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 The Buckeye chicks are 21 weeks old now; and are starting to look like real chickens. We ordered 25 day-old chicks, received 30, lost two within the first three days; and the remaining 28 prospered. I wrote about how we intended to raise them when they first arrived (see Raising Day-Old Chicks); but we learned a few things along the way.
Temperature
For the first five weeks, the chicks were under a red, infrared lamp continuously to keep them warm. But, because fall temperatures swung so drastically, adjusting the lamp to keep the temperature constant was a pain. I checked the temperature [...]
Continue reading Raising Buckeye Chicks
 After successfully raising the six Red Comet chicks to laying age and twenty eight Buckeye chicks through the first twelve weeks this year, we thought it was going to be smooth sailing. But no, things never go quite as planned…..
As the Buckeye’s were moving into week 13, they abruptly started picking the feathers off of each other’s back and eating them. Within two days, some of them were beginning to show bare backs where all the feathers had been picked away. Naturally, we were anxious about this behavior (a form of cannibalism) and wanted to get it stopped ASAP.
After posting [...]
Continue reading Feather Picking Chickens
Previously, watermelon has not done particularly well in our garden – generally the growing season’s over before the watermelon are ripe. However, this year I used the old heirloom variety called Crimson Sweet, and we’ve been happily eating watermelon for several weeks.
Crimson Sweet is described as an AAS winner (1964) that’s crisp and sweet; has medium-red flesh and mild flavor; and is a very popular, old heirloom. The packet says the variety takes 85 days to mature. I started the seeds indoors; hardened the transplants off, and then planted them in the garden after all chance of frost was over.
They vines [...]
Continue reading Watermelon Success
 Adult Potato Beetle
Almost overnight, they’ve attacked our Yukon Gold potatoes, but thankfully they haven’t found the Purple Viking potatoes, peppers, eggplants, or tomatoes. Every gardener growing potatoes is likely to run into this beetle, as it’s a devastating pest of potatoes. Both the yellow, black-striped adult and the black-spotted, red larvae feed on potato leaves, and can completely consume them thereby greatly reducing tuber yields and even killing plants. The potato beetle can also be a serious pest on tomato, eggplant, and pepper; and the damage is so severe, the beetle must be controlled.
Life Cycle
Adult potato beetles overwinter in [...]
Continue reading Controlling Potato Beetles
 Wild blackberries flourish on our farm, and they’re ripening now, so we’re picking, freezing (see Sealing In Summer Flavor), and making blackberry cobbler. This recipe is quick, easy, and delicious - did I mention I love summer……
Blackberry Cobbler
Filling:
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup water
4 cups fresh or frozen blackberries
Topping:
1 ½ cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
5 tablespoons butter
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons milk
Preheat the oven to 400°F. For the filling, combine the sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan, and add the water. Add the blackberries, and cook on low to medium heat until thick and bubbly, stirring constantly. Keep warm while [...]
Continue reading Blackberries and Cobbler
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