Good times going on around here. Hard times too. I hate to admit but funds are low right now so getting another goat is going to have to wait. Luckily ours is going to reproduce in the spring so with any luck we'll have a doeling (or two) out of her and we can build our herd a little more slowly but at a pace that fits our budget a bit better. My sister (as in the best sister in the whole wide world) has so kindly ordered the meds for Kissee to get prepared for breeding for me so we are almost ready.
The goats have been escaping a lot so we cleared all the weeds from the fence line and ran many tests on the fence and charger before we finally opened the back of the charger and there is a significant black smoky mark on the circuit board. Needless to say the charger is dead. So today we got our gloves on and installed a section of "real" fencing that was left by the prior owner of this house. There are a lot of sections of used fence too so we will be busy tomorrow installing the next piece we can find that might be long enough to cover our shared fence line with our neighbor. I'm especially concerned that they might get the idea to go that way being as our neighbor grows a very large market garden with lots of goat temptations. Its a fairly temporary solution, but like I said, funds are low so we make do with what's on hand.
The garden is really growing all the fall/winter veggies pretty well. I planted a section with a trio of radishes, beets and carrots....idea being the radishes harvest first, then the beets and the carrots being the slowest. So far the radishes are about half way there. I also have planted turnips, rutabaga, kohlrabi, spinach, lettuce, bunching onions and snow peas. I don't know if we even like turnips or rutabaga but we figured the goats and chickens will enjoy them if we don't.
The pullets from April's chick order are starting to lay. At least 4 of the 5 Buffs started laying right after they turned 20 weeks. The Americaunas started laying last week at 22 weeks old. Still waiting on the Andulusians to lay. The duck started laying too, everyday without fail so far. Two of our hens went broody ( I think I mentioned it but maybe I didn't) and the first one hatched 2 of 3 eggs and the babies are so cute! The second broody hen has about 6 eggs under her, 5 chicken and 1 duck. I slipped the duck in there hoping to win the lottery and get another female duck....and to see if the Cayuga drake was hitting his mark. When I candled her eggs the other day the duck egg appears to be developing. I'm not sure yet what I'll do if the hen gives up early and the duck egg doesn't hatch. I don't think its going to be a big deal but when the time comes I'll be watching the hen.
I canned some carrots I got on sale a couple weeks ago, they turned out great! Why didn't I do that sooner? Tonight its tomato puree. Tomorrow its roasted peppers and I'm to can some chicken noodle soup and chicken and rice soup as well as just canned chicken and broth. We are butchering the turkeys next weekend so I really need the freezer space for them now.
Also tomorrow I need to get crackin on making some cheese. Our milk inventory is a little high so I think some Queso Fresco is in order. My husband wants more kefir and our son just adores yogurt. I think that will use up what we have on hand. I really want some cottage cheese sometime this week so that will be next up. I picked up some cream at the store so goat ice cream is on the menu soon too.....see why I'd like another goat?
The goats have been escaping a lot so we cleared all the weeds from the fence line and ran many tests on the fence and charger before we finally opened the back of the charger and there is a significant black smoky mark on the circuit board. Needless to say the charger is dead. So today we got our gloves on and installed a section of "real" fencing that was left by the prior owner of this house. There are a lot of sections of used fence too so we will be busy tomorrow installing the next piece we can find that might be long enough to cover our shared fence line with our neighbor. I'm especially concerned that they might get the idea to go that way being as our neighbor grows a very large market garden with lots of goat temptations. Its a fairly temporary solution, but like I said, funds are low so we make do with what's on hand.
The garden is really growing all the fall/winter veggies pretty well. I planted a section with a trio of radishes, beets and carrots....idea being the radishes harvest first, then the beets and the carrots being the slowest. So far the radishes are about half way there. I also have planted turnips, rutabaga, kohlrabi, spinach, lettuce, bunching onions and snow peas. I don't know if we even like turnips or rutabaga but we figured the goats and chickens will enjoy them if we don't.
The pullets from April's chick order are starting to lay. At least 4 of the 5 Buffs started laying right after they turned 20 weeks. The Americaunas started laying last week at 22 weeks old. Still waiting on the Andulusians to lay. The duck started laying too, everyday without fail so far. Two of our hens went broody ( I think I mentioned it but maybe I didn't) and the first one hatched 2 of 3 eggs and the babies are so cute! The second broody hen has about 6 eggs under her, 5 chicken and 1 duck. I slipped the duck in there hoping to win the lottery and get another female duck....and to see if the Cayuga drake was hitting his mark. When I candled her eggs the other day the duck egg appears to be developing. I'm not sure yet what I'll do if the hen gives up early and the duck egg doesn't hatch. I don't think its going to be a big deal but when the time comes I'll be watching the hen.
I canned some carrots I got on sale a couple weeks ago, they turned out great! Why didn't I do that sooner? Tonight its tomato puree. Tomorrow its roasted peppers and I'm to can some chicken noodle soup and chicken and rice soup as well as just canned chicken and broth. We are butchering the turkeys next weekend so I really need the freezer space for them now.
Also tomorrow I need to get crackin on making some cheese. Our milk inventory is a little high so I think some Queso Fresco is in order. My husband wants more kefir and our son just adores yogurt. I think that will use up what we have on hand. I really want some cottage cheese sometime this week so that will be next up. I picked up some cream at the store so goat ice cream is on the menu soon too.....see why I'd like another goat?
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