Beautiful day here

It's in the 60's here today. They are saying there is a cold front on the horizon for next week. I'm ready for spring. I've had no trouble to adapting to sunny warmer days here in Central Texas. Take seattle, just give me the warm countryside.

I've posted a new picture of the chicks. Figured it's a good idea to take a picture every week and document their growth.

New day - new surprises

Our chicks are one week old today. They are still cute! What week will I stop saying that?

Something happened today that I would have done anything to have a picture of. It is only funny or humorous in hindsight. Of course you know we can't keep the goats in the temporary electric fencing or anywhere in the big pasture without them eventually winding up in the front yard. The only place they are secure is in the small pasture with the barbed wire fence, goat fence and electric fencing. THREE FENCES. There is really no more for them to eat in this small pasture, and the reason we got the goats to begin with was to help us clear underbrush.

So, we've been putting them in the big pasture, and on certain days if we're lucky....the goats will stay out for several hours and we'll feel a sense of accomplishment. But today after only a few hours, they were in the little pasture where the chicken coop is. There is also a broken trampoline in the this pasture that the previous owners left. The chickens like it because it provides shade and shelter for them.

One of the goats got up on the side that is still intact on the trampoline. This was kinda hilarious, and I really wanted to see it get bouncing good, but alas, it just jumped off after awhile.

Then shortly thereafter, three of the goats....including the biggest one Patty got into the chicken coop. How? Why? Ward was so upset because he was afraid they were going to bust thru the floor of the coop, that he ushered them out of there as fast as he could and reinstalled them in the three fence small pasture. I was bummed, because I wanted to get a picture of them. How did they fit in thru the small door? So I took "after" pictures for illustration. So here's a picture of the goats (Patty is close to 3 feet tall), and one of the chicken coop door which is 12x12. Crazy!

New skills

Yesterday ward and I helped Dewberry Farm process chickens. Terry and Jane were kind and patient enough to let us two novices in the door. We processed about 100 chickens. I won't get into details, but it really wasn't that bad. The process was very humane and low key for the birds. I was on detail cleaning the birds. At first I estimate Jane was probably processing about 1o to 1 faster than me. By the end I was picking up a little speed. Of course I slowed her down because I insisted she inspect all the ones I had done. It is quite a phsyical job. We are hoping to get broilers here on our farm eventually, so not only was it good to know the process, but these folks were very helpful with other aspects, such as needed equipment. I know I still left with 1,000 more questions. Maybe they'll let us come back!

We lost one of the little chicks this weekend. When i went in to replace bedding, give water and food, one of them was flat as a pancake. Not sure what happened intially, but there was no mercy after the poor little thing got underfoot. 34 chicks still left!

New Chicks!

We went yesterday to Cameron to pick up our first batch of new chicks. We chose 20 production reds and 15 white leghorns. We are so partial to white leghorns since we've had several when we lived in Washington. They seem to have such great personalities. I made their brooders out of clear plastic tubs. They are in the utility room in the garage with heat lamps. Ward rigged a hardware cloth cover to protect them. I have huge paranoia over predators. Snakes, rats, hawks, coyotes, etc. I constantly try to help my hens in the yard look for hawks. Little good this will do if one goes for it...I know! We are trying to find someone to help us learn to process broilers so we can raise some ourselves. This is our next endeavor. So fun~! Don't you like the way this chick is posing for the camera?

Yeah Rain!

We got a good rain last night and into the early morning. Really needed it, hope the burn ban can be lifted now.
We went to Austin yesterday for a gardening class and to deliver eggs. It was a beginners class so we knew most of it, but picked up some good tips on central texas gardening which we were after.

Been putting extra pine chips in the chicken house and goat shed for the cold snap coming up. The donkey didn't go into the shelter from the rain. I don't know why, and I don't know how to make her go in. I feel so bad for her, she was soaked, but wasn't shivering. Hope she'll be okay.

Our compost pile steamed today when we turned it!!! So happy that it is finally getting hot.

Getting baby chicks when I get back from Oklahoma. Will post pics of them.

Stop all your work

When you really get going on a project is when something goes wrong. As in "Jill, did you dump a bunch of water in the yard?". I think we could tell by the gathering water and the chickens doing a happy dance around it, there was definitely a leak. Yet another good reason to have a tractor. Easier digging and filling holes. Ward was able to get the pipe repaired, and all is well again. The chickens thought the fresh dug dirt and water was the best thing they'd seen in awhile. Okay, back to building the tractor/carport.

It's drizzling Seattle style here today

The light drizzle has kept the day overcast and not too motivating. We'll take the moisture though. Expect 50% chance of showers on Saturday. We'll take that too.

Ward has started the tractor shed. It will be added to the side of the garage, like a carport.

I'm back at work today, so not much exciting for me. Just a few trips out to the coop to gather eggs...my favorite thing to do. At 4pm most of the hens were on the roost. Guess the weather is a little gloomy for them too.....

Last day of vacation

I've been on Christmas vacation since December 24th and have to go back to work tomorrow. I like working for Boeing since they shut down between Christmas and New Year for a nice long break. I had two goals for the break: 1) build a brooder 2) build a hoophouse for a greenhouse. I got neither of these completed, but did buy the materials for the brooder. At least it shouldn't take too long to put together. I figured if I just order chicks, it will make me SPRING into action! We got a seed catalog today and are both jonesing to look at it. Ward got first dibs. Are you wondering about our goat fencing? After adding another wire, and watering the ground rod.....the goats scooted right out under the fencing again. We've determined we what really need is rain before it will hold them. In the meantime, we cleared a fenced area in the middle of the big pasture that the previous owners had used for a hog pen. We took the goats back there today and successfully kept them out of the backyard for about 4-5 hours. I guess it took them awhile to find their way out. It crossed my mind when I was back there we should get a couple of pigs. hum.....

Still clearing fence line. Have determined that it takes about an hour to clear the section between T posts. I'm not going to use this information to figure out how long it will take me to finish. The first ones will be grown back by the time I'm halfway thru anyway......sigh.

New Year's Eve

Happy New Year Everyone! Hoping this year has peace and happiness for you all.

We were invited to our neighbors up the road and enjoyed some great company and fun board games. We have such nice neighbors....we are blessed to have landed here. I am dragging today....we haven't stayed up till 2am in I don't know how long. I don't know if this is a product of getting old, or living on this land where we are roused from sleep by a hungry donkey every morning. Either way....I guess it's fun to do at least once a year.

We are still struggling to keep goats in their temporary pasture. One more try yesterday yielded us about 30 minutes before they were grazing our backyard. Then when I was trying to get feed in the garage to lure them back, they followed me in there. They were climbing and standing on everything...from food bins to the table saw. I yelled at them to get out, but I can tell you, they don't listen very well. Ward, hearing all the yelling, came out to help me.

I have spent most of my vacation from work clearing fence line. You would not believe how tough the vines, plants and trees are around here. Ward and I are both have the scratches to show for it. The green briar is the worst. It is a tough vine, impossible to pull out.... intwining itself around fences, trees....whatever it wants to wrap around. This type of work feels like it will never be done. There is fence that goes on forever and just as sure as you clean it up, it will grow back. The neighbors say the place is starting to look nice. I don't know if they can really tell if it looks any different or they are just trying to keep our spirits up.