Today, well this evening was the big day.  Steve arrived shortly after work to shear our 6 sheep.  He was a bit nervous about our shetlands as he doesn't like the length of the fiber but was surprised by how quickly it went.  He did a fine job.

We saved our ewes for last as they are the least tame and had the shortest fiber.  Oh my, they are both very pregnant.  With their wool off, they are still quite heavy.  Steve figures we'll have lambs on the ground within 2 weeks.  Oh I'm excited!

We also had the neighbor boy show up this evening as well to get his rabbit he talked to me about at the 4H meeting last week.  He said, I just don't want a black rabbit.  Black is to hard to see IF the rabbit gets out of its cage.  Oh he was so cute!  Madison gave him and his sister a tour of the farm while Rich talked dairy farming with his dad.  They left a while later with a white doe.  He was very happy!

Oh I have to mention what a beautiful day it was!  Madison's class had D.A.R.E. graduation this afternoon and a military helicopter landed on the football field.  The kids were so excited.  That was fun to see.

Anyway,  that covers today.  GoodNight!
Carol

I was up early today and on the road at 7:30 am.  I had to picked some 4H rabbits and deliver some pet rabbits.   Madison plans on keeping on of the bunnies and we will find homes for the other 2.

I made a stop at the farm store and bought the rest of their Red Bourbon Turkey poults.  We now have 10 poults in the brooder coop.  I moved Madison's fair chickens to the barn.

I also placed our order for butchering chickens.  They should be here either next week or the following week.  I decided to try some slower growing broilers.  We'll see how they do.

I did manage to cut my finger with the electric knife this afternoon.  It wasn't running at the time but did an excellent of slicing open my finger.   It's hard to type tonight without using it.  It's pretty sore.

I think that covers today.  Have a good night!
carol

Today, the farm bought it's first bulk feed.  We now have enough chickens to buy feed in bulk.  It saved us $100 to buy it this way.  We had a neighbor grind/mix it for us. 

We also have some newcomers to the farm.  First, when Madison and Rich picked up the feed , they also picked up 3 piglets.  They were runts.  The pig farmer figured they would not make it so Dizzy, Piglet and Hamlet are now living here.  Hopefully, they will have a better chance at surviving here.  He mentioned that if they died, "come on over, I have more!"  3 hogs will more then fill our freezers next fall.

After selling some turkey hatching eggs and delivering some bunnies to the local farm store, we headed out to picked up 2 humane society rescue animals.  Aflac, a pekin drake and Red, a buff rooster, joined our farm this evening.  What a couple of characters!  They are a pair/best buds so to speak.  Red immediately started protecting Aflac as our farm ducks came to check out the drake.  It seems Aflac came with his own bodyguard!  LOL  Aflac just follows Red around, it's pretty funny to watch.

Aflac is yellow, not white.  Anyone know why?  I think it might have to do with what he was fed but I'm not sure.  I'm not sure if he had water to "wash" in so maybe it's duck oil on his feathers.  He looks more like a giant duckling then a white pekin.

Star and Macho (bottle kids) left the farm earlier today with 2 bunnies.  So we are down to 2 bottle kids and 1 bottle lamb.  That should make chores a few minutes shorter until tomorrow evening when our 10 LaMancha bucklings arrive.

Well, I think that covers today.  GoodNight!
Carol

Today was the big day.  We brought home our 4 Saanan (bred) does along with little Lamb Chop.  I have been talking with Michelle since January and it was so wondeful to finally met her and her family.  We toured their little farm and they do a lot of things the same way we do.  It sure was fun.

First Michelle took me to meet the does and after we went thru the goat pen, we were greeted buy LambChop.  Her one and only bottle lamb who's mama decided she didn't want him.  I picked him up in my arms and instantly was in love with the brown little guy.  He fell asleep while we walked and talked.

When we had learned everything we thought we needed too, we loaded up Verona, Montana, Wyoming and Cricket into the back of the van/animal hauler.  Of course, LambChop rode home in my arms in the front seat.

We arrived home a little after 3 pm to get all the new critters settled in.  LambChop is the only lamb we have.  Daisy and Baby are not due until May so he's doing his best to keep up with the goat kids.  Right now, I'd say he's the noisiest baby in the yard! LOL

I'll get pictures up real soon.  I better do another barn check.  GoodNight!
Carol

Hopefully, someone out there who has sheep can help me.  I have some questions about shearing sheep.  We have 3 shetland wethers, a shetland cross wether, a polypay ewe and a suffolk ewe... all need shearing. 

I'm too independant (frugal) to hire someone so I want to do the shearing myself, well, with Rich's help.  I know I can't do it alone.  I'm hoping to save the fiber at least from the shetlands, although, they have several cockleburs so I don't know what I'll be able to save.

My question is.. what's the best shears for the job?  I've seen an Oster for about $300.00.  I don't mind the price, I just want something that can handle the job and not die after the 3rd shearing.

Also, should I shear the ewes before they lamb?  They are due in May.  If I remember right, the gal I got them from had them sheared last summer or early fall.  Although, I'm really not sure.  their wool is so different from the shetlands.

Also, can I use the sheep shears for shearing our llama?  She looks like she could use a trim.

