Today started with farmers feeding the animals. We had recently taken the step of purchasing our own crusher and press (rather than using rented equipment) so that we could do small and experimental batches as often as we like. We now had the opportunity to go to a friend's place and crush their apples. They have an apple tree, and since apples largely ripen together, as with most crops, they have a sudden surplus. This is where cider comes in.
Having done the crushing and pressing, which went well, we gathered the (roughly) three gallons and brought them home. The animals were hungry, but the sheep were glad not only to get more hay in their feeders, but also pomace from the crushing. So far there are no signs of bloating or other trouble.
After the sun had gone down, there was a plaintive, repeated bleating. On inspection we found a lamb who had stuck her head through the mesh fencing. We rescued her in good time, but it's clear that as soon as we can get proper permanent fences up, we must do so.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Continuances and Annoyances
Warm and cloudless, it has been fairly typical weather for the season, with foggy or cloudy mornings which soon burn off. We have had no more than a spot of drizzle here and there to relieve the land.
Our turf is fairly deep and has not been disturbed much, so that the pasture has not dried up yet although the sheep are getting increasingly greedy for the greener bits. The thistles are putting a brave face on repeated beheading by scythe, and keep growing new heads which are cut off in turn. When we arrived here, nearly a year ago, the land was dominated by wild carrot which stood waist high or higher. The sheep have done us proud, and there is barely a stalk to be seen. A few years of this, and we shall have few weeds worth mention at all.
We have more ducklings hatching, which means that we are confining the barn cats to the workshop. This annoys them, but we try to make up for it in small ways. A brush rabbit corpse was used as a peace offering, and since a fair amount of it was consumed with much joy and feral glaring, we hope that the barn cats will add rabbit to their menu. Failing this, farmers can employ missile weapons to the same effect.
The lamb with the number 007 sadly lost his tag, ripping his ear in the process. We will have to retag him, with a new number. Obviously this is a hazard with ear tags, and we hope to find some other way which will meet the needs of the USDA, but we might be stuck with the problem. Fortunately he is not showing signs of much discomfort.
We may have a purchaser for some of our ewes. How this will play out remains to be seen.
Our turf is fairly deep and has not been disturbed much, so that the pasture has not dried up yet although the sheep are getting increasingly greedy for the greener bits. The thistles are putting a brave face on repeated beheading by scythe, and keep growing new heads which are cut off in turn. When we arrived here, nearly a year ago, the land was dominated by wild carrot which stood waist high or higher. The sheep have done us proud, and there is barely a stalk to be seen. A few years of this, and we shall have few weeds worth mention at all.
We have more ducklings hatching, which means that we are confining the barn cats to the workshop. This annoys them, but we try to make up for it in small ways. A brush rabbit corpse was used as a peace offering, and since a fair amount of it was consumed with much joy and feral glaring, we hope that the barn cats will add rabbit to their menu. Failing this, farmers can employ missile weapons to the same effect.
The lamb with the number 007 sadly lost his tag, ripping his ear in the process. We will have to retag him, with a new number. Obviously this is a hazard with ear tags, and we hope to find some other way which will meet the needs of the USDA, but we might be stuck with the problem. Fortunately he is not showing signs of much discomfort.
We may have a purchaser for some of our ewes. How this will play out remains to be seen.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
8 July 2010
Temperature: HOT!
We have been having a spell of ridiculously hot weather (by one farmer's standards, at least) with today topping out at 97 degrees Fahrenheit in ambient temperature. Our 'in the sun' thermometer said the temperature was 114.
One of Double Nickel's lambs - the ram lamb - got tagged today. He is a very handsome fellow, as you can see!
He was not very happy about getting tagged. We intend to keep him for breeding, however, and his tag is perfect for it. This ram lamb is 007.
The sheep still escape on a daily basis. We are having to do full-time shepherding until we hear back from the fencing contractor. At least one farmer has been considering just getting a bigger freezer, but cooler heads thus far have prevailed.
Temperature: HOT!
We have been having a spell of ridiculously hot weather (by one farmer's standards, at least) with today topping out at 97 degrees Fahrenheit in ambient temperature. Our 'in the sun' thermometer said the temperature was 114.One of Double Nickel's lambs - the ram lamb - got tagged today. He is a very handsome fellow, as you can see!
He was not very happy about getting tagged. We intend to keep him for breeding, however, and his tag is perfect for it. This ram lamb is 007.
The sheep still escape on a daily basis. We are having to do full-time shepherding until we hear back from the fencing contractor. At least one farmer has been considering just getting a bigger freezer, but cooler heads thus far have prevailed.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Fireworks
The fourth of July came and went, and with it untold dollars burnt up in fireworks.
Sadly, some of our neighbours spent a lot of money on fireworks, and while we don't begrudge them some holiday pleasure, a lot of time was spent soothing geese and sheep. The geese huddled together in a body, running hither and yon in search of shelter. The sheep, which were already confined in their paddock, wanted to run around as well. Fortunately, a farmer standing calmly by them and speaking in a calm tone of voice went a long way to reassuring them.
The war on thistles continues. We make no pretence of annihilation (a hopeless goal) but use the scythe (or whatever is handy) to take off the flowering heads. It has been observed that there are a lot of aphids on the thistle stalks, and anything which keeps that pest under control is a good thing. We may well end up spending quite a bit on ladybirds.
Sadly, some of our neighbours spent a lot of money on fireworks, and while we don't begrudge them some holiday pleasure, a lot of time was spent soothing geese and sheep. The geese huddled together in a body, running hither and yon in search of shelter. The sheep, which were already confined in their paddock, wanted to run around as well. Fortunately, a farmer standing calmly by them and speaking in a calm tone of voice went a long way to reassuring them.
The war on thistles continues. We make no pretence of annihilation (a hopeless goal) but use the scythe (or whatever is handy) to take off the flowering heads. It has been observed that there are a lot of aphids on the thistle stalks, and anything which keeps that pest under control is a good thing. We may well end up spending quite a bit on ladybirds.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
3 July 2010
Cool & overcast
We officially have 58 sheep who refuse to be confined. We are considering giving some of them to Nelson Mandela as a gift.
We have begun tagging lambs; the difficulty is in keeping their heads still, resulting in a farmer being sprayed with a bit of lamb blood once due to moving head at the wrong time. No other harm done, mercifully.
All of the trees now have tree guards. Life is good, and soon we will begin culling and filling our freezer with fresh lamb and mutton.
Cool & overcast
We officially have 58 sheep who refuse to be confined. We are considering giving some of them to Nelson Mandela as a gift.
We have begun tagging lambs; the difficulty is in keeping their heads still, resulting in a farmer being sprayed with a bit of lamb blood once due to moving head at the wrong time. No other harm done, mercifully.
All of the trees now have tree guards. Life is good, and soon we will begin culling and filling our freezer with fresh lamb and mutton.
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