Hurray for Sunshine!

Had a busy weekend here on the farm! The sun was finally out and the temperature was great! So we grabbed our gloves and tools and got to work on another pasture for the goats. We were able to set posts, run fencing and hang the gates! There are some finishing touches that we need to take care of, but we should be open for grazing this week. Very exciting!

We discussed the plans for the new barn this weekend. Have two new ideas that we need to research and go over before we begin to break ground!

The chicks hatched this week, we ended up with 11 total, not a bad number. Boy are they little cuties! I have some more eggs setting now from a friend. They are buff orphingtons, and I look forward to them hatching.

Lela went to the vet this week and I was informed that at the age of 4.5 months she weighs in at 9 pounds and is healthy! The vet said that she will either be very small all her life (in which case, breeding would not be recommended) or she will take a long time to grow to her full size. I am relieved that there is nothing wrong with her and that she is just small!

The chickens are really getting on the ball with the eggs and we are slightly overwhelmed! We have experienced a great loss in chickens this winter so we are relieved that we are getting more than enough eggs for ourselves and our customers.

Oh, and I almost forgot . . . the gardening has begun! I planted 80 tomato seeds from 4 different types and have had most of them to sprout. I am very pleased with the results so far. I have also planted a bunch of strawberry seeds that have begun to sprout as well. I will soon be planting the remaining seeds so when the last frost happens I am ready to plant in the ground! I am planning on selling started plants this year since I cannot see wasting them.

Well the monkey bread is ready and I am hungry . . . off to dessert!

Eggs are incubating!

On wednesday a box containing 39 hatching eggs arrived! 1 was cracked, but the other 38 were in perfect condition! I set 5 under Itty Bitty, since she has gotten bit by the broody bug . . . again. I put the remainder eggs in the incubator where they are happily automatically turning in perfect temperature and humidity conditions! They are expected to hatch at or around March 3! I am very anxiously awaiting that day, and know that the next 21 days will go by slowly. Fingers are crossed on a great first hatch! I will be sure to keep you posted about the progress of the eggs as they are candled and hatch.

As far as goats, Lela is growing slowly but surely. At 4 months of age she weighs in at 8 pounds. She is about 1/3 of the size she should be at this stage in her life. (as perspective, I have two month old babies that already outweigh her!) Chris says she must be a slow grower, after all her mom is very petite. As long as she continues to gain weight and be an active baby I will remain hopeful for her to reach a normal size.

Pregnancy update:

Stella is getting rather large! It is due to my being unorganized that I cannot recall her breeding date. I have turned the house upside down and backwards looking for where I recorded the information. I am going to guess and say that she was bred in November 09, which would mean I should hopefully see babies around April. It would fit with the way she is getting wider and wider over the past week, and a teeny tiny udder seems to be poking out.

Coco is getting round, not sure if that is a sure fire sign that her breeding has led to a pregnancy or not. I am fairly confident that it has, she has also gotten more needy with me and demands constant attention when we are outside. Hoping for July babies.

Ava I do not see a change in at the moment. She is larger than Coco, so seeing changes in her body will take a little longer. I suspect that by the end of the month we should be able to see some growing in her tummy! Also hoping for July babies from her.

We are working on picking the next two does to breed in February. I hope that Donovan is ready for the task since I plan to breed one to him and one to george every month here on out. I am attempting to get breeding pairs to see this spring, since I have had plenty of people ask me about it in the past.

Hoping to get another pasture set up tomorrow since we have company this weekend. It is always nice to do daunting tasks with friends and family, ya know, let them truly share in the farming experience. I had better get myself to bed so I can get up early to make a hearty breakfast for the day of work!

oh, and PS . . . we just got back from Avatar, so good! Such a beautiful and moving movie.

Movin' on up!

Well this weekend we installed lights in the barn. It is so amazing to be able to see what you are doing! They are powered by a solar cell, which charges an old car battery! Very exciting!

We have dusted off the incubator and fired it up! I discovered that the egg turner I have does not seem to be functioning right now :( very frustrating. I have eggs on the way! I ordered 24 Mille Fleur D'Uccle! We are very excited about them, here is what they look like.

Hope we have a great first hatch! And that our birds are as beautiful as this one!

we have been doing some goat breeding, Stella, Coco and Ava are all pregnant. More will follow soon!

All the best to the babies!

We get to say goodbye to our Charlotte and Jackson today! It is always a bittersweet time for us. We know that these babies will have a wonderful time with the Orr family and their children!

I know that Sadie is sad to see them go. After they left the farm she kind of laid in the hay and pouted! I don't think I have ever seen her so sad over her babies leaving before. Poor lady! I will have to spend some quality time with her and give her some yummy treats tomorrow.

New year means new goats!

Well we trading Buster and Dexter for a new buck today! We would like to introduce everyone to our new boy George! He is very handsome and stands at 18" tall!

George did not come alone, he brought with him a nanny named Petunia and two four day old doelings.

The little girls still need names, they are both gray colors, one is much darker then the other. We have decided that as of 2010 we will be working our way thru the alphabet when it comes to naming babies. So 2010 is A year, all babies born here will have their name start with A.

Both Petunia and George seem not socialized, so it will take much work to get them to be friendly pets. But I think we can handle that.

Well now that we have two unrelated bucks let the breeding begin! Lots of babies to be had this year!

I am also expecting Charlotte and Jackson to be going to a new home next weekend. The family was supposed to come today, but something came up.

Farewell 09, hello 2010!

We would like to wish everyone a Happy New year! Hope ya'll had fun and safe nights last night!

It has sure been a busy year for us here on the farm and I would like to recap with the events that have occurred.

-Total eggs collected - 2,770 (way to go ladies, lets double that for 2010)

-Total baby goats born - 12 (8 does and 4 bucks - good job girls, lets hope 2010 brings more babies and lots of girls!)

Some improvements that have been made in 2009 include -

-increasing to 3 chicken coops

-completing 1 buck barn

-fencing in 1 more pasture

Our new years resolutions are:

-Build the new barn with nursery and a hay loft

-fence in at least 1 more pasture

It should be an upcoming busy year for us, so please check back in regularly to see our progress!

Happy New Year all!

Update on to do list!

Okay world, here it is, my tasks for the holiday weekend....drum roll please .... what i got done:

-got hay from Beth's house (got two truck loads to fill the shed and put a hole in the tire, so Chris showed me how to change one, at least i learned something new!)

-I removed the fencing around IB and HP so the lovely ladies and their babies can roam free!

-I closed up the shack for the girls with chris' help

-I moved the hay feeder down to the garden, it really confused all the goats, but they have figured it out!

I was not able to insulate the water dishes or attach an overhang to the coops.

I was not able to complete my list, but I am very pleased that I got most of it completed. We also spent time working inside and are going to be laying slate tile for the fire place this week.

I will make sure to take advantage of the upcoming three day weekend as well!

I was disappointed to find out this weekend that two more of my Silkies have matured to be roosters, so they will get listed for sale this week and should be easy to rehome.

Hope everyone had a merry christmas! I sure did, I am currently baking a loaf of banana bred in my brand new bread maker (so cool)!