Birds + indoors = sad

I have been pondering the future of my little flock with the prevalence of avian influenza, aka bird flu.  In this country all poultry, both commercial birds and pets, have been required to stay indoors for the past sixteen weeks.  (Apparently that's legally the longest "free range" birds can be confined and still be allowed to be marketed as such;  this designation ran out yesterday.)  

Last winter we had to lock up our birds until around now.  We had to lock them up in the winter of 2016-2017 too.  This winter has been particularly bad for outbreaks, and there are still outbreaks happening;  the housing order still remains, maybe indefinitely.

I have six hens and four ducks.  They have a wooden playhouse that has been converted to a coop, and I've rigged up a very small covered porch for them outside their small door (made from a wire fireplace guard) so they can at least step outside for a breath of fresh air.  I try to bring them fresh greenery/weeds daily, but they aren't happy.  I don't blame them;  I'm not happy about it either.  

And what with the price of layers pellets going up--almost double what we were paying a year ago--and then they aren't even laying much (the ducks not at all), well it seems like a bad deal for everyone involved.  I've kept birds for about ten years now and this is the first time I feel like there's no future in it. 

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Ok so how to make things better within the parameters I've described?  For now I am keeping the birds.  We may let the flock die out (of old age/natural causes) without getting replacements.  I have suggested letting the chickens die out but replacing the ducks (and a flock size of around 4-6).  But whatever we decide, we need to make our current situation better than what it is;  it's been like this too long and is not good enough.

I have to keep the birds under cover;  that is a given.  A fully enclosed chicken tractor is allowed as long as wild birds are completely excluded.  I live on a very small property in a rural village but I have done a chicken tractor before:  I have a small moveable A-frame coop in the back corner of the Perennials section which is still in fairly good condition;  the husband made it out of some pallets, chicken wire and bubble wrap insulation;  the chickens used it at the allotment for a winter before we built them a permanent yard there.  

This is going to be put back to use right away, starting on the veg beds.  It has no floor so they'll be able to scratch and peck the ground and it can be moved daily;  they can even sleep in it.  It has no nest boxes or perches, somewhat of a drawback;  but it is better than being perpetually boxed up indoors.  I'll try to sort something out, but they (the chickens at least) are going in it immediately.

Spring equinox at last

It's felt like a long winter--maybe because I was working too much and getting up too early!  But finally it feels like spring with longer days and soon to be shorter nights.  The daffodils are in full swing, my almond tree is flowering and new plants are coming up at the allotment.

I haven't done a lot of work at home in the garden to be honest.  This past weekend I did some pruning of ornamental shrubs and trimmed down two bundles of pea sticks for (you guessed it) the allotment.  I've been harvesting either chard or cabbage greens most days here at home, and some new chive shoots too, and getting seed trays started both indoors and out.  But actual garden work?  Not a lot.

However I'm still digging out the chicken yard at the allotment most mornings.  I think I'm at about 3/4 now, and have been sheet mulching with it on the lower beds--trying to cover up the grass again.  I'll probably sow some seeds direct, and maybe transplant some seedlings a little later on.  I need to sheet mulch a bit at home too, where the creeping buttercup has taken over one of the beds in the veg patch;  I can't be bothered to make the effort of digging it out.

I haven't fully decided what to grow here at home this year.  Last year was roots, though the chard sort of took over.  Maybe I'll do roots again, after clearing away the chard.

This week, March 2022

Our household has been busy this past week with two birthdays:  the son turned 12 and the daughter 2.  Despite all my responsibilities, family first of all, I still managed to get to the allotment nearly every morning for some more digging.  I estimate I'm about halfway in emptying all that good compost from the chicken yard;  it sits around 4-6 inches higher than the surrounding beds, so that's what I'm trying to take off the top.

Yesterday morning, after baking a cake, the daughter and I made a quick trip up there to drop off our full compost tub;  she asked if we could dig some worms, but I said we didn't have time, and we should just go look for them instead.  Didn't find any (the husband said they all hid when they heard her coming).  It was such a nice sunny morning I was expecting to see other people there, but we hardly ever do.  Other allotmenters must come in the afternoon.

