NIGEL:
Heroic piglet saves drowning goat!
http://media.smh.com.au/selections/robert-hughes-critic-artist-and-friend-3654545.html
Friday, September 21, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
All Quiet Now ...
SUSAN: Today we harvested Buster and 46. Why? Several reasons: Since Two-Spot and Buster cannot get along (as demonstrated in an earlier post), we can't have these two roosters together. Buster is brother to 15 hens, and even though we live in North Carolina, we're not keen to have him mate with his sisters. 46 had a great haircut for a Rock Star Rooster; but, enjoyed fighting everyone (especially us!) and was not very successful with the ladies (except for the birth of Two Spot). And, we need to have the "rooster section" of the coop available for Solo, Sunshine, and our 37 new chicks. So, we did it, and the farm is so quiet! Apparently Two Spot is not as vocal as 46 (well, who could be?) or Buster, so it's really quiet on the farm.
Immediately, we moved Solo to the (now) "adolescent section" of the coop so that she could go outside for the first time and also not step on any of the little chicks. She's a bit out of sorts in the new environment, and spent most of her outside time actually underneath the coop ... but, she'll settle-in to her new home soon.
38 Chicks Arrive from Iowa
SUSAN: As mentioned previously, Nigel and I were bummed by the loss of chicks hatched on the farm; but, Nigel was obviously more bummed than me! He ordered 37 chicks from Murray McMurray - Bard Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, and Rhode Island Reds. Apparently these breeds all make really good moms and will hatch their chicks properly. They arrived on Thursday, July 26 as day old chicks and just like last time we were given "one free" - perhaps we'll call her/him #38!
Just like two years ago it is so much fun to watch them sleep on top of one another, fall asleep wherever they are standing (including in the food bowl), and run around chasing whomever has the feather/pine chip/etc. Solo was not too sure about the new 38 chicks when Nigel introduced them on Thursday. Sunshine, though, since she's a bit younger ... seems to really like sleeping near them.
Two unusual things with the new chicks. On Saturday afternoon, I found one dead in a bit of a sleeping position. We think that maybe she was asleep and Solo stepped on her accidentally. Last time we had 100% survival of our Murray McMurray chicks. And, another of the chicks has something (maybe her internal organs) sticking out of her vent. We're watching her carefully and hoping that she returns to normal soon.
It's hard to get great photos in the coop, but you can see that we're raising them in the middle section of the coop - they are no longer in a brooder. It's a great location for them, and very easy to access for water, feeding, and catching one to see if she is okay.
What's super fun is just trying to remember how to raise the chicks. We've had to pull out the Chicken Bible again to remember what we're supposed to do. For example, are we supposed to clean the poopy from their vents? How often should we change their bedding? How much sugar should we put int he water?
Just like two years ago it is so much fun to watch them sleep on top of one another, fall asleep wherever they are standing (including in the food bowl), and run around chasing whomever has the feather/pine chip/etc. Solo was not too sure about the new 38 chicks when Nigel introduced them on Thursday. Sunshine, though, since she's a bit younger ... seems to really like sleeping near them.
Two unusual things with the new chicks. On Saturday afternoon, I found one dead in a bit of a sleeping position. We think that maybe she was asleep and Solo stepped on her accidentally. Last time we had 100% survival of our Murray McMurray chicks. And, another of the chicks has something (maybe her internal organs) sticking out of her vent. We're watching her carefully and hoping that she returns to normal soon.
It's hard to get great photos in the coop, but you can see that we're raising them in the middle section of the coop - they are no longer in a brooder. It's a great location for them, and very easy to access for water, feeding, and catching one to see if she is okay.
Only one chick (again)!!
SUSAN: Last we updated, Nigel purchased an incubator and placed 7 eggs inside (important to note that the incubator is in our basement). After 21 days of rotating 3 times a day, maintaining perfect temperature, and adding water to maintain humidity ... we saw a crack in an egg! Very exciting. And, then we heard her chirp. Very exciting for Boomer who immediately wanted to investigate! Sunshine hatched out with no problem. She's definitely Two-Spot's chick as she looks a lot like him!
With only 2 out of 12 eggs successfully hatched, we were both a bit bummed; but, happy to have Solo and Sunshine to enjoy!
