Hunting Season

Our Americauna hen laid her first egg yesterday...as far as we know.  The Commander found it up in the sheep hay loft while he was moving bales.  An extensive search failed to produce any other green eggs so that is how we deduced that this was her first egg.

That morning when the Commander opened the buck's side door he discovered Mamma chicken waiting to get inside.  It seems that Mamma chicken has started laying again and she has chosen the buck barn as her nesting area.

I have recently found roosters hiding in the nest boxes at lunch time, I can think of no sensible reason for why they would be doing that.  It seems that when they get in the boxes they roll any eggs out into the center aisle, great.

So today checking for eggs consisted of; pulling out a ladder and searching the sheep hay loft (1), running two stinky bucks out of their barn and searching through the waste hay (1), rummaging through the aisle hay in the coop (1), and chasing roosters out of the nest boxes (0).  Not a bad haul for a cold winter day, looks like hunting season has begun.

Shearing Day

Today was shearing day! No, it isn't sheep wool. It didn't come from the goats either!

Sadly, it is time to 'shear' the vacuum. Three dogs and two cats running around in the house takes its toll on the vacuum and the carpets. It doesn't help to have two girls with very long hair either.

I was wondering what happened to the new needlepoint that I started.

ps - I was telling the Commander that our farm friends would laugh at this post while the non-farmers will be disgusted.

Wish List

Dear Santa, I'm not sure how good I have been this year but just in case I would like to give you a few ideas.

A Claw Foot Tub




This would be a total luxury.  There isn't room in our house for this type of bathtub so the only way it will happen is if we remodel and add an addition.  Before a new bathroom can even be thought of we need new windows and a new deck.  Oh well.

A Bison Deep Well Hand Pump




This is something practical that could be used in the case of a power outage.  They also have a version that is attached next to the kitchen sink.  We may actually get one of these.



A Vermont Soapstone Bakers Oven

 

 The Commander wants one of these BAD.  Not only would it help heat the house but it can be used to cook during a power outage.  Unfortunately we don't have room, the only way to add one of these would be to increase the size of the kitchen.  Oh well, some day.

A Pod in the back Woods

 

We would love to have a retreat out in the forest where we could get away or send the kids away.  I would love to have a Hobbit hole like the ones they made out in New Zealand for the movie

Addison's Turn

I don't have a recent picture of Addison (brown above) but she has been a real "Hussie" the past few days.  When I opened the girls barn the past two mornings she has bolted out and made a beeline for the buck barn and Romeo.  If all goes well Addison should be having kids on either April 1st or 2nd.

Gidget wasn't as excited, but she trots over to visit Romeo as well, but on her own time.  I guess she figures she had Romeo all to herself the first day and she doesn't mind sharing now.

Dating Begins

As I was milking Becca Boo this morning Gidget stood off to the side and screamed continuously at the top of her lungs.  The stress level in the barn was at maximum and that may explain why milk production was down.

Only one thing could explain Gidet's crying, she was in heat.  Rather than put up with that horrible noise all day I decided to bring her over to the buck barn to spend some time with Romeo.  This was a good idea poorly executed.

As I tried to walk her over Molly decided to "help".  Her assistance consisted of first trying to bite Gidget's ear and then actually biting Gidget's side.  An easy stroll turned into me having to carry a no-longer-very-petite Gidget over to the buck barn with Molly jumping up at me every step.

Once Gidget and Romeo commenced "Courting" Dominick needed to depart the premises.  With Molly still trying to help I had to pick up the somewhat stinky buck to be and lug him over to the birthing stall - pew!

If all goes well I hope to have little "kid" bouncing around on March 31, 2013!

Romeo is Here

Romeo is here to do some fraternizing with the girls!  He will begin "courting" Addison, Gidget, and Pebbles this coming week.

I know he will be a Gentleman at all times.  He is such a handsome and friendly buck, just a pleasure to have around.  His coloring is unique and it will be interesting to see how it blends with the girls'.

Freezer Camp Departures

The butcher finally came today and took care of Ironwood and Alder.  Neither of them were very friendly and it was time for them to go.  I was hoping they would have left for camp earlier before they went into rut but it was not to be, I hope the meat isn't too gamey as a result.  I think we will get 60-80 pounds of meat back, let's hope we like mutton.

Their departure will allow me to break everyone off into breeding groups next week.  The Commander cleaned out the stall today and we just need to hang a few hay racks and things will be ready.

The deer hunters were out in force this morning so I'm hoping they run the wolf pack that has been hanging around off to a different location.  I would hate to lose anyone at this point.

All in all it is kind of a bittersweet day.  I'm happy the two meaner rams are gone and that I can set breeding groups next week, but I also appreciate the sacrifice the two rams made.