I've got some cherry tomatoes sprouted up from that old seed packet, to my surprise.  Even though I prefer large tomatoes, cherries are more likely to ripen in this climate;  but I'd be happy to get any of any size.  I have a great recipe for green tomato salsa, so red or green is good by me.  Hopefully no blight this year (scuppered all plans for salsa last year).

I've also got some peas sprouting up at the allotment, though no sign of the broad beans--other than one dug up and partially eaten;  I fear that may have been the fate of all the others.  But my next batch of peas (snap peas this time) are sprouting and ready for sowing, along with some beetroot seeds.  Today or tomorrow I think.  Also need to get some more seeds started, of all shapes and sizes.  It's spring and I'm feeling the push.

My morning walk

Since reducing my hours at work, I once more have a chance to walk up to the allotment during the week before setting off.  I used to walk up with the son before school (the allotment site is on the way to his old primary school).  He would do the chicken chores (feed/water, collect eggs) before walking on, while I stayed on to do the heavier digging and weeding.  He now attends high school: nowhere near our allotment.  

That leaves the daughter and I to walk up after he's left for school.  We've tried going at the same time as he goes, but have decided it's still a little cold for tiny hands and feet so wait until around 9 am instead.  We put on our hats, coats and boots and strap into the baby buggy--which is helpful for slinging a bag of garden tools onto--and off we go.

It's only about 10-12 minutes away when pushing a heavy toddler;  it's more like 8-10 when unencumbered.  However, a short walk in the morning does us both good:  fresh air, sun if we're lucky, blood pumping with the exercise.  I push the daughter until we are actually within the gates and then let her out to walk/run down the gravel track and up to our plot.  

These past two weeks (minus one or two windy/rainy days) I have been gradually digging out the excellent compost from the chicken yard, a couple wheelbarrows at a time (chickens are still locked up in their coop at home).  The daughter--almost 2--is happy to have a little wander around, stomp in puddles, or catch worms as I dig them up:  "Worm!" "No, worms need to stay there." "Worm!!" "Put it down gently...!" "Worm!!!" 

The compost has been spread around the raspberry patch and spring cabbages, both now pretty grassy;  I managed to remove some clumps from around the cabbages but it's really entrenched among the rasps.  The plan is to smother the grass with loads yummy compost which will soften up the surround soil enough to just pull it out.  Wishful thinking?

I only do a little at a time: partly as I don't want to exert myself too much before work, but also because the daughter gets bored/cold/wet fairly quickly.  When finished, we put our tools away, walk back up the track and load up into the buggy once more before walking home.  It's downhill all the way.

Getting a little more done

After wet and windy weather for our week off, the weekend was surprisingly calm and bright, and even warm enough to spend leisure time outdoors!  We had some friends over and sat out in the garden for an hour with our drinks.  I also finally put the clothesline to use, taking advantage of that cloudless sky and slight breeze;  I dried several loads of laundry, which always smells and feels so much nicer when dried outside.

However, I didn't actually manage to get to the allotment or even do any gardening over the weekend, except to harvest a bit of chard out back.  No matter, the daughter and I braved the rain yesterday before work/childcare started and sowed two large rows of peas which I'd pre-sprouted.  We got wet and muddy but at least the peas are down.  

I also started an old packet of cherry tomato seeds on my kitchen windowsill;  it was unopened (it was free) but several years old so I just chucked all the seeds down on a little tray in the hopes that some will germinate.  I don't think I have any other tomato seeds--I thought I had some I'd saved but couldn't find any.  It's not a big deal though;  I can probably get some free plants off a friend or fellow allotmenter, but I won't be disappointed if I don't.  It's not a good climate for tomatoes and I always grow them with fingers crossed;  the last few years I didn't get any tomato harvest worth speaking of.

Next up, it'll be time to pre-sprout some beets.  Sowing them direct has never been successful for me, so last summer I tried sowing them in trays and transplanting out;  I got some good beets this way but I would prefer to make less work for myself so will try sprouting some this time.  If it doesn't work, I'll do trays again--I like beets a lot and am willing to put in the effort if I have to.  

Now that it's March, I'm starting to think of all the jobs I need to get done.  Spring is just about here, and stuff needs to get going if vegetables are to be harvested this year.