Four Winds Ranch: " Life on the Farm "

[Four Winds Ranch]

I have finally gotten ALMOST all of my feeder lambs shipped!!! I only have my little June babies left and there are only 3 of them this year, which makes for quiet days around here! I have to have my feeder lambs up to 60-80lbs or I will only get about $1.00/lb. Once they hit the 60lb mark, suddenly the price jumps to $1.40-$1.80/lb. The extra month or so of feed don't account to much, so I get them to 60+lbs. Once they get to over 80lbs, it is crazy, the price drops to $1.20! :/
Luckily, I also have all my sheep separated out into their special pens with the ram I have alotted them for this year!
One disapointment is, I have one too many rams now, with the amount of sheep the cougars have killed off! I don't want to sell him off as I have big plans, which are going to have to wait for another year. Poor guy, is going to be short changed this year!
Another thing, in the veggie department! I only have another 4 recipies of beets to process and then just apple sauce!!!! I can't wait! I seems I have been processing for ever!!!
This fall, my chickens had to decide to molt all at once! Now I have to buy eggs from my neighbor, which is sooo much better than the store!!! I am one of those lucky people because of my neighbor!!!!! If I run out of potatoes, I run to her! All summer, if I need any kind of veggie, she has tons! Same goes for eggs and even meat!!!! I just trade my homemade wine and both of us are happy!!! I am lucky to live in a neighborhood where there are quite a few neighbors who are strictly organic and all natural like myself! We like to fancy that we will live longer than most!!!

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

"Farm Life" definatly has its ups and downs!
I will start with the downs, that way I can finish leaving myself and everyone reading, on a happier note!!!

My typical morning routine, get up before the kids get up for school and get my morning chores done. At this time of year, it is dark out while I am doing my morning chores. I am pretty good at seeing in the dark outside, but not in the buildings, so I pack a mini little flashlight at all times. (My farm coat has permanent treasures in it at all times, a pocket knife, lighter, small wrench, and a mini flashlight).
Well, this morning I headed out to milk, feed the dogs, and what not. I have to go into the barn to milk the cow and feed the pigs, but, because I have done this soooo much, I don't need to use my flashlight even in the dark cause I know where everything is. (Flashlight is usually used to make sure I hit the pigs trough with the feed and to count bunnies) I leave the main part of the barn's door open so my milk cow, Silver, can go in or out as she pleases.
I walked into the barn to grab my water pails for the pigs, I know they are sitting on top of the straw bale stack, just to the left once I enter the barn. I reach out to grab the pails just as my right foot trips on something hard! I try to catch my self with my other foot, but it stubs on something hard, and I fall!!!! I landed on FUR!!!!!! Anybody knows that in the dark, when you run into, or fall onto something furry that is NOT supposed to be there, it is enough to make anyone wet their pants!! (I didn't, but almost)! It wasn't only the pigs sqealing this morning!!! And I think I was louder!!!!
In my frieght, I tryed to get off the fur as fast as I could! Which resulted in me "falling" off the pile of hard fur and hitting the barn wall, and then backing up on my hands and knees in a big hurry untill I got to the barn door!
I dig through my pocket trying to find my flashlight, find it and turn it on!!!!! My light falls on my cow!!! I guess I had tripped on her outstreched head and landed on her lifeless body!!!! It has been determined that she died of "old age". She had a good life while living with me, and I knew that the end was just around the corner. But when the day is actually here it is so much different than just knowing!
I guess I will have to start searching for another milk cow. Store bought milk tastes horrid if you are used to fresh!!!

Now, to start on a more happier note!!!

One of my York sows is going to have a litter of pigglets next month!!! Pigglets are sooo cute, their cuteness makes up for their smell!!!
Also, one of my Rex does should be having a litter any day!!!!
I have 12 bunnies to "bop", but I believe I will wait until my hubby gets home and try to talk him into doing the "bopping"! I don't mind the butchering part. "Bopping" is not my thing unless I have to!

