What We've Been Doing

Things are a little hectic on the farm these days. Winter would not let go when we wanted it to and the chicks arrived before the snow was gone. Half of the birds are not where we want them to be. The ducks are in a tote in the kitchen and the new layers are in the broilers "new" coop.

We started the spring the six new layers in a box in the kitchen. We purchased six new ones because we lost a few chickens over the winter; one due to illness and another due to what we think was a birth defect, plus the original Rhode Island Reds are not laying as well. Recently we put the six new chicks where the broilers will be. 

The Broilers also arrived (and spent a brief two weeks in the kitchen) but have since been moved out the brood box in the barn. They will be ready for processing in less than two months.

The Coop Plan for this year: last years turkey coop will become this years layer coop. There are a few modifications that need to be made to the coop. Dad will make a man door and devise a way to add boxes for the chickens to lay eggs in. The fencing will be re-organized to make the turkey yard and most of the current chicken yard into one large yard. Moving the fencing will make the old chicken yard smaller so that the broilers can have a small outdoor space, but not so large that they won't gain the muscle weight required for a meat bird. We are hoping that with an outdoor space to run in the broilers will have larger drumsticks and thighs.

We have ducklings in the kitchen that will hopefully be moved to the blueberry bushes (so they are fenced in) before they are moved to the brood pen in preparation for taking over the pond. And what will happen to the current ducks? We are replacing them. We want friendly ducks, and the two in the pond are not friendly. We've been handling the ducklings a lot and it seems to be working. 

Thankfully we are waiting to get turkeys until summer, because some fencing still needs to repaired, purchased, and put up. 

In addition to all that going on. Dad bred two rabbits and a bunny (for those who don't know around here rabbits are food and bunnies are pets) so in a few short weeks we should have cute fuzzy things!

Not to mention that the garden is finally free of snow!

I have been knitting like a woman possessed. I decided that I would knit Stomper and Our Sweetie matching vests for Easter. The Saturday night before Easter found me weaving in ends. I cannot believe I finished them! In between knitting the two vests I've been working on a test knit. They are this really beautiful pair of fingerless gloves The gloves feature a cable that starts on the forearm and winds around to the top of the wrist. It's really neat. I was able to knit one before I had to set them aside to finish the vests. I will post pictures as soon as I can find a model.

For April vacation we have the teenagers. It was great to have them around for Mimi's annual Easter Egg Hunt. This year she prepared, and Jason and his brother-in-law hid, 300 eggs. The kids had a blast finding them.

Hope your spring is going well too!

Under the Snow, Waiting for Spring

This is what our garden and outdoor coop looks like.

There are so many plans in the works for spring. There is a growing list.

• Fence in the barnyard :: there is quite a lot of debate on to what that exactly means. The only decided part, put up a fence near the road, and do it sooner than later.
• Move the ducks to this coop area in the dog house - turned duck house - turned chicken coop and now back to duck house.
• Move duck house and turn it into a chicken coop then build a fence around it tall enough so the chickens stay out of the daycare yard.
• Decide where the turkeys will go.
• Move rabbits into Rusty's old stall
• Clean out winter chicken coop to put meat birds in it
• Get brood box ready

And that it just what needs to be done in April.

(Above) This is where the chickens (the layers) new home will be placed and built,

(Above) This the is brood box turned chicken roost that needs to be changed back into a brood box. It's buried in the snow. We need it ready by the end of April ... no pressure.

(Above and Below) Even though we are feeling a little pressed for time we can still see the light. These little someday blueberries will bloom and grow with out our help. At least we have that taken care of...

And if that is not enough to boost our spirits, below is a photo collage of last year.

Top right :: freshly tilled. Top left :: slowly growing

Bottom right :: a forest of weeds. Bottom left :: fall

Little Hoppers

Unfortunately there isn't much going on around here, all accept a few rabbits I hesitate to show you (because of their adorableness). They are doing great. They are eating grain, hay, and drinking water on their own. In a few weeks we will separate them from their mother, to give them growing room, but I don't think she'll mind. Those little buggers tumble all over her all day long. 

We are down to five rabbits. It's our own fault. We didn't check the cage close enough for spots a small rabbit could fall through and last week we lost two. The hole has been repaired and the little hoppers are free to roam their cage.

(Photos Courtesy of Mom Berg)

Psst, I have a secret

squeeeeze

Little Rabbits

In the fall we attempted to produce a couple litters of kits (rabbits) to have some fresh meat through the winter. We weren't successful. The first litter perished due to our fault and the second litter due to the death of the mother during childbirth. (You can read that post here). A couple of months ago Jason tried once again to breed a litter, then three weeks ago we celebrated success. The mother, Una, gave birth to eight healthy little kits. The runt eventually died, but the remaining seven are doing awesome.

Once they are big enough Jason will process them and we will freeze, share, eat, and sell some. We are so excited to get some fresh rabbit meat for our freezer.

Rabbits

Saturday morning Jason came back in the house from doing chores, and I could tell that something bad had happened.

"What's wrong?"

"Stupid rabbit died giving birth."

"What?"

"She bled out."

"Are the babies alive?"

"Yeah, six of them. I put them in with the other mother, but I don't think it's going to work."

He then left to attend some training, while he was gone the rest of us wondered if anything could be done.

That afternoon Little Sister asked if Jason would mind if she kept one as a pet. He could breed it if he wanted to, but it would be her pet. I thought that'd be fine. I suggested she take two so that they would keep each other warm and to hedge her bet. I told her to take the two livelest ones. She went down in the the barn with my parents to help her.

When she came back she had three.

A few minutes later my Mom came up with a sheepish look on her face and said; "My sweatshirt pocket is moving."

"How many?" I asked.

"All of them."

"You do realize that even if they survive, we will still be eating them."

"Yes. I know."

We did some research and warmed a bit of cows milk for them and fed them with droppers we happened to have (sometimes it pays off to keep things--sometimes). We put their mothers fur from her nest making in a bucket with straw and a piece of flannel for them to crawl under. We put numbers on their back with a non-toxic washable markers and made careful notes on how much milk each took in. We fed them, put a warming light over them, and hoped for the best.

That was four days ago.

Their fur is coming in, they are peeing on their own, and taking a teeny nipple we borrowed from a friend. We are so surprised at how well they are doing. We all assumed that we'd loose them all in the first day. As far as we can tell all six are going to make it.

The question Jason keeps asking us is, "Are you sure you will be able to eat them when it comes time?"

"Yes, all but the one we keep as a pet."

Jan 2013 :: Edited to add--

A few days later all the kits died. Later we finally received some credible information and learned we had fed them improperly.