Jake Esselstyn

J Lovejoy wrote:
I'm currently thinking about finding plants that will grow well in the strip of shade along that side of my house, but also curious about what other uses it might have, other things people do in spots that don't necessarily grow well. Storage or other productive projects.

Your spot sounds perfect from growing mushrooms. A few stacks of small logs inoculated with shiitake or oyster spawn will produce a lot of good food.

Ah yes, the acidity would do it. In the gizzard though, which is quite acidic. Thanks for clarifying.

I would like to also point out that while calcium sources like oyster shells can be used as a form of grit... it is water soluble and will not last long compared to say pebbles and granite shards.

I'm having a hard time understanding how this could be true. Oysters live in water. Why don't they dissolve?

They will kill it if the numbers are right. All depends on how many chickens, how much area, how long they are there, how long your growing season, how much precipitation, etc.

In that case, you should be able to see little goslings moving (a twitch movement) inside the eggs. Geese are harder to candle than ducks or chickens, but you should still be able to see if your light is bright enough. Usually when I see dead eggs at that stage, the material inside the egg moves around freely as you tilt the egg. It is very runny, nasty stuff. If what you see generally stays in place as you tilt the egg, that may be a good sign. In the future, I would candle after one week. Usually those that are alive at that stage continue to grow to hatch or nearly hatch, in my experience.

How long have the eggs been in the incubator? At about a week, you should be able to see a few blood vessels clearly, emanating from a dark spot. If there is black, and especially if the black sloshes around in the egg, it is dead and rotting. I'm able to candle eggs with the flashlight on my iPhone.

The second post in this string (https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/goose-egg-hatching-guide.1620753/) has the best guide to goose egg incubation I've found. It includes good pictures at each stage.

You've got a ring of mulch around the base of the tree, which is great. But it needs to be much bigger. Put some wet cardboard down on top of the grass in a ring 6-8' in diameter, then pile wood chips atop the cardboard. Keep that mulch at least 6" deep and the tree should do well. The mulch and decomposing sod will provide nutrients and dampen the moisture fluctuations in the soil around the tree. After a few months, add mulch to maintain the depth. Wood chips are good, but any other organic matter (lawn clippings, fall leaves, etc.) will also do the job. If you don't kill the sod immediately around the tree, it will have a hard time competing with the grass for nutrients. Happy orcharding!

If I understand correctly, your plan will not work. The birds will perch on the live wire but they will not get a shock because there is no ground.

I keep both chickens and ducks for eggs and meat. The ducks are a bit more work (moving water, harder plucking, locking up for the night), but I like them better.  The eggs and meat are superior and they are gentler in gardens (but they are destructive on wet pasture if given enough time). Manure management in my system is a bit less work for ducks because I can put their pool wherever I need nitrogen. Ducks are also more entertaining. When given fresh swimming water, they will make anyone smile anytime. I still like chickens for their ease of handling and the variety they provide.

Since you are partial to duck fat, consider raising geese.  You will get a lot more fat from an animal that is much cheaper to feed.

Got my order in by 9am...what a wonderful selection!

Me too! Last year, I grew some tomatoes, squash, and peppers from them. This year, I will try some of the grains.