tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34950128457802379552024-03-16T07:44:31.581-05:00Homestead CatholicBubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.comBlogger245125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-16867548658018609002015-01-16T18:05:00.002-06:002015-01-16T18:05:11.176-06:00A Fond FarewellThis will be my last post on HC. As of this week, we have accepted on offer to sell our house and property.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNYFDejB7px3tg7Sd6iLVndOT_QhwwDWFao4WZoyLWsJGE294D3mmSZd0c9fiuO3sujTxVnt-GuoksXYXnKP-lrtnVaTPLjI0zJZKX6mBOJioH9ulZgUOHoJzWM9qRAGUtszjkaUu/s1600/chickens_cold_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNYFDejB7px3tg7Sd6iLVndOT_QhwwDWFao4WZoyLWsJGE294D3mmSZd0c9fiuO3sujTxVnt-GuoksXYXnKP-lrtnVaTPLjI0zJZKX6mBOJioH9ulZgUOHoJzWM9qRAGUtszjkaUu/s1600/chickens_cold_1.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chickens, in a faint dusting of snow, gobbling grain earlier this week.</td></tr>
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We're staying in the area, but moving to a bigger house on more land with a real barn.We move approximately 2 months from now. With all the hustle and bustle of selling and preparing to move, I will simply not have time to continue blogging.<br />
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That, coupled with the fact that in the short time I've been opining, I have certainly come a lot closer to fulfilling my mission.<br />
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Our goal has been to "turn our rocky, overgrown 5.4 acres into a flourishing, self-sustaining farm, and become just a wee bit holier while we do it." With all of the improvements I've made to the pastures, and in implementing "the system," I've certainly taken great strides toward achieving the first part of that. My spiritual life has developed well during that time, too. I can honestly say that, even though I'm not continuing my mission here at this property, I have nevertheless achieved my goals - at least as much as possible in the short time I've been writing.<br />
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So, for this final post, I'll give one last <i>Homestead Update</i>, and add some closing thoughts after that.<br />
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<b><u>The Cows</u></b><br />
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<a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/02/more-about-bridget-dacow.html" target="_blank">Bridget</a> and <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/11/more-on-latte-calf.html" target="_blank">Latte</a> are doing great. I haven't been milking much lately, since there's been so much to do, so Latte has been growing really, really well off all the milk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkMb2ewMQIHZR9L_QXQsV27PGrMQ0uRAOjXIsETaFxa5TC4-KBAvlE9zP8PQE3KMSEgLfZm83C6k1A7tFfIhZqdw3b0dKodWfKhp6jQAZiB8d0zEi3kj6FUVNxK5k5VHWSsEoaFu5/s1600/calf_nursing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkMb2ewMQIHZR9L_QXQsV27PGrMQ0uRAOjXIsETaFxa5TC4-KBAvlE9zP8PQE3KMSEgLfZm83C6k1A7tFfIhZqdw3b0dKodWfKhp6jQAZiB8d0zEi3kj6FUVNxK5k5VHWSsEoaFu5/s1600/calf_nursing.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latte taking all of the milk.</td></tr>
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We're looking to sell Latte in the next week or so to help defray the costs of moving and repairs. We'd considered keeping her, and I guess is nobody is willing to pay a fair price, we may.<br />
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<b><u>The Sheep</u></b><br />
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<a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/05/off-bottle.html" target="_blank">The sheep</a> are doing well. I was going to butcher Meatball recently, but with Brisket going to the processor, our freezer has been too full to handle the extra meat. I actually don't know when it will be. It seems strangely fitting to have my first butcher task be Meatball in my new barn, though, so I may just hang on to him until late March. I don't know yet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3fcHP6K14GjZg-rdhpee605-Spe4XfOT6v5YjB24rmAdSlmfU5spMNuYJEl82xc4S6T_Y3VPAzGRHPy0wGmmluqRRh8Cqnb-URe1K6FzxUoxrMqYTLyYEsEw2JWEw8q-Kqa7hJLz/s1600/sheep_hay.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3fcHP6K14GjZg-rdhpee605-Spe4XfOT6v5YjB24rmAdSlmfU5spMNuYJEl82xc4S6T_Y3VPAzGRHPy0wGmmluqRRh8Cqnb-URe1K6FzxUoxrMqYTLyYEsEw2JWEw8q-Kqa7hJLz/s1600/sheep_hay.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sheep are in the lagoon system this year, <br />because the little chickens are in <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/11/my-diy-sheep-dry-lot.html" target="_blank">the sheep pen</a>.</td></tr>
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But on the other side of that, <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/03/is-pot-pie-preggo.html" target="_blank">it looks like Pot Pie is pregnant</a> again. Maybe I'll get twins, and can add at least another ewe.<br />
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<b><u>The Pigs</u></b><br />
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<a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/03/its-pig-time.html" target="_blank">Porkie</a> is no longer with us. She passed away the day after Christmas. I came out for their morning feeding on the 26th, and she had moved to a corner of the paddock for her final moments. I buried her. She was the runt.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVm-uYps29o1dPqxK_l0soaXXjyqPib6qatREHaJCWXtMN0u5RV1JBZZ4wWOEvfi7IIHlfWt0IcalMoh-vgUe_mUkFWHnDfzCc_nEUACxkQRf1W7zJeGSdWEHC7WyVF9qMZMspVxTq/s1600/pigs_cold_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVm-uYps29o1dPqxK_l0soaXXjyqPib6qatREHaJCWXtMN0u5RV1JBZZ4wWOEvfi7IIHlfWt0IcalMoh-vgUe_mUkFWHnDfzCc_nEUACxkQRf1W7zJeGSdWEHC7WyVF9qMZMspVxTq/s1600/pigs_cold_1.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 pigs</td></tr>
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On the other side of that, the <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/10/piglets.html" target="_blank">two piglets</a> are doing well, though still small, and I think BB'q might have a litter soon. I'll be using them in a similar situation in our new land, using their unique tilling talents to turn the garden plots. I'll re-design it so it's a lot less work on me, however.<br />
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<b><u>The Chickens</u></b><br />
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<a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/08/catching-up-chickens.html" target="_blank">The chickens</a> have slowed down their laying considerably. I think we get between 3 and 10 eggs a day out of all 40+ of them right now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHol7he4jqLQOTjU3TV_aIYTwJiIMU7j5oxM-nBdLShjLnBtr1fCotzeCflPrc-o48o8wYg3wazFM0nVIZaul1G5F4yD8ErO_QtJhj0_kmC1TgXhgADWucA1HW05l8aOYBvr6K2k1g/s1600/chickens_cold_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHol7he4jqLQOTjU3TV_aIYTwJiIMU7j5oxM-nBdLShjLnBtr1fCotzeCflPrc-o48o8wYg3wazFM0nVIZaul1G5F4yD8ErO_QtJhj0_kmC1TgXhgADWucA1HW05l8aOYBvr6K2k1g/s1600/chickens_cold_2.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/07/baby-chicks-round-3.html" target="_blank">the "little" chickens</a></td></tr>
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I have yet to combine the two flocks, and wife and I ares till trying to iron out a management system for our new place. The barn has a chicken coop area built in to it, complete with nest boxes and roosting bars. We were initially thinking of doing a 100% free-range with them, but wife is concerned about chicken poop in the creek water, I'm concerned about losses to predators, and we are both are concerned about random egg laying spots and missing eggs. The benefits of it would be huge, in both dollar and time savings immediately, compared to a managed pastured approach. TBD.<br />
