ELeVan ~ Honaker Farm Journal

[elevan]

Ok, so he's not jumping the fence he's literally climbing it. It's quite ingenious to watch him. He scales the wire sideways....I caught him halfway up this time and he just stood there, 2 feet off the ground with all four legs on the wire like "Oh crap, ma caught me this time". I hope that visually makes sense... :/ I yelled and he jumped down and ran away into the field. *sigh* Gonna put him into a kidding pen for now or something.



eta: Pearce, I might take you up on that DH insists that I find a replacement, if I get rid of him (which I will be doing)

 

[elevan]

Well Summer has arrived and so has the heat. I just took a couple of frozen bottles out for the rabbits, the first this season. They decided to roll it all over the place trying to figure out what it is.

I lost 3 customers today at the Farmer's Market who came specifically for my Sundried Tomato Jam that had bought it last year and wanted to get more. I may have to attempt a recipe revision to see if I can make a "new and improved" version of it that will pass muster. It was frustrating to tell them that I cannot make it anymore. I also got a request for more Monkey Butter, which I can make...told them to come back in a couple of weeks and I'll have it for them.

I may not go to next week's market. Mom is getting married next weekend and I've been helping her get herself organized (read...wedding planner), so it'll depend on how much she needs from me.

 

[ksalvagno]

I might be able to help you on the buck front. I had 2 males born on June 6th. They are full Nigerian. One is polled. I also have officially moved to Cardington so I am much closer.

 

[elevan]

I might be able to help you on the buck front. I had 2 males born on June 6th. They are full Nigerian. One is polled. I also have officially moved to Cardington so I am much closer.

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind

 

[elevan]

Well we had a surprise hatch tonight....the duck hatched out....




Keets! 6 of them! I knew that she had 2 eggs under her that were guineas.

We took the guinea keets from her so that she will continue to set the duck eggs. DH nearly lost an eye while stealing those keets from that proud mama.

Here's a pic

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

They are soooo adorable!!!
I have never seen keets before!
What are guinia fowl for, like, are they meat birds or a heritage bird, or just plane cool looking?

 

[elevan]

First and foremost our guineas are for tick control. We haven't seen one tick this season!

Secondly we eat their eggs and their meat. Eggs have a richer yolk that really stands up with a smaller white than chicken eggs. Meat is richer and similar to pheasant.

 

[ksalvagno]

Do you let your guineas roam your whole property? Do you loose many? Are they as noisy as everyone says?

 

[elevan]

Do you let your guineas roam your whole property? Do you loose many? Are they as noisy as everyone says?

We originally tried to keep them in our 3 acre field by clipping their wings...that didn't work. They roam our property (5 acres total) and our neighbors too.

We've lost a few but in all reality we've lost more chickens than guineas to predation.

Noisy? Depends on what you consider noise They call to each other...they call when they are disturbed or something or someone new is around. Their call is loud. The only time that they are absolutely silent is when they are setting a nest - you could practically step on them and they wouldn't make a sound then. Right now we have 4 setting nests and it's very quiet around here, but there is the potential for 120 keets when they hatch...now that will be noise!

We love our guineas. It took me a little while to get used to their calls and their particularities but now their calls are just part of my everyday life and now that they are quietly nesting I miss the sound.

 

[elevan]

And we have DUCKLINGS! Mama duck, Sandy, hatched out 7 of the cutest little ducklings last night that I've ever seen. Of course I'm kind of partial

Pics later.