The Blog Barn

egg evaporation

Greenleaf Farms   -   May 01, 2016 - By Suki

Eggs lose from 13 to 16 per cent of their moisture during incubation are said to undergo normal evaporation. Infertile eggs oddly enough, evaporate faster than do those containing live germs; hence the candling or testing of the eggs is important, because...

Turning the eggs, manually

Greenleaf Farms   -   May 01, 2016 - By Suki

When we did not have an automatic egg turner, I turned the eggs twice a day.  It’s a tough job so I picked a 12 hour interval i knew I would be awake.  For me that was 10 am and 10 pm and so it wasn’t so bad.  Eggs undergoing incubation...

Cystine is needed during molt

Greenleaf Farms   -   Apr 29, 2016 - By Suki

While a   non-essential amino acid for man, m olting birds need  high cystine content for renewal of feathers because cystine is necessary for the production of keratin, the prime ingredient that constitutes feathers.  Some medical...

Chicken Cages higher not deeper

Greenleaf Farms   -   Apr 29, 2016 - By Suki

An interesting study, done for battery caged layers, shows that when you buy one of your cages for transporting or showing or housing often injures the birds when you get them too deep. Instead the recommendation is to get them as shallow as possible....

Orchid Cuckoo Bee / Exaerete formalis

Greenleaf Farms   -   Apr 29, 2016 - By Suki

I turned to chooks when the town we live in wouldn't allow bees, but I still remain a member of the local bee club because I love bees so.  This one from the New Scientist Aperture page, really caught my eye.  It is a tropical bee,  and...

Gunga Galunga CSA Week 20

The Harvest Bee Blog   -   Apr 29, 2016 - By K.T.

Good Day, Friends: It's cliche', I know. Don't live in the past or the future. Enjoy and embrace the present. We hear it all the time, yet how often do we find ourselves immersed in another moment besides the present? It is only human to do so, of...

Lots of Seedlings

Debbie's Garden   -   Apr 29, 2016 - By Chickadee1

Hi, all, things are busy as they usually are in the spring.... just so thankful that I get to play in the dirt every day! I have loads of seedlings coming up.... arugula, kale, collard, chard..... all kinds of herbs... even a few new varieties I haven't...

Choosing grit for your chooks

Greenleaf Farms   -   Apr 28, 2016 - By Suki

 Limestone grit is often used as a substitute for or in addition to oyster shells for laying hens. It is not quite so palatable as oyster shells to chickens, & so does not give as satisfactory an egg production. But if you are going to insist on...

Photo by: Grand Lagoon Waterfront Farmers' Market Welcome back to the LocalHarvest newsletter. Unlike the calm blue water lapping at its Floridian shores, the latest series in the Tampa Bay Times is making some giant waves. The " Farm...

Apple Scab

Walkto Farms Weekly   -   Apr 28, 2016 - By Gil

This year was the first year in my 35 year history to have NO apple scab (Venturia inaequalis). This fungus affects apples as a skin blemish and reduces crop by as much as 50%. The scab has 2 parts to it's infection-one:the overwintering leaves on the...