Spring Fever

We need spring to arrive. It seems that spring fever is hitting the farm hard this last week! I will share with you some of the ups and downs of the last 7 days.

The chickens are plucking themselves out of boredom, I have now taken to giving them entire heads of lettuce and cauliflower to chase around the coop. It seems to help, for a short while. I sadly had to re-home one Golden Laced Wyandotte as the rest of the flock seemed to think she was a head of lettuce, and would chase her around pecking her poor bleeding backside.  She has now joined a new flock where she can recover peacefully.

The new chicks were doing marvellously well, peeping away in the laundry room. But alas, two days ago they began to sneeze. What followed was a full scale epidemic, and armed with Superbooster I have been dosing them in an effort to combat the cold. Three have recovered quite nicely, but the fourth is still in critical care. I feel terribly responsible for the life of this tiny chick, and so I diligently ensured she got her share of antibiotics via an eyedropper. It remains to be seen if she will pull through.

I certainly did not need any more chaos added to the mix, but our Livestock Guardian dog (LGD) decided to scuffle with our wee mutt. An initial vet visit was made, and all seemed fine. Some antibiotics and a clean up of superficial wounds. But over the weekend the wee dog didn't fare to well. What followed was a trip to the emergency vets (why is it that these things always happen after hours?) where he was treated for infected lymph nodes. He now has a shunt to drain the large abscess in his neck and is sporting a cone to keep him from scratching at it.  Our other dogs feel that this cone is simply a unique handle by which to grab him as he runs by. We have resorted to crating him, where he sits miserably wondering why he is being given a time out.

Our female LGD has just this week been hit hard with spring fever, and has found all sorts of unique ways to scramble under the electric fencing. She discovered that if she ran quite quickly, and flattened herself at the last minute, she could slide on the ice under the bottom wire with a whoosh! and land on the other side untouched.  What followed was hours of us wandering our 50 acre property trying to listen for the sound of her cow bell. Thankfully she wears a cowbell, or we would not have found her on the neighbours front lawn.

With all of this excitement, it was kind of touching to watch our wee bullock frolicking in the sun. And he does frolic. As the air warmed today, you could see his excitement - he began kicking his heels up like a wee elf in delight, knowing that warmer weather is coming.

I hesitated for a moment as I watched, and then thought "why not?" and I too did a little leprechaun jump. It can't hurt, can it?

Taken just before the frolicking began

Food facination

It is interesting how connected I am to food these days, and I don't mean that simply because I look my chickens in the eye each day and ponder how they would taste with a side of sweet potato, but more in how I approach food in general.

I think living on a farm forces you to think more about where food comes from. You are faced each day with the food chain, whether it's watching a hawk swoop down into the frozen field to scoop up a mouse who wasn't fast enough to scamper away, or seeing an egg as it's laid from the backside of a chicken. (Trust me when I say the death of the mouse was far less icky.)

I have begun to think about what's in our food, where it comes from, and whether or not I should be consuming it.  For years we have been told that margarine is healthier than butter, and that eggs are bad for you. I always thought this was odd, as I eat two eggs a day - including the yolk - and have eggs-sellent cholesterol. Pardon the pun.

Well new research shows that natural is better. http://fb.me/F5886Ota   It`s like I thought, consuming massive amounts of man made chemicals simply can`t be good for your insides.

I also find it funny that farmers routinely fatten their hogs, cattle and chickens with corn, and corn based products. The best way to increase marbling in your beef is to finish the cow on corn and grain.  Is it any wonder that as we fry everything we eat in corn oil, and consume hydrogenated corn products that we continue to be a nation that increases in obesity?

Let me be clear. I am not a doctor, I hold no medical degree, and I haven't been to any fancy pants school to learn about the biochemistry of the body.  I just find it odd that I wouldn't dream of feeding my beef cattle anything with man made oils, sugars or chemicals...and yet I have put it in my own body in the past.

Something to think about.

Our bull Monty, who loves to have corn only as a treat!

Soccer fans on the farm?

I have an exhibitionist on the farm.

I didn't notice it immediately, but she caught my eye the other day as she went dashing by like a streaker at a soccer match. Her bare pink backside shockingly exposed.

One of my hens is plucked to perfection. However, after some quick research it appears it is not uncommon at this time of year. I checked her for parasites, and she has none. Just a plucked clean bald area.

She is feeling "cooped up" it seems.

Chickens at this time of year begin to crave the freedom of summer, and the chance to roam far and free. They tire of the enclosed run area, and want a good leg stretch.  How do you explain to them that there is still a foot of snow on the ground, and that their legs are no match for the ice blocks that still litter the grass?

And so, in her boredom - she plucks herself.  I suppose it started with one feather and then another, and over time perhaps she kept trying to even things out. But now she has a bald spot.  She is a Golden Laced Wyandotte, and I am told that it is common for this breed. I wonder why? Why not the Red Sex Links, or the Barred Rocks?

I have begun to think of ways to keep them amused. Yesterday it was whole green peppers, today some whole lettuce heads. Something to bat around the enclosure like a soccer ball for fun.

I mean, since she seems to mimic the soccer fans, I thought "why not?"

I have begun to see a business opportunity in "chicken toys".  Whole warehouses full of toys to amuse your snowbound chickens.

Spring can't come soon enough - for the hens or I!

Double Trouble

Here we are at not even a year, and we have already ventured into equines....sort of. The donkey's have arrived. Yes, that's plural.  There goes my spring wardrobe fund!

