LBM in 2003.. What have I been doing since??!

brizzledfw

Aaw thanks folks.

Back from a quick, well quickish trip to the allotment. Came back with bags and bags of stuff ( but missed my raspberries and there were tonnes of french beans that have gone over .that'll teach me. I knew it was the risk but still didn't get my A into G and go down there)

So we have
- kilos and kilos of gorgeous Cox's apples ( and loads more to pick. Really disease free too..thank goodness for the weather this year,:))
- couple of kilos of potatoes
- 2 marrows
- huge amount of salad
- chard and spinach
- 5 sweet corn cobs...may not be that good inside..will find out shortly!

So very pleased considering we have not been down there in weeks.

Trying to find out why the chooks haven't laid since the v hot weather in July. I think its age. Maybe time to get some new ones as I am beginning to resent feeding them when they produce nowt. Unfortunately I see Mrs MWC is in Canada...otherwise Iwould have PM'd her for advice!

Great lunch of use ups. Now about to read paper.. ( am delaying work!!) and to cancel my veg boxes. I will probably also put the meatballs in the SC..sounds a nice recipe!

HOK3Y

Love your diary, brizzle! Lovely to see you really sticking this out - I need more of that kind of inspiration at the moment! Welljel about the allotment. Hubby would love one and I wouldn't mind chickens either although Mr HOK3Y has just given me a graphic demonstration of killing chickens on his grandparents farm.....I may change my mind!

Hope one day to be as far down the tunnel as you are now - keep going. It's lovely to read!

brizzledfw

Thanks HOK...lovely to have you post on my diary. Do you have one?

The allotment is great but lots of work. We hardly do enough but it's good when it comes off. You really need to commit to say 10-15 hrs a month during peak months to make it work. We never seem to be able to do that. Chickens are fab..but I think it's time for fresh blood!

Still.. Our food bill should be absolutely minimal this week if we can make bread and live off the freezer and larder. Milk to buy but that could be it!

HOK3Y

I do - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4753451. But I have a long way to go before I will feel I have made progress as you have. Dang it I will get there though!

I am not remotely green fingered. I have often said I could kill any kind of vegetation and that I could probably kill silk flowers with enough time and inclination. If we had an allotment, it would only work if I were an allotment widow......because if I were to help, we would get nothing out of it in the end other than a compost heap......not even sure I should be allowed too close to the chickens tbh.......:D

I would love fresh eggs though - that would be brilliant!

brizzledfw

You'd be surprised HOK! It's easier than you think, I promise. Just choose your starter plants carefully!

brizzledfw

A NSD today!:T:T

Dinner was yummy couscous with ratatouille from the fridge, use up peas and beans from yesterday's roast with grated cheese in top. Everyone loved it! Took about 10 mins to make so v happy. Huge quantities of meatballs and tomato sauce in the SC too for probably 4 meals.

Long week coming up but trying to stay positive

Have a great week folks

brizzledfw

Well another LSD..£5 for a scout trip and that's it.

Had hoped we would spend less this week..but from running a report ( get me ) realise it's when all the big DDs come out plus there was a huge OP so at least it's not discretionary spends but the household survival stuff instead

Bread made in BM yesterday. DD1 has texted saying that the meatballs were yum and there must be another 3 full Brizzle household meals in there from the SC too. Have had a sandwich on expenses so dead frugal me. No need to eat again this eve.

Hoping to get house spick and span tomorrow and have a NSD!

Love to all x

Fortune_Smiles

Well done on all your progress Brizzle. Just a thought about the chickens - have you checked them for red mite? Worms? They can stop laying if they get a bad infection and red mite start showing up in about July.

Fortune x

brizzledfw

Hmm. Thanks FS..I will. It's weird they all stopped at once. May be time for some powder from the vet? Do you recommend anything? They have never been ill before

Fortune_Smiles

I used to use something called Diatomaceous Earth. It's got tiny crystalline granules that scratch the covering of the mites so that they dry out and die. You can sprinkle it on roosts, in bedding and in dust baths.

To check for the mites, go out to the roost at night time and run a tissue along the pole they roost on - you'll be able to see little spots of red blood from the squashed mites. They're a sod to get rid of once you've got them and you have to treat the whole hen house. Muddy White Chicken has just had a bout of them and might have some suggestions if that's the problem.

The vet (or many of the farm shops) will be able to give you something to treat any worms or other parasites.

My chickens used to go off lay for all sorts of reasons - too hot, too cold, too scared, got rained on. If they're moulting at the moment that'll stop them too.

How old are they?

Fortune x