Will has the fence around the new forty acres done to the point that the horses can be turned in, with four wires on three sides and two wires on the farthest side. It’s been horribly hot work and the biting flies are thick. Today, it’s in the high 80s with high humidity and when I went to find Will after working on the “Ask Jackie” questions for the blog I was not surprised to find him soaking in the hot tub (without the “hot”). Would that be a “soaking tub?”

The garden is doing great! Everything is wonderful this year including our lettuce which, surprisingly, is standing up under the heat. The hoop house crops are booming and so is our sweet corn, squash, and potatoes … not to mention the tomatoes which are leaping up in their cages. Mmm, I can taste it all now!

We did suffer a blow a couple of days ago; a fox got into our goat pasture and killed two adult turkeys and the babies that had hatched in Will’s neat turkey hooches. We’d lost two turkeys a month ago but the same morning our wolf-husky got out of his yard and we figured Yukon had got them. (He’d chewed right through the gate … something he’d never done before!) We now figure he heard the commotion and tried to protect the turkeys. Luckily, we didn’t punish the poor guy! So we moved the remaining two turkeys back up to the chicken yard where it’s closer to the house and has 2×4-inch welded wire 6 feet high. Try, try, again next year I guess. Mama fox must have a den down in the woods and figured those turkeys were sent from God to feed her babies. This is the first time we’ve lost critters to wildlife. It happens, when you live in the backwoods.

9 COMMENTS

  1. Mary Ann

    Yes, we do, but luckily by spraying Spinosad and Bt on the plants seems to keep ’em at bay. They are nasty, nasty! Hope next year those moths go on further north. (Sorry Canadians!!!)

    Jackie

  3. Deb,

    We’re happy to hear that Jim’s going gung ho! I’m sure he feels pretty good about all he’s doing too.
    The fox got in right through the squares in the woven wire! She’s a slender girl. Unfortunately, the hot wire is above where she got in and I can’t put it lower because of growing plants that low. So we moved the remaining turkeys up the hill and back into the chicken yard.
    We’ll try, try, try again.

    Jackie

  4. Hi Jackie,

    Sometimes you just feel like you are under a cloud, know what I mean? I am sorry to hear about the turkeys. I know you were counting on them.

    Poor Will, he looks like he is trying to get totally under. He needs a snorkel! Here in southeast VA we are more or less used to the heat but up north I know folks are not. Stay cool and hydrated. The sun can really sneak up on you!!

    Sheryl

  5. We went a couple years with nothing getting our chickens…then one year….wow! I bet we lost 200 to fox and brush wolf. The folliowing year we bought an electric net portable fence system from KenCove fencing that runs off a car battery. Wow. We have used it 2 full summers now and started on our third wth it. Nothing gets in it. Nothing. Best of luck, Jackie and Will. Say, have you got that new kind of cutworm at your place? Hope not.

  6. So sorry about your critters. I understand how sad it makes you. A couple of years ago a neighbors dog killed and carried off 3 or our young turkeys and killed several of our baby birds. I however, would trade you the upper 80’s even with the high humidity to our over 100 days for two weeks now. We keep praying for rain, we got about 5 drops last night. Usually a sure way to know it will rain is for us to have uncovered hay. Have about 3 tons uncovered at this time but still no rain. Have thought about doing what my kids do and taking a dip in the horse tank. Best of wishes in keeping the predators away

  7. I am surprised you have had as few loses to wildlife that you’ve experienced. I always seem to hear about somebody’s goats or other livestock being decimated by loose running dogs that don’t even bother eating their kill. Especially places like petting zoos seem to make the news. You have indeed been fortunate considering the wolves and black bears in your area!

  8. Hi Jackie,
    I feel terrible about you losing the turkeys and their young ones. How do you think the fox got in?? Would solar elec shockers have helped? It must be awfully difficult to lose young animals you have raised and looked forward to eating this Nov. I’m glad it wasn’t Yukon who ate them.
    Will looks like he is sitting pretty in the hot tub soaker. I know that cooling off is so important when one is working hard all day. Jim has been using his bobcat to clear out an area where we wish to have a pond dug. He keeps on going and if it weren’t for me brining him a beverage now and then, he would be passing out. Men just don’t quit til the work is done. The seminar was a life changing event for Jim. He put up my six foot welded wire fence and is helping me more and more. What he learned most of all was self confidence. He tries everything now and usually succeeds. Thank you to Will and you for the best homesteading advice and experience I have ever had. Wish I could come this August, but will plan on attending next year. Make sure you join Will in that water bath and take time to smell the sunflowers.
    Fondly, Deb

  9. This was the first year that we have lost a broiler chicken to a wild critter. I am very glad that it was just one. Our garden is doing well. But we got a late start because we had a very wet beginning to the year here in NH. Jackie for sharing your knowledge and experiences. Somehow it makes it feel like we are all in this together.

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