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<b><u>The Rabbits</u></b><br />
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Oh, those cotton-pickin' <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/09/catching-up-rabbits.html" target="_blank">buns</a>. I've had them for 9 months and have yet to produce a single litter. I've essentially given up for the winter, since the last time one gave birth, the kits were born on the cage floor and they died.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_zdg47MYTJ3CkoTe7HrqfZWZ2wnaaoXDEPEPXpOPdC2fRGw3IFcEguJnS9pCw9Op6GnhSGrWjwYkBTRbjL0iOGaJNv4xUjPwmgmQhh2E-ouzqIFKNZZ_IESpD5eEGtDSmP0aYmtb/s1600/rabbit_cold.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_zdg47MYTJ3CkoTe7HrqfZWZ2wnaaoXDEPEPXpOPdC2fRGw3IFcEguJnS9pCw9Op6GnhSGrWjwYkBTRbjL0iOGaJNv4xUjPwmgmQhh2E-ouzqIFKNZZ_IESpD5eEGtDSmP0aYmtb/s1600/rabbit_cold.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"It's COLD out here!"</td></tr>
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Our new barn will have a dedicated space for them, so they will be more protected from the elements. I'm hoping the reduced stress will help them breed more successfully.<br />
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<b><u>The Guineas, Bees, and More</u></b><br />
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The guinea fowl are very loud. We'll be bringing them with us to help control the tick population. The bees are hibernating, so there's not much on them right now. It's been cold and wet. The grounds are very sloppy right now. The garden is fallow, and our greenhouse was shredded in a hail storm. Whoopee!<br />
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...<br />
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I absolutely believe in the potential for my system to thrive. I would love to see a 5 acre property utilize it and really take off. That would be cool. Our life has taken off, though, and we'll be utilizing a different type of space with what it has to offer. So, I will be adjusting and tweaking as necessary to epitomize my philosophy: use God's creation as it was intended, and things will go well.<br />
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I plan to keep this blog active as a diary of sorts. I hope that through my documentation work, others might benefit, and hopefully some of my post help others achieve their dreams and goals a little easier. I hope people (and myself) have learned form my mistake as well as my successes. I also plan to stop moderating comments and writing completely. So, pardon the spam, but it's been minimal up until now. Thanks, Blogger TM!<br />
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Goodbye, readers. And may God bless you.<br />
Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-29085666922030780532014-11-18T09:16:00.002-06:002014-11-18T09:16:22.136-06:00More on Latte the CalfI was able to get <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/11/brand-new-calf.html" target="_blank">Latte the newborn Jersey calf</a> to stand still for a few seconds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuP6m837OsX7OPWgLTAxliHl_C1-OdOjdjfg6-ltXA08ldfShOY3Jhrvo5ObC99pRr2b6UgnM-GxCbcmNL7oYyR0QsSdFHSE2QTR34D2CY_pbNcAaOeSQKssFpC7PIcLwz17rm5doM/s1600/IMG_0919.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuP6m837OsX7OPWgLTAxliHl_C1-OdOjdjfg6-ltXA08ldfShOY3Jhrvo5ObC99pRr2b6UgnM-GxCbcmNL7oYyR0QsSdFHSE2QTR34D2CY_pbNcAaOeSQKssFpC7PIcLwz17rm5doM/s1600/IMG_0919.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strike a pose, Latte!</td></tr>
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Latte is a sweet, energetic, rambunctious lil' gal.<div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />In fact, the only bad thing I can say about her is that she drinks most of Bridget's milk before I get outside in the morning. :( I haven't separated them yet since it's cold (snow this morning) and I want her to be healthy and thriving. I'll be separating them soon enough, either in separate pens or by selling her. I have yet to work out the details. In due time, though, all of that beautiful cream will be mine. All mine!! Bwahahahhaaa!!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EIhfw1SWS0ztJabkOXXW9HrTVZ_BKZh9sWAxyF8hbQzTUwzQJEGiBRLx2_XCFuJByTtUvsXtBuXMIDQlf6mHPljqdT3bklPIA3mdv6Qt1KN1MBJDlslLoQpgeWOxtURl8YbFD8n4/s1600/IMG_0924.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EIhfw1SWS0ztJabkOXXW9HrTVZ_BKZh9sWAxyF8hbQzTUwzQJEGiBRLx2_XCFuJByTtUvsXtBuXMIDQlf6mHPljqdT3bklPIA3mdv6Qt1KN1MBJDlslLoQpgeWOxtURl8YbFD8n4/s1600/IMG_0924.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that face. She's already planning on how to thieve tomorrow's cream. >:(</td></tr>
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Bridget is seriously holding back on top of it. She's letting down only one quarter for me. The rest are half empty by the time I get there, and she's allowing maybe a half-cup out of each. Maybe. So far, my best day milking has been about 3/4 of a gallon. Today was less than 1/2.<div>
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But that's OK.</div>
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I want Latte to be healthy, happy, and warm. I want her to grow strong in these first few weeks, and I'm OK with easing us back into milk. Latte will be grown and not nursing soon enough, and this is a critical time in her health development.<br /><div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqYW3bfYpV9ro5lwFHEzD0hHwVU3JmFVFBmYZxRIQIfVMDfabf_JaeSPsTJn-PWb0mRzRYQsoewyiJn772jkKKSzlguuTa_stOwzxw-UhUFvOuLjOakPEfK_STaUVmqbkzAg1e5zn/s1600/IMG_0925.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqYW3bfYpV9ro5lwFHEzD0hHwVU3JmFVFBmYZxRIQIfVMDfabf_JaeSPsTJn-PWb0mRzRYQsoewyiJn772jkKKSzlguuTa_stOwzxw-UhUFvOuLjOakPEfK_STaUVmqbkzAg1e5zn/s1600/IMG_0925.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun hit my lens and washed out this picture just a bit.<br />But it's the best head profile shot I could take.</td></tr>
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In the meantime, she's been hanging out in the barn area with mamma, and will for a while. I need to still set up an "exercise yard" for them. Grazing is about over for the year, and hay season is upon us. Yay.<br /><br /></div>
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Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-77590814484788908712014-11-14T16:09:00.000-06:002014-11-14T16:18:07.185-06:00Brand New Calf!Bridget had her baby this past weekend!!!!!<br />
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It was a healthy baby girl. We named her Latte.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7L2T4wN3sUlJWkRIHfUKel_nKqgeUjSxDuOFOUemprPgdpExMdyiGRDQ5OQOf6HBnhKaqaPyBK3xIRz2Kg_ObempE36wELunoUFmGIqnAD4mZvbblf6bQEf18bBL1Auw6u07UvfyQ/s1600/IMG_0860.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7L2T4wN3sUlJWkRIHfUKel_nKqgeUjSxDuOFOUemprPgdpExMdyiGRDQ5OQOf6HBnhKaqaPyBK3xIRz2Kg_ObempE36wELunoUFmGIqnAD4mZvbblf6bQEf18bBL1Auw6u07UvfyQ/s1600/IMG_0860.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latte the Jersey calf, a mere 4 minutes old and yet unable to stand.<br />
The chickens looked on in bewilderment.</td></tr>
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The delivery was fast and smooth. She went from first presenting (in the front yard) to birth (in the barn) in under 2 hours. Thing #2 got to witness the whole thing. I caught most of it, as we were preparing for company later that evening.<br />
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During the delivery ALL of the animals stopped and watched. The sheep stood at attention, and the chickens stood still aside from the occasional head twitch. The homestead was nearly silent (except for the pigs, who couldn't see). The miracle of life transfixed us all - human and otherwise.<br />
