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Post by Bean on May 1, 2021 7:08:09 GMT
It's a bank holiday weekend here, and after some glorious weather last week, we're due plenty of showers over the weekend, and downpours on Monday, so I'm glad we didn't have a bbq planned!
The risk of frost keeps being extended, but maybe next weekend I can get some stuff planted out before it all knits together in a big green clump in my greenhouse!
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Post by 3piggles on May 1, 2021 20:31:38 GMT
We didn't get the April showers to bring May flowers, but we're getting rain, now. Can't complain, even if it postpones some yard work we wanted to get done. We're actually having a rain free weekend. Rain most of the week next week, but for now, we get to do some outdoor things. Wind finally died down, so we didn't get yanked out the front door by the wind taking the storm door, lol I bought more bird seed, though I'm not feeding anywhere nearly as much. Since I started just putting the seed out on the berm, there's been a lot of activity, and I just love watching it all, so I'm going to continue to feed them for a while longer. A squirrel buddy has been waiting for me for the last few mornings, so I know at least he or she is happy to get the seed No threat of bears taking the feeders, since there aren't any feeders up except the suet feeders. I figure that suet will be gone by the end of this month, then those feeders will come down.
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Post by Bean on May 2, 2021 11:28:42 GMT
I used to cut back a bit on feeding the birds over the warmer months, but then read a few articles on how much it helps breeding birds, so keep going and enjoy seeing all the visitors! No bears around here though.
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Post by 3piggles on May 2, 2021 18:23:37 GMT
We do get the pheasant, so I'd like him to continue to visit. I put out some dried cranberries, yesterday, and they were all gone in a few hours. I never saw the eaters, but they were eaten I'll put out some more, today. We got to large bags of browser seed, that has sunflower seeds, peanuts, and a bunch of other things. It seems to cover most of the birds. At some point we'll probably rake out the berm, and try to clean that up a bit, but with hubby working again, I doubt that will happen this year. By the time his contract expires at the end of August, we're heading into leave falling time, again, so will probably wait until next year. That gives us over the winter this year to figure out where to put the seed feeders, etc. I have to be able to get to them early in the morning, even in the snow, but since we have grass fuzz in the back yard, finally, we won't be putting the seed feeders back up there.
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Post by Bean on May 3, 2021 6:49:53 GMT
Last weekend I was cutting back some holly and tucked some of the spiky branches I'd lopped in a couple of places I thought cats were coming through the garden. In the last week, the bird feeders have been emptied significantly faster than normal so I think I might have picked good spots!
Your grass is sprouting? Good news! I'm not sure ours is yet, and there are definitely patches where the birds have demolished it, but most of it's covered with grass clippings so it's hard to tell.
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Post by 3piggles on May 3, 2021 19:48:14 GMT
Yes, we've finally gone from seed with a bit of sprouting, so a green fuzz of tiny blades of grass! It's so great to see the back yard looking green. It's been dirt/mud since we moved in. Once we get established grass, I'll build a run for the guinea girls to get out there and eat some grass
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Post by Bean on May 4, 2021 6:46:03 GMT
Glad your grass seed is taking - and happy days thinking of the girls getting out on it. Our pigs had a good few weeks where they got out a few times a week, but it's been too cold/ windy/ wet for them for the last couple of weeks. They love it when they can get out though, and it also combines the benefits of them soiling their bedding indoors less while fertilising and mowing the lawn!
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Post by 3piggles on May 4, 2021 20:53:20 GMT
When we lived at the condo, the grass was public land for everyone to use, so I had to clean up the beans after I had the gang out to graze. It will be nice not to have to do that, here I have a design for a run, using the grids, of which I have boxes. That way I'll be able to assemble and disassemble it easily for storage over the winter. We have hawks, so it was to be secured on the top. It will be a 5 sided run.
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Post by bazookagoof on May 5, 2021 0:15:27 GMT
Last Sunday was actually very nice outside, and I had planned to get the guys out for some grazing- but I had stayed out WAY too late the night before and ended up somewhat useless the next day. I was able to do the things that needed to get done (like cage cleaning) but everything else just fell by the wayside. Still early in the year, though.
Not sure how it's going to go, though- Stilgar isn't much for grazing, and Zeke is an unknown factor. I guess we'll see what happens when I get around to it.
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Post by Bean on May 5, 2021 7:26:16 GMT
Baz the party animal!
I do have the odd time where they seem to forget the floor is made of food, but usually picking some grass for them reminds them (while telling them how silly they are not to have noticed). I think the sights, sounds and smells of outdoors can just take some time to getting used to though and that's why they don't tuck in - usually once one of them relaxes, the others follow suit.
Oh I can't imagine bean picking! Tissue makes it easy as she usually creates a cluster under the little nesting box I put out, but the others scatter! I'm glad you'll be let off that duty.
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Post by 3piggles on May 5, 2021 19:23:43 GMT
I used to blast the beans into my little garden area, with the hose I couldn't pick up all those beans I've had pigs who took to grazing immediately, some who seemed totally lost, others who just had to get over all the smells. Like people, they come in all kinds I think these three will take to grazing quite nicely. They're an adventurous bunch Baz, you finding the older you get the less partying you can do with the same negative results It only gets worse!
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Post by bazookagoof on May 6, 2021 0:31:08 GMT
Luckily for me I wasn't drinking! I only visited my friend Ken, and neither of us touch alcohol. We usually just eat pizza and shoot the breeze for hours. His condo is large enough to where we can socially distance without worry, although he's already fully vaccinated. We just talk until it gets really late, and then wrap things up. My body wants to rise at 7am on a Sunday though, so getting home at 3:30 am and then trying to sleep immediately only nets me about 3.5 hours of sleep. As far as grazing goes, I really just want the guys to have an opportunity to get out a little more. They can run around during cage cleaning, but I think a little sunshine might help too.
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Post by 3piggles on May 6, 2021 13:50:52 GMT
I think a little sunshine and fresh air help, too. Even if it's not on a regular basis, mostly because of weather, just getting outside, experiencing being outside, I think is good for their health.
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Post by bazookagoof on May 9, 2021 16:38:03 GMT
HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!
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Post by 3piggles on May 9, 2021 20:46:50 GMT
Thank you so much Happy Mother's Day to your wife, too We had two ground hogs visit the backyard, today. I think the first one must have left a scent trail, because the second one was definitely looking for the first one. I tossed some edamame pods onto the berm this morning, and they disappeared quite quickly, so my herbivores were around 🤗 Got up to the fox den early this morning, and got some pics of the fox pups.
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Post by Bean on May 10, 2021 7:11:21 GMT
Oh they're sweet, what a nice treat on your walk!
A belated Happy Mothers' Day from me to all the US human and furry mums - I remembered after I'd posted on here.
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Post by 3piggles on May 10, 2021 20:30:21 GMT
Thank you I had a very good Mother's Day, cooking
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Post by bazookagoof on May 15, 2021 16:01:55 GMT
Today I get my second shot of the vaccine! Hopefully no side effects; I have a child's birthday party to attend tomorrow and I prefer not to miss it.
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Post by 3piggles on May 15, 2021 23:22:32 GMT
All digits crossed for you to make the birthday party We didn't have any reaction to either shot, so we were lucky.
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Post by bazookagoof on May 16, 2021 1:52:45 GMT
All digits crossed for you to make the birthday party We didn't have any reaction to either shot, so we were lucky. Nine hours later, I'm a bit more tired than I normally feel... but they said to expect that. I'll turn in soon, and with a little luck I ought to be ship-shape for the party. My daughter got her first shot of Pfizer on Friday, and she did okay as well.
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