I got all the grass mowing done this morning and then had enough time to rake the upper half of the hay field for baling tomorrow.
Once this next round of baling is finished I am almost done for the year. I only need to wait around and see if I am going to get another cutting off the small front Alfalfa field. My massively over worked schedule should begin to lighten up some after tomorrow. Not that I won't always have some project needing to be worked on but there is a big difference between projects that can be dropped and those that must be finished completely once you start them in a very timely manner.
Hay is like that. You can't just drop it and do something else that comes up or risk rain or over drying or something.
The chickens have finally started venturing forth into the wide world instead of remaining in the safety of the barn.
Rocky managed to coax four or five of the older hens and one Barred Rock hen out past the barn lot and into the actual hay field.
I noticed the usual black cricket plague that hits us every September seems to be dying out before they make it up to the barn and house this year. My guess is it's the chickens and the almost bare barn lot and West paddock that is doing it. Every year in September there are literally hundreds of black crickets everywhere around the barn and house. I saw thousands of them out in the hay field while I was mowing but so far only a couple have made it into the house and I haven't seen one in the barn or yard at all.
I think the chickens are doing their job because I know the crickets are out there they just are not surviving the great migration this year.
So far no more chicken deaths either. They seem to be learning the ropes and now know where to go and where not to go. We even got two eggs today.
On my way to feed I noticed these two grasshoppers were attempting to create more grasshoppers to eat my grass and other plants next year. I snatched them up and threw them into the chicken stall where they were jumped on, pulled apart and devoured by the hens.
Yes it made me smile.....
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!!
Absolutely it is the chickens. Doing what all poultry do best (besides laying eggs): keeping down the pest population.
ReplyDeleteTB - I hope so!!! That's the main reason I got them was for bug control. The eggs are a nice side benefit for me :)
DeleteDo they eat yellow jackets? If so I'm getting chickens.
ReplyDeleteMV - I bet they would if the YJ's landed.
DeletePP,
ReplyDeleteRocky and his harem are enjoying all this live protein (aka grasshoppers). Be careful, you'll have really plump chickens before you know it!!!
Glad to hear work is slowing down, which gives you a chance to get things done on the farm.
Sandy - MY mom swears they are growing. Most of them were pretty young actually so maybe they are. I know we have a ewe that I think is gettign so fat she is causing herself issues...
DeleteYes it is Sandwich.
Very few bugs survive around chickens, if a chicken won't eat it then it is probably poisonous. Chickens are more entertaining than TV.
ReplyDeleteSf - They are proving to be quite entertaining. The sheep seem to use them for entertainment too and routinely screw with em.
DeleteWe get those crickets too. It always starts to feel like fall when I hear the crickets. We also get up hay here. It can be tough working around the weather.
ReplyDeleteLisa - Every year those Black crickets come on like a plaque and I hate em. This year I have seen only a few except while I was out in the field mowing and raking. They are not making it up to the house or barn this year. It's gotta be the chickens :)
DeleteI tell ya you are right haying is a lot of work because you really cannot pace yourself. Once you start you have to finish period.