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I kept Mamma and baby together for about 36 hours straight to make sure baby got all of the colostrum she could drink. As soon as she was licked off and standing, instinct kicked in quickly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pTDNZEjeE8AkaIrjOAg2DJ9c1B9EOz5x952Cj6imnd9hyJWbRbzUFZiwbIRF64NWO7lyil9go9zzixWCL6i_mlE4cOAd1PxHaZAnj94n3TbBuawaxTutnLprnDU9kvV7fWozJ1Fm/s1600/IMG_0865.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pTDNZEjeE8AkaIrjOAg2DJ9c1B9EOz5x952Cj6imnd9hyJWbRbzUFZiwbIRF64NWO7lyil9go9zzixWCL6i_mlE4cOAd1PxHaZAnj94n3TbBuawaxTutnLprnDU9kvV7fWozJ1Fm/s1600/IMG_0865.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latte, still damp, drinking her colostrum.</td></tr>
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She has been a nursing champ. She was not too energetic the first few days, but since Tuesday, she's been bounding around and scampering all over the place. Her mouth gets all foamy from nursing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGH-RdGai7dXlOsaM1pAEeq7-Id224F1Sba5A-fPZLx8Nka1ZKZelRu90nw-ffyQPeXuykTD59P0sS7WsJuCUf96Yx0hYw4vc0DOaeta70KGtN7Urf3Ld42WLFdfljAOzDzxC0XgLg/s1600/IMG_0870.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGH-RdGai7dXlOsaM1pAEeq7-Id224F1Sba5A-fPZLx8Nka1ZKZelRu90nw-ffyQPeXuykTD59P0sS7WsJuCUf96Yx0hYw4vc0DOaeta70KGtN7Urf3Ld42WLFdfljAOzDzxC0XgLg/s1600/IMG_0870.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking in her surroundings after her first meal.</td></tr>
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Once she dried off (the next day), her light color really came through. Bridget has a reddish hue, but Latte is a lot more creamy in her complexion.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieG_PYOFb1vR79lNE3MKkYtlE3-yMJOcXXRonW8AKY0xceAorYEBK8otu1MpTa78J0SG5-6yQOqTmovUqdwm8l-7qYEg_T7SxsPI5qxTMKl42b58-wllerLzmN4Dxcs5v-9dZaPuXM/s1600/IMG_0887.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieG_PYOFb1vR79lNE3MKkYtlE3-yMJOcXXRonW8AKY0xceAorYEBK8otu1MpTa78J0SG5-6yQOqTmovUqdwm8l-7qYEg_T7SxsPI5qxTMKl42b58-wllerLzmN4Dxcs5v-9dZaPuXM/s1600/IMG_0887.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latte, dried off and chillin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The cutest thing (perhaps besides her little moo) was when I came in to check on her, and found her curled up in <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/03/diy-hand-milking-cow-stanchion.html" target="_blank">the milk stanchion</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zT5Yy6AWg1a8pZXoxZU_jGT9BSboZIe1W1cUJGPuy-h-pTfrhDLpy_xT29olGLfUe5JWEf9ob9XTSQF5i21yItZ9PEf1f2mOvqJkPJiEgPZx4D2riXxe8dlWR26EADnovwiqmUYl/s1600/IMG_0899.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zT5Yy6AWg1a8pZXoxZU_jGT9BSboZIe1W1cUJGPuy-h-pTfrhDLpy_xT29olGLfUe5JWEf9ob9XTSQF5i21yItZ9PEf1f2mOvqJkPJiEgPZx4D2riXxe8dlWR26EADnovwiqmUYl/s1600/IMG_0899.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What?"</td></tr>
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I'll try to get some more pictures this weekend and post them next week. It's tough, since she is ALWAYS MOVING when I'm there with her. She's a little ball of energy. This makes things like standing still for a photo a bit difficult. I'll see what I can do.<br />
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We're very happy that Bridget gave birth to a healthy, energetic calf. God is good, and we have been blessed tremendously.Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-30479665606961366592014-10-23T16:57:00.000-05:002014-10-23T16:57:01.007-05:00Piglets!!This weekend, we had piglets!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWIIWgM5yx-MYUzWGc3wybA4LTHYlqxNQ2PC1XtawEDiygzGxoJyvb0mNoajrexsAyPBJz516fB_-IH6Dtc02rBWvLfxdmXa0BlEJNshVDq3QobNT8SQTrTA3jHhs2Qees5MggcRr/s1600/IMG_0647.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWIIWgM5yx-MYUzWGc3wybA4LTHYlqxNQ2PC1XtawEDiygzGxoJyvb0mNoajrexsAyPBJz516fB_-IH6Dtc02rBWvLfxdmXa0BlEJNshVDq3QobNT8SQTrTA3jHhs2Qees5MggcRr/s1600/IMG_0647.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They are so small and so cute and so pink-ish.</td></tr>
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Mama Piggie (aka, Poomba) gave birth to two healthy, happy, squeaky little pig babies. They are just about the cutest thing ever. Well, <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/04/our-first-baby-lamb.html" target="_blank">definitely top 2</a>.<br />
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Mama and babies are doing great.<br />
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We got a text from my sister whilst out of town. We went camping this past weekend with some <a href="http://synergiesforwiseliving.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">friends</a>, and got a text while we were out hiking Saturday morning. When we got home the next day, they were nursing, squeaking, min-oinking, and otherwise doing very well.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1gr_GUDqIwFrZrGTlztgDEvYO2PbCsCN_CuFv4-d6JFIsPm2JZmOlpzwSHxH8BJj3CKCrnjelSy5LS7FDWmy9UbwzrBcK1APr5geEhEIikuTTc_uK0pspqYiD8qsze_1Oe5stUQ0/s1600/IMG_0663.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1gr_GUDqIwFrZrGTlztgDEvYO2PbCsCN_CuFv4-d6JFIsPm2JZmOlpzwSHxH8BJj3CKCrnjelSy5LS7FDWmy9UbwzrBcK1APr5geEhEIikuTTc_uK0pspqYiD8qsze_1Oe5stUQ0/s1600/IMG_0663.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poomba foraging while TBD#1 and TBD#2 suckle.</td></tr>
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The other pigs treat them very well. It's a cute little multi-generational porcine family. Momma got a little testy today when I picked the lil'uns up this afternoon. She's a good momma - and a keeper.<div>
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The genders and names are TBD on the two babies.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUInaeW9ZVXfp_1CFXcOw15CgfXtBWGhJYbB7W5gdVVxLQVP6QV7c6BFtQF3O8iwFm269qbvudCr3CzV1jNIUeCOHnstRoyIihWLwpT9_aGiyFTd99rV8ggmURUnSCKCTuKSNPzRYg/s1600/IMG_0664.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUInaeW9ZVXfp_1CFXcOw15CgfXtBWGhJYbB7W5gdVVxLQVP6QV7c6BFtQF3O8iwFm269qbvudCr3CzV1jNIUeCOHnstRoyIihWLwpT9_aGiyFTd99rV8ggmURUnSCKCTuKSNPzRYg/s1600/IMG_0664.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All SIX pigs, doing their thing and just being ... swine.</td></tr>
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I've been increasing their feed intake slowly, and now they receive about 3 pounds of fermented grains a day, in addition to scraps and rooting. The rooting nutritional intake will go down soon for winter. I plan to plant root crops in every garden plot during the next cycle through the system, providing additional activity and calories for the cloven footers.<br /><div>
<br />Escargo was getting a little intimate with BB'q this past week, so maybe around Valentine's day, we'll see a few more.<br />
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If only <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/09/catching-up-rabbits.html" target="_blank">rabbits</a> were this easy to breed.....</div>
Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-30841152780186498572014-10-23T16:39:00.001-05:002014-10-23T16:39:20.428-05:00Guinea Fowl: Take 2This week, i got 4 free guineas:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyN1iGy2o_4wk9maiiifLnuVkWAcfHK3pJfax4UFCUab6Jf4ciUfAAY2cmZqFApwQGByqiBhvwwaF_qPX6O-gyxlYW68itg0xdFEXpqm9j0f74y5fJDK3WnRd1YBf_n3Z3M7W9WtN/s1600/IMG_0658.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyN1iGy2o_4wk9maiiifLnuVkWAcfHK3pJfax4UFCUab6Jf4ciUfAAY2cmZqFApwQGByqiBhvwwaF_qPX6O-gyxlYW68itg0xdFEXpqm9j0f74y5fJDK3WnRd1YBf_n3Z3M7W9WtN/s1600/IMG_0658.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">buck-WHEAT! buck-WHEAT! </td></tr>
