Squirrelgirl88 - Double G Farm

[Squirrelgirl88]

Everyone is enjoying the spring/summer weather. I've been letting everyone out into the larger field for the day. The chickens love to go dig through the mulch pile for creepy crawlies. We actually had to mow this week already. The chickens love the lawn mower. They chase it around catching bugs. DH gets frustrated because they get in the way.

The goats are shedding so much, they are rubbing on everything. Lucy actually let me brush her for awhile the other night. She didn't want to admit she enjoyed it though. Lucy is black and she's showing signs of decreased copper. Her coat is getting that rusty look to it, so I started them on the KopSel from Fir Meadow again. I guess the loose minerals just are not enough.

DH has tilled up the garden and expanded it this year. We're going to plant two kinds of potatoes, and more onions. The garlic I planted in the fall is coming up nicely, and the horseradish has big leaves already. I'm going to try pole beans instead of bush beans this year. I've also decided to skip the cauliflower and head lettuce. They didn't do well at all last year. Leaf lettuce is the way to go. I have spring fever in the worst way. It's too early to plant, but with this warm weather, I'm going crazy waiting.

We meet with the MR/DD board this week to get their assistance finding DD a job - she has Downs Syndrome. She graduates in June, and I want her to stay active. She loves working, and doesn't even want a paycheck. How many 19 year olds will work for free?

Wedding plans are going well, everything is ordered and I even found a photographer I can afford. She is coming to the house to take some candid shots and then to the venue. She's intrigued by the whole "country" theme thing we have going on. Bluegrass band, barbecue for dinner, and old blue mason jars for centerpieces. I even found a little goat figurine to sit on the wedding cake. It will look like it's munching on the flowers.

God, I'm a redneck.

 

[elevan]

Your wedding sounds like it will be lovely. "Outside the box" ceremonies are so beautiful in their own way and are always remembered by the guests.

Good luck to your DD on her job search. Sounds like she'll make some company a wonderful employee. Definitely the kind of person / attitude that I looked for when I was in the "hiring" seat.

Gardening...so many plans here myself too. I wish I had a crystal ball and could look ahead to see if we would have any more freezes before our traditional May 15 safe planting date....it is so hard waiting.

 

[Squirrelgirl88]

Lots of yard work today. New trellis for the climbing rose, pulled some weeds, transplanted 6 grape vines, put in new fence posts to support the new grape vines....and that was just at our house. Also helped install kidding pens for our cousins goats, and mowed a family member's yard.

I'm going back to my office job tommorrow......I'm pooped.

I also resisted chicks at TSC today.

 

[elevan]

I also resisted chicks at TSC today.

I've been having a hard time resisting the ducks...they had a whole bin of them tonight. I wish my duck eggs would hurry up and hatch, then maybe the temptation at TSC would go away!

 

[Squirrelgirl88]

Baby ducks are cute. Adult ducks, not so much. We don't have a pond or creek for them here, so no ducks. We had some when I was a kid. 6 white Pekin ducks for easter. Very cute, loved our pond - pooped on or front porch. Mom was not amused.

I think I'll just stick to chickens. I'm considering getting 2-3 Buckeye Hens this year.

 

[Roll farms]

2-3 hens?

How can you manage 2-3 more hens....I can't seem to add less than 20 or 30 birds at a time...lol

 

[Mamaboid]

2-3 hens?

How can you manage 2-3 more hens....I can't seem to add less than 20 or 30 birds at a time...lol

They are kinda like potato chips, aren't they.

 

[Squirrelgirl88]

We have 5 hens now, they are 2 years old and still producing 3-5 eggs a day total. That's really plenty for us and for family. I thought 2-3 more chicks would mean next year when the older girls maybe slow down, the younger ones will just be getting started.

I barely have the fridge space for 4 dozen eggs at a time now. :/ We have plenty of yard/pasture for them to roam all day, but I don't want to have that many hens - and that much poop - in the barn. Our stall area is 18 by 18 feet. I know that is bigger than most coops, but I don't want to crowd anyone.

On the other hand, our grumpy rooster clearly cannot count, he's always leaving a hen behind somewhere. Maybe if I get him 10 or 20 hens he'll be too tired and too busy to flog me at every opportunity.

Now goats, they are a different addiction. We're going to breed our girls this year and DH thinks we're keeping one kid. He's funny - one - just one - ha. I may have trouble parting with any of them much less all but one.

I'll get pictures of our stalls and pasture.

 

[Squirrelgirl88]

So here is the "inner area" that they have access to all day

This is the outer pen that we let them into - notice the white lawn furniture on the far right - that's where we sit instead of inside on the couch

Here is another angle of the outer pasture area - again, the lawn furniture.

Our stalls from the inside of the building

And from the outside sliding door....

And.......finally, my girls - they will be one year old on Saturday........

First up - Lucy

And then Lily

I know, the pasture area looks more like a front yard than a goat pasture. DH mows the fenced areas every other time he mows the rest of the yard. that way the grass never gets too high.

 

[autumnprairie]

I love the pictures you have beautiful animals