Winter is over and we are well into a very wet Spring. The fruit trees have been pruned and sprayed. The raspberries have been thinned and tied to the trellis lines. The new greenhouse has been enclosed in plastic. My first attempt to propagate raspberries plants is underway with 40 stems in pots. The garden is begging to be tilled but the ground is just too wet. One might think I am looking forward to the garden this year, while I continue to insist I do not really like gardening. I much prefer animal husbandry although I may have to rethink this position, especially after Furrycreek's breeding results for 2018.
The end of 2017 brought mixed blessings. The good news was that we now have full farm status. The bad news is that It cost me $200.00 to sell eggs to my happy customers. I now feel like a real farmer, as it is costing more to produce my eggs than I sell them for. Last year I changed over most of my chickens to Ameraucanas which lay a really cool green coloured egg. I love the green eggs as they thrill and surprise children and adults alike. I did not realize that the Ameraucanas lay about half the number of eggs of most heritage hens and only a third of what Hy-Line chickens produce. My problem is that they eat the same amount of feed. My solution is the price of eggs just went up a dollar a dozen and the flock will evolve back into a more mixed group of heritage birds. I am looking forward to having multi coloured and speckled eggs again.
Lambing
I bred four ewes last Fall splitting them between Bilbo my black ram and Frodo my white ram.
In early March lambing began with Chloe having a problem free delivery, giving birth to "Dirty Harry".
Rosie was was next with her second birth, delivering the twins "Bobbitt Bobby" the only black lamb this year, and "Fionnlagh at Tweedholm" called Finn for short.
I bred four ewes last Fall splitting them between Bilbo my black ram and Frodo my white ram.
In early March lambing began with Chloe having a problem free delivery, giving birth to "Dirty Harry".
Rosie was was next with her second birth, delivering the twins "Bobbitt Bobby" the only black lamb this year, and "Fionnlagh at Tweedholm" called Finn for short.
Crystal without any human assistance delivered her first lamb whose birth weight was 11 pounds. He was named "Moby Dick" on the spot, which was so appropriate as he continued to gain a pound a day for the first three days. (Had to quit weighing him as to big for my scale)
Pia was our last ewe to give birth. The previous year she did not conceive, so we were a little anxious for her this year. Marva was in bed watching her in the barn on the CCTV early one Sunday morning and became concerned as Pia appeared to be in distress. She ran out to the barn and was soon calling for me. By the time I got there she was working on revving a new born lamb that was not breathing. The lamb had become stuck in the birth canal with one foreleg facing forward and out, while the other leg was facing backwards jamming everything up. Marva does not quit or give up on newborns and soon had the lamb out and eventually breathing on its own. If Marva had gotten to Pia any later the lamb probably would not have made it, so we named him "Furrycreek's Just in Time" or Justin for short.
Pia was our last ewe to give birth. The previous year she did not conceive, so we were a little anxious for her this year. Marva was in bed watching her in the barn on the CCTV early one Sunday morning and became concerned as Pia appeared to be in distress. She ran out to the barn and was soon calling for me. By the time I got there she was working on revving a new born lamb that was not breathing. The lamb had become stuck in the birth canal with one foreleg facing forward and out, while the other leg was facing backwards jamming everything up. Marva does not quit or give up on newborns and soon had the lamb out and eventually breathing on its own. If Marva had gotten to Pia any later the lamb probably would not have made it, so we named him "Furrycreek's Just in Time" or Justin for short.
If you have noticed that all the lambs have masculine sounding names you would be correct as every lamb born this year is a ram. Not a ewe in the bunch.
Our biggest disappointment was with the breeding of Tilly our Australian Shepherd. It was unsuccessful, even though she went through a false pregnancy . I had been really looking forward to this litter, so I will be repeating the breeding in the fall.
I now feel that I have positive proof that "if it wasn't for bad luck I would have no luck at all".
Our biggest disappointment was with the breeding of Tilly our Australian Shepherd. It was unsuccessful, even though she went through a false pregnancy . I had been really looking forward to this litter, so I will be repeating the breeding in the fall.
I now feel that I have positive proof that "if it wasn't for bad luck I would have no luck at all".
My new project for this year is bee keeping and I am a new member of the Nanaimo Bee Club. The bee is the most studied insect in the world and I know almost nothing about them, other than being stung hurts and honey is good.
My neighbour who is an organic farmer, also keeps bees and has promised me a nuc to get started. I have been able to acquire two hives mostly made up of used components that I have reconditioned. Note, my beekeepers protective gear is all brand new. I will keep you updated as to how this new endeavor goes.
My neighbour who is an organic farmer, also keeps bees and has promised me a nuc to get started. I have been able to acquire two hives mostly made up of used components that I have reconditioned. Note, my beekeepers protective gear is all brand new. I will keep you updated as to how this new endeavor goes.
My big project on the farm continues to be the clearing of the new pasture for the sheep. The byproduct of this undertaking has been firewood. I am expecting to put up approximately 20+ cord of mainly maple wood this year.
I have hired an excavator contractor to remove the stumps, grade the land and general clean up of area in preparation of planting the new pasture. The rain has delayed this endeavour already more that two weeks but hopefully we have some dryer weather on the way.
I have hired an excavator contractor to remove the stumps, grade the land and general clean up of area in preparation of planting the new pasture. The rain has delayed this endeavour already more that two weeks but hopefully we have some dryer weather on the way.