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A friend of ours got them in the spring, and they're getting into his neighbor's flowers and causing a good deal of hi-jinks, or something like that. I have them in with the pullets, where they'll stay until December. By then, I hope they're trained to stay and roost behind the shed.Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-4426367634622765062014-10-07T17:53:00.001-05:002014-10-07T17:53:31.088-05:00HC StatsThis is my 240th post.<br />
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To date, 15,381 people who are not myself have viewed my blog. Last month, 1,043 people viewed a page. The most viewed page I have is the <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/06/diy-movable-chicken-coop-part-1.html" target="_blank">first installment of my chicken coop on wheels project</a>. It has been accessed 931 times. Besides the <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/06/diy-movable-chicken-coop-part-2-its-done.html" target="_blank">other chicken coop post</a>, my <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/05/why-every-homestead-needs-donkey.html" target="_blank">homage to homestead donkeys</a> is the only page that's topped 200 views.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMsJHnedFyozeRbQZrUXP4EXfT-eXm8lyWefwJKx52x7ptj6md6QwsohjIAgZd_kMaBZaq3C6DZTP5NN0tf78BU8oEa-90yWxRBrsSViB5m5TfW6LPngkZ4Gc84ab3744hkG6r1re/s1600/statpic1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMsJHnedFyozeRbQZrUXP4EXfT-eXm8lyWefwJKx52x7ptj6md6QwsohjIAgZd_kMaBZaq3C6DZTP5NN0tf78BU8oEa-90yWxRBrsSViB5m5TfW6LPngkZ4Gc84ab3744hkG6r1re/s1600/statpic1.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the stats that's fit to print.</td></tr>
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Today's been a big day - 77 views. That's tops for the last few weeks. I had 63 in September one day. I think it's because of <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/06/remembering-metal-roof-project.html" target="_blank">the metal roof post</a>, which sits in 6th place. In my tag cloud, the words "Catholic," "chicken," "garden," and "food" dominate (and are intentionally not tagged in this introspective). And good ol' US of A Google searches are by far my biggest pipeline of visitors.<br />
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So what does this all mean?<br />
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Well, I've (potentially) touched over 15,000 people. I have 240 distinct, written thoughts to leave for the entire created world. Most of my thinking, at least as evidence by my posting trends, has been around ,my mission of achieving holiness through the transformation on my land into a giving source of food. And at least somebody's seen it beyond Wife and <a href="http://synergiesforwiseliving.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">David</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/12/new-years-balancing-act.html" target="_blank">I haven't hit 10 posts a month</a>. But that's OK - this blog is serving its purpose. And also, <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/05/twenty-six-of-stuff.html" target="_blank">26</a>.<br />
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God bless,<br />
<br />Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-25260746703366800072014-10-07T14:14:00.000-05:002014-10-07T14:21:09.396-05:00Recap of Chicken Butchering WeekendOn Sept. 20th of this year, we took 23 meat chickens from coop to freezer. By "we," I mean myself, the wife and kids, Wife's 7 siblings, and some of the siblings' significant others.<br />
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The experience exceeded our wildest expectations.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWQA7V6WUZpzhXy0bFYf0WrsyWAXariRUw25MmfpNPA0ZuznBQ1sYa_pt0mcq4q9-8W7x0rkrJc8LN6E_OUeLRO0FnlYZ7A5BSzReA8X8Nmefj-rOmN45M6uL-q19nlZTescdrUwY/s1600/plucking-chicken-feathers-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWQA7V6WUZpzhXy0bFYf0WrsyWAXariRUw25MmfpNPA0ZuznBQ1sYa_pt0mcq4q9-8W7x0rkrJc8LN6E_OUeLRO0FnlYZ7A5BSzReA8X8Nmefj-rOmN45M6uL-q19nlZTescdrUwY/s1600/plucking-chicken-feathers-2.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two chickens, mid-pluck, proudly displayed by six volunteers and led by Thing #1 (lower right).</td></tr>
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It was a beautiful day, everyone was excited, and we accomplished our goals.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">WARNING: Very graphic depictions of chicken evisceration to follow.</span></i><br />
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We set out to kill, clean, process, and pack 23 <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/07/baby-chicks-round-3.html" target="_blank">Cornish X meat birds that we got in July</a> and had raised up. They were just under 9 weeks (8 weeks and 5 days, I believe) on the 20th, and while we certainly could have waited (and maybe should have, based on their size at butchering), we planned the event months in advance and coordinated travel schedules of 10 people across 4 states. We were doin' it that day, doggone it. And we did.<br />
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I was the only person with even a shred of experience, having butchered two chickens myself earlier this year. I was in the role or organizer, instructor, project manager, and contributor. It went very well, as everyone helped according to their abilities and desires to work on certain areas, like killing, plucking, water refilling, etc.<br />
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It was completely successful in that we didn't lose any chickens to the typical Cornish issues during those 8+ weeks. The butchering went smoothly, the evisceration was quick and generally poop-free, and they all fit in the freezer. <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/08/catching-up-pigs.html" target="_blank">The pigs</a> grew noticeably the week after taking down the entrails. We even had a small one slip through the cone and literally run around with its head cut off. It was hilarious.<br />
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On the downside, we had issues with skin tearing. I don't know if it was a water temperature issue, or if the biurds were just a bit underdeveloped. I'm leaning toward the latter, as the dressed carcasses weighed in at only about 2 lb. 12 oz. on average. I suspect the high heat we had during prime growth time had something to do with the small sizes. Also, it took a very long time to pluck them all by hand, and in the sun everyone got tired quickly. Additionally, plucking tore the skin VERY easily - much more easily than the <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/04/first-chicken-processed.html" target="_blank">previous chickens I butchered</a>. Having four people on plucking duty at a time really helped, though.<br />
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I'm not entirely sure I want to do meat chickens this way again, but I'm very grateful for the experience and the successes, as well as the learning opportunities.<br />
