out of retirement from the back of the garden shed. They will be stationed on the north side and the south side of the henhouse.  Almost 20 years ago, I cut them out of plywood and Amber painted them.  Their previous employment was to entertain my youngest son, Jeremiah, when he was going through his Pokeman phase.  I believe that qualifies them for their new mission.



     I hope that Skunk becomes discouraged and takes us off the route for his nightly hunt, but we will remain vigilant.  I also plan to buy a 22 rifle.  I don't wish to kill Skunk, but if it comes down to him or the chickens, we must act.

     30 years ago I shot a skunk next to my house and thought nothing of it.  He was just a varmit. Today I know that all God's critters have a reason to be.  If I do kill Skunk, I won't regret it, but I will respect him in his passing as a worthy opponent.