We drove out to see the young female donkey, and upon arrival and inspection we discovered she was "less than perfect".  As a young foal she was kicked by a goat, and her left eye is "crooked".  It did nothing to hamper her cuteness, and we were hooked. So onto the trailer she went. I make that sound so simple. In real life it took several tries, a lot of encouragement, some pushing, and pleading. Donkey's we discovered, do not like to be told what to do.

Back on the road we went, albeit a little late, to go and see the second donkey. En route, we discussed the pros and cons of keeping a Jack.  Jacks have a terrible reputation, which you can read about here in the Jack files, and I was a little hesitant about keeping one.  But this young fellow was currently being socialized by four young girls. Surely I could handle him as well?

My dear sweet fireman pointed out that I handle our bull just fine, and that we would simply have to follow the same rules of respect with a mature Jack.

The discussion kept my mind off the snowy icy roads, which was a good thing. I am sure that there were several points on the journey which would have convinced a novice road tripper to turn back.

But we had an appointment and so we carried on.  We arrived three hours late, to meet the most endearing Jack. He was so docile, and led well. The girls fawned over him, and he accepted their fussing without the slightest of worry. We were hooked once more.

Getting him onto the trailer was a far simpler task, with the help of the girls and the encouragement of the Jenny he loaded quite quickly.

Once home, getting them off the trailer and into the barn was another feat, but somehow we managed. With some treats and encouragement, we lured them into the barn.

It's only been a day now, but it's amazing how they have already come to know which of my pockets the treats are in. We have called the Jenny "Clover", and have renamed the Jack "Radar".  Clover ran from me for most of the morning, but this evening she actually ran up to me - delighted to see the treat lady!

And so our equine adventure begins!

Peep Peep Peep

One thing that I love about becoming a part of the farming community is that for the most part, folks are super helpful and make you feel like you are welcome.

The chicken community is no exception. I have met some fantastic folks through online forums, and it was through such a forum that I met a lovely couple who breed all sorts of different chickens. What I was most excited to learn is that they breed Americauna chicks, the blue egg laying breed.

How could I not get some?

So I made the trek - over a two hour drive - and bought home four teeny chicks. They are the most adorable creatures, and I truly hope they are all hens. I keep calling them my "future egg layers".

Thus far, they seem to want to eat, sleep, eat, sleep, and peep. There is a lot of peeping. In a small farm house with a limited ductwork system, the peeping can be heard in every room. Last night I thought we had crickets in the house, but no - it was my peepers in the basement.

Excuse me while I tell the parrot that I no longer mind his squawking.

Hee-Haw

My brain has become an incredible sponge these days. In addition to reading several books that will help me be a better leader in my day job (yes dear reader - I do have a day job to support my farm habit!) I have also been learning about pigs, chickens, cows, solar energy, pasture management...and donkeys.

I must confess, I am facinated by the donkeys. 

It could harken back to the days when I was in love with all things horse, and adorned my bedroom walls with pictures torn from horse magazines. I used to look forward to the summertime, when I could attend "horse camp" - although truth be told I seemed to get along better with the horses than the campers.

Donkeys on the whole are quite intelligent, and whereas a horse will flee from a predator - donkey's will rise to fight one. Using their sharp wee hooves they will clobber the beast to death.  All the while, raising the alarm so that the farmer is roused from his slumber and can come running down to the barns. 

Seems like a fairly decent alarm system.

The Ontario government recognizes the use of donkey's as herd guardians, and suggests the following guidelines for introducing them to your livestock. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/sheep/facts/donkey2.htm 

What has become apparent is that they are herd animals, and do best in pairs. I like this idea - but it also doubles the cost of care.  I am hoping that our cattle will keep her from feeling lonely. From the reading I have done, a Jack (an ungelded male donkey) is more dangerous than a bull.  

You can read more about Jacks, Jenny's and Gelded males here http://www.calkinsart.net/donkeyinfo/jacksjennies.html   This site also has a great page called the Jack files. It's a scarey read - and certainly makes one think twice about keeping an ungelded male. 

Having said that, in our search we have come across a Jack for sale who is a sweet fellow. The question is - at two years old will the "Jack" behavior still exist even if he is gelded?  

I suppose in the end, Noah had it right. We all do better in pairs.

Garden in a Jiffy

There is nothing more pleasurable than sticking your hands into soil. It takes me back to a time when I could sit for hours and watch ants as they crawled about their hill, or lie on my back watching clouds as I listened to the buzzing of bees.

Perhaps that's why I have always loved to have a garden. It simply gives me an excuse to play in the dirt!

I have tried many garden planners in my day, but this one is hands down the best. http://www.motherearthnews.com/garden-planner/vegetable-garden-planner.aspx  Mother Earth News is giving a free 30 day trial, how can you go wrong? Even if you hate the planner you will still walk away with a great plan for this year. I like it because it will save last years plan and allow for rotational growing systems. It certainly simplifies things. Plus they give instructional videos to help those less technical.

So with my plan underway - making sure there was extra corn, carrots, potatoes and squash like plants for all of the critters on the farm - I started my Jiffy pots.

I have 3 packs of Jiffy pots, each with 72 pots. That is 216 plants for those of you who like me, need a calculator.  I thought that 216 plants was MORE than enough for my garden. I mean, really - we all know that 216 plants actually means 1,895 weeds.

But then the garden planning software told me I needed more plants for my plan. And clearly the software is WAY smarter than I am - so I bought two more packs of Jiffy pots. Bringing my grand total to 360 plants.

This is going to be one hell of a garden!