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And now, a pictorial tour of the big day, in chronological order:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66_wr5gYmwNJQChQysPf7KJEanjazNE76A_7jIMuvWoo2h2nGneQBE55d9-mV3I19PvtOF_iqxICdmDhQqNAJBkngc54YobV6zvUJzFaZ5SiJmP4Ajv0JcXwozNEGDFAJo57K5XOF/s1600/chicken-weekend-group.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66_wr5gYmwNJQChQysPf7KJEanjazNE76A_7jIMuvWoo2h2nGneQBE55d9-mV3I19PvtOF_iqxICdmDhQqNAJBkngc54YobV6zvUJzFaZ5SiJmP4Ajv0JcXwozNEGDFAJo57K5XOF/s1600/chicken-weekend-group.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group, assembled and ready to go.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78TowH1dd7iv8kgodawt8_ev1h6wFepKP7vRV7B-wOfpXtzL3wdbaj0okEnE7Zofm7MHXmEzvckJAXTxCwr1Z28xY2MrMN8TdWVW9POhurAi0_l6uZf4qbucey3U5z23eHF_UNInG/s1600/first-chicken-processed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78TowH1dd7iv8kgodawt8_ev1h6wFepKP7vRV7B-wOfpXtzL3wdbaj0okEnE7Zofm7MHXmEzvckJAXTxCwr1Z28xY2MrMN8TdWVW9POhurAi0_l6uZf4qbucey3U5z23eHF_UNInG/s1600/first-chicken-processed.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thing #2 with Chicken the First.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhtTaq9ix7ew6Rd3yMeqeSlwPPam9OrPW_a0P7vCzAp4UUwrhwbuII18WyJYMlzxrdtHe2UyQRDOLyiViufFcklEr_eHk7sBgcHeKFpNitukXWkrgOsbCzH9vlzckAGErPW9dTwp8/s1600/chicken-in-kill-cone.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhtTaq9ix7ew6Rd3yMeqeSlwPPam9OrPW_a0P7vCzAp4UUwrhwbuII18WyJYMlzxrdtHe2UyQRDOLyiViufFcklEr_eHk7sBgcHeKFpNitukXWkrgOsbCzH9vlzckAGErPW9dTwp8/s1600/chicken-in-kill-cone.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Head down in the cone.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwcgkJop08Pc9eC4cDVlcpX4mdioOF8Yz53ZhfR3spAPtGefMzweqa0jky1Bh0b0MWcQPvQTGQ-B0WozbO9-V_FY3twIJoWkCCQ4ba4wMK5MYKgzUOp49VHWUURCk-EO2YxN7Jy6y/s1600/kill-cone.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwcgkJop08Pc9eC4cDVlcpX4mdioOF8Yz53ZhfR3spAPtGefMzweqa0jky1Bh0b0MWcQPvQTGQ-B0WozbO9-V_FY3twIJoWkCCQ4ba4wMK5MYKgzUOp49VHWUURCk-EO2YxN7Jy6y/s1600/kill-cone.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kill cone, several chickens in. Only the shoulders are poking out.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZs2Y5TOk6XUe6LQt6-ZcfS_51dDtnsFk8_CURHo2hZdbCmlrjk6Ms4QsHLuU40ap8IFaSol_hhfoD6d3lnp_48oUUG_x7PRYgIp4shkW4NXKhYqPeF396cPlFWHg0fPdNFXMtqwe/s1600/plucking-chicken-feathers-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZs2Y5TOk6XUe6LQt6-ZcfS_51dDtnsFk8_CURHo2hZdbCmlrjk6Ms4QsHLuU40ap8IFaSol_hhfoD6d3lnp_48oUUG_x7PRYgIp4shkW4NXKhYqPeF396cPlFWHg0fPdNFXMtqwe/s1600/plucking-chicken-feathers-1.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plucking party!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqrXv6DULQ83AtkIofB1aIMlya73vB4jpoTSTQDR7Q2N9-PdY-tjIZKECI18am1lL1I8D5M_wn9sJysZYDWP3JAu7KSVNKZzHxFYoloi-AJ_F5m61TC7CECxMTu-kcGsdG3RB35pg/s1600/plucking-chicken-feathers-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqrXv6DULQ83AtkIofB1aIMlya73vB4jpoTSTQDR7Q2N9-PdY-tjIZKECI18am1lL1I8D5M_wn9sJysZYDWP3JAu7KSVNKZzHxFYoloi-AJ_F5m61TC7CECxMTu-kcGsdG3RB35pg/s1600/plucking-chicken-feathers-3.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creatively plucking, one-handed. :)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjensqlWMnyCPR2fXCLONSKJu-qSVyo-L1q-aQ65iDnziXsmZOPWTmpCOzLfQfwkE8X8DN89VlRjbpUWo4mHrs5mEMUAAcsRA6klvSsS8dykBktr7JtCNmY2dpc1INPkVXVDy0BiELI/s1600/plucking-chicken-feathers-4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjensqlWMnyCPR2fXCLONSKJu-qSVyo-L1q-aQ65iDnziXsmZOPWTmpCOzLfQfwkE8X8DN89VlRjbpUWo4mHrs5mEMUAAcsRA6klvSsS8dykBktr7JtCNmY2dpc1INPkVXVDy0BiELI/s1600/plucking-chicken-feathers-4.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And yet even more plucking.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiTDzQnMOK16yQvktsyCaj02UTHPztN0HcyHJo9Y2QD7JFXTzHAKeqgStnvd-muSU6MpZSd8mIwF29HjD2PpieqOgyqD4O_fvExfDKSDA8J1TeSwAHKGzF6WL8LaCeWya4niV-_7k/s1600/bucket-o-plucked-chickens.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiTDzQnMOK16yQvktsyCaj02UTHPztN0HcyHJo9Y2QD7JFXTzHAKeqgStnvd-muSU6MpZSd8mIwF29HjD2PpieqOgyqD4O_fvExfDKSDA8J1TeSwAHKGzF6WL8LaCeWya4niV-_7k/s1600/bucket-o-plucked-chickens.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bucket o' chickens. Note the large areas of torn skin. :(</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYtprwRF6IliCa9D9XFmdJ8jrU8VMVbgRWyZDVF2MjzkSJE8tROmtq8SrlA1reUOvAh0DieeIWIOIOPn0IvdwrAm34PClUHVlgtsqpKo8LcPPooaTZASV0BFGQg-rhiSNCaHiEOAt/s1600/chicken-butcher.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYtprwRF6IliCa9D9XFmdJ8jrU8VMVbgRWyZDVF2MjzkSJE8tROmtq8SrlA1reUOvAh0DieeIWIOIOPn0IvdwrAm34PClUHVlgtsqpKo8LcPPooaTZASV0BFGQg-rhiSNCaHiEOAt/s1600/chicken-butcher.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BIL helping to process after all the birds were killed, plucked, and set on ice.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2emOp6ZI3fzY8j6kIPlF8Deoh52pI06_1AuvF3cUo9KSivNS6Za-iJKuMebebetDGBOY5Unnrsg_PnBUVKQYe7W5gsbSTioCXb5EmkxwFyYw_tunYx7jjgHKtA_ZBwZ6aUs5lHJn/s1600/chicken-feet-necks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2emOp6ZI3fzY8j6kIPlF8Deoh52pI06_1AuvF3cUo9KSivNS6Za-iJKuMebebetDGBOY5Unnrsg_PnBUVKQYe7W5gsbSTioCXb5EmkxwFyYw_tunYx7jjgHKtA_ZBwZ6aUs5lHJn/s1600/chicken-feet-necks.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Necks and feet, set aside for chicken stock.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmPJeU_P-wvOAtsEqC2H_9t6rSyFKee27tCp-HB0gGZ-6U9iKWmVmnJVBq51LhrDpKUeqjTHcdUt3ZNg6Q-1DGP3Edo_3SpQ1UfPumzDHjrlbjXlpVxW4FhzBokBANgS_azc1NeeX/s1600/processed-chickens.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmPJeU_P-wvOAtsEqC2H_9t6rSyFKee27tCp-HB0gGZ-6U9iKWmVmnJVBq51LhrDpKUeqjTHcdUt3ZNg6Q-1DGP3Edo_3SpQ1UfPumzDHjrlbjXlpVxW4FhzBokBANgS_azc1NeeX/s1600/processed-chickens.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some birds getting finished up as twilight neared.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkUhMv9UZ99UuGk7z3IxvWxpnSPfOqR0rO1tBerRMl3xywRDI1F_SiO0PvXiA2Cl3e3aFzEdlPrI935OG9uhIkHA_tg3mfyhwwK_d43UxCcncmpO-RYXMKICPyOsR_mPu9jOrvL3D/s1600/bonfire.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkUhMv9UZ99UuGk7z3IxvWxpnSPfOqR0rO1tBerRMl3xywRDI1F_SiO0PvXiA2Cl3e3aFzEdlPrI935OG9uhIkHA_tg3mfyhwwK_d43UxCcncmpO-RYXMKICPyOsR_mPu9jOrvL3D/s1600/bonfire.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebration bonfire!</td></tr>
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Once we cleaned all the birds and got them wrapped up in the freezer, we enjoyed <strike> a few choice sips of finest cognac whilst discussing Shakespeare </strike> a whole bunch o' fun beverages in rowdy celebration.<br />
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It was a great night after a long, productive, highly educational day for everyone.<br />
<br />Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-38310219969267885252014-10-02T16:02:00.001-05:002014-10-02T16:02:12.966-05:00Catching Up: BeesNot much to report on <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-beekeeper.html" target="_blank">the bees</a>, other than they're still thriving and being fed a dissolved sugar water syrup.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqISdyNhLu9gy9N2tTzHT-Aw6dpvgAlm_eeypIPDHUDTl4UT7ZDNtdGQepNaAbSKuxL_GEUalb3168lLjdx_NfvOLJu_lW9Zqs5JovrhhDz496lX4WrrUEstVuJrkqXPNjLfbtJYbK/s1600/bees-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqISdyNhLu9gy9N2tTzHT-Aw6dpvgAlm_eeypIPDHUDTl4UT7ZDNtdGQepNaAbSKuxL_GEUalb3168lLjdx_NfvOLJu_lW9Zqs5JovrhhDz496lX4WrrUEstVuJrkqXPNjLfbtJYbK/s1600/bees-1.png" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bees with their feeder.</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>Seriously, there's like nothing else to say other than that. But here's a close-up!<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt80TCKXe_lVLY_IzQBwcPu_fuLY9-SWUK61cclRCJOEFLNW8ZQHwW2mt7TMEE7L6CQLoyIG2mMIk7kLUfuzg9Rc_oZtJEdNiIClIYbi_xYDalPnLQM7CkmZEyIoEzAvmR9aGeduyC/s1600/bees-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt80TCKXe_lVLY_IzQBwcPu_fuLY9-SWUK61cclRCJOEFLNW8ZQHwW2mt7TMEE7L6CQLoyIG2mMIk7kLUfuzg9Rc_oZtJEdNiIClIYbi_xYDalPnLQM7CkmZEyIoEzAvmR9aGeduyC/s1600/bees-2.png" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Busy, busy bees. Doing their bee thing. Feelin' the flow. Workin' it.</td></tr>
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Yup. Pretty uneventful.Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-53707177857342039142014-10-02T15:22:00.000-05:002014-10-02T15:22:08.609-05:00Greeks vs Persians: LEGO Water Battle!I love homeschooling. For Thing #2's recent history project on the Greek empire, he did a water battle between Greece and Persia. He modeled the boats and dress after depictions in several books he read.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7wO_fflpcYnhFmxyzoNM3EHFOd3sqz-XzU-3PYuyhiur79BgdFfWZRa45UevWDZOXTclNs9IVzaqqrEVDt7XPfVFvwYZjSDHb2cs2D7fIGNw6wmevaEsIxVjWMQW4x6o1S6d2A3n/s1600/greek-persian-lego-water-battle-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7wO_fflpcYnhFmxyzoNM3EHFOd3sqz-XzU-3PYuyhiur79BgdFfWZRa45UevWDZOXTclNs9IVzaqqrEVDt7XPfVFvwYZjSDHb2cs2D7fIGNw6wmevaEsIxVjWMQW4x6o1S6d2A3n/s1600/greek-persian-lego-water-battle-1.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Persians, left, are no match for the mighty Greek long boats!</td></tr>
