We have an abundance of roosters. Poor hens are being run ragged. A friends dad would take all the roosters if we could catch them and bring them over. Easy Peasy!! Right? NOPE. Since my son was having to leave early, we could not wait until dark to catch them so off we went, Kenneth and myself. We had 10 or 11 roosters we needed caught. HA, these roosters were not falling for a feed trap. So I would run them behind the barn and Kenneth would grab one. This did not always work. As a matter of fact, it only worked twice, then the roosters caught on LOL. So after an hour of running back and forth, Kenneth caught 7 roosters and we called it good enough LOL. We can get the others at a later date. My role? Awe..well, I looked pretty good walking back and forth trying to help round them in a corner. And no, I didn't do a very good job BUT we had a blast, lots of laughing and Kenneth Shouting, if you catch this chicken, you can catch grease lightening!!
Ok. I admit. Im no spring chicken lol. (pun intended ) But boy oh boy, I couldn't catch even one rooster!!!
We have an abundance of roosters. Poor hens are being run ragged. A friends dad would take all the roosters if we could catch them and bring them over. Easy Peasy!! Right? NOPE. Since my son was having to leave early, we could not wait until dark to catch them so off we went, Kenneth and myself. We had 10 or 11 roosters we needed caught. HA, these roosters were not falling for a feed trap. So I would run them behind the barn and Kenneth would grab one. This did not always work. As a matter of fact, it only worked twice, then the roosters caught on LOL. So after an hour of running back and forth, Kenneth caught 7 roosters and we called it good enough LOL. We can get the others at a later date. My role? Awe..well, I looked pretty good walking back and forth trying to help round them in a corner. And no, I didn't do a very good job BUT we had a blast, lots of laughing and Kenneth Shouting, if you catch this chicken, you can catch grease lightening!!
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Their house has arrived! What an exciting day for them and us. Watching the kids see their hard work begin to pay off as they get moved out here. It's a new beginning for them as a family and a "return to the dirt" for Maureena. My husbands hope is all the kids will fall back in love with the farm life but we know for all this may never be true. And that is ok, they have to choose to go where God calls them. But I am not surprised Maureena did. I have a feeling a few more may, but for now, this is Maureena and her families journey and my prayer is they will raise the next generation to love it enough to return as adults.
Actually, with a lot of help! Its so exciting to see our front pasture once again fenced in! The old fence was so old, it broke easy and held nothing in or out. So, more than a few years ago, the kids and I began the task of tearing it down. Then life and illness happened and it did not get finished, let alone put back up! But with my daughter and her family moving out here, we needed a place to pen the cows and donkeys up for the house work can begin. So they spent several days preparing the area, putting new post and finally pulling the new wire on AND boy it looks great! Today they got the animals moved, water set up and brushed themselves off for a much deserved break. I had the privilege of training my granddaughter about life with goats! HA The pad for their house is beginning this week and by early next week their house will be here and set up begins! Life on the farm can be hard! There is a lot of hard work, blisters, back aches and sunburn, but when family can be together, to help, support and encourage, its all very much worth it!
We had been talking about getting meat rabbits again. They are easy to raise and supply healthy delicious meat in ample suppy! We raised them before in a community style pen. Papa bunny lived in his own man cave with in the community so he was part of the group but only bred when we released him. My plans were to rebuild that style. BUT my sons coworker offered us a breeding pair of California meat rabbits. And well, free breeders are hard to resist! So we brought them home and housed them each in their own small wire dog kennel. This sat on my metal Goat station and I knew that was not a good spot. But until we can set something up..that was the best safe place out of weather for them to acclimate to the sounds and business of our farm. We enough already! They are so messy animals and I really don't want my table ruined, so today I sat out to create their own landing place until we can get that community pen built. We had a small metal framed table I pulled the wood top off of, zip tied some wilders cloth wite to the bottom, which thankfully had metal grids to support the cages and wire! I cleaned the rabbits dog kennel and my son helped me transfer the bunnies and cages to the table. I use a tart to prive a little hid away spot and to cover the back and sides at night for security and to help the rabbits feel more secure . I think they will be happy here until we can build their permanent pen.
