Birth Announcement!

Thomas T Turkey, and his lovely Tomasina T Turkey, formerly from Terre Verde Farm, are the proud parents of a couple brand new poults! My very first home raised poults!

Thom & Tomasina are Royal Palm Turkeys, which are a heritage breed.
Turkeys have NOT been an easy bird for me to raise. I tried years ago (before the internet) and treated them like chicks. I lost them all as the chicks went under cover and the poults just sat out in the rain and died. A few years ago I decided to try again as I kept seeing RP's on the net and then saw some in person. WOW, are they striking. I also have enjoyed watching the wild turkeys. When Terre Verde Farm had poults for sale I got half a dozen hatchlings (couple days old and extremely well cared for under Tammy's careful management). The first winter I lost 3 and had lost one earlier. So I ended up with 2 hens. I got another Tom from Tammy and they were doing pretty well as far as I could tell. Then I lost a hen over last winter. I've been so hoping that Thom and Tomasina could pull this off. They finally started trying to mate this spring but I never say them get the deed done. I just saw poor Thom taking a few awkward "spills" and then fluffing up to to improve his demeanor. So I thought I'd help and kept putting the eggs in my incubator and never had a single one hatch or develop! I thought they weren't fertile as I broke several open (phew)  and there wasn't any development at all.

So, when Tomasina went broody, the eggs were almost all in the incubator so I left her with the last 4. SHE was able to incubate and hatch them MUCH better than I did! So from now on, Tomasina will be hatching her own clutch of eggs and I'll probably have a lot better hatch rate!

I've seen 2 but don't know how many she has for sure. Tomorrow they will need to be released from her huge dog shipping crate that I've been locking her in to spare her the varmit attacks that have eliminated almost all of my chickens in the last couple weeks. I cherish my face and arms much more than I need to know how many she hatched. That can wait til tomorrow as there's nothing I can do to change what she does better than I do!

But, I'm ESTATIC! Maybe if I leave them to this flock expansion program it will happen.... next year!

And maybe I will go ahead and buy some Red Bourbon poults and get a slow start with them!

Acquisitions!

How's that for a subject line?

In the middle of all the coming and goings, I have a new doeling coming. Unfortunately she half and half and but she should be able to fill her milk bucket too!

She's by a LM buck and a Saanen doe. It was an oopsie breeding but the genetics from both are outstanding so for a home milker, she's DEFINITELY coming. She's a sister to my LM doe and I love this doe so hope the new will be a lot like her!

One of my goals for this year was to add a Saanen so I'm meeting half of a goal! I did give up on that for this year as I got the 2 Angora's so that was all I was going to do for adding to my base herd for this year.

Now I'm trying to think of a name for the new girl! I like their names to be distinctive because they do learn them. I like to have them different enough that they KNOW if I'm talking to them. I've got a list of potential names for her started but need to see what fits her.

 

It's sure fun to be bringing home a new doeling and even if she will be a grade! I do hope she'll be able to produce a good amount of milk because of losing Kendra's daily bucket full. Losing Kendra, I've been real short on milk and have had to buy milk for the house.

I bought a couple more stainless milk buckets when the feed store was closing so I can milk everyone into their own bucket. I have a big bucket already for the new girl so I hope she'll be able to do it justice! lol More on her when I get her home (soon)!

Farm Report for June 4th

Why am I still amazed every year that the barn gets sooooo much calmer and quieter when the kids start leaving? It was soooo much more peaceful to do chores last night and milk.

I finally made up my mind on which 2 bucks to keep out of the 3 and Wrapper left. The other 2 remaining boys better BEHAVE and not be destructive. I just don't have the energy or desire to deal with destruction. If they are going to be a buck, they MUST cooperate to be lead, and ESPECIALLY if they are going to ram the gate open and knock me down! If they are going to make things difficult for me, as much as I like them, I just can't do it. I guess I'm getting too old and I can tell you, getting up isn't getting any easier either. He was not mean at all, but not easy enough for me to manage with my health and disability.