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The ships are very detailed for 3rd grade work. It even has a galley.<br />
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I'll just let the pictures do the talking:<br />
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<br />Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-13083474111995990752014-10-02T15:10:00.000-05:002014-10-02T15:10:12.493-05:00Nest Box UpgradesDue in part to our <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/08/chicken-problems-and-potential-solutions.html" target="_blank">apparent egg eating epidemic</a>, and just to upgrade in general, I decided to add some extra padding and such to the nest boxes.<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklT4xhzO678lE9THBhXICvGC-2gB0Xi4Q8ESYW1hC6ksGtRPic9mMZLayhVf20S7vESkre928QK2Bj72ptRUC1-kjGGOQSfm8qVuTxRSVI6_Y6CDI33j2R1j1vWJT4M_6FmcAQdnW/s1600/turf_wood_shavings_in_nest.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklT4xhzO678lE9THBhXICvGC-2gB0Xi4Q8ESYW1hC6ksGtRPic9mMZLayhVf20S7vESkre928QK2Bj72ptRUC1-kjGGOQSfm8qVuTxRSVI6_Y6CDI33j2R1j1vWJT4M_6FmcAQdnW/s1600/turf_wood_shavings_in_nest.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right: Nest box with 2 layers of green astro-turf base.<br />Left: Wood shavings on top of the the turf, with dummy wooden eggs inside.</td></tr>
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Previously, I'd been using hay on top of the wood. I upgraded this week to astro-turf under wood shavings.<div>
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<div>
<a name='more'></a><br />The reasons I did this were:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>To elimate the possibility of the chickens scratching out the hay to reveal the wood alone. This has caused eggs to drop straight onto the hard wood surface, which if it cracked, would reveal the yolk to the chicken and incite eating.</li>
<li>To provide an inedible medium in case of breakage. Hay can be eaten, but wood chips cannot, thus reducing the desire to eat the broken egg, while leaving "evidence" behind.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
The morning after I did this, I caught a chicken (a red Star, in fact) eating yolk from the wood chips, and having a difficult time doing it. I put her in jail.</div>
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<div>
I ended up adding a double layer of turf for extra protection and area coverage. The wood chips filled in the rest. They've already scratched out nests revealing the turf below.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVEyEYecdSQMikI6PR3euhvi73rhErXrFwAZclfOvFTmD5GnNnhRLkn4wFCOn6yJQIRoh2DjW9sMrPJfor6j6uQLc0izFGaSgRLdwyaYB-iqr3WOJNyRT4d5Ogmrw2EIr1hXB2SoW/s1600/old_boxes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVEyEYecdSQMikI6PR3euhvi73rhErXrFwAZclfOvFTmD5GnNnhRLkn4wFCOn6yJQIRoh2DjW9sMrPJfor6j6uQLc0izFGaSgRLdwyaYB-iqr3WOJNyRT4d5Ogmrw2EIr1hXB2SoW/s1600/old_boxes.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old nest box, wood exposed, hay mostly gone..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoseunkuKdePrBk79OliVIb8RDeL2VaV1hyO9V60FlSPjPGmhzDphNAfcF5fg-_vRMhi3C-cox8VSTyUflw9cW873qNyL6nEEqErgtRqMQtu04NMW2buaeiWrVfVyZuGwHMjgIs44C/s1600/turf_wood_shavings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoseunkuKdePrBk79OliVIb8RDeL2VaV1hyO9V60FlSPjPGmhzDphNAfcF5fg-_vRMhi3C-cox8VSTyUflw9cW873qNyL6nEEqErgtRqMQtu04NMW2buaeiWrVfVyZuGwHMjgIs44C/s1600/turf_wood_shavings.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pile of turf squares and big bag o' wood chips.</td></tr>
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<div>
The jury is still out on whether or not this will work.</div>
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<div>
I really hope it doesn't come down to a whole-flock cull. :(</div>
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Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-70609457434612443952014-09-10T16:26:00.002-05:002014-09-10T16:26:23.850-05:00Trade and the Myth of Self-SufficiencyI remember dreaming, three years ago, how cool it would be to be self-sufficient - to close our little 5.4 acres off from the would and live in a complete cycle according to nature, giving back to the land and being given everything from it in turn. To draw my water, my power, my food, my herbal remedies, my fibers, and my joys from the earth.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In other words, I dreamt of being completely self-sufficient.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm glad I woke up.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcnXDyOYXrBbPV-utIam63wDNlB1y77RQFC1pxq4vSNnfVqH0NTOSbIvgB_UduSQEkfwYo-OMEOVBdt5qyeAZYyOsJ5kmSGr0XjCyUwe01M-2KEP8ZK_1GnryaFpXJ1wHS-MBV4Ot/s1600/self_sufficient.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcnXDyOYXrBbPV-utIam63wDNlB1y77RQFC1pxq4vSNnfVqH0NTOSbIvgB_UduSQEkfwYo-OMEOVBdt5qyeAZYyOsJ5kmSGr0XjCyUwe01M-2KEP8ZK_1GnryaFpXJ1wHS-MBV4Ot/s1600/self_sufficient.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, I don't ever want to feel like this guy.</td></tr>
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In reality, self-sufficiency is a myth. We humans are simply too needy.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a name='more'></a><br />To start, let's clarify self-sufficiency. To me, self-sufficiency means living in 100% reliance upon yourself to meet your housing, food, and shelter needs. Self-sufficiency is relying upon yourself to survive, live, and even thrive indefinitely.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There's a reason that self-sufficiency is so difficult to attain. For one thing, it requires a mastery in several different survival and trade skills, such as wood cutting, fire tending, butchering, growing, hunting, gathering, harvesting, hay making, fishing, gutting, husbandry, weaving, sewing, skinning, tanning, cobbling, blacksmithing, forging, metalurgying, quarrying, cooking, and the like. That's a long list of skills to master when your life depends on it. I'm in year three of homesteading, and I've mastered maybe one of them. Maybe. I'm sure there are people who can confidently do most of the things on this list. but at some point (usually when shoes start to break down), they call upon the work of another to meet their needs.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As a rule, we humans need more to live than is reasonable possible for us to create when left entirely on our own.</div>
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<div>
The popular "self-sufficient life" either relies on a cursory "enough to get by" mentality of this list above, or else it is not truly a self-sufficient life. Maybe it tries to be the exception. Maybe it's self-sufficient insomuch as these groups are split communally, as in a family or a monastic mentality. Either way, it's not truly self-sufficient.</div>
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<div>
Instead, these iterations are self-reliant, self-sustaining, or something else entirely.</div>
<div>
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<div>