Used to be, I see a snake, I yell for my husband or son..But what to do when I don't have that option? I have killed several snakes the years past by shooting them lol. I didn't have to get close. Monday my geese were getting pretty loud. And then Sadie began to bark, wanting in with the geese. I looked out to see all but one goose was out of the shed where the nests were and one large male left in was spreading his wings and squawking and hissing. I made my way out there to find a large, at least 6 foot snake with its mouth trying to fit around a goose egg. I didn't bring anything with me.. (I know..not smart) So I grabbed that snake by the tail and yanked him out of the shed and tossed him. I looked around for something to dispatch him with while he quickly tried to make himself scarce. I found an iron rod in a pile near the goose pen and went on the hunt. I found the snake under our push mower in the mower shed. I quickly made that snake regret trying to eat one of my goose eggs. The geese were once again settled and Sadie was relaxed.
At feeding time I headed out telling Sadie, " Let's go to work" and she follows me around. I heard the desperate chirp of a chick in trouble. I followed the sound to a water bucket with a little chick bobbing up and down. I grabbed her out and tried to dry her off best I could with my shirt tail. I sent her on her way with mom, who was close by squawking for her, but baby was too wobbly and still too wet. I scooped her up and she was shivering. So I cupped her in my hand and blew hot air on her until she chirp of doom went to a purr of sorts. Then I stuffed her in my shirt pockets and finished night feeding. By the time I was done, the chick was dry and mom was still calling her..so I put her down and mom quickly gathered her under her. Next morning, there they were in the barn all dry and cozy. We usually steal all but one chick from moms who hatch a brood, to help survival rates. We don't purposely miss nests, but it happens and letting the moms raise their own usually ends badly for most if not all the chicks. So we set up a brooder trough, with clean bedding, chick food, water and heat light. But this year we didn't prepare. And we have lost two flocks of chicks. Currently a mom of 9 now has 3. I just didn't want more work, but i found two more nest that have been sat on for a while, so I will go clean that brooder trough, add clean bedding, a clean food dish and water dish and working light. I will be prepared to save as many as we can. I don't need more chickens, but I cant handle knowing we will send these little ones off to their doom either. I believe we also have turkeys laying, and know we will need to rescue any hthat hatch. AND to top things up, a rooster was dumped out here, which we need to catch and dr his leg...Never a dull moment on the farm! It's that time of year where grasses and weeds are over taking the yard. Now, first a bit of a confession. I have never used a riding mower! I always pushed mowed or the kids mowed. We have a rider. as a matter of fact, we have had several over the years. I just always preferred to push mow. Of course my push mower had that auto drive , so I didn't actually have to push, I just followed LOL. We also have one of those push weeders, which are nice. I love it, but boy its hard to push through thick weeds and grasses. My son Kenneth mowed the back while I used the push weed eater. The string got caught on fences and snagged on this or that and I had to replace the string 4 or 5 times..and to top that off I caught a piece of old fencing and got it wrapped up on the turning thing. Thankfully Kenneth was able to get it off..So he mowed and I finally finished with the weed eater. Im hot, slimy and seeing spots lol. It should not have taken me so long to get that done. After a bit of rest and some water, we set out to conquer the front. This time I told Kenneth, Ill drive lol. So he showed me the "how to's" and I stretched my leg to Push the break peddle thing and Im TOO short! Kenneth of course is cracking up! ( hes 6'1") So we looked at the seat and was thrilled to see a way we can push it forward. OK, Now we are getting somewhere lol. I barely able to reach, but I reach! And I had to be careful not to lean froward as I was barely able to keep it running. If I went forward even a tiny bit, the mower would shut off. So off I went, got the front all cut, but was not brave enough to hit the ditch or the hill next to the drive way. Kenneth weed eatered in short order, making it looks so easy! Im hot, exhausted, slimy and now have dirt and grass all over me...but I feel great! After being told I may not be strong enough to start the weed eater, or keep the. rider going...I DID IT. I know there will be plenty of things that will be hard for me to do. But with each battle won, i feel empowered to conquer the next. Now for a long hot bath!!
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AuthorMy husband and I would go on a country drive any chance we got. Driving the back roads, looking at the farms and dream. My favorite places to see were the old abandoned farm houses. I would take pictures and wonder who built it, who grew up there and what was life like. Owning land, let alone land with a house on it, seemed unreachable. Moving to Texas we could finally realize our dream. We came with 6 kids, adopted 2 more and now we have none. So Our solo farm adventure begins...Cathy Archives
April 2024
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