Unfortunately, the second little chick did not hatch quickly. After 24 hours, we tried to help her by removing some of the shell; but, she had not properly absorbed her yolk sac. Reading other blogs online, we learned that it may be possible for her to absorb the yolk sac, which we allowed her an overnight to do; but, when Nigel checked downstairs, she had died. It was so sad.
Nigel gave the remaining 5 eggs a few more days, but no hatching. They were not fertilized (What was Two Spot doing?????).
Monday, July 16, 2012
Know Your Food
NIGEL:
Yet another great reason to know where your food is grown, how the food is treated & processed!!!
http://vimeo.com/11817894
Yet another great reason to know where your food is grown, how the food is treated & processed!!!
http://vimeo.com/11817894
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Goodbye Lil' Woodhenge
NIGEL:
It didn't take Crikey long to easily jump upon the original Woodhenge! He has an amazing vertical leap & really good balance, even when Chards tries to knock him off it.
He really enjoys leaping up in the air & landing from a height rather than just jumping across from one log to another. Hours of entertainment for the entire neighborhood!!! He is also rapidly growing his horns & continues to woo Susan.
It didn't take Crikey long to easily jump upon the original Woodhenge! He has an amazing vertical leap & really good balance, even when Chards tries to knock him off it.
Horrible!
NIGEL:
We arrived home to quickly feed the chooks, collect the eggs & then go walking.
As I was throwing out some scratch for the hens I noticed a peculiar chook in with Buster & 46.
Then I realized it was 2-Spot with blood all over him! He was very stressed & obviously lost his battle with Buster. Buster's comb was also bloodied, but nothing like 2-Spot's!!!
I was able to get him out & he immediately went to get a drink. He had blood on his legs & all over his neck & back which made him look brown? We still cannot work out how he entered the rooster's run except for flying in?? Very strange. I spray neosporin on each of their crowns for a few nights to prevent infection. They both seem okay now, but it wasn't something I want to see again! You can see the blood on the coop door from one of the roosters!
We arrived home to quickly feed the chooks, collect the eggs & then go walking.
As I was throwing out some scratch for the hens I noticed a peculiar chook in with Buster & 46.
Then I realized it was 2-Spot with blood all over him! He was very stressed & obviously lost his battle with Buster. Buster's comb was also bloodied, but nothing like 2-Spot's!!!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Loves Lil' Woodhenge
NIGEL:
Crikey loves Lil' Woodhenge. Check out the attached photos & video! More videos to come!
Crikey loves Lil' Woodhenge. Check out the attached photos & video! More videos to come!
Escape artist!
NIGEL:
Well Crikey has enough confidence now to climb through the interior gates & wander away from Merlot!
We were driving home from work the other day & we noticed that the goats were in the chook run! Susan & I bolted upstairs, changed clothes & ran down to the goats yelling. They came to see what all the fuss was about. They had eaten our new tress in the run (I think both will survive) & our sunflowers & corn that were just shooting up! It appears they had not been out long. We hypothesize that Crikey may have climbed through an interior gate & eventually Merlot was worried enough that she was able to squash down a temporary interior fence. Live & learn I suppose?!?!
Well Crikey has enough confidence now to climb through the interior gates & wander away from Merlot!
We were driving home from work the other day & we noticed that the goats were in the chook run! Susan & I bolted upstairs, changed clothes & ran down to the goats yelling. They came to see what all the fuss was about. They had eaten our new tress in the run (I think both will survive) & our sunflowers & corn that were just shooting up! It appears they had not been out long. We hypothesize that Crikey may have climbed through an interior gate & eventually Merlot was worried enough that she was able to squash down a temporary interior fence. Live & learn I suppose?!?!
He is also learning to jump & climb well. I provided him with his own little woodhenge to climb as it was dangerous around Chards especially. The one with Merlot & Crikey above is a classic!! Videos to come.
Only one Chick!
NIGEL:
We have a broody hen sitting on 6 eggs for about 21 days now. Just before one was ready to hatch, the egg was broken open either by the broody or our rogue hen. The next day a fully hatched chick was found dead under her?? We can't work out why she died? Then the day after we finally had a little chick. I moved her to the brooder are of the coop. She was quite scared/unsure, but has now become a regular active, but lonely, chick.
A day or so later the broody was off doing her business for a brief moment & I noticed that another egg was about to hatch. I waited until late last night but nothing. This morning I went down & the chick was crushed inside the egg. It makes me think that the broody is either accidently or deliberately hurting the chicks as they hatch?? Bizarre!