I think the real value and real face of self-sustainability lies in being able to provide food consistently, and being able to trade for what you don't have.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiOvTxR-o2i55gCr4rY-QNVGJcpTSqVs5vL_8TDBOfC2K-erR5dD38o3pO-PpLha1JSe_M028x7x2k3e-y3MLmLsvUuPnQF1TnAHhxV4WRIBPj29FBkGePH69fGIAtFucWLSnhOq4/s1600/fish-n-grain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiOvTxR-o2i55gCr4rY-QNVGJcpTSqVs5vL_8TDBOfC2K-erR5dD38o3pO-PpLha1JSe_M028x7x2k3e-y3MLmLsvUuPnQF1TnAHhxV4WRIBPj29FBkGePH69fGIAtFucWLSnhOq4/s1600/fish-n-grain.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Drop all the seed, and then I'll let go of the fish."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ah, trade. The dark underbelly of the myth of self-sufficiency.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Trade has been utilized and necessary for millennia. As much as I agree with back-to-the-land movement and reviving ancient skills, I rarely see mentions of good ol' bartering. Trade drove civilizations since the beginning. Trade drove smaller community life. Trade drove hunter-gatherer tribes. Trade drives monasteries. Trade drove world history since the beginning.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Why does "trade" see,m like such a foreign concept to us now? Maybe it's because modern 21st-century trade is done via plastic cards, 18-wheelers, and Direct Deposit. I trade my time, knowledge, and output for your money, and then I trade that money for food, shoes, housing, Netflix, etc.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In order to be truly self-sufficient, trade would be negligible. After all, you are responsible for providing everything for yourself. Taking the work of others for your own consumption, even when traded for fairly and justly, is NOT truly self-sufficient in the strict sense of the word. Rather, it's a form self-reliance.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Self-reliance is a far better term. It is simply relying on your work to meet your needs. This allows for trade, since as you are the one who created something of value for another (your food, time, talents, etc.), you can rely on trading something needed by another to meet your needs. Like trading a fish for seed, or vegetables for meat, or milk for tools, or firewood for bread, or salt for shoes, or (in modern society) $32.76 for a family Chik-fil-A dinner.</div>
<div>
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<div>
This is the reason why humanity thrived in villages as opposed to separate plots of land. It's far easier to grow extra food when you're growing it anyway and trade it for shoes than it is to grow all your own food by day and make shoes by night. The farmer feeds the cobbler, who gets the farmer and his family their shoes, but also the woodcutter in exchange for wood, the smithy in exchange for better tools (or tool sharpening), and also travelers, who could bring exotic fruits, fabrics, spices, and the like that contribute to overall health and survival.</div>
<div>
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<div>
The villages could be, and often were, self-sufficient in and of themselves.</div>
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<div>
Still, there's a certain point at which self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and all of those other euphemisms break down. As a Catholic, that point lies in the Sacramental life.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwLCBGZX6CaYFEiufpIXlVXv2Rgzd_b7Dq4OkjmKfy3gZMPXXInVpRMtutCPmxNoFXvqrWugLVsuKe_ZU-qEdNTpvgG0BL2cxZs9aR325tPO5Iu6gLwNv-W6d9lxNulA1_j1PyhGB/s1600/church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwLCBGZX6CaYFEiufpIXlVXv2Rgzd_b7Dq4OkjmKfy3gZMPXXInVpRMtutCPmxNoFXvqrWugLVsuKe_ZU-qEdNTpvgG0BL2cxZs9aR325tPO5Iu6gLwNv-W6d9lxNulA1_j1PyhGB/s1600/church.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Church, no matter how rural, has always been a center of community.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I cannot administer the Sacraments for myself. I cannot confess to myself, baptize myself, anoint myself when I'm sick, or most importantly, consecrate anything for myself.</div>
<div>
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<div>
I need the Church.</div>
<div>
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<div>
So even though the thought of worldly self-sufficiency entices many, Catholics cannot be called to such an extreme rejection of humanity at large. Simply put, God created us to need others. We see this is our need for priests, and priests' needs for the works of the community (food, shoes, etc.). We were never meant to be self-sufficient. We were meant to be God-reliant, though.</div>
<div>
<br />So while self-sufficiency sounds great in theory (well....no, still doesn't), it is in reality virtually unobtainable. At some point, we humans will have a need that we alone cannot fill. Whether that is a physical one (such as someone else to mine salt for trade or to make our shoes) or a spiritual one (someone ordained to hear our confession and say Mass), it is by our very nature as humans to be dependent upon beings outside of ourselves.</div>
<div>
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<div>
After all, someone has to feed the shoemaker.</div>
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Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-59106480629125697142014-09-09T10:35:00.001-05:002014-09-09T10:35:14.575-05:00Catching Up: GardensOh, the gardens. My Achilles Heel this year.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9bnEcoWzCzeLLcxFKPWYCoGH6jRlM1WGinJaoPx4OAUg3wDimH9xAc_aCubdYZ98PBtRjtYhIrHWj9stBegbRx6ngDQsl0SBXC_UWR-gw828hkpTqqqC_9_A0TcnqbxYpGMzB8DQ/s1600/IMG_3980.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9bnEcoWzCzeLLcxFKPWYCoGH6jRlM1WGinJaoPx4OAUg3wDimH9xAc_aCubdYZ98PBtRjtYhIrHWj9stBegbRx6ngDQsl0SBXC_UWR-gw828hkpTqqqC_9_A0TcnqbxYpGMzB8DQ/s1600/IMG_3980.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watermelons, cantaloupes, green beans, tomatoes, okra, and cucumbers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The pigs and chickens have done a great job tilling and rotating through. We've had lots of sunflowers and melons grow, and our tomato plants have done fairly well.<br />
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But, there's a long way to go yet.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
The major issue I have is with planting time. Once the pigs and chickens get moved on to new ground, I've been left with a 512-square-foot plot of (mostly) plant-free, manured, tilled ground.<br />
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I just haven't been planting in it.<br />
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I've had moderate success scattering some sunflower seeds in one patch, and I tried oats in another which did NOT work. Then, we started getting what I call feral melons - watermelon and cantaloupes fed to the pigs that then sprout into new plants a few days after they've moved on. I guess the stomach juices and, ahem, fertilizer sprout the melon seeds like crazy. They do those with tomatoes, too - I've got about 100 baby tomato plants in one patch.<br />
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But, since I'm tired and it's late when I get finished moving the system, I have yet to come out and plant in it. I know I need to. It's tough planting that much space by hand. It takes a few hours to get it right. Our <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/06/is-it-garden-yet.html">garden last year</a> took at least 10 hours to plant completely, and that's only a little bigger than what I get each week. I simply don't have 7 to 8 hours after I move the paddocks, and the idea of shceduling that in to my day is, quite frankly, paralyzing. So, several plots are left unplanted.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrlFwJhsPC-x_-71vkrL8Wzxn7z4nbxJ1C4ZWFrbBvho9d5yTQpru1s2TLB5x_PR_po8k-LBs9lr1rFhh_dybFbVE6hjOs20CFudmctnoPosWV1563XfPYE0up5kaR6-dkMLDjUF4/s1600/IMG_3978.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrlFwJhsPC-x_-71vkrL8Wzxn7z4nbxJ1C4ZWFrbBvho9d5yTQpru1s2TLB5x_PR_po8k-LBs9lr1rFhh_dybFbVE6hjOs20CFudmctnoPosWV1563XfPYE0up5kaR6-dkMLDjUF4/s1600/IMG_3978.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trick is getting this much, every day, for 6 months, to feed us for a year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another problem is that the tilling has been stirring up weed seeds, and they've taken over the unplanted gardens. Some have Bermuda grass (GGRRRR!!!!!), and other have just <i>weeds</i>. It's too much to weed by hand at this point. I hope that the twice-yearly clearing, plus a little more dedication and effort on my part to get good stuff planted, will soon deplete the weed population and leave us in a more fertile holding pattern.<br />