Along with Wrapper leaving, Kendra's orphan bucklings left. They've not done really well without their momma. They were pretty cooperative even though with momma and being dam raised. When Kendra passed, I left her with them and her fav bud for the better part of the day. The 2 boys didn't take it well and even though just short of 2 months, turned "wild". I had to catch then and get them on a bottle for a couple weeks. One took to the bottle right off and would suck. The other only wanted to chew. But I did get milk in them and more in the willing-to-suck boy of course. The willing boy got to the point he'd come to me and take the bottle but he had to see the bottle to come or he didn't want any part of it. They will end up being 4H show wethers and I think they should do well. They are going to be pretty striking looking boys and stout.

 Also leaving was Boomer, Jewel's first kid and a buckling. Now I get the milk! I've been so waiting for this! I love this doe! She's also Kendra's daughter which has made Kendra's death easier to handle. I've been milking Jewel some and she's very easy to milk. She does squirm a bit but I think she'll quit soon. I hope her next lactation will up her production. Boomer was doing an excellent job milking her out so I hadn't gotten much from her so I'm not sure how much I'll end up getting from her. I sure hope she milks like her momma! She does have better udder attachment and that was the one thing I needed improved. The little rascal was getting so he could sneak out and get to the little doelings. I'm not sure what he was doing to escape but I kept trying to "shore things up" to prevent it and he was still finding a way!

Two ND's also left. JuneBug's buckling and LadyBug's white doeling left. I hope I made the right decision in letting Jitterbug go as he was a striking looking boy and a real sweetie. Had I kept him I'd have been back to 3 bucks. I don't need 3 bucks for 8 does!

So, 6 less to feed, and there are still 4 kids here, Sugar still to kid and a doeling I need to go pick up. Claire has her 2 bucklings who are spoken for and will leave when they are ready to wean. JuneBug and LadyBug still have a doeling they are nursing. I'd like to get a little more time on JuneBug's doeling. Her buckling was the largest of the triplets and I lost Dinky a couple weeks ago. Maddy is still a bit small so I want to give her a bit more growing time and to mature a bit more too. The two are going to the same home so Mosey can spend a couple more weeks with LadyBug.

Sugar, my adorable LaMancha doe, needs to get with the program. I thought she was due before this. She evedentially had a precocous udder. Now she's actually getting some bagging up done.

I'm getting an oopsie half sister to Sugar. The new doeling is half LaMancha (Sugar's sire) and half Sanaan. I had a goal for a Sanaan this year. Then I got the other twin doelings and decided it would have to wait. But I got offered this "La Sanaan" or "La Manaan" and quickly said yes! Now I need to go get her! I hope she has the same disposition as Sugar. What a love Sugar is. Oh, and I hope she doesn't have the need to scale tall walls that Sugar has!

So, it's sure a lot more quiet and calm to feed and milk! I'm all for it even though I LOVE the kids! Last Winter, my core herd was down to 9. This year it will consist of the 10 following:

Claire (aging Alpine)

Jewels (FF Alpine)

Sugar (LaMancha - FF if she gets to it)

LaMancha x Sanaan doeling to come

Deliah (Angora doeling)

Daisy (Angora doeling)

JuneBug (ND)

LadyBug (ND)

Kernals (ND buck)

Patches (ND buck)

That will keep me plenty busy with the goats over the winter.

Thank you, Military!

Happy Mother's Day!

I've Tried and I'm Trying Again!

I've been having some computer issues. I hope I've got the majority fixed. The fact my computer is over 5 is a problem. It's showing some "age issues" and instability. I hate to have ANOTHER computer repair but it's looking like it needs some hospitalization!

Please bear with me! I've lots to share and pics I can't seem to get resized as my Jasc program is also sick.

All I need to know I learned from the Easter Bunny!

All I need to know I learned...

from the Easter Bunny!

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.

There's no such thing as too much candy.

All work and no play can make you a basket case.

A cute tail attracts a lot of attention.

Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.

Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.

Some body parts should be floppy.

Keep your paws off of other people's jelly beans.

Good things come in small, sugar coated packages.

The grass is always greener in someone else's basket.

To show your true colors, you have to come out of the shell.

The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

Happy Easter!

Temperature Converions - F vs C

I finally found a chart so I don't have to struggle thru a migraine to convert the temps! Now I can look at the formula I posted before and get this right.

°C................°F

100............212

90..............194

80..............176

70..............158

60..............140

50..............122

40..............104

37.............96.6

30................86

20................68

10................50

5................41

0................32

-5................23

-10...............14

-20................-4

-30..............-22

-40..............-40

Mohair!

