Weekend Update

This weekend we got quite a bit accomplished!  We set up the first chicken tractor, the 6 little Speckled Sussex are in there now.  It’s under the white sapote tree, so they have protection and lots to keep them busy!  I also set up the electric fence around some of the orange trees.  Once I have good shelters I plan to put Stella, Stanley, Mildred and Gertie in there.  I have enough shelters for everyone at this point, but, I have hog hutches coming soon, so I’ll just wait for those.  With the freezing temperatures I wouldn’t want the older ones to “hog” the shelters and the little ones to be left cold. 

This weekend we planted some bare root trees, we were letting the pigs walk around and do some exploring, they were very interested in everything we did!  Gypsy wants to play with the smallest pig, Tillie.  Tillie runs and Gypsy thinks it’s a great game, so I have to watch them.  Gypsy is not trying to hurt the little pigs, but I don’t want her to learn to chase them and I don’t want to stress the little pigs. 

I’m letting the big chickens roam in the afternoons after all the eggs have been laid.  They interacted with the puppies and the pigs.  It was fun.  The goats are very curious about the pigs, it’s funny to watch them when the pigs saunter in to the goat barn. 

We have had some very cold temperatures, I start every morning breaking ice in the pens.  However, it’s supposed to hit 70 later in the week.  

January 9th, 2013

1/9/2013

In the new year I’ve decided to start a chronicle of our farm life.  It will be a way for me to keep track of what happened, when, and how.  Some days my memory is not as great as others.  So, here I am. 

As I sit in my office I love to look out the window, past the palm trees and succulents is grass.  In this grass currently are my two favorite pigs, Stella and Stanley.  I just gave them oranges, so they are feasting.  I have a routine just about every day --  I go into the orchards, get fruit, drop some off to Stella and Stanley, then go to the baby pen and give them the rest.  Then I go to the white sapote tree, get some of those, plus leaves, for the chickens.  That’s their afternoon treat.  I don’t know what they will do when college starts back up and I’m gone in the afternoons to teach, they will have afternoon treats on a slightly different schedule! 

The Australorps have been laying for a little over a week now, I’m quite happy with them.  I get either two or three eggs a day, not bad for six pubescent hens in January!  I’m currently working on a plan to get them tractors.  This will allow me to separate breeds and keep them safe from the coyotes and neighborhood dogs.  I had originally planned to let the chickens out during the days, but there are simply too many predators out here for my comfort. 

Here’s my tip of the day from the Vet visit yesterday—if your animals have dry skin (we were talking pigs) give them a teaspoon or so of oil every day or so.  Not too much, but this will give them the Vitamin E they need to avoid dry skin. 

Lisa