Becoming self sufficient from scratch-my diary

choille

Moozle do you think your hen could be sitting on a hidden nest?

Mine do that. Have laid a secret stash of eggs & start sitting them.

ALIBOBSY

Gigervamp wrote: »

Thanks for the review Ali. I've been looking at those cheap greenhouses that are just plastic that slips over a tubular frame, but looking at the Norfolk site, I've seen a couple that don't cost much more yet have solid plastic *glass* and sturdier frames. So I'll probably go for one of those.

We had one of those smaller ones last year to try out, along side 2 raised beds. Did things small scale the first year as didn't want to spend too much until we were sure we wanted to go for it. Trouble with them is they blow over very easily. We ended up with a torn cover taped up with duck tape lol.

Our Norfolk one is attached to a wooden frame with spikes underneath (OH buildt and he is not the best at DIY so dead simple) all bolted together. The House is solid as a rock. Not sure about the plastic though, seems firm enough but will find out next winter lol.

We sited it in a corner of the garden with fence either side so that should give some protection as windbreaks as well.

good luck with whatever type you try.

ali x

Moozle_2

Update:
Well no sign of my chicken, so i'm already down to 5, but the 5 that are left are very well behaved and seem to love being free range hens. They laid 2 broken eggs (weak shells) yesterday and one perfect one today (my first piece of self sufficiency produce:T:rotfl:) so thats good news and I think thats just them getting to the egg laying age now.

I have ordered my polytunnel:j from first polytunnels £270 for a 6'x 12', the only downside is it will be at least 2 weeks for delivery.

More seeds sown....I seem to be having mixed sucess with this? Tomatoes, peppers and chilies are none existent, as is anything I directly sowed into the soil outside?. However I have just planted out my dwarf runner beans and tried sowing some carrots, beetroot (from the dig in campaign) and radish outside so fingers crossed.

Alibobsy, well done with the greehouse building. Im looking forwards to the peaceful haven of my new polytunnel when it comes, it will be a kid free zone

Everyone else... hope this wind is not causing too much mischief!
Happy pottering!

rowsew

Moozle wrote: »

Update:
Well no sign of my chicken, so i'm already down to 5, but the 5 that are left are very well behaved and seem to love being free range hens. They laid 2 broken eggs (weak shells) yesterday and one perfect one today (my first piece of self sufficiency produce:T:rotfl:) so thats good news and I think thats just them getting to the egg laying age now.

You could give them some grit - that helps with the shells quite a lot. I also give new hens, or moulting ones some 'poultry spice' in with their layers pellets, (this is not for the cooked bird), which gives them lots of extra minerals and vitamins. I get mine from Omlet and a tub lasts ages, but there are probably more local suppliers if you don't want to use them. I also have 5 hens, and for the space we have, it's a perfect number. But I hope your missing girl turns up - are there chicken burglars up your way?

Have an egg-cellent weekend!

TheBees

Hi everyone

Not been on here for a couple weeks but the little vegetable patch is going well despite the wind here in East Devon. :mad:

I've got lettuces, parsnips, carrots, beans, spring onions and dwarf beans coming on well but we really need some SUN. My tomatoes have been going outside during the day and back in at night. Some leaves are a bit brown due to the wind I think but otherwise they look quite healthy. Think I'll plant them in the grow bag on Sunday weather permitting but I'm a bit nervous about putting my babies outside all night!:rotfl:

Someone was asking about garlic. I planted a few bulbs last week and they've shot up to about 6 inches high in just a week!

Got my seed pack from DigIn on BBC today and a lovely gardening catalogue from Lakeland. Some lovely products in it but I'm off to a boot sale tomorrow looking for a hoe, spade and any other gardening bits and bobs!

TheBees

Moozle_2

I'll try the grit and polutry spice, thanks. What exactly is chicken grit? Is it just like grit you would have in the garden? Our garden is very stony and gritty, or am I being stupid!! Another good egg and 3 very soft broken ones this morning, but at least my girls have started to lay now so at least I know they are happy.

'Bees' My garlics doing well also, I wish I had planted more. Good luck finding some goodies at the car boot sale.

choille

If you get layers mash it contains grit & extra calcium to harden the shells.
I'm lucky living near the sea & I collect sea shells which I crush for the hens to nibble on.
Some people wash their egg shells, dry them & crush them for the hens.
Sometimes when hens come on or go off the lay they will lay a soft egg, you need to remove all trace of it as you don't want them getting a taste for it.
It sounds like you need some grit to harden their shells.

rhiwfield

Moozle wrote: »

Update:
Everyone else... hope this wind is not causing too much mischief!
Happy pottering!

Forecast S Wales
Today, Heavy showers, wind gust 45mph
Sunday, Heavy showers, wind gust 39mph
Monday, Heavy showers, wind gust 40 mph
Tuesday, Heavy showers, wind gust 34mph

When will it stop?? Its been weeks now, often much stronger, and its caused damage to soft fruit, veg and even apple trees. Oh for some nice gentle warm weather with soft rain overnight.

Melonade

I've had enough of the wind too :mad: It's driving me mad!!!

Since I re-potted my tomato plants they have virtually lived in the shed Even in the most sheltered part of the garden they have bits snapped off all over the place. Fingers crossed they'll be ok :cool:

TheBees

What a waste of a weekend! Car boot sale cancelled due to rain and wind.:mad:

Too much wind and rain to do anything in the garden. 2 cucumber plants that were being hardened off have had all their leaves blown off so I'm a bit cheesed off about that. :mad:

Aphids on the potato plants. Any ideas?:mad:

Hoping for some sun so things can get going.