Chicken Repellent

It's been a little over a week since I turned the compost pile. I don't go out there much, just sort of let the chickens do their thing with it. They usually get it pretty well knocked down in a few days. This time almost nothing. The pile was still high and they had only been scratching around in the low open areas. 

Almost pristine. Only a few tracks across the slopes.

It was puzzling. There was almost no change in the pile so I was thinking it was a good thing Lisa has the new chickens. These hens are slacking on the compost and breaking eggs. I figured they were doomed. I saw that they had been scratching around in the low, flat area and it was churned up fairly well. So why not the pile? It was a mystery until I started digging in it.

It was hot. I mean really hot. Too hot for chickens to be comfortable scratching in it. There was a layer of moist material like an outer crust. Inside it was dry with a lot of the white powder that I have since learned isn't nitrates but beneficial bacteria called actinomycetes found in rich soils and compost. The compost pile is usually warm and it steams in the winter. This time it was so hot I was surprised it didn't burst into flames when I exposed it to the air. I dug out the center and left a crater in the middle. It's supposed to rain tomorrow so that should help it. 

This was a few days worth of tomatoes. Lisa picked a big bowl of grape tomatoes too.

My grass patch is coming along nicely. 

Form

I got the next slab form finished. It still needs gravel fill before we pour the concrete. I'll try to get two forms ready then get a pallet of 80 lb bags. 

These next two are at the same elevation as the previous one.

The flag by the post is on a screw. I anchored it to the post to help keep it square. I need to remember to pull that screw out before pouring the concrete.

 

Betty sleeps in weird places. A cart full of drying weeds is normal.

She didn't like being awakened.

There is always time to bark at the sheep.

They've been cleaning up around the Bradford pear.

Berry Tractor

We've had the old chicken tractor from Cathryn and Bryan's behind the hen house for a while. We had a chicken in isolation in it for a while. Mostly it's been empty. After fighting with the bird netting over the blueberries and getting very few strawberries, we decided to use it to plant berries. The biddy wire won't be enough to keep the wild birds out so we'll cover that with bird blocker netting. I want to plant blueberries and maybe blackberries. If it works out we may put in some more berry tractors.

It had a tarp to give the chickens some shelter.

I put the tarp on the ground to kill the grass and weeds.

The tarp is tucked under the frame boards to hold it down. By spring it should be just dirt under there.

I cut off the skid boards that stuck out in front. We won't be dragging it around.

Pizza Sauce

Since we had tomatoes and Lisa's skills we now have more homemade pizza sauce. That used up all the tomatoes we had picked. We got a few more this afternoon for sandwiches and there are some nearly ready. We're still getting tons of grape tomatoes which we're eating on salads almost every day with the fresh cucumbers. 

There were two pots she reduced into one then strained.

Oh No!

Tequila decided to take her toy on the walk this afternoon. 

Mr. Bill is one of her favorites.

She dropped it along the way. Luna had to go back and pick up after her.

The grass seed is sprouting.

Baby Lettuce

The fall lettuce Lisa planted has sprouted. We had a lot of rain the last two days so everything is well irrigated. 

We got to chase a llama on tonight's walk..

I finished turning the compost. It may look the same but you should note that it is on the other side now.

It was wet so heavier and slippery footing. Still fun.

Lettuce bed. See the sprouts?

A closer look.

I don't think Tequila noticed them.

Big Tomato

We sliced the big tomato today and had it on sandwiches and hamburgers. There is still some left.

I like tomato season.

Dinner. That's a normal size bun and burger.

Lunch. There is roast beef on that sandwich somewhere.