Remember that mutant squash thingy that’s taking over my garden? This is what it looked like the end of July:
And this is what it looks like today:
I believe this is The Great Pumpkin!
And look what I found in the garden today:
Who knew tomatoes have noses?
And speaking of tomatoes, our greenhouse tomatoes are doing pretty well in there.
So are the bell peppers.
The fig trees daddy rooted for me are looking pretty good.
You can see some tomatoes coming up in the little pots next to the figs. I’m going to stagger the tomato plantings in the greenhouse to see if we can manage to get tomatoes late into the fall.
And just look at these pretty Canna Lilies mama brought up for me:
I have a million things to do today and don’t feel like doing a single one of them. I did actually take the time to open up Duke’s bumblefoot again this morning after I gave him his Pen-G injection. I’ve known I’ve needed to do that for several days now, but was hoping the Pen-G would take care of the problem. I didn’t really plan to do it today, but when I removed the wrap so I could change it, I noticed the scab on the bottom of his foot was lifting in one place. I took an exacto knife blade and lifted the scab a little more, and the whole thing started coming lose. This time it had the “plug” I’ve read so much about.
I cleaned his foot out really well, and packed it with terramycin powder mixed with antibiotic cream. The terramycin is a Bacteriostatic Antibiotic – which means it prevents invading bacteria from reproducing, allowing the immune system to kill them. Pen-G is a Bactericidal Antibiotic – which means it kills the invading bacteria. I don’t think it’s usually a good idea to mix the two. From what I’ve read they can sometimes work against each other. But I’m hoping that by packing Duke’s foot with the terramycin this one time, it will help keep any remaining bacteria at bay so the Pen-G can kill it off over the next few days.
I’m NOT a doctor, nor am I a vet. And I’m certainly not telling anyone how to treat bumblefoot. I’m just doing my best to save my cranky rooster. And he seems to appreciate it. Just look how dad gum happy he looks:
Tags: bumblefoot, greenhouse
Hope Dukes foot is better soon, Tex call the same thing on 3 of my maters horns. I got a 5gal. bucket full now to can in the morning. I think i will try speggy sauce this time. Man did that pumpkin ever grow, chickens will be happy.
Thats gonna be a lot of orange vegetable, right there.
Everything in your greenhouse looks so good. You have to be so happy with that purchase and with how well it is doing. Staggered planting. Now theres an idea. I kick myself every year for not being better about this. It really can extend your growing season on so many different things.
I hope this last procedure that you did on Duke will prove to be THE ONE. He really has endured quite a bit these last few weeks. Big hugs to Duke.
Ya’ll are lucky to have the greenhouse.
I’m sure you’ll have veggies into the late season.
Most folks up this-a-way lost all of their ‘maters from too much rain O.D.-ing the foliar feed causing them to rot.
I was lucky though, I found a produce stand that still had some green ones so I could get my fried green tomatoe fix.
Charlotte – Your pantry is going to be full again this year! That’s a great feeling, isn’t it? Canning spaghetti sauce can take a while, but I think it’s SO worth it. Let me know how it turns out.
Frugalmom – I’m not usually very good at staggered planting either, but our summer garden really didn’t do much this year, so I’m hoping we can harvest some in the fall. And Duke says thanks for the hugs. Poor guy seems destined to have “issues”. Yesterday he somehow managed to crack the side of his upper beak. He’s still eating and drinking, but he holds his mouth open a lot now. I looked at it this morning and it’s not a bad break, just a crack along the side. I’m thinking about adding a dab or two of super glue – but he doesn’t like me messing with it. Not sure what, if anything, can be done.
Chainsaw – our garden has limped along this year. I tried straw bales gardening with most of it, and that did not work out well for me. The bales hold WAY to much water. We’ll be adding a few more raised beds in the fall. I’m hoping the greenhouse helps us out!
Poor Duke! I hope he gets better soon. Just thinking of the desserts you could make with that pumkin! But I’m sure the chickens will love it just the same! Tomatoes seem to like the weather a little cooler than they get down here…a few years ago I was getting tomatoes right into december. My cherry toms are putting out enough for me to snack on about every other day. yum! love those things!
Take Care!
Love Ya!
Julie
Julie – I LOVE garden tomatoes too. There’s just nothing better. And I wish I could get the pumpkin meat to you! As it is, I guess those chickens are in for a real treat!
Hey Penny
the garden veggies look great. I have had my fair share of tomatoes this year. The chickens have eaten more than us. the rain has made them not taste the same. I still have eaten them but the chickens love them so much it is hard not to share with them. they go in a help themselves to whatever they want.
Lillies are my favorite flower outside. I have one raised bed with just Calla Lilly, stargazer lilly and several other kinds. unfortunately the birds have dropped other types of things in there to grow. but it is all still pretty.
Poor Poor Duke…. Lucky that you went back in and got all that junk out of there. He is certainly lucky to have you as a mommy. Sure hope his beak heals gets better. Poor fellow, you talk about bad luck. Hugs for him and to you.
Oh we have 3 babies and Momma is with them now in the garage. such a happy ending to such a long long road for her.
Jack is walking around and he even started to crow on Saturday. He is getting fiesty also.
take care and love to you and Duke
Lisa
Hi Lisa – Poor Duke is right! Today I noticed that his cracked beak has turned into a break. It’s crooked on the end now. I expect he will end up losing it in the next day or so. Amazingly, he seems to be eating just fine. I watched him for quite a while. I’m not sure how well he’ll be able to eat when that portion of his top beak comes off. His top beak will end up being a good bit shorter than his lower beak. *sigh* Poor guy seems to be having a streak of bad luck these days.
So happy to know the mama and her babies are doing well! And I’m thrilled that Jack is walking and crowing! That is really great news. You’ve done such a good job nursing him back to health.
Take care,
Penny