HomesteaderWife - Tales from Wolf Branch [05/10/2023 - The New Fella!]

[TAH]

Congrats on the ducky. How is the duckling doing today? Did you get a buddy for your adorable little goat yet?

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Congrats on the duckling! I love watching them in a group. Hopefully you get some more hatching soon.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Well, the duckling did not make it....the hen smothered it and I found the poor thing this morning....there are still 5 other eggs under her that look good and should hatch in the next few days (hopefully). I was very sad, but still feel blessed nonetheless.

Miss Linda the goat hasn't had a friend yet- we are working on a larger pen before we get a male so they won't be cramped up, but I do know where we are getting one from. She's been very content, going on walks and out to eat every day. She especially likes going out to the garden and eating weeds while we pick!

 

[TAH]

Sorry about the duckling.
Like her name.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

After losing our first duckling, please be praying over the last 5 that are under our broody hen. 4 of them have already begun to pip their shells (when we candled them, the 5th one was still moving but must have been one of the last eggs put under her). None of them have broken through and shown their bills yet. We are hoping for babies in the next few days. We've come to love our ducks, so this is exciting for us!

I didn't update last time, I believe, but we have a new article up on Mother Earth News about the corn we are growing called Hastings' Prolific. This was very important to us, because there are so many rumors about how this corn develops, so it made it hard to know what to expect when growing it. So we have been keeping record of how it grows (including the fact one stalk is 14 FEET TALL!)
http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/hastings-prolific-corn-part-1-zbcz1607.aspx

Our garden has been booming this year, allowing us to give away some produce to family and sell to people. We've had folks come from an hour and a half away just to get blackberries and cucumbers. I have tons of whole pickles, spears, and pickle slices put up. Tried my hand at making relish and salsa as well. Our jalapenos started doing well so I have canned some slices of them too. Next is to pull off some smaller ears of corn that can't be used for seed and roast them up. If we have enough we may freeze some and dry others out to make cornmeal. All depends on how the ears look and how much demand for seed there is.

I really enjoy it here on BYH- thanks for all of your help, and prayers.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

The "chuckens" are here! It was like Christmas morning! 4 of 5 have hatched out (the 5th is still moving around in the egg, no pips yet)

 

[TAH]

What a good thing you walk out to see.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

How cute - and I'm voting for that pic to be a "Caption Contest" pic!

 

[TAH]

Oh yes that pics is for sure caption worthy!!

 

[HomesteaderWife]

The babies went for their first swim today, and our hen was relaxing and taking a dirt bath while I watched over them. She's been a very good, but calm mommy.