Do any of you remember mohair yarn and wrapping a boyfriend's class ring with it so it would fit your finger and be all fluffly and soft?

 

We are now "manufacturing" mohair on the hoof! As of today, I'm the ESTATIC owner of 2 Angora does (yearlings). I am so excited and LUCKY!

 

They have had their Spring shearing but have some long curls on their undersides that need trimmed to have their whole coat the same length so I'm looking forward to have a handful of their soft locks. I'm not sure what I'll do with a small handful, but if nothing else I can start to learn about the feel of fiber! I should be able to shear them this Fall just before breeding season.

 

I'll try to get some pics tomorrow. They are twins and just adorable!

There is Mayhem, Mischief & Madness in My Barn

When we got home the night before last, I put some Mayhem, Mischief & Madness in my horse trailer for the night. When I showed up yesterday morning I found my trailer had an alarm system and the system said I was probably stealing the trailer. Then yesterday I got them moved to the run-in stall on the back of the barn. Now today I have an alarm system in the barn and it was declared I was trying to steal the barn.

So I put some corn and rabbit pellets in the feed bucket and said I'd be back in a while.

When I return, I'll take my camera. Then I can show you what is causing the ruckus!

Oh, and the goats are NOT impressed!

Fahrenheit to Centigrade Conversions

I need a bit of help! Yes, I could look this up and figure it out myself, but I'm in a major hurry and just don't have time. I wanted to use it but... maybe I need to put it off.

For the centigrade, is it a fraction of five ninths so it would be 5/9 without the spaces? so -32 x 5/9?

And for the fahrenheit is it the actual centigrade number x 9/5 and +32?

Or are they using calculator symbols so the / actually means divide?


Fahrenheit to Centigrade Conversions:

Centigrade = (Fahrenheit -32) X 5 / 9
Fahrenheit= (Centigrade X 9 /5) + 32


I should have been a scientist! Thanks for any help you might be able to offer!

Have a good weekend!

Potato Growing

Last year I read of someone in a gardening group who was growing potatoes in black plastic trash/garbage bags. I thought it was a neat idea to grow them up and instead of using a lot of space and doing a lot of digging. This year I'm reading of using 55 gallon barrels to do the same. So it was only natural for a light-bulb moment, right?

I'm going to try a few of the woven grain bags for growing my potatoes this year! I thought the grain bags would do a better job due to having better drainage. Not to mention, I just happen to have an abundance of them. I'll just place them where I want to expand another plot/bed. The biggest job will be getting the compost and potato sprouts in the bags. I'll just fold the tops down to make it easy and can unfold as needed. As the potato plants start to grow, the technique is to add more compost and a few more potato seeds. So it should be pretty darned easy to get started.

Then I can use the compost/dirt from the bags to expand that garden plot without a lot of work. I can cut the bags to retrieve my yummy potatoes and the dirt will spill right where I want it. Plus the bags sitting on the edge of that plot should kill off a lot of the grass making it even easier.

Have any of you tried container growing potatoes? I've done ground planting, trench with hay planting, etc in the past. I've run into problems with slugs or something chewing on my potatoes. So I think the woven bags might just be an improvement in the pest department too!

Update From Around the Farm

I haven't disappeared! I'm just VERY BUSY! I've had 3 does kid so far and there are 6 kids. LadyBug, Jewels and now JuneBug have kidded. JuneBug is trying to "unfriend" her TINY girl. So I'm busy with hourly trips to the horse trailer to headlock her and make her let "Dinky" eat and then the other 2 to finish off any milk left. Her actual milk is just coming in so we should be up to speed soon. The kids are FIGHTING taking a bottle. I'm going to pick up a Pritchard nipple at TSC for Dinky. She's soooo tiny that the clear, soft lamb nipples are much to big for her mouth.  So, more later! And I'm trying to get pics too!

I shall return! I ahve a million and one things to try to accomplish today and I know there's NO chance I'll get them all done. But I need to try!

Easter Question

I've got these beautiful eggs my hens provide me with daily! Aren't they pretty?

I have 13 cute little chicks!

I came home with some nice rabbit cages found for sale on the side of the road! But, I haven't any bunnys yet. I want some. I'm ready for some. I've been pondering the acquisition and looking. I've given it a lot of serious thought. Now I'm READY!