I had a fellow come up to me about a month ago. He said a friend told him I grow something in my garden that will help him sleep, and hopefully ease the pain in his back.
I figured he was talking about "valarian", so I dug up some root and gave him a bit and told him how to use it. I seen him again the other day and he is right impressed with the results of the valarian! He has never slept so good, and he can relax in the evenings!!!! He said he is soooo happy with it, that he wants to give me a Six toed kitten! So, I guess I have a new addition joining my farm shortly!!!! I feels good when you can help someone!!!!

 

[BrownSheep]

sorry about your cow.
about everything else
and give your extra ram a for me. Poor guy is probably going cuckoo.

 

[Bitterroot]

I'm so sorry to hear about Silver. She sure had a good last bit of life, though. I'm curious, how does one acquire a retired dairy cow? I've always eyeballed those pretty Jerseys, and there are several dairies around here. Do I cozy up to the owner and ask for one, sneak it out under my jacket, or ...?

I'm crazy for natural medicine, too. On the nights when my legs start buzzing (it's not quite RLS), some valerian and hop tea with raw honey sets things right and helps me sleep. Nature is so amazing, if only we'll slow down and look!

Fingers crossed for lots of rex popples. You've just gotta share pictures of them as they grow.

 

[danielburns271]

Great, I think you really love farming, I also wish to try farming with my cow, I just need enough knowledge to run it

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

I'm so sorry to hear about Silver. She sure had a good last bit of life, though. I'm curious, how does one acquire a retired dairy cow? I've always eyeballed those pretty Jerseys, and there are several dairies around here. Do I cozy up to the owner and ask for one, sneak it out under my jacket, or ...?

I'm crazy for natural medicine, too. On the nights when my legs start buzzing (it's not quite RLS), some valerian and hop tea with raw honey sets things right and helps me sleep. Nature is so amazing, if only we'll slow down and look!

Fingers crossed for lots of rex popples. You've just gotta share pictures of them as they grow.

To aquire a retired dairy cow, I went to the dairy, asked to talk to the owner, and asked him if he has any cows he would be willing to sell. I told him I don't mind if they are older. I would pay him cash, and it would be cheaper for him cause he wouldnt have to haul it to the auction sale in the near future. He agreed and showed me Silver.
Give it a try!!!! The worst they can say is NO!!!

 

[Bitterroot]

Uh-oh, this could be dangerous.

Thanks for the info, I'll give it a try, see what they say. I know I always see ads on CL practically giving away bottle dairy calves, so they'd probably appreciate an easy outlet for one of their older ladies too. Makes sense.

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

Lol, seeing as my mind was all tyed up earlier in the fall, I forgot to mention :

I got a call back in Sept. from a lady that said she had heard that I raise sheep, and she wanted to donate a ram to my herd! :/ I was a little sceptical because, who in their right mind is just going to give someone a sheep! She proceded to tell me how she doesn't whant him any more because he has rammed her a few times when she has had the grain bucket. And that she bought him for $450 last year as a ram lamb, so he should be good! He is registared, and that she has his Purebred Babydoll Southdown papers right in front of her!
I went out to her place to have a look at him, and offered her a bit of money cause I have to admit, he did look good! She out right refused the money and said she knows he will have a good home!
So, needless to say, I brought him home!!!
Here is " Gilligan"

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Also, here are one of my babies!! This is Jake, and he is now 7 months old, and is going to mature to a big boy! Already he is 80+ lbs.

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[jodief100]

So sorry about your cow. She had a good life with you.

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

I got me some new roosters!!!!
They are Silver Duckwing/Mille Fleur crosses, and are very beautiful boys!!!! I can't wait for the chicks that are going to hatch at my place next year!!!! They have only been crowing for the last couple weeks, so they are still on the young side!

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I got them for "free" as long as I promise not to eat them!!!
Ya have to excuse my girls (hens) heads, they must not have wanted to miss out on the action, as very few people take pictures of hens!