Super Nice Weather !!

We have had some GREAT weather the last two days. Along with the warm Sun comes a lot of work too, and that's fine by me. I love to be out working in the yard and garden, getting ready for planting once again. I can hardly wait for the smell of freshly turned dirt and wild onions to fill the air. This weather gets me so excited I can hardly stand myself, I know others have a hard time standing me too..lol The chickens have celebrated the first of spring with a bounty of eggs, gathered 11 eggs from my 7 layers in the last two days. I'm so proud of them girls and glad to have them back in action. Eggs have been scarce through the long winter months. Still not recovered the greenhouse, it's on the short list now, but will be starting some tomato's inside in our little mini greenhouse tray tomorrow. Would love to do it today but we have all played ourselves out for the day. Should sleep good tonight, with thoughts of seeds,bulbs and plants filling my dreams. There seems to be nothing that feels more at home in my hand than the well worn handle of a hoe or shovel, we become one if only for a short while. It's like shaking hands with and old friend, it's hard not to smile.

The goats and the girls had a nice day in the goat lot playing. Here's a few picks of my animals..LOL

Today wasn't a total loss

Even though I still have no goats milk the day was still pretty productive. Daisy did seem happy to get on the milking stand, that has to be good. We are in for some really cold weather this week and I needed to work on the chicken coop and the goat barn some to prepare for it. Don't want to loose any animals due to my neglect. I covered the 2 windows on the chicken coop with clear plastic to keep the cold out and the warm in. I also got 3 eggs today, have only been getting about 4 or 5 a week. That's better for sure. I covered the goat barn on the front where I had left somewhat of an opening so they could get plenty of fresh air. I sealed it up and left an opening in the door so they can still get in and out. This should keep it warmer and dryer in the barn. Lou Lou, our other boer doe, is getting bigger and bigger the last few days. Maybe we will have more kids soon. She is not as big as Daisy was so I am not really expecting twins from her. This is also her first breeding as was Daisy's. Emily, our pygmy doe, is gaining some weight but I don't think she will kid anytime very soon. Ya just never know.

I know I have gave you nothing but failures the last few days and I'm sorry. You all take time to stop by and read my ramblings and you must leave on a bit of a sorrowful note. Hope I'm not ruining your day by sharing my failures. But, I want to give you an honest account of what goes on here. It's not always success. I am new to many of the things that I try and can only rely my research, your advice and trial and error. I can only keep trying and learning along the way. For some of you, none of this is new, for others that may be thinking and dreaming of living on a small farm, maybe you are learning along with me. I hope so. I don't paint the prettiest picture for you but, and honest one. I hope you will stay with me and maybe I can post on some real success stories for us both. Until then, I'll be here, one foot in front of the other, moving along as best I can.

'Til then, I remain,

Your Friend,

Chris

Compost, Chickens and Walnuts

It's a beautiful day here today and I feel great. So pretty in fact that even my arthritis decided to give me a day off from it's constant nagging pain. Wish everyday could feel this good. So I have been outside playing on the farm.

Started a new compost pile today in the garden where I raise corn. I decided to make one right in the middle of the spot and then spread it all out when planting time comes in the spring. This pile is started with a good amount of cow manure then adding leaves and the mess from the chicken run and coop.

All this came from the coop, mostly old wood chips and sawdust that I put in there in the spring last year. Losts of good nitrogen in that pile of poop.
Cleaned out the chicken run too and add some hay and leaves for them to play in. Would love to let them free range but the cyote's would have all in a night. They are happy and well feed.


New material for the nesting boxes that I hope they will soon start using to lay eggs again.

Some hay on the floor of the coop.

Come on in girls and check it out. Hope it's to your liking.

I have a bunch of walnuts to get hulled out. This is the way my Great Greatmother taught me to do it. When I was around 10 or so me and my cousins decided we were gonna hull some out for her. We ofcourse used our hands and got walnut stain all over them. Our Great Grandmother in all her wisdom told us that only one thing will remove walnut stains from your hands.......Time.