So we have purchased an incubator! I put the last 2 eggs in the incubator & have added eggs laid today. We will see what happens. We have to keep the incubator at 99.5'F & have water in there to maintain humidity. The eggs need to be rotated 3 times a day!
Will provide more updates soon.
We have a broody hen sitting on 6 eggs for about 21 days now. Just before one was ready to hatch, the egg was broken open either by the broody or our rogue hen. The next day a fully hatched chick was found dead under her?? We can't work out why she died? Then the day after we finally had a little chick. I moved her to the brooder are of the coop. She was quite scared/unsure, but has now become a regular active, but lonely, chick.
A day or so later the broody was off doing her business for a brief moment & I noticed that another egg was about to hatch. I waited until late last night but nothing. This morning I went down & the chick was crushed inside the egg. It makes me think that the broody is either accidently or deliberately hurting the chicks as they hatch?? Bizarre!
So we have purchased an incubator! I put the last 2 eggs in the incubator & have added eggs laid today. We will see what happens. We have to keep the incubator at 99.5'F & have water in there to maintain humidity. The eggs need to be rotated 3 times a day!
Will provide more updates soon.
Julie and Muzza
NIGEL:
We had Julie & Muzza from Colorado visit just after Crikey was born. Julie helped Susan with the farming chores & checking on Crikey. He is growing quickly & getting his jumping & running legs! He also knows how to ensure he is unlikely to be 'processed' (see photo below). Yep he walked over & sat in Susan's lap!!! He also decided to try Julie's as well!! Smooth moves Crikey!!!
He was wise enough to stay away from Muzza's lap, which was lucky for Muzza as we may have seen his sensitive side! Yeah, Julie claims he has one?!?!?
He was wise enough to stay away from Muzza's lap, which was lucky for Muzza as we may have seen his sensitive side! Yeah, Julie claims he has one?!?!?
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Crikey!
NIGEL:
Merlot was due any day now. So Susan came up the other morning & said she thought Merlot was looking different & that I should check her out. Anyway I came down & saw that her cervical plug had bust. So I ran up to check the Breeding Goats book. It said that she would experience between 12-36 hours of labor pains. I decided to leave to go see a farm with a mate of mine named Jack. I then called him, as I was concerned about the birth (had the birthing kit on ready), & said lets go Thursday instead. After more consideration & a chat with Susan, I called him back to say I would go.
So I checked on Merlot & then headed off with Jack.
I arrived back about 3 hours later & went to do the chores in the chook house (water, food, collect the eggs, etc.) & then went to check on Merlot. She was in the 2nd barn still. There was loads of blood & other stuff on the ground in the barn & I thought this may have been part of the pre-birth. So I casually went to Merlot to say "Its okay girl hang in there..." when crikey... there was lil' Crikey behind the partition!!!!
Quite a surprise for sure. So I raced for the camera, after checking that all seemed fine & took some photos. I then cleaned up the mess on the floor & collected the placenta from up on the barn roost where Crikey & Merlot were both looking at each other stunned. Merlot had cleaned her up (critical in the bonding between doe & kid).
What a brilliant surprise.
Merlot was due any day now. So Susan came up the other morning & said she thought Merlot was looking different & that I should check her out. Anyway I came down & saw that her cervical plug had bust. So I ran up to check the Breeding Goats book. It said that she would experience between 12-36 hours of labor pains. I decided to leave to go see a farm with a mate of mine named Jack. I then called him, as I was concerned about the birth (had the birthing kit on ready), & said lets go Thursday instead. After more consideration & a chat with Susan, I called him back to say I would go.
So I checked on Merlot & then headed off with Jack.
I arrived back about 3 hours later & went to do the chores in the chook house (water, food, collect the eggs, etc.) & then went to check on Merlot. She was in the 2nd barn still. There was loads of blood & other stuff on the ground in the barn & I thought this may have been part of the pre-birth. So I casually went to Merlot to say "Its okay girl hang in there..." when crikey... there was lil' Crikey behind the partition!!!!
Quite a surprise for sure. So I raced for the camera, after checking that all seemed fine & took some photos. I then cleaned up the mess on the floor & collected the placenta from up on the barn roost where Crikey & Merlot were both looking at each other stunned. Merlot had cleaned her up (critical in the bonding between doe & kid).
What a brilliant surprise.
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