In the Ground

I got the iris bulbs from my mom into the ground. It was a little later then I had wanted, but they still looked moist and fresh so I think they will be fine. I had lots of 'help' getting them burried and watered, but looking at the spot they are in, I am very satisfied with the project.

I used the other tree box for the onion starts. There was some mulch left from the iris planting and I mixed up the box full of mulch, compost, and spare dirt. The neighbor girl watched intently and then declared that the plants and the dirt stank. I guess it all depends on what you are used to. Smelled like planting to me.

Henny, as a Mama

Yellow Henny Penny hatched one other chick and is very proud of her 3 babies. I had a section 'fenced' off for her to keep them protected in, but she just ignores the fence of it and is guiding them around the yard. She is a great mama, and very protective of them. Anyone/thing that comes near, sets her 'clucking' and she fluffs up all her feathers to look bigger and more intimidiating. This morning, it was fun to watch as I was milking; she had the chicks around the hay and was teaching them to scratch around it. She accidently scratched one of the chicks and sent it flying.

Milk Production

Consistantly 1 gallon the last few days. It's just the right amount for us, and when the kids are weaned fully, I think I might have a some extra to sell or just stock up on for when the does are dry.

(More) New Arrivals

Looks like we are boarding 2 does here until Monday. SIL bought the sister to our LaMancha, and a 3 year old Nubian, already in milk! Best part is, we drove 45 miles home with a full grown Nubain doe in the back of the van. She did well, though (aside from having to 'relieve' herself a couple times.). The LaMancha was transported by the same means, but it was a much shorter distance. Can you imagine if we had been pulled over???

Our new steer arrived today, also. He looks to be in great shape, albeit slightly scrawny. I am pretty sure we can take care of that, though; he is similar to Cherry and we beefed him up nicely.


Our Yellow Henny Penny successfully hatched two chicks today! There are still 7 eggs in the nest, but I am doubtful if the rest will hatch. They are both feather-footed, and darling.

Wildlife

Wildlife seen here:

coyotes
buzzards
hawks (not so many recently, but they used to LOVE watching the chicken coop)
bats
western shovel-nosed snake (in the FRONT ROOM! Yikes!)
100s of cottontails
geese (wild)
ducks (wild)
gophers (does that count as 'wildlife'?)
mice (ick)
lizzards
burrowing owl(s?)
great horned owl (landed on the back porch and watched us through the window!)
many small birds of which I don't know all the names

Plenty of black widows, brown spiders (scientific, I know), FLIES, and the occasional camel spider (which do bite, I learned. Owie.)

Milk Total

I didn't milk Penny this morning; she had her kids with her through the night, helping them recover from the traumatic disbudding.

Belle has gotten extremely impatient the last couple days. This morning she was SO full, she had to waddle very slowly to the milking stand, but after about 10 minutes, she decided she was DONE. I could tell she wasn't empty; she was about 1/4 from being done. There ensued a mighty battle of wills and wits. 10 minutes later (and several close calls with the milk pail) I have succeeded in getting about 6 more squirts. She got a strong scolding as I put her back in her pen. I went to fetch the kids and walking back with them, watching her with her head through the fence, I all of a sudden wondered if she figured out the pattern of: grain, milk, kids. I think she knew that when the milking was 'done' she could have her kids back. I might have to figure out something else, because wrestling with a 120# goat at 5AM isn't exactly what I had imagined...Still, she gave just under 1/2 gallon.

2 batches of ice cream, 2 batches of yogurt, 2 batches of rice pudding, and there's still a gallon or so in the fridge, with more to come tomorrow. Love this!!!

All Disbudded

Got the last two kids disbudded this evening. Thier horns were more pronounced, and it went very easy. Still left to do: shots (which we already have) and the banding. 4 boys. Should be interesting.