Do you think the Easter Bunny might bring this old lady a few bunnys? After all, I have the other Easter type things! I can't have the candy due to being diabetic, so all that is left is BUNNYS! (I know, y to ie +s. I just like the short way.)

I need the Easter Bunny's address! I want to send him a Dear Santa, errr Dear Easter Bunny letter! Email would be fine!

I Spy Udders!

LadyBug (below right) and JuneBug (below left), ND's, are bagging up nicely! They are both making a significant difference in their udder daily. These girls are 2 of triplets. I usually refer to them as twins being I have the 2 but reality is trips. They actually look like a 2-headed goat but there are really 2 bodies here:

This is JuneBug's 2nd pregnancy. Last year she aborted fully developed quads who were getting their hair and appeared perfect. She had a TERRIBLE time over it. I had to leave her with them for a while so she could process it. My commiserations and attention weren't making any difference and she just needed the time. So I came to the house to get my camera and shed a few of my own tears. It was really sad listening to her crying over them. It was actually a wailing type cry and just a heart breaker. I so so hope she has healthy kids, an easy kidding and DOELINGS! Trips would be AWESOME!

This will be LadyBug's 3rd kidding. She had twin doelings the first kidding, twin bucklings last year and this year just HAS to be a doeling year again. (Hey, there were 13 bucklings and 1 doeling born last year! Then the lost quads were 3 bucklings and 1 doeling.) LadyBug is the doe who was badly injured when pg with her first pregnancy. She is disabled but kidded with no problems last year. I just worry a bit about her because of her severe injuries and the wear and tear on her body.

I still have LadyBug's twin bucks from last year. I really like them both. Patches is to the right with my info. He's a colorful fella! Wrapper is the chamoise (brown w/black trim) buck who broke his leg last Summer and spent 2 months in the house with hubby and I getting it healed. I hope I don't have to pick amongst them as I don't think I could. I like them both immensely. They have a LOT of similarities and yet also have some uniqueness that I really like. They are both very handsome dudes!

Kernals, the new boy is the sire of LadyBug's and JuneBug's kids. I can't wait to see what they produce. Kernals is gold and white. JuneBug is a broken buckskin and LadyBug is a broken, spotted chamoisee (polka dotted according to non goatie people).

After 13 bucklings and a doeling last year, I am DETERMINED that I DESERVE a doeling year! I'm POSITIVE I should never have so many bucklings ever again. That was beyond ridiculous! I don't even want to see any little bucklings this year. They just aren't in my plans!

I guess I better get ready! Being they'll be March kids, the weather can be pretty cold yet. So they'll need some little goatie coaties to wick the moisture away and help while they adapt their body regulators to keep them warm. I'll need to have all the towels, kidding supplies, etc ready for a moment's notice. After all, these 2 girls live life on their own terms and to their own drummer so they won't be thinking of what is convenient for me! Neither does the goat stork!

Illusive Birds

Geese? Goslings? Hatching Eggs? They ARE illusive when I want (PREFER) to buy them locally and not pay shipping or have newly hatched babes shipped up here in the cold North! They also want a small order charge added and additional per gosling postal fee. It runs the price right up FAST.

They are also VERY illusive when I look in my pocket!

I wanted a trio of Sebastapols. I LOVE LOVE LOVE their curly feathers. Add that regal stature and those lovely feathers and you have a very BEAUTIFUL bird. BUT, when I started the serious search, I found day olds are $50 each and already sold out! Plus, you have to have a curly feathered bird AND a smooth feathered so you don't get bone deformities as the curly gene and bone genes are in the same spot on the genetic allele.

People on Craigs List aren't very good at responding to the ads they post. If the item is gone, it would be nice if they'd pull the ad or at least hit reply and a "sold" response.

I'm also trying to find out if therer would be any at some of the small animal swaps or such. I hate to spend several hours on the road to get to one if they don't have any geese there!

I've had BAD luck with getting hatching eggs shipped to me. The PO seems to think they are soccer balls or something!

I'll keep looking... I have found a place that has some but don't know their name. I can't look them up so have to catch them home to see if they'd sell a few goslings or eggs.  Maybe they'd sell a trio???

And I'm off to google a fairgrounds that I heard might have some at their sales... another 2 hour drive!

Terminology Observation

I was on wikipedia and ran across this quote:

"This article contains weasel words: vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. Such statements should be clarified or removed. (December 2010)"

I have to wonder about it! I mean is it a comment from a reader not agreeing with the rabbit info provided or is it from wikipedia? I've never seen it before!

