Busy summer

I love summer, but it sure is busy on a farm in summertime! So what have we been up to on the farm this summer? Well we really enjoyed raising the two pigs last year so we are doing that again. This year it is two male piglets. We picked them up in June, and here they are at about 12 weeks in age.

If you're wondering about raising a pig for meat here's what it will cost you. So far the costs have just been cost of piglet ($80 each), shavings ($6.50 per bag, so far only used 1 bag), and grain ($30 a bag because we feed them organic grain). We already had fencing, a feeder, and water tubs. In 5 weeks they have eaten 6 bags, or 300lbs of grain, and tripled in size. They are with us until late October, and I expect them to be a lot bigger than the girls we had last year if they continue this growth pattern!

We also now have 2 nigerian dwarf goats. They are three months old, and doing really well. We visited a friend, and just sort of fell in love with them. This is Starbuck (on the left) and Boomer (on the right). We are excited to watch them grow up, and eventually fit in with the sheep to help with the grazing. They are becoming quite friendly, although they actually prefer to stay inside, than to venture out, and spend most of their time asleep in the hay rack....a problem we hope to solve this weekend. Unlike the sheep who would rather spend all of their time outside whatever the weather.

Talking of the sheep. Edward...

And Eleanor are both doing very well. They have become very friendly this summer, and will come over to eat grain from my hand in the morning and evening. I think they are both adorable, I am just not sure what to do with this years fleeces. I guess I will try to put them on craigslist and see if I have any takers as I am too late to show them at the local fair.

The ducks are doing very well too. They are comical to watch and keep the whole family entertained. Jeremy still can't quack, but the three girls make up for it. No eggs yet, but they should start laying soon.

The chickens are enjoying being out on pasture, although every day is like an easter egg hunt as we try to find where they have stashed them!

August is a busy month for us, but I hope to keep you all better updated about life on the farm. I hope you all are enjoying your summer.

Doesn't time fly on the farm?

Things are crazy busy here as usual, although I have still enjoyed the lack of lambing and inevitable stress it brings. Apparently though we love baby animals....but more to come about that in a later post!

The ducks are all grown up and living outside now.

They enjoy grazing in the field they share with the chickens, and so far it is all going well.

The chickens are tolerating the presence of the ducks well, luckily there is plenty of space for them all and lots of greenery to eat!

And talking of greenery and grass, can anyone see my sheep? They are loving their pasture. Of course they will have to share it soon, but there is plenty to go around.

Piglets are due to arrive in a week or so. Looking forward to it again, they were fun last year and the pork products have been delicious.

So summer is upon us. How is everyone?

September fun

A delay again, thanks to restarting college, an injured horse, and a sick father. Busy.

Fall is upon us. Almost.

The pigs are growing so fast. They are a lot of fun and I will miss them when they leave in just over a week. This is a venture we have so far really enjoyed, and we are hoping to get a good product out of it, and repeat the process next year. Pigs are really fun!

Edward our cotswold wether is also growing well, and looking super duper handsome. I'm looking forward to micron testing fleeces in fall and his in particular to compare to my shetlands.

Who are also doing very well. The cattle panel fencing is working well for us so we have a large project to do in fall and early spring.

Baby chickens are almost all grown up. They are just finishing their first molt and we are expecting their first eggs soon. They were out enjoying the little bit of heat around this afternoon with a nice dirt bath.

we seem to be feeding a mini flock of sparrows. They like to gather around the chicken coops, although I have also caught them on the pig grain trough...brave little rascals. There are at least 20 more not in this picture!

Miss Sugar one of the barn cats was also enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

Lily the Jack Russell puppy however was just enjoying seeing me, this made me laugh as I managed to get a series of shots of her airborne, this was my favorite one.

Breeding season is rapidly approaching, not that I have anything special to do for it this year. I am still hoping to sell our ram Horseradish around December. He is from Windswept, his parents are Titanium and Zinc, and he won champion shetland ram at the Bolton fair as a ram lamb. He is turning two next year, very nice guy manners wise. Fleece micron tested in the mid to low 20's as a lamb. Email me at Puff614@me.com if interested.

What have I been up to?

Well not blogging, as is evident by my extreme lack of updates. That doesn't mean that I haven't been very busy though. It has been horribly hot and dry (until Friday anyway lol) in New England this summer. This has caused issues with our electric fence.

And because Isabella can jump the electric fence now - she has awesome form and I wish my horse had her jump!

And Edward is big so he just falls over the net fencing after Bella...yes ironic

We have been installing cattle panels to try for fencing. So far so good and the small flock is happy being out. Isis is particularly enjoying getting burrs around her face unfortunately.

Harvest Moon is just enjoying sunshine.

And as you can see by Horseradishes belly he is enjoying grass! I am planning to sell him this winter after he has bred my ewes, and bring in a ram lamb in spring next year. If anyone is looking for a lovely two year old ram that is so far very well behaved please let me know! He has good horns, conformation, and a very nice fleece that micron tested in the mid 20's last year.

The baby chickens are growing up fast and I love the variety we have now. I'm sure that their first eggs are just around the corner as well. Exciting times.

And just to show that we haven't really been slacking off we have also ventured out this summer and now own two piglets that we are raising organically for meat.

This is a new venture for us as we haven't raised an animal for meat before. They have been with us almost two months so far, and have another 7 weeks with us. They have so far been a lot of fun, and seem to really be enjoying their life now. They love being hosed down in on the hotter days in the evening, lying in front of the fan in their stable, eating grass and hard boiled eggs, and rotting around in the earth. We are thinking if it all goes well we might get 3 piglets next year to do this again.

Anyway summer is racing by, it has been hot and humid for most of it. I am hoping to get my hay in soon for fall, and look forward to the cooler weather and breeding season for the sheep. I am also hoping that my horse Muppet is finally getting over the lameness issues that have plagued him on and off since mid-May.

How has everyone else's summer gone?

On the move

Well we have been very busy here the past few weeks. Let me try to catch you up, starting with yesterday when 3 beautiful new sheep joined the flock after a lovely 650 mile drive.

This is Edward. He is a Costwold, and is our new fiber wether. I think he is adorable, and he reminds me of a giant teddy bear.

He also showed me that he can shake it out like a dog too!

This is Whispering Pines Isis. Not the best picture of her, sorry. She's a yearling and I am very excited to have such a rich black color, with such a fine fleece joining us.

And Whispering Pines Harvest Moon. Another yearling with a wonderful fine fleece. I am so excited to see next years lambs already!

They all settled in well, and are enjoying the hay and grass.

We spent the weekend finishing the retirement coop for our older chickens. They are really enjoying it, and are already laying eggs in the new nest boxes.

The baby chicks are at the rather ugly stage, but are excited to be out in the coop near the house. I'm looking forward to watching them grow, and produce their first eggs eventually. It is lovely to be able to get so much variety in a flock that is still quite small.

Vladamir, Eliza, Usher, and Jewel all left for their new home last week. They have settled in well. Ulric and Uther will be leaving at the end of the month as soon as they are old enough and are weaned.

My horse Muppet moves to his new barn on Friday. It is much closer to home, and I am excited to have him so close to me again.

Oh and the swallows are feeding their babies in the sheep barn, I managed to photograph them having a well deserved rest though.

That's all. I hope you are all well!