Sometimes we throw scraps to the chickens. They love scraps — watermelon, grapes, apples. Of course, we don’t often have scraps of watermelon, grapes or apples but sometimes we make a point to save some for the chickens. They get a “treat” several times a day.
When I was canning tomatoes, I’d throw some of the cores out to the chickens. Though I suppose the chicken could have eaten the seeds and . . well, I know that what goes in a chicken comes out of the chicken. I know this because remember . . Helen told me so! But, I’m going to believe that the chickens missed the seeds and they sprouted.
Look what popped up in a chicken run area.
There are 6 or 8 tomato plants sprouted up. It doesn’t matter how they got there because they’re going to freeze before they ever make a tomato. I asked Vince to build a little greenhouse around them but you know how long building anything takes around here. Mother Nature, along with Jack Frost and Old Man Winter will not be nearly as patient and I was and they will not sit and wait for Vince to get a greenhouse built. Not that Vince has time to do it anyway but dang . . I surely would like for these plants to bear fruit.
Speaking of tomatoes, I roasted Romas with garlic, onion, basil, and oregano and put it on top of stuffed peppers from the freezer. Easy meal and very, very good. I almost can’t wait for dinner!
Judy D says
Dinner looks yummy!
I wonder how Dear Helen is…have you heard from her at all? I wonder what she thinks now. 🙂
Thanks for the chuckle!!
Carolyn Thomas/Silkquilter01 says
Judy,
How about digging them up and put them in your kitchen window for the winter? Might be fun to see what happens!
Marne says
We’ve had tomatoes sprout up from seeds that survived in a) worm castings and b) compost barrel. Apparently the seeds have that “slimy” coating on them so they are not destroyed or broken down in the normal process of decomposing. Interesting, no?
Julie H. says
Do you own any “Wall-o-waters?” You can extend your growing season quite a bit with them. Mound dirt around the stem (tomatoes will make more roots), pour on the miracle gro, use wall-o-waters, and you might have a chance. Or, pot them up and move them inside under flourescent lights.
A.L. says
I tried to find a link to this story I saw on the news tonight.
They showed this HUGE egg that was produced by a chicken in N.J. It was 1/4 pound! It reminded me of that big egg you had.
They said a 1/4lb. egg is like a woman having a 25 lb. baby! OUCH.
The report said the owner said the chicken was feeling poorly yesterday and this (big egg) was what arrived the next day.
Bobbie says
HAVE TO TELL YOU-WE WENT TO THE ANNUAL CHILI FESTIVAL SAT.-AT PUEBLO-THEY ROAST CHILES-FROM MILD TO EXTRA HOT-YOU’VE NEVER SMELLED MORE WONDERFUL SMELL WITH ALL THE CHILIES ROASTING. bUT, i’VE NEVER KNOWN TO ROAST PIMENTOES AND BOUGHT 1/2 BUSHEL–MY lORD, I’M IN 7TH HEAVEN–i WISH i COULD GIVE YOU ALL A TASTE. hUGS, bOBBIE
Kay says
The seeds were probably eaten by the chickens and then redeposited on the ground where they sprouted. That slimy coat needs to be digested away before the seeds can sprout, so going through the digestive system is a good way to remove it. There are lots of seeds that are more likely to sprout after passing through a bird or another animal.
Vicky says
I forgot to tell you that Gail has a HUGE basil patch. The neighbor comes over and picks, too.
Pat says
We had a baby tomato plant appear and have never had that before. I’m wondering if I can bring it inside and let it grow in one of the rooms where we have a skylight?
Trish says
My chickens love the kitchen scraps too. They had made a total flat area out of what *used to be* my compost “pile,” so DH shoveled it back into a heap yesterday and then put up a rabbit wire fence around it. Then, to make matters even worse, he emptied the compost bowl (my chickens come running when they see the big white bowl exit the back door in someone’s hands!) and headed back inside. We then had several minutes of entertainment, watching the chickens circle the compost pile while looking for a way inside to get to all the yummy treats! *LoL*
Jackie Hicks says
re-plant a few in some gardent tubs and bring them inside on cool nights and have some winter tomatoes! My ag science major hubby says that chicken poop is one of the secrets to growing good/big tomatoes.