Clucking in the Coop

I’ve found that I have a pretty progressive flock of dinosaur descendants. So I thought I’d share (and my goal is weekly — we’ll see how that goes) their clucks on various things going on in the world. Lots of links below!

They keep clucking about the movement towards a guaranteed income. Certainly worth exploring. I first read of the concept in a science fiction book called “Ecotopia.” I will admit, the society described in that book is almost nirvana for me. And that society had a guaranteed income. At the time, I thought it was an interesting idea, but unworkable. But hey, science fiction amiright? But I’m seeing this concept come up more and more in the progressive blogosphere. I may have to revise my opinion.

The ebola outbreak in Africa is getting worse. Here’s hoping it gets the attention it deserves.

The girls love Neil deGrasse Tyson — mad props for making science fun, interesting, and understandable to non-science types. That’s why it pains us to disagree with his assessment on GMOs. Granted, none of us are a scientist, but some of the things put in GMO food is unnerving. And the girls think it simply hasn’t been tested enough. With that said, I cautiously accept the scientific community consensus that GMOs are not harmful (the chickens are a different matter, though!). However… in the interest of full bodily autonomy, I have the right to know what is being put in my body. Which means labeling. I may have an irrational fear of GMOs (much like my irrational fear of spiders), but I should have the knowledge and choice of what I’m putting in my body. I fully support labeling and NOT of breeding that created certain varieties but of lab created varieties.

No explanation necessary.

The water should be safe now, but it’s shocking that we still don’t have phosphates under control.

Enjoy and add to the coop clucking!

Putting Chickens to Work

Beautiful Winona — Beautiful but peckish.

We have a few raised garden beds and due to this, that, and the other thing, we just haven’t been able to garden like we’ve wanted to over the past few years. However, this year, we’re making a new commitment, including making changes in our activities, so we can get the vegetables going.

One of our raised beds is so overgrown that we moved the chickens there so they could tear it up while getting a ton of fresh greens. While not their permanent home  (we’re discussing the feasability of building a larger henhouse with attached run and “subdivisions” for meat birds and turkeys), it will make a great summer home.

So we put up a temporary fence around the garden, moved the A-frame coop in there and let them have at it. Not only does it give the girls fresh greens, worms, and bugs, but more room to roam and has eliminated what few integration issues they had. And we’ll get a nice, clean, naturally fertilized garden bed for either fall crops or next spring.

Beulah enjoying her new home.

I also noticed this week one of the quints has some light brown markings on her wings. So, while she remains a quintuplet, her name is now Dirty Girl.

Dirty Girl is to the left.

All in all, it’s going well. We still need to finish the coop the girls are in. That means I need a ridge vent so I can remove the tarp, add some lovely barn red stain to the outside, and develop creative ways to water and feed the girls so I’m not out there twice a day. One thing at a time.

And a quick follow up to my GMO comments last week. For you more technical readers, here’s a link to an article on the effects of GMO food products on animals.

Also, a link to a biologist/biochemist thoughts on GMOs.