The wheat has been growing in the corner of the chicken run all winter long.
(That's why they call it winter wheat dimwit.)
My wits are not dim. They may flicker now and then, but they are ON. So shut yer trap.
(You are overfond of stating the obvious. It's a bad habit. You should break it.)
I know one habit I'd like to break...
Anyway, I took a good look at the little wheat field yesterday and decided that this was a good time to let the flock start the harvest. The heads are formed, and there are seeds, or berries to be exact, and I figure they have some nutritional value at this point, and the girls could also be eating the greenery.
I opened up the fencing and they dove in like the pros they are...
They grab stalks and break them off and eat the berries. Goldie even went exploring into the wheat jungle with no fear whatsoever.
I sat out in the swing and watched them for a while.
They usually prefer more personal space, but this was a special situation, and they managed to keep the squabbling to a minimum.
As soon as they work this area over, I'll plant more wheat and start to water it. That crop, I think I will allow to grow up 8 or 10 inches and let them eat the wheat grass. Then in the fall, I'll plant another batch to overwinter. They will fertilize and loosen up the soil in that spot for me. They are very efficient that way.
Between us, we have a very nice symbiotic ecosystem going on I'd say.
Though someone might want to send a note to Jill encouraging her to step up to the nest and do her job. For some reason, she hasn't laid an egg for at least two weeks or so. Maybe fresh wheat will put her back in the mood to get back to work.
We shall see....
I opened up the fencing and they dove in like the pros they are...
They grab stalks and break them off and eat the berries. Goldie even went exploring into the wheat jungle with no fear whatsoever.
I sat out in the swing and watched them for a while.
They usually prefer more personal space, but this was a special situation, and they managed to keep the squabbling to a minimum.
As soon as they work this area over, I'll plant more wheat and start to water it. That crop, I think I will allow to grow up 8 or 10 inches and let them eat the wheat grass. Then in the fall, I'll plant another batch to overwinter. They will fertilize and loosen up the soil in that spot for me. They are very efficient that way.
Between us, we have a very nice symbiotic ecosystem going on I'd say.
Though someone might want to send a note to Jill encouraging her to step up to the nest and do her job. For some reason, she hasn't laid an egg for at least two weeks or so. Maybe fresh wheat will put her back in the mood to get back to work.
We shall see....