Pennsif's Progress - The Days are Numbered // Day 999 : Life in the Trenches
It was drab, overcast and wet today - all day. It was one of those days you would rather not spend any more time outside than you had to.
But as a homesteader you have to.
Today we were digging the trenches along each side of the new polytunnel for anchoring down the cover.
But we hit the rocks - and there were some big ones!
I have seen on old maps from the 1840s that there was a well right where we are erecting the polytunnel. I am wondering if the rocks in this photo are from sort of construction around the well.
This is a good site for looking at old maps online : Old Maps Online
Despite the rain we managed to complete all the trenching.
We were then going to contruct the door frames and doors (one at each end). Alas the local timber merchant let us down, delivering the wrong timber altogether. Turns out they were out of stock of the 4" x 3''s we needed. They should be getting the correct wood to us next Tuesday.
So despite the delay we are still on schedule for completion of the polytunnel by next Wednesday or Thursday.
I've noticed recently that I have been collecting far fewer eggs from the main flock of hens in the new pen. We had been getting at least 6 eggs each day from the 7 hens there, but over the last few days it has been down to one or two.
Today I discovered why. Hidden in a thick area of nettles the chickens have made a nest and have been accumulating eggs there. I can see about 14 there so far. I'm assuming it is a collective effort between a few of the hens. One of them I guess will start sitting on the eggs shortly.
I'm delighted about this. We have relied on incubator hatching the last couple of years so if we get some new naturally raised young replacement chickens that will be great. Particularly as most of the flock in the old orchard are now 5 or 6 years old.
The garden is booming at the moment at the moment. The mixture of hot, sunny days switching with a few wet days is quite ideal for growing.
Here are my garden produce of the day photos - enjoy!
Looks like it's going to be a busy weekend. One of my daughters is taking part in the Armed Forces Day parade with the cadets. I'll be starting on the dispatch of the current batch of broiler chickens (seven in total). And I've got the three new raised beds to plant up.
That's all for tonight. But before I go I'll give a shout out to a little fun competition I posted earlier this evening. Do you know your flowers? Have a go...
https://steemit.com/contest/@pennsif/pennsif-s-puzzles-1-do-you-know-your-flowers
Goodnight all.
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We find a pile of eggs from time to time when they decide to change where they will lay their eggs.
I think she (s) needs to sit on them while they are still warm and keep them warm until they hatch.
We had one who did this but the egg pile kept growing so I think another chick came along when she got up to eat and laid another egg there and then the broody chicken came back and laid on the growing pile.
I made a big mistake though. One day I found her taking a break so I tried to clean up the nest a little and she never came back. Eventually I brought the eggs into the house and out of curiosity broke them open and sure enough there were some partially formed chickens inside. Interfering was a bad idea.
This is good to know. I am a first time chicken mom and I would love to hatch a few of our eggs so we can have some broilers.
If they are free ranging I would let nature take its course. They are birds and have been doing this for a Looooong time.
It is a muck hole here, with more rain and possible severe weather tonight and tomorrow. Thanks for your post!
Nice pics of the garden.
This is great! Excited to see your progress. I am a first-time chicken mom and I have a Barred Rock that keeps acting broody. And bitchy. She'll sit on eggs but then decide to not sit for a day and they get cold. Not sure natural hatching will happen for us. What breed(s) do you have? We've got Barred Rock & Golden Comets. I need to get me a few excellent mama hens!