So with the walnut on the ground she showed us how to take our shoe and press down on the nut and then roll your foot around a little.

The hull comes right off with very little effort and no stain on your hands.

Now, just gotta do the rest of them. I'll hang them in a onion sack in the dry until they are good and dry, they crack eaiser when they are completely dry.

Ducks in the Garden- Update !!

In a earlier post I ask if anyone had ever had ducks in their garden and Tracy, over at Possum Living, said "I had some Muscovy ducks that also ignored my peppers and other garden plants, until one day it was like a light bulb went off in their heads, and they wiped out most of the peppers". Up until then I had had no problem with the ducks bothering anything, that is up until then. I belive the ducks must have internet out there. That very night after Tracy left that comment they wiped ME out too. 6 peppers plants fell prey to the baby ducks, so they are freerange now and they are loving it. I just kept them up for their own safety. I guess you could say that Tracy knows ducks.

Momma Duck and the babys have made their way all around the yard and found refuge in the goats lot along with our 2 Buff Silkie Roosters.

Good days harvest

The chickens have really stepped up to the plate so to say. Got 8 eggs from 8 hens today. Now that is some happy chickens and owner.

Baby Chicks

Our baby chicks are doing great at a week and a half old. Had bad luck with the hatch though, only 10 of 48 eggs hatched. And 2 of them died. Not sure what happened, incubator was working fine the whole way through. Guess it's hard to out due a hen when it comes to hatching eggs. Oh well we still have 8 beautiful chicks that are very healthy to add to our flock.

Spring Hatch

Chicks are hatching a few at a time tonight. Have about 44 more in the incubator. Funny thing is you can hear them a day or two before they start to hatch. The kids are really enjoying watching the hatch. You can see 2 eggs in the box that have a small hole in them, should hatch soon. Been taking an hour or so once they start to crack. Really enjoyable sight to see.

Chickens and Compost

Added some organic matter to the garden
today. Turned the soil and then added leaves,
some wood chips and some pine neddles that have been sitting for about a year. The chickens will work through it and spread it all out while adding some of their poop to the mix. Notice the bed on the other side that they have worked over for me. All that and eggs too. Gotta love those girls.

Rain and Cold

It has been rainy and cold here today with a few snow flurries to boot. Not what I was really wanting if you know what I mean. Hard to get much done in this kind of weather. Spent a little time in the Greenhouse though, nice and warm in there. All seeds are sprouted and I still have more to plant. Going to try some birdhouse gourds this year. Bought seeds at the amish country greenhouse last week. The amish have gourds hanging everywhere around their houses and lok so nice all painted white. Be nice to have some to play around with. My wife is really good at decorating and painting and so on so I know she can do some really cool stuff with them. Chickens are all doing well and seem to be happy working the ground in the garden area. Hey it saves me a lot of work and they eat bugs and unwanted seeds to. Chickens are a real plus on the homestead. Goats are working too, eating grass and weeds the I would otherwise have to cut myself. The great part about my farm animals is that they get rid of the things I don't want or need through one end of their body and produce good organic matter which they deposit out the other end. Compost machines is what I call them. Just turn them loose in the area you want them to work and sit back and what the happily take care of business.

Farm Happenings

A lot of work has been going on here at The Johnson Farm. Built a 20 x 30 foot fence to keep critters out of the garden. A few chickens and ducks are working the soil for me for a few days until planting time. Then they will be back in the hen house. Pictured are the garden area, our drake duck Nick, Two Buff Silkie roosters and some of the greenhouse work.

New Ducks and Chickens

2 new Ducks and 4 new chickens added to the farm.

Barred Rock Hen

One of the girls in the hen house. She is a Barred Rock and she is 9 months old. Just starting to lay on a regular basis. We also have 2 Red Leghorn hens, 1 Buff Silkie and a mixed bantam.