Drstratton - My Backyard Journey Journal

[drstratton]

Congratulations on Little Roo! I am glad he made it with his big bundle of personality! Rabbit tractor looks good too!

Thank you!
He definitely has personality and he's so much fun to interact with! I would have been so sad if he didn't survive!

 

[drstratton]

That's a beautiful rabbit tractor!


So glad your little roo made it thru his sickies. They tear at our hearts in unexpected ways. Yeah, we sure understand it!

Those piglets are cute right now, won't be at 300#. LOL But, that's one of the reasons we don't mind sending them to butcher! Then you have "cute" pork chops!

Thank you!
They certainly do, especially when you're planning on keeping them for a long time!
Our two youngest children raised pigs for 4h. One year my daughter had the nicest pig, until she took him to the fair & he turned into, her words... "the pig from hell"...she doesn't swear & still doesn't, it made us laugh so hard! I definitely agree that they only stay cute for so long...I'm looking forward to those cute pork chops & cute bacon...lol

 

[drstratton]

All 16 chickens present and looking healthy!

First day of free choice to use the chicken pen and they are loving it! So much more room for all of them to flap their little wings!

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[drstratton]

The pigs have discovered the other area of their pen! They will have plenty of shade throughout the day!

The other side!

 

[drstratton]

We finally completed the rabbit hutch and now have it in place! We placed all 3 rabbits in there for right now as we have some improvement we need to make on the old hutch! So happy to have it done!

Full picture of how it sits in conjunction to the other hutch & chicken pen!

Roof on & Rabbits inside! The 2x4 on the bottom back will be removed, it was just for support in bringing it outside!

 

[farmerjan]

One thing you might also want to consider for even the chicks, is that by 4 weeks, they are needing some grit in their crop to help grind the feed. I think that the Corid and possible coccidiosis was the correct way to go. But so many do not realize that all birds with crops need some grit to help with the process. That is why so many chickens get impacted crops.... For little chicks just a small sprinkle of some sandy soil in the pen where they can scratch through it is good. Having access to any ground will take care of that problem for you. Just something to think about in the future.

Could use your expertise in building a couple of moveable animal pens like those. I hate carpentry work.

 

[drstratton]

One thing you might also want to consider for even the chicks, is that by 4 weeks, they are needing some grit in their crop to help grind the feed. I think that the Corid and possible coccidiosis was the correct way to go. But so many do not realize that all birds with crops need some grit to help with the process. That is why so many chickens get impacted crops.... For little chicks just a small sprinkle of some sandy soil in the pen where they can scratch through it is good. Having access to any ground will take care of that problem for you. Just something to think about in the future.

Could use your expertise in building a couple of moveable animal pens like those. I hate carpentry work.

I agree about the grit...I started putting a sand box in the brooder for them when they were about 1.5 weeks old and I've given them access to it ever since! He seems to still be recovering, although it's been a roller coaster ride...I'm thinking he will make it!

My husband likes to build things, I'm just his helper...lol, although I do tell him how I want certain things done, he makes it happen for me! He's currently adding wheels to one end of it and I'm hoping a handle, so that it will be easier to move! I'll post an updated picture when he's finished!

If we lived closer, we'd be happy to help you! We could probably draw up a building diagram and parts list for you, if that would be helpful!

 

[drstratton]

Well, I learned how to skin and clean rabbits yesterday! My husband killed them and cleaned the first 2, then I cleaned the next couple...we decided that I was better at skinning and cleaning than he was, so that job will probably be mine...he can kill them, I will if I have to, but for now I don't so I won't...lol!

Rabbits cut up and ready to soak in buttermilk so that I can fry them for dinner tonight!

 

[farmerjan]

D@#M someone that also kills rabbits...... maybe I ought to move to Washington; as in State.... since I live too close to DC as it is.....
I am pretty good at skinning things, I used to do my brothers muskrats as a teenager, I do the calves that have died and we skin out the dead on to put the skin on a new calf to foster onto a cow to "fool her " to think it is hers so she will take it.... I've skinned out deer and done better than some at not cutting the hide so no holes.... I think alot of women have a better touch for that.

I want wheels on my moveable pens too, with a "pull bar" to be able to move it more easily..... Hmmmm, plans might be good, I am not much of a carpenter though.

 

[drstratton]

D@#M someone that also kills rabbits...... maybe I ought to move to Washington; as in State.... since I live too close to DC as it is.....
I am pretty good at skinning things, I used to do my brothers muskrats as a teenager, I do the calves that have died and we skin out the dead on to put the skin on a new calf to foster onto a cow to "fool her " to think it is hers so she will take it.... I've skinned out deer and done better than some at not cutting the hide so no holes.... I think alot of women have a better touch for that.

I want wheels on my moveable pens too, with a "pull bar" to be able to move it more easily..... Hmmmm, plans might be good, I am not much of a carpenter though.

You've had a lot more experience than I have! I'm very good at cleaning and filleting fish...I've had a lot of experience with that!
We just added wheels...I will post later today to show everything we've added! We're trying to decide whether it will be better to push it like a wheelbarrow or pull it!