Summer 2013 Broods

UGUIDE

UGUIDE

Active member
I thought I would have seen some last week at the farm but suspect hens were sitting pretty tight on nests yet with late spring and all. Will be back out next week and will have to start slipping some of the 200 acres of CRP planted last fall and spring.

My buddy down the road at deer camp in WI saw a brood and to my knowledge he wins the award for first brood sighting of the season.
 
Wouldn't cha know......out clipping earlt succesional weed cover in newly planted CRP and there they were.... two new broods. One could fly a bit better than the other brood. Little buggers. Got to pay attentions and be ready to slow down real quick.

Rahter large broods too I thought. 10 or better chicks in each brood.

Full day of clipping tomorrow so we will see what we see.
 
A few more broods yesterday. Lots of hens too. I would say average brood size is 8-10.

Man, I don't know of anything worse than having to mow a field full of thistle before they go to seed during peak hatch.

It's just not fair.
 
UGUIDE said:
A few more broods yesterday. Lots of hens too. I would say average brood size is 8-10.

Man, I don't know of anything worse than having to mow a field full of thistle before they go to seed during peak hatch.

It's just not fair.
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Been there done that.. its a several year process. IM in my 6th year of trying to do a forb/grass restoration. Knowing what I know now, I would start with the grasses only for 4 years, use chemicals to control the broadleafs, and then, when I was happy with the grasses, introduce the forbs..

Glad to hear your seeing chicks! My kind of chicks, that is.:D
 
Reddog, I hear ya. I just came in from mowing this morning and saw more broods. In the crp trees they like to use the fabric as escape runway.

Of course they are in with the weeds and all the good stuff.

Just clipping and prayin here:D

Good year for candians....thistle that is.
 
Oh yeah. I forgot to mention the insect production is incredible. You would not believe what is on top of the mower deck after I stop and check things out. What a smorgasboard for the new chicks. loads of tiny green hoppers and many other things I have no idea what they are but I am sure are palatable to the new birds.:cheers:
 
UGUIDE said:
Oh yeah. I forgot to mention the insect production is incredible. You would not believe what is on top of the mower deck after I stop and check things out. What a smorgasboard for the new chicks. loads of tiny green hoppers and many other things I have no idea what they are but I am sure are palatable to the new birds.:cheers:
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Umm, they haven't sprayed the beans yet....
 
UGUIDE said:
Not an option. The aphids get a free pass on my farm. Besides, all I got is winter wheat this year.

Saw about 10 more broods mowing this week. Looking into putting a flushing bar on the front of the tractor before the next go round.
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Man wouldn't you know my neighbors calls and says guys are seeing bugs in their wheat. I am reading Agweek and article on aphids in wheat in central and eastern SD. I am hoping the pheasants can clean the up:) Guess I'll call the coop and see what they been seeing. General consensus in the area is there is not enough yield in the wheat to warrant much more investment of controls.

Knowing how much broods depend on insects for 2 months I am hesitant to use any insecticides on the farm. We'll see.
 
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