Hay!!

Just went out and bought 10 bales of hay.  Not a lot but the goats don't go through much since I usually have them out eating brush during the day (weather permitting).  So I am hoping the 10 last through the winter.  We will see, and if not I can get some more.  There are plenty of sources down here for it.

I plan on breeding Big Momma and Big Poppa Nov 1st, since she hasn't had any babies.  I took out the nest box yesterday.  She was supposed to be due the 26th and she had made no move to build a nest.  I hope she takes this breeding. If not we may be having rabbit soup soon.  First I would have to test Big Poppa on Lil' Momma though.  But she won't be mature enough until the new year or so.

busted puter

So I didn't get all the pictures and such that has been happening for the past week up cause my computer pulled a blue-screen-of-death on me.  It is currently at the brother-in-law's being threatened (thank you Kevin!).
BUUUUTTTT.... We did the move Saturday (Thanks again Kevin, and Jimu, Allie, and their girls!). So now I can commandeer Rob's computer and update.  Huzzah!

So a couple of quick pictures of the bedroom.

 The lick'n'stick floor doesn't look too bad.

We made a bigger chick brooder in the garage cause the chickens are getting BIG. (thanks Rob!  Wonderful hubby who indulges my ideas)  We invested in a bigger waterer and feeder too because they were eating through a topped off waterer and feeder morning and night.  But the new ones will last them through their life, and hopefully the lives of many other chickens.
The goats are doing well, performing their trimming jobs.

I did decide to get some cattle panels to make a movable pen for them.  They like it much better than tripping over the cable and it will make it easier to pen them up in the woods to eat down the scrub.

Big Momma, the rabbit who was supposed to be bred hasn't produced.  She hasn't tried building a nest in the nest box either.  I think either she was never actually bred or she aborted them because of all the moving around.  Come Halloween or Nov. 1 I will put her in with Big Poppa and hope some magic happens.

Our evenings are now spent watching some of the world series (Go Cards!) and recovering from the move.  But this little farm is coming together nicely.

Oh and update on Khain and his lump.  It hasn't grown and it hasn't gotten smaller.  It seems content to just be and Khain seems content with it.  So we live with our lumps.

Bedroom

So after three days of mudding and sanding the bedroom is ready for paint.

Will post the painted room when done - doing the primer today.  Then it is on to the floor.

More Workers

So I needed some brunch cleared....
This is the young buck.  I haven't thought of a name for him yet and I can still get him registered.  He was born in May.

 This is the doe. She is 3 and had twins the last time she was bred.  The lady who I bought her from said she stopped milking her about three weeks ago.

So for most of the fall these two will be my proffesional brush clearers.  I have a tie-out run put together for them (I will not have them on it unless I am home and can check on them fequently).  I also have a place in the garage set up for them.

The chickens are growing.  I am excited to get them outside in the next few weeks.

 

Also Allie and her girls came out to help paint the chicken tractor.

 

The rabbits tested it out but the little one escaped so once I caught her (wasn't a huge problem) I decided I need to redisgn the front opening that will let the chickens out.

 

 Action bunny shot!  (also were she escaped from - where I have the rope)

Sooo... very very busy month.  But now I need to make a priority of getting the bedroom done.  Next weekend is Deutsch Country Days (www.deustchcountrydays.org).  Allie and the girls will be going to that as well and it looks to be very cool.  Everything from beekeeping to blacksmithing to candle making to a gun smith.  I will take a lot of pictures.

Big news

Lots of stuff getting done and many things that need to hurry up and get done (like the downstairs bedroom).
Chicken tractor is finished - pictures to come later.
And more additions to the livestock (surprise pictures later).
Enjoy the anticipation!

Foiled again

I was making good progress with the chicken tractor over the last few days.  Today as I was putting the chicken wire on (the last step) I hit a snag.

OUT OF STAPLES??!!!!!

So tomorrow I shall go out and purchase some more.

As well as other stuffs I need like food etc, that I have been putting off cause I don't like making trips to town (oh no 5 miles away) for just one stop if I don't have to.

Anyways here is the tractor so far.

 In the holes will be the buckets for the laying hens to use for nesting.

 I should have used the 2 foot wide chicken wire there but I had a brain fart and didn't.  I refuse to rip out all those staples to change it.

 This will be the big lid on top so I can get into the tractor for when I need to get the chickens if they are sick or hurt or it is time for the dinner plate.

By the by : battery operated tools are fantastic!!  I love that we spent the money on them.  I love my little ryobi tools and my battery stapler (brad nailer).  This would have probably taken 3 times as long without those tools.  Granted I could have used a corded one but those aren't nearly as portable.

Draft horse and Mule day

Went to Gerald to the Draft horse and Mule day.  It was chilly and rainy but I had a good time.  Went on a nature walk during the hardest rain, which was a mistake - especially since it made sure I was soaked the rest of the day.

Here are some pictures.  Not much to really tell about it.  Just some booths for craft people and horses, mules, oxen.

Mini-mules turning the press for the Sorghum.  The juice from the cane is then cooked down for sugar or molasses.

carpentry

Been working most of the day on the rabbit/chicken tractor.  It will be the rabbits till I can build another one for them and move the chicks into it once they are big enough.

I plan on having chicken wire ove the wood and then in winter putting something to fully block the wind .  Likely some scrap carpet or whatever else is cheap.  The front will just be chicken wire - framed to be 2 feet tall.  The rear I will have solid plywood with 3 five gallon buckets for nests.
In all it is 10 feet long and 5 wide, the back five feet will be their weather shelter.
I will also put a drop down panel so they can walk out into the yard once I get my moveable fencing figured out.

Bunny don't care 'bout no dog!

This weekened is the draft horse and mule days in gerald MO.  It is only a half hour away so I plan on going.  I am excited to get back in amongst horses again, even if it is just for a day or two.  Hopefully next year I will have this place ready for a horse.  Both financially and with shelter.

Lands Alive!

First a video of the chickens that came in today.  I got a call from the post office at 6:30 and they were home within the half hour.

Now for some pictures of the rabbits

 

This is the buck : Big Pappa

 

 

This is the bred doe: Big Mama

 

This is the 7 week old doe : Lil' Mama

They are currently mowing the yard for me while I finish building their cages.  I need to buy better wire cutters - my hands are sore already.

cages being built

They are a bit big but they can be grow out cages once I build some more.