It's been hot and humid, so I haven't really been doing too much outside except to take care of the gang and put out the laundry. It cools off a wee bit in the evening and that's when we sit out on the deck. This was the temp last night when Hubby & I took our books outside:
Clouds started to build in the early afternoon, but not enough to bring some welcome shade:
They built up on Monday too, but no rain:
The photo doesn't show it, but when the sun set that night, it was blood red and really quite beautiful.
Laverne plopped out a huge egg. That's a red spot on the shell; not a hole.
It was a double yolker again!
I've been cleaning the coop, run and pen several times a day now and chopping up fresh basil leaves to scatter about. If I don't keep it clean, the flies take over even with using the fly paper. I don't want Charlie or the girls to get bitten by those pests.
The weatherman said we might some rain today and break the heat wave. I sure do hope so!
I have attempted to put a couple of comments here - it could be that my privacy-badger has blocked the ability to comment! Any road, hope it isn't you disabling my comments, but I doubt it!
ReplyDeleteLove the posts, keep them coming!!
Good heavens! I love comments - would never, ever block them! So glad you enjoy the posts :o)
DeleteYep. It was privacy-badger. Love the thing, but I have to train it to let me comment!!
ReplyDeleteFair Winds,
Cap'n Jan
Glad it's fixed - Thanks for letting me know! :o)
DeleteHi! Glad it wasn't you blocking me (I write to The Book of Barkley too - and nothing showed. Gotta go back there as well now that I know what it is.)
ReplyDeleteANYWAY, what I commented on was your fly problem. Are they biting flies? Sounds like maybe they horseflies (and other tabinids) are horrible around our creatures - even here in Central Texas where it is dry most of the year. Whenever it rains, we get a flush of horseflies and can't use the pool. Well, not until this year when I built a horse-fly trap. Trapping house flies is easy-peasy (you probably already know about that). But if you have horseflies, then you need to build yourself a trap. It is more complex, as horseflies are not attracted to scent, they are infrared motion hunters and always fly up when they try to bite something that is not food, ergo, the swinging black ball and trap above the creature and you will be the Master of Flies!!
Sippican built one (mine is better - I love working with pvc, as it is easy and very forgiving, not to mention cheap). Here's Sipican's post:
http://sippicancottage.blogspot.com/2008/07/fie-on-thee-horseflies.html
I used 1" pvc, ordered furniture fittings to make the connections very easy, DID NOT GLUE IT as I want to be able to take it down when not in use. You and I are probably of an age, although I'll admit I am older older at 65 - but no matter. I went to school when they taught the very useful skill of sewing, but even before that my Mum taught me, so I am a hand with a sewing machine and used screen and shade material for 'cover'.
Comment back if you have an interest and I'll supply you with some more details. If it is just house or cluster flies, then the very simple and efficient 'Trap 'n Toss' available at Tractor Supply will work fine. I use rotten meat (just mix up some hamburg with water, put it in the bottom of the thing PUT IT AWAY FROM THE HOUSE AS IT STINKS!!!! and it will quickly fill up with flies. I cut a hole in the side of mine, so I can dump out the .... ah, GROSS MESS, and reuse it, with an application of shipping tape over the hole.
Anyway, hope you and the little bitties are doing well!
In another life I am going to have chickens again, I just know it. I've been a good girl!
Cap'n Jan
Thank you for the link- Very interesting! I don't think they are horse flies, but will probably get them next year. Our neighbor just had a barn and riding rink built and the horses will be here in November.
DeleteLooking forward to all the free fertilizer, but not the flies! Please e-mail your plans to mychickensmom@gmail.com. BTW. I got 'ya beat by 5-1/2 years! LOL :o)
I will go out and take a picture of it this morning - and send along the dimensions that I used, although I would build it a touch smaller!! It really is quite large, and the one from which the design was taken is smaller by a bit. I'll send the pic and my plans!!
DeleteCap'n Jan
Thank you!!!
Delete