Friday, June 25, 2010

Life on the farm...

One of the things on a farm that has been the hardest getting used to is all the death.  I'd like to say it is getting easier...but well, that would not be the truth.  We just try to focus on the animals that God is allowing us to raise and leaving the other's in His capable hands.

Apparently Sweetie had 4 babies, as we found a dead kit in her cage this morning.  But the two in the nest were still there, so the orginal count is basically the same.

We lost Miracle, the little gray bunny from Meg's litter.  So we have 8 left from her kindling.

We lost our last Buckeye Chicken last night.  It was about 3 months old, raised from day old.  We bought 4 hens and a rooster. We lost one last week and I had joked that likely the one that was left was the rooster.  Now we will not know.  Losing those were disappointing as well because supposedly they were bred for Ohio conditions.  They are fairly rare and we were hoping to be able to breed chicks for others to have in their flocks.  I'm debating if I am going to try that experiment again.

Our Sumo meat birds (Cornish cross-they are bred to have big breasts and thighs and look like little Sumo wrestlers when grown) are doing well.  They are feathered out and will be going into the pasture coop this weekend.  We've only lost 1 of the 50 of those!!

Just in time too because we are supposed to be getting our Guinea Birds in the mail on Monday.  We had to get 30 (minimum) but only really wanted about 5.  I've had lots of inquiries on Craigslist after them so I hopefully can sell the other 20-25 in this next week.

Thanksgiving, the turkey, seems to be growing well and is doing alright with all the Sumo birds and silkies.  I think I will leave him with the Silkies when I move out the Sumos.  I may even leave him in with the guineas.

My brother-in-law came for a few days.  We haven't seen him since Boy was 7 days old! (He travels alot for work), but he was passing by and stopped in and boy are we glad.  It was so nice to see him.  Man, boy and BIL went fishing and biking.  BIL and Boy went swimming.  All were sad to see him leave.

1 comment:

Niki said...

I don't know if i could get used to the death, either.
I'm all "Circle of Life" and whatnot, but i think it might bring me down.