February Update

  All taps are in and we boiled the first batch of maple syrup for the season; approximately two weeks ahead of last year.

  Kidding season is now over.  We saw the arrivals of three lambs and two kids.

  We recently purchased Guinea hogs and will try to breed them later this year.  So far they are acclimating well to their new home.  Right now they are in a stall in the barn but will get turned out to pasture in another month or two once the weather warms up.

  There is a bit of fencing that needs to be repaired and additional gates to be added to increase our total number of paddocks.

  We are looking forward to spring so we can get all of the animals back outside and begin working on the garden.

Piglets will be arriving soon!

We are expecting a litter of piglets in April.  Reserve your order now.  $2.50/lb hanging weight plus butcher fees.

It won't be long before the pigs are ready for the butcher!

Ready for Sap!

With some assistance from our little helper our sap buckets are up and ready for some warmer temperatures to arrive.  Looking at the forecast this weekend and into next week looks promising as the temps should warm up enough for the sap to begin running.  Still have some work to do on the boiler and there is a lot of wood that needs to be cut/split before we can start boiling.

Update

     A lot has changed since the last post...we have relocated.  We now reside on 9 acres just outside of Caledonia.  All of our animals have moved with the exception of seven ducks.  We hope to have them in their new abode this weekend.
     Since the move Daisy and Luna both kidded twins.  Daisy had two bucklings; Torch and Cactus.  Luna had two doelings; yet to be named.  All kids are growing nicely and are ready for their first visit to the vet for vaccinations.  Since the fencing is not up yet all goats are currently being held in the barn.  Once we get a break in this weather (hopefully in March) we will get a few pastures set up and can begin turning the goats outside.  In the meantime we cannot complain as the barn serves as a nice retreat from the elements.  I have to admit, I do not miss the days of carrying five gallon buckets of water from the house to the goats.  The current set up is much more conducive to our goals on the farm.
     I'm beginning to plan for the upcoming shearing season.  Having never done it before I think I may reach out to some more experienced folk and offer to assist with their shearing duties in exchange for learning/seeing the process first hand.  Our goal is to save the wool each year to make a rug.  Each year we will have the wool dyed a certain color.  I'm curious to see how many years (and colors) it will take to have enough wool for the finished product.

Bucklings For Sale

 Lucy Buckling DOB: 2/25/13

 Higbie Buckling DOB: 2/23/13

 Appy Buckling #1 DOB: 2/28/13

 Appy Buckling #2 DOB: 2/28/13

BB's Kids

Sire: Slate Brook Farm Bolt
Dam: Rockaway Farms BB (top photo)
Doeling (middle photo)
Buckling (bottom photo)
DOB: 3/3/13

Higbie's Kid

Sire: Slate Brook Farm Bolt
Dam: Speaking Willow Farm Higbie (top photo)
Buckling
DOB: 2/23/13

Appy's Kids

Sire: Slate Brook Farm Bolt
Dam: Rockaway Farms Appy (top center)
Buckling (left), Buckling (right) - Blue eyes
DOB: 2/28/13

Lucy's Kids

 Sire: Slate Brook Farm Bolt
Dam: Beechkeld Lucy (top photo)
Buckling (left), Doeling(right)
DOB: 2/25/13

Kids Have Arrived!

So far this year we have four new bucklings and one doeling with one doe left to kid within the next day or so.  This has been a big change from last year when we had all doelings!  Pictures to be posted soon.

Homegrown Sauce!

The first batch of sauce is on the stove from this week's tomato harvest.  Let's hope it tastes as good as it looks!

Heritage Buff Ducks

Today we added four Heritage Buff ducks to our farm.  In addition, we have seven duck eggs in the incubator in hopes of hatching some females.

Newest Acquisition

Today we traded for this boy!

Kiddos

Higbie

Luna

 



The two doelings are doing well and growing fast!  They continue to run and jump around together.  They always seem to find something new to climb upon as they explore their new territory.  Luna is sold (Thanks Amie & Jamie).  Higbie is being retained.    Pretty soon the two of them will have some playmates as BB is looking like she could kid any day now.  We're surprised she hasn't gone yet as she is looking pretty large (see pic).

BB - photo taken April 20th

New Additions 3/24/12

Upon returning home with 6 new Rhode Island Red Chicks we were welcomed by two new baby does!  Lucy (mother) is doing well and so are her two kids.  No names have been chosen yet but suggestions are welcome!

USDA Premises ID

Today we requested our USDA Premises identification number and flock ID.  Our packet should be arriving in the mail shortly.  Using our herd ID we will be able to have all of our goats registered by the end of the month...just in time for kidding season!

Fall is right around the corner

The leaves are beginning to fall off of the basswood trees.  The grass is wet until 10am.  Soon the meatbirds will be butchered and the pigs will go on 9/28.  This weekend we are stocking up on feed and hay which should last us 2-3 months.  The goats hooves will need to be trimmed soon.  We still have plenty to do before the snow falls...