Beekeeper 91 Posted March 3 Actually that's not right either...My daughter was born in 1995 and was 5 almost 6 when we moved here...so 2001..Right before 9/11. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hal 609 Posted March 3 Nice , kind of a mix I take it ?! And that Old timer is actually a treasure to have and can be brought back to production . The take away I’m getting is that the trees have never been pruned annually correct? If so not a problem, they all can be pruned now while it’s still a bit cold and the trees are dormant. Even a drastic pruning would be beneficial but would leave you waiting till next season for any fruit . I could suggest some good books on pruning but by the time you got them it would kind of late for this years pruning . I have to add however , a young fella once asked an older farmer, “ when is the best time to prune trees ?”, the old farmer replied “ when your shears are sharp!” . So , it’s better to prune later than to not prune at all . At any rate I will be doing some late pruning today and will post some pics that may help … or not , lol , get you through this years pruning . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hal 609 Posted March 4 7 hours ago, Beekeeper said: That would be great! It would have been but it was such a nice Sunny day … apparently too sunny to take decent pictures ! I’ll try again tomorrow as I couldn’t even see the screen of my phone , might try using this Ipad camera instead ! By the way , I paid penance for the Canada Goose thing … got hit on the ear by a tree branch while pruning and it really stings ! Thats what I get lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adam 589 Posted March 4 ive an old timer in my side yard, actually had two but one finally gave up the ghost last year. likely your old one needs to be topped out to encourage lower growth, take out old dying or broken branches. the younger ones are around 2 years past where training pruning should of started, but certainly well in the time to start up now. read what Compound suggested but also watch some youtube videos( im a visual/hands on learner) to give an idea where to start 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hal 609 Posted March 4 Anything straight up from scaffold branch is basically a sucker cut it out close . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hal 609 Posted March 4 (edited) Top off about a foot of the canopy and start cleaning any branches ( smaller ) that are growing back toward the main trunk . This lets sunlight down into the the inside the canopy .The tree in the front right is not pruned to the left is done . Edited March 4 by Hal Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hal 609 Posted March 4 Just this last one for now . Sorry but just too much info to impart here so i’ll try for the Cliff Notes version .This is a Leaf spur , don’t take a lot of these off this year . I don’t have any Fruit spurs to show yet but you will know them as they are chunkier than the leaf spur . LOL , it will be a struggle to decide to cut this or that one believe me ! But you will do fine if you don’t overdo … big help huh ?! Google has better pics and explanations if you care to . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 3,628 Posted March 4 1 hour ago, Hal said: This is a Leaf spur , don’t take a lot of these off this year Unless you’re like me and don’t give a damn anymore LOL 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beekeeper 91 Posted March 8 Can I wait until April vacation to do this? (the first week of April). It is really cold and windy today. I don't have the courage. Where is Spring? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 3,628 Posted March 12 Well it ain’t pretty from above but I found where the leak on the goat barn was happening. The tarp I bought was too big to deal with ( guess I should have measured ) but I found some old shingles in the garage. Like I said, it ain’t pretty, but what you don’t see is the fourth one covering the actual hole. Then I went over it with the other three. The hidden one is why that lower shingle isn’t in place better. If it works as long as they live, perfect. If it buys me some time til I can go over with another layer of rolled roofing, that’s great too. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hal 609 Posted March 12 (edited) On 3/8/2025 at 9:54 AM, Beekeeper said: Can I wait until April vacation to do this? (the first week of April). It is really cold and windy today. I don't have the courage. Where is Spring? Really , one can prune anytime of year . That said the drawback to that is that pruning in the cold weather when the tree is dormant is the ideal . Alternatively, early Spring while still cool . Bottom line … when your shears are sharp 👍! I would be remiss if I didn’t add that pruning while its cold also leaves you less worried about disease and fungus invading through pruning cuts … Edited March 12 by Hal Hmmm .🤔 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hal 609 Posted March 12 1 hour ago, Chris said: Well it ain’t pretty from above but I found where the leak on the goat barn was happening. The tarp I bought was too big to deal with ( guess I should have measured ) but I found some old shingles in the garage. Like I said, it ain’t pretty, but what you don’t see is the fourth one covering the actual hole. Then I went over it with the other three. The hidden one is why that lower shingle isn’t in place better. If it works as long as they live, perfect. If it buys me some time til I can go over with another layer of rolled roofing, that’s great too. Somehow I don’t believe the goats are too fussy about the looks of it . And you won’t find my old ass climbing in the trees to check it out ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 3,628 Posted March 12 We’ll see if it works soon I imagine. Really I just need it to keep the water out until this summer when I can get to it. The OSB held my fat ass up there, so it’s obviously not rotted out. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 3,628 Posted Sunday at 12:06 PM Yesterday was a prep day since our new chicks are coming this week. I sectioned off a small area for them to have while they're younger, but then fenced off the remaining part along one barn wall for when they are older and need more room to roam. This will be the second time I've brooded chicks this way. It keeps them in view of the older birds and I think when it comes time for them to joing the existing flock it tends to make it less traumatic for them. You'll still have some pecking by the older ones ( which is where the term "pecking order" comes from ) but I don't think it's as much. Additionally, the older ones tend to go outside anyway, leaving the coop to the younger poults until they're brave enough to wander out the door. Heat lamps are working and I have spare bulbs on hand, everything is cleaned and ready. Now they just need to hatch, presumably tomorrow. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 3,628 Posted Tuesday at 01:16 PM The chicks were shipped yesterday and I thought for sure they'd be here this morning but the tracking shows they're still in transit from Ohio. So it looks like tomorrow instead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 3,628 Posted Tuesday at 11:12 PM Sigh… The doorbell rings at 12:15 as I’m getting ready for a quick lunch. It’s someone from the USPS holding a noisy little box. Apparently they see didn't see the phone number on the package. Or the note someone supposedly made with my number when I called yesterday. Thankfully I was home because that post office closes at noon. And the chicks were, and are, all doing well. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hal 609 Posted Tuesday at 11:46 PM Aww , man love the pics but now I’m reminiscing… missing my days with chickens and my bees 🐝! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