I would greatly appreciate any help someone can give me.
Carol

Oh boy, what a muddy mess the rain makes.  Of course, it didn't start raining until I wanted to get some stuff done outside.  UGH!  So we worked in the rain this afternoon.

I had 2 people coming to look at rabbits in the rain.  With the frost stillin the ground, the rain doesn't soak into the ground real fast so we got to walk in the muck.  Thank goodness all the rabbits are in the barn so once there, we were dry.  I managed to sell 3 bunnies between the 2 people so that was good.

Trish was one of the people.  She really enoyed checking out the farm and so badly wanted to take home a goat but she said they weren't ready yet with the barn to handle a larger animal so sheleft without one but said she would call me when they were ready to add a few more critters.

The other gal was Malinda.  She drove about an hour to check out our lion heads.  Of course, she left with 2 of them!  LOL  Madison had thewlion heads in her room since the day they were born and loved them up a lot so they are super friendly and love to give bunny kisses.

Malinda also took home some goat's milk.  She grew up with goats and her better half grew up on cow's milk so she was trying to convince him how great goat's milk is.  In trade, she brought 2 jars of canned kiwi and 1 jar of kiwi jam.  Madison had a jar of kiwi open before Malinda was a mile down the road!  LOL  She loved it,  I think its pretty good but Austin and Rich don't care for it.  I can't wait to try the jam.

I think I forgot to mention that Rich has been rendering suet into tallow.  Today he finished the last of it.  We figure at least 20 pounds of tallow in freezer.  Now I need to find some recipes and get moving on the soap making.

That's all for today.  GoddNight!
Carol

I received a much wanted phone call today.  It did come a bit earlier than I had expected but Ron from the local farm store called.  He said they had customers asking for bunnies and did I have some.  I sure did.  I loaded up 10 and off Madison and I headed. 

We raise rabbits each year for the farm store.  They are our best customer.  I wasn't expecting the call quite this early so we didn't have a lot of bunnies ready but 10 was enough to satisfy them for now.  We will have more toward the end of the month.

While in the store, someone had questions about bunnies and that's when I met Trish.  We chatted for a bit and she decided she wanted to come out to our farm to see what we are doing as she and her hubby just bought a farm.  Tomorrow is when she plans to visit.

The bulk of my day was spent cleaning rabbit cages.  I tell ya, things sure build up over the winter and things are tooo frozen to clean so now that its warm I'm moving manure big time!  The compost pile is getting bigger!!  It's gonna be great on the garden.

Well, that's the big news here.  GoodNight!
Carol

We are gearing up for the winter storm/blizzard that is headed our way for tomorrow.  It was beautiful today until the rain started this evening.

We made a quick run to the goat dairy to retrieve 15 goat kids.  The owner replaced the 4 we lost and we gained another 11.  So our goat kid count is at 20!  That's a lot of bottles.  This batch looks better then the last so we are happy. 

The 2 doelings in the bunch are small and pretty light so they are in the house to get some "special" treatment.  After their first feeding, we have a buckling in the house too.  He just doesn't look like he's feeling ok so I want to watch him.

Otherwise the day was uneventful.  Our does with pink eye are getting better, I'm now treating 4 of them.  A couple more days and we should be good to go.  Thanks Marilyn for letting me know their sight will come back.  That's a relief.

Well, I'm off to bed.  GoodNight!
Carol

We sold the last of our alpine goat kids tonight.  It was sad to see them go but there are more coming in March.  I can also sleep in!  LOL  Our meat goats should start kidding sometime in the next week or two so we will be busy again.

Right now, it's rabbit kindling time.  We have 4 does due this upcoming week.  In fact, Puddles was nesting tonight so she's in the house.  Temps are dipping into the single digits tonight so I'd rather be safe then sorry.  I have orders for purebred mini lops and I don't want to lose another litter.

The bunnies we have in the house are now 11 days old.  We have 10 bunnies between the 2 litters.  Their eyes are now open and they should be acting like little bunnies in a few days.

Milking our new dairy goats is going pretty well.  Lucy and Annie are pretty good for either Madison or I when it comes to milking them which I'm happy for.  We are still waiting for the milking stand so it takes 2 of us to milk them at the moment.  I'm enjoying it.  Not sure I'd want to milk 20 of them but 2 is a good starter number.

Well, I'm off to bed.  GoodNight!
Carol

My mornings are now starting at 4:45 am.  Its really only an hour earlier.  Adding 10 bottle kids and 2 milking does is keeping me busy.

We have one doeling who's not going to make it...  she couldn't hardly stand tonight.  I'm sure she will pass overnight.  Everyone else is doing well. 

Rich and I decided to sell some of the kids.  Oh my.. the response we got was incredible.  4 kids left the farm this afternoon along with 2 baby bunnies to live with a wonderful homeschooling family not too far from here.  We have 6 left... if the doeling makes it.. which I doubt.

Our milking does, Lucy & Annie are getting used to the new milking arrangements.  They are pretty tolerant of Madison and I being inexperinced with milking goats.  They are so very sweet.  Lucy has a crush on Rich and gives him "kisses" all the time!  LOL  I believe she is in heat so Rich put her in with George.  I really need to get a couple pictures of the new gals to share with you all.

Well, I think that covers it.  GoodNight!
Carol