29 Baa

9:54 PM Sunday, 31 January 2010
Temperature: 41 F, lightly overcast, no rain

We've received 29 more sheep from J.B. in Oregon; 21 young but mature ewes and 8 ewe lambs, all horned. Very cute. The lambs are in with the original flock while the others are in with the geese and ducks.

We've also received more fencing material. The new adult ewes show every keen interest in chomping away happily on pine branches and needles. Looks like we'll be able to eke out our hay for a long while if that's so, what with the trees felled for light purposes.

We did not take possession of the dogs, one of whom was visibly extremely unhappy with the prospect of remaining here and was highly disobedient even to her trainers. May be receiving two younger, friendlier, less wander-prone dogs from J.B.; she will let us know. If not, other arrangements will be made.

Rabbits are still doing well. Need more individual attention than we've entirely had time for today, but all did get at least a little handling. Will be doing last check before bed of water dishes etc when putting barn cats to bed.

Ducks were prone to wandering. Went through three loaves of bread tempting them back into their enclosure. As such they received no nighttime feeding as they also have fresh pasture now due to the enclosure having been moved. They also now have a small sandbox filled with fresh water as they are away from the pond now. The trick will be keeping them away from the pond.

The birds' shelter needs to be reconstructed and we will be putting up a third shelter once the sheep are separated out further. This will likely be done sometime during this coming week or at the weekend, along with finishing the rabbits' grazing arks.

Finished researching height/timing requirements for garden plants and have decided to grow all melons and pumpkins via the trellis method to save space and preserve fruits. The next several weeks will see building the greenhouse and getting seedlings started, along with building the earth beds for the garden itself. Will be using a combination of plywood and stones for the latter.

We now will begin also digging holes for placement of trees in March. No more livestock planned although we have 2 more female geese on order which are due to arrive in April, and tentative plans to add chickens to the mix in later spring or early summer, depending on when we find time to build a proper coop and chicken tractors.

One Dead Duck

10:59 AM, Sunday, 31 January, 2010
Temperature: 48 F
Overcast but not raining

Interim morning update:

Rabbits all survived the night just fine although out of water. Refilled water first on porch cages; no sign that they're using the bottles, still preferring crocks.

When feeding ducks found one dead on its side next to one of the feeder trays. Rigor had set in. Got work gloves and wrapped duck in sheet of plastic and set to dumping feed onto ground and washing feeder trays, water containers thoroughly. Refilled water and moved on.

Fed sheep orchard grass hay, same to rabbits. Wrapped dead duck was in rigor but no sign of insects yet and eyes were still intact. Moved cadaver to freezer until we find a vet to perform a necroscopy.

Old school farm, duck would be in the pot already. We're less hungry than that.

Update: It was Quasimodo that died; younger duck with misshapen wings and a definite hunch and lurching gait. Seems probable that it may have been a congenital defect. Necroscopy will tell for sure.

12:06 AM, Sunday, 31 January 2010
Temperature: 43 F
Livestock status: unchanged

Today's farmwork:

Rose a little after 9 and took care of all livestock needs. Minnow's water dish needed to be changed and its location altered as she'd urinated in it. Went for coffee and then to the hardware store on Gold for plywood, zip ties, wood glue, dowels, chicken wire. Then we went to the farm store; purchased 4 mm thick plastic (20x25 ft roll), 50 lb dog food, 2 dog dishes, 4 bales of orchard grass hay, egg cartons, and 5 water bottles for the rabbits. Acquired from the farm store folks for free 5 wooden pallets.

Returned to the farm and offloaded the pallets by the old wrecked home site; drove up to the house proper and unloaded the rest of our purchases. Checked quickly on things and then went to lunch; Jalisco Mexican food, very tasty, very authentic. Returned to farm store to pick up the rest of the hay, and got a handful of names of vets who do house calls for livestock needs.

Progress made although not completed on grazing arks for the rabbits. Buck and 3 does' cages moved to front porch for the night to prevent poor interactions between caged rabbits and uncaged house cats after one potential such. Angora doe (Minnow) still in garage; when arks are complete, rabbits will be moved to those.

Tomorrow should see more sheep and the dogs arriving. Hopefully all goes smoothly.

Friday Wabbits

9:57 PM, Friday, 29 January 2010
Temperature: 44 F
Raining lightly



Current livestock:
6 Soay ewes (pregnant), 3 Soay rams
8 Toulouse geese
22 Muscovy ducks
5 barn cats, 3 house cats
1 giant Angora rabbit doe, 3 beveren cross (1 beveren lilac, 2 beveren agouti) does
1 beveren cross (beveren with English spot ancestry) buck



Anticipated livestock:
29 Soay ewes (not pregnant)
2 livestock guardian dogs (Akbash/Great Pyrenees cross)
- to arrive Sunday



Today's farmwork:
Rose at 8:30 and fed the poultry two moderate scoops of Layena pellets. Washed out & refilled their primary water container, having topped off the secondary one. Checked on the sheep, having moved their pasture north up the slope, and brought them a sheaf of orchard grass hay. Found their trough was dry after the move; remedied this with the hose.

Made arrangements to obtain rabbits. Several fence posts were in an unstable position; stabilized these and checked on the barn cats after loading carriers into the car. Despite rain and traffic difficulties, managed to meet with the rabbit breeder S and obtained Minnow (german angora cross), 3 other females and 1 breeding stud. Minnow may be pregnant; S had tried breeding her to an English but suspects the English to be sterile. We've been told to do what we like with any babies if she should prove pregnant.

Tomorrow: farm store run for trough, dog food, dog bowls, rabbit water bottles, timothy grass and orchard hay, grazing ark materials, and possibly pallets and plastic sheeting.

Minnow was overheated due to indoor temperatures; we moved her into the garage for now. The larger cages now have cardboard boxes for gnawing and for hiding in for the rabbits, and we've used sheets to cover part of the two large cages to help them feel defended.