So do we have a new term, weasel words? I find it a tad offensive or repulsive. So now are bloggers a bunch of weasel worders?

I don't find wikipedia to be a professional and highly accurate site. No offense, and I do use it. But, I consider the info to be a start for researching and feel I'm then responsible to verify, clarify, or disregard if I can't support it with professional info. In a way, it's rather like reading a blog. It's the author's opinion or writing.

That being, I sure don't consider myself as weasely! I always thought to be a weasel (not the 4 legged variety) was quite negative and suggests being sneaky and conniving! That rabbit article was interesting and informative, an opinion and experience. It was NOT a negative article. I didn't find the words to be sneaky or conniving or anything resembling a weasel!

Interesting, for sure! What do you think?

Another Dilemma - Clothes Pins!

It's time to be hanging a lot of laundry outside and I have a problem! I have got to get some new clothes pins. I'm sure many of you run into the same issue I'm having. I WANT and I NEED some STRONG clothes pins. I NEED them to hold a pair of jeans on the line without using 20 of them and hoping the wind doesn't stir! Today's clothes pins are JUNK, IMHO! These junky one's won't even hold a sock, dish or wash cloth, or the "unmentionables" on the line.

I can't afford to go buy clamps at the hardware store! It does seem like those clamps are about what I need these days! I need REAL clothes pins. I NEED clothes pins for a REAL load of laundry!

And, I need to get the laundry soap made too. I have all the ingredients, just need to get that soap grated!

So what do you all do about this? This is a REAL problem!

Let the Incubating & Hatching Begin!

TODAY is THE day! The incubator has been running since yesterday. The temp is almost ideal. The 2nd thermometer (with humidity) is now recharged and in to temp compare with the other therm.

I'll be going out to collect eggs soon and hope they aren't frozen due to it being so DARN COLD! And then I'll add all my collected eggs to the incubator and wish them a successful hatching with healthy, vibrant little chickies!

They will be due to hatch March 3rd - 4th!

Do you want to see a banner up with all the seasonal ones to tell when the hatch is due to begin? I hadn't decided if I would do that this year. If you enjoy seeing it there, I'll be happy to add it! Just post me a comment OR mark at the bottom of this post in the "interesting" box. You don't have to log in or anything to mark the "interesting" box! :) No capcha code to try to discern.

I'm really looking forward to hatching again. I really need some little chicks to grow into layers and farm entertainers. I do enjoy watching their antics.

Varmit Control Update: No luck last night as we had a snow storm and it got COLD! There weren't even any tracks in the snow. I've more juicy tidbits to add to the container of cat kibble and a juicy pork chop fat strip to freshen up the aroma.

Off to murmur my little hatch well chickies mumble jumble while slowly circulating my hands over the incubator. Gosh, after last year maybe that isn't the best for wishing my lovely eggs well. I didn't seem to have to great of hatches..... Maybe I need a new gimmick or routine! Maybe a better prayer....

So Bummed!

Yesterday I found the Banty Cochin hen in the pic in the preceeding post eaten by a possum. She's the little adorable white hen with her roo. He's pretty much at lost ends yesterday and today. They were really bonded and stuck together amongst the others in that pen. I almost cried. She was a very calm and friendly hen. She followed me around and was fine with being picked up and talked too, as is the roo.

As soon as I can get my big cage from the frozen ground moved, I'll put the roo and my little blue banty Cochin hen with him and hope the 2 will hit it off and become buds.

I'll be getting my incubator out tomorrow and start warming it. Then Friday I hope to be able to set the eggs I have been collecting. The oldest 5 of the eggs will be just a week old so hopefully they are fertile. Aren't the pretty?

I sure do hope I get lucky and have some little banty Cochins in that clutch! There aren't too many banty eggs so I'll be REALLY lucky if I do. There are 2 pairs of banty Favorelles in that pen too so could end up with the eggs being Faverolles.

TSC chickies, here I come! I'll be checking for feather-footed bantys along with some standard size chickes. I'm thinking of ordering from the TSC flier to get some mottled, gold and silver laced and another color of Cochins. I'm hoping they'll have Brahmas too.

Wish me luck. My chickie luck runs really low and I need all the good vibes I can get!