A Day in the Unfolding of the New Year

Trying to take on a few major projects while my work schedule is lighter, as well as help the kids with homeschooling and their own projects has kept me on my toes, but it has been quite rewarding. I will share more about the projects going on around here in the next few days. Okay, seeing how often I am too tired for blogging lately, how about I promise to do my best, but acknowledge they might be a bit late?

This blue Silkie pullet is one of a few new layers who have been contributing their first few eggs to the family here lately. This morning, she seemed bent on being broody, though she wasn't actually sitting ON the egg. Wyatt wasn't sure whether to be thankful she was making the collecting easy or explain how the whole broody thing worked, but since he was trying to get pens cleaned between storms, I think he was just happy for anything simple he could get!

Shine got to hang out in the house for a while with his buddy Shadow this morning. They haven't had as much of this time lately, since the rain and mud has led to some rather muddy hooves! On the flip side, at least the rain has the barrels mostly full again! Shine and Shadow sure enjoy the companionship, though, they were great friends when Shine was a house goat.

Later, Shine got to head down to visit friends at another 4-H club we compete with sometimes. A number of the youth are brand new to the group, but a few have grown up together showing as a group for several yers now. It is amazing to me to see them so grown up!

The older youth were examples and teachers, as they should be as Senior showmen. They also enjoyed laughing with each other and at themselves, I think!

Shine seems to be settling in to the showing thing, though he seemed to like raiding cookies from Bailey's pocket the best!

I think it is funny that after each trip off to training sessions, meetings and community outreach, both Shine and Shadow stop in the front yard to check all of the statues. 

I am not sure what they expect, but they are usually the only ones who move them!

FOr those of you following the saga of the lonely chick, I gave in this week and arranged for the little one to have some friends. A big thank you to Melanie for sharing some of her purebred Black Ameraucana stock with us, these will likely be te only new poultry stock until after county fair.The four little chicks have taken well to their new surroundings, and the slightly older Java of ours seems to also be taking well to having young charges to look after.

Some of the biggest news these days is that Miss Versie seems to be getting ready to kid. Bailey is spending lots of time out there, and we are tracking her progress. One interesting thing about her, Verse has taken in the last day to stretching out by climbing the fences of the maternity ward with her front hooves. I sure hope that means that the babies are settling well into proper position.

You can barely see Verse in this photo, she was in the corner of the pen after our last check. She really is a sweetheart. While I don't think kidding is truly imminent, I will head out there again in another hour and let Bailey sleep a bit. It never hurts to be on the safe side, these will be her first kids. 

On that note, I think I will squeeze in a short nap. While moping the kitchen is calling my name, I think it can wait a coupl eof hours and help me warm up after I traipse back out to the goat area in a spell. Hope you all have a wonderful night, I will share again when I can! Love to all.

Welcome to the Family

Truth be told, this is another of my late posts.  These beautiful boys entered the farm family on Wednesday.  We were so thrilled that they came along in the daylight, in such an easy delivery, I thought there was sleep in my future! That was not to be, since the boys had trouble  latching on to mama Silver. An experienced dam who has raised some champion kids, Silver didn't know what to make of the issue. Bailey and I were scratching our heads and pulling out the tricks, and she was calling on the breeders who have so generously become mentors to us in this process.

This adorable little black one came out with hilariously turned back ears. We will be taping those to correct it. As cute as it is, it does change the shape of the head a bit, counts as a fault, and more importantly leaves the ears more open for foreign stuff to get in. By the second day, this little one was doing great with his mama, and we were feeling a full little baby goat belly and not needing to supplement him.

The larger lighter one, though, is still having trouble. Mama Silver is very anti milking, she wants to save all the milk for her boys, so Bailey and I have been teaming up and having to wrestle her for what milk we can, and supplementing more with formula when we have to.

She tells him to go back and drink, but he is still struggling with the sucking though he does swallow fine. He has also tried to get milk from her waddles, reminiscent of Nathan from a few years back.

Miss Versie, Bailey's showmanship goat, has been feeling  left out. She has been making friends with Shadow at the fence, laying at the gate to the kidding pen, socializing with Bailey's bantam Cochins through their fence, and trying to sneak in and kiss the new babies! Here she is taking advantage of the camera for attention and a photo op!

Neither of the babies are named at this point.  We keep coming back to something involving light for this little guy. This morning (Saturday, they both weighed in at 5.3 pounds.

This was thier first photo, as Silver was still working on cleaning them up.

While the breeders all remind us that some bottle babies are inevitable, I hope that little man settles in to the nursing thing, as I really believe it is a smoother life, even if the kids are home schooled and available to work with them much of the time. Plus life is crazy and I must admit that  miss sleeping and know the first round of baby geese here should keep us on our toes as well.

Anyhow, that's what we are up to. As I finish this, there are two Light Brahma babies trying hard to break out in the incubator, and little ones growing rapidly in the brooders. Life is always an adventure, and we lean from each new experience. Well, you all have a great night!

Love to all,

Erin

Our Wild Weekend!

Bailey and I headed out on an adventure this weekend, and left the farm in the capable hands of Charlie and Wyatt, with help from my parents who were in to help auntie move.  All the way up to Cottonwood we drove, but had to be home in time for me to teach this morning. After class, the kids and I did a walk around to make sure we hadn't missed anything with all the rain overnight.

Look what we found!

This new baby Silkie is actually black for now, but of partridge lineage, and settled right in to the brooder, taking a nap just a few minutes after meeting "her" new friends!

While we were up in Cottonwood, we participated in three goat shows, one on Saturday and two on Sunday. We participated in showmanship, a competition of our goat knowledge and skill in showing, as well as breed classes. The majority of the does stayed home to keep everything on track for the coming kidding season, but little Versie came along. Since she and Powerstroke didn't get their paperwork changeover in time to truly compete this weekend, we were fortunate to have wonderful judges that helped Bailey look at where they would truly stand and work on herd planning. Great folks and fun!

Bailey even challenged me to compete in adult showmanship...

This is a common sight when competing in open shows where breeders bring lots of their top animals, and end up looking like big city dog walkers! Sometimes there are ten goats in hand waiting to go in, just from one breeder.Then they have to figure out which lead to separate. The youth are always glad to help show and learn.

Obediah was hungry from being crazy and vocal with all the other testosterone in the barn.

The kids enjoyed hanging out with and showing with and against their good friends. 

A favorite activity in the down time- cuddling babies! Sure makes us ready for the next batch of babies here!

This was the last youth showmanship class. The youth are really amazing with their knowledge and poise!

The big boy bucks. So many different body styles represented! It might seem subtle to the naked eye, but the scorecard reveals a lot of fine detail aspects in breeding.

Another thing awaiting me when I returned home- posting the contest winners for the fall contest! Here it is:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations tot he winners and a big thank you to all who entered!