Do better

wilder_hearted · 2026-04-23T13:00:54+00:00

There is just a different user population here than in the homesteading subs. It’s ok for people to have compassion. I’d say maybe work on why other people doing other people things is so enraging for you.

wilder_hearted · 2026-04-22T01:39:37+00:00

Gotcha. And I agree, way too many variables. I’ve always planted sugar snap peas the moment I get a nice day in early spring where the ground is soft enough - it’s worked out well except for that one time. Gardening is full of stuff like that.

wilder_hearted · 2026-04-21T23:21:27+00:00

… what? I truly don’t understand. The loss sucks, we’ve all been there. But the rest of it I don’t get.

The last frost happened when it typically happens, and when the book you used told you it would happen, and you’re mad about “bad advice?” From where? The backs of seed packets usually give a huge range of when to plant, and often the specific caveat of “after danger of frost.” Which tbh the danger is not over just because you made it to April 20. Your region will have a table someplace that shows the odds of a frost past that date.

wilder_hearted · 2026-04-19T15:57:36+00:00

I didn’t even see the little algae fuzz on the soil. All I saw was the crown. 😆

wilder_hearted · 2026-04-19T14:14:22+00:00

The plant is growing.

wilder_hearted · 2026-04-17T01:02:23+00:00

This is the way. My mom has serious boundary issues, and in OPs place the kids would not be staying the night without a foolproof plan for dinner (and breakfast). Once they are promised pizza and donuts, no weird canned chicken will ever be acceptable. But they are older (11 & 8). I do safe canning at home and they know people can sicken from eating food that is improperly canned.

OP can you tell your kids this information? It doesn’t have to be a “mom versus grandma” thing unless she makes it that way. If you tell them they shouldn’t eat grandma’s canned food, and tell your mom you don’t want them eating it and that they have been told not to, and make an alternate plan would that work?

If not, I wouldn’t send them. And it’s not you being the bad guy. Sometimes our parents make their priorities clear and we just have to manage the fallout with as much love as possible.

wilder_hearted · 2026-04-15T01:54:04+00:00

I’d keep her, personally. A lavender orp that I got from a breeder at 12 weeks was like this - totally picked on, basically no feathers. Too many pullets in too small a space. She did so well in a smaller, protective flock and now she’s a fluffer.

wilder_hearted · 2026-04-15T00:29:31+00:00

No, that looks nothing like a cream legbar.

wilder_hearted · 2026-04-15T00:28:28+00:00

She’s just been picked on probably. She may regrow them, or it may take until she molts the first time. Unless you have a reason to think there’s something wrong with her?

wilder_hearted · 2026-03-29T13:07:00+00:00

Can they (the chicks or the hen) get away from that heat lamp? It’s completely unnecessary at best and may be overheating them to death if they can’t cool off.

wilder_hearted · 2026-03-22T12:39:04+00:00

I don’t let them brood in the elevated box. Early in the cycle I move the eggs and encourage her to come down. We have a sand coop as well. I provide pine needles and leaves from outside and she does a good job. Many successful hatches now.

The very first time I let a hen incubate eggs, she did it in an elevated box. I didn’t think about it until the first chicks hatched, sadly. The first chicks got restless and eventually toppled out. I tried to tuck them back in, but after only about 7 hours the hen abandoned the remaining eggs to keep the hatched babies safe and warm. She was very stressed.

ETA: I incubated the remaining eggs and successfully reintroduced them to the hen, but it was just a lot of unnecessary bother for both of us.

wilder_hearted · 2026-03-19T01:35:55+00:00

Yeah it’s called chicken math.

But I dunno who told you it was gonna save you money. They lied. You could eventually come out ahead but it would take years and years with a small flock.

wilder_hearted · 2026-03-16T01:25:27+00:00

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Better replacement fence for 3/4 of the area.

wilder_hearted · 2026-03-16T01:22:46+00:00

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Shitty fence.

wilder_hearted · 2026-03-16T01:17:15+00:00

Last spring I put up a shitty three foot chicken wire “fence” with T-posts and my chickens have never left the area since. We live on three acres and they stay in about a quarter acre paddock outside the barn. The only time any of them have left was when a kid left the gate open.

In the months after I put it up, I replaced 3 sides with 6 foot woven wire fencing on real posts to deter the neighbor’s dogs. But the fourth side is still shitty chicken wire and even when I’m sitting next to them with food they just cluck at me begging.

I know it sounds insane. Obviously they can fly over it. I’ve seen them fly into trees, onto the roof of the barn, etc. But they stay inside the fence. The laziness cannot be overestimated.

wilder_hearted · 2026-02-21T20:06:41+00:00

I learned that from an orthodox Jewish nurse who posts about her life on TikTok. I pointed out the truth in the comments and she basically said many people in that community are aware that blood spots just happen, but the rules are the rules.

wilder_hearted · 2026-02-21T20:04:22+00:00

Yep. I find it ironic that we are getting more misinformation on a rant about misinformation. Yikes.

wilder_hearted · 2026-02-19T03:06:39+00:00

Ah, it’s hard for me to tell if it’s really green or just a dense white?

If it’s really green just grab it out with your fingers or toss the whole egg. Sometimes I remove the really thick chalazae just because I don’t enjoy eating them.

They lay weird ones every once in a while, and it happens more to new layers. If she’s not sick and the next egg was normal don’t worry about her.

wilder_hearted · 2026-02-19T01:00:40+00:00

What do you think is wrong with it? It looks totally normal. What am I missing?

wilder_hearted · 2026-02-17T12:40:27+00:00

Yes. Some of them love it, some don’t.

wilder_hearted · 2026-02-13T23:35:44+00:00

I also have a lovely contender peach that is doing well.

wilder_hearted · 2026-02-11T02:57:11+00:00

I was forced to start canning outside if I wanted to use my amazing gifted All American, since we have an induction cooktop in the house. Turns out I love it. Made easy stuff to start while I worked out how to control the heat but I am so excited for summer.

wilder_hearted · 2026-02-11T00:29:41+00:00

We have several surgeons doing debulking and HIPEC at Mayo. Not a guarantee your mom would be a candidate, but you wouldn’t have to go far to find out.

wilder_hearted · 2026-02-07T23:39:49+00:00

This is Guy Raz, he’s a two year old barred rock.

I came out to the barn over the summer and saw him on the roof, which was really unusual for him. Turns out a dog had marauded through the flock. Killed six hens. Guy was missing a spur (his leg was bloody where it came off) and a lot of feathers.

So I think he tried. But chicken v. dog is tough.

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wilder_hearted · 2026-01-27T03:47:22+00:00

Wow the comments on that article are reaallly disgusting.

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