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We also have had NO squashes this year. Not a one. The squash bugs and the weeds have seen to that. We've had some melons and some cukes, sure, but no zucchini, no yellow squash, no butternut, no grey zukes, nothing. It's been disappointing to say the least.<br />
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Soon, I'll need to get a planter to make seeding go faster. I've got my eye on a <a href="http://www.ruralking.com/earthway-precision-walk-behind-garden-seeder-1001b.html?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=google&CAWELAID=1624251829&CAGPSPN=pla&gclid=CLyExsyescACFUVo7AodqSkAkg">wheel based seeder</a> and a <a href="http://www.standnplant.com/planter.htm">seedling planter</a> for next season. Having the right tools makes any task less daunting, and so far this year, seeding and transplanting the garden has been my downfall. I believe the right tools will make the difference.<br />
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For now, I have carrots, cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, and lettuces to plant this week, sometime. And more melons growing. And new tomato plants cropping up.<br />
<br />
If it wasn't for my overall lack of time, this would be a very good problem to have.Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-27166412700122020702014-09-05T12:17:00.003-05:002014-09-08T15:14:59.010-05:00How to Start Homesteading When You Don't Have a ClueThree and a half years ago, a 20-something father of two, with an expectant wife, answered a phone call. It was HR, following up: he was offered a job out of state.<br />
<br />
He was raised in a fast-paced metropolitan suburb, and went to a blue collar college town where he experienced dorm and apartment living, even after having graduated. Having bounced around from house to house for years, and even back to his home state for a time, he never set down roots, never planted a garden, never owned a dog. Heck, he only had a lawnmower for about 8 months before moving back into a apartment.<br />
<br />
But that phone call changed everything.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyM2oJ6S0M_79EqZfCL71EoGcw_cnJd_XWD6WwDZ7vbud11zfXJ554icQ_CE9MydUq7JbUZsc_dzw4almdDBQlhjdblgRX0QRdZFrLv6CQOpyJ8TPAhbc3YRKCiZdQELZs-5q5xlYl/s1600/cell-phone-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyM2oJ6S0M_79EqZfCL71EoGcw_cnJd_XWD6WwDZ7vbud11zfXJ554icQ_CE9MydUq7JbUZsc_dzw4almdDBQlhjdblgRX0QRdZFrLv6CQOpyJ8TPAhbc3YRKCiZdQELZs-5q5xlYl/s1600/cell-phone-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I received a job offer by phone on my birthday in 2011.<br />
I started a new job, moved 10 hours away, bought our homestead,<br />
and we had Thing #3 that year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This was the time. This was the chance to start over. This was the chance for he and his wife to realize their longtime, yet seemingly crazy, dream: to live in the country.<br />
<br />
With no experience. No family nearby for support. No knowledge. No tools. All he had was a new job and a dream.<br />
<br />
Fast forward three and half years, and he's <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/08/our-changing-landscape.html">built an orchard</a> and a <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-system.html">half-acre garden zone</a>, <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/05/animal-friends.html">rescued</a> and <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/02/goodbye-samson.html">re-homed a donkey</a>, learned to <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/06/hay-day-1.html">mow hay by hand</a>, <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/08/catching-up-sheep.html">tended sheep</a>, <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/04/first-chicken-processed.html">butchered chickens</a>, designed and built a <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/06/diy-movable-chicken-coop-part-1.html">movable chicken coop</a>, <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/03/diy-hand-milking-cow-stanchion.html">milked a cow in a homemade stanchion</a> (and learned what the diddly a stanchion was in the first place), <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/03/march-homestead-update.html">befriended some pigs</a>, and <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-beekeeper.html">become a beekeeper</a>.<br />
<br />
With no experience, yet a dream to produce all of my family's food on our land, I have come very far in three and a half short years. The majority of this has happened in the last two years.<br />
<br />
How did I get this far? Simple: plan and research.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
I've always kinda been a data junkie, reading and learning and absorbing a TON of information, then letting my mind process it for a while. Sometimes a few hours, sometimes a few months. I seem to have a knack for picking out relevant data to help me do what I need to accomplish. I learned to be a network engineer by watching <a href="http://itidiots.com/">some IT videos</a>. I learned PHP and RoR to <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/07/catechismclasscom-its-done.html">code (front and back) a learning management system</a> with 0 prior experience. I had clear objectives, I narrowed down what I needed to achieve them, and I went out and learned and practiced what I needed to make them happen.<br />
<br />
So when it came to homesteading, there were three basic steps we took:<br />
<br />
<b><u>1. Clarify the Vision</u></b><br />
<br />
This includes both identifying what you want, and what you do NOT want.<br />
<br />
Wife and I had some long talks and deep discussions after we moved to Tennessee. It took a while, but we both came to desire the same thing - grow and raise all of our own food on our new acreage. We talked about all kinds of things - eating mostly sheep for meat, raising rabbits, installing a fish pond, and a whole host of other possibilities. The final vision didn't come into focus until this past winter, when it all took shape and I <strike> somehow sweet-talked my way through these insane plans </strike> convinced Wife with hard, irrefutable data that cow ownership and pig rotation was the way to go.<br />
<br />
Had I thought of, or even suggested, that when we were first getting started, it never would have happened. We weren't prepared for that. The vision hadn't taken shape yet.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6zuY7lGURWyDrzSJ5MmtNVoW6tG4dJO75TCV9BIB5k4P2vdzE_QHKQV6uuHGjTVH-nyrz4xDuD6m41bNTFJ8UEPg6yS9Qsw_D8mJUkiudy66Kt2zAiiumtDGdGxAdnO7aeSPBpnD/s1600/calrify-values.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6zuY7lGURWyDrzSJ5MmtNVoW6tG4dJO75TCV9BIB5k4P2vdzE_QHKQV6uuHGjTVH-nyrz4xDuD6m41bNTFJ8UEPg6yS9Qsw_D8mJUkiudy66Kt2zAiiumtDGdGxAdnO7aeSPBpnD/s1600/calrify-values.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If the vision isn't clear, you could end up doing things that waste time and resources, and<br />
possible take you away from your real, deep goals.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A clear vision took us a few years to find. In the meantime, we learned all we could by starting with gardening - first, three raised square-foot beds. Then a <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/05/recap-of-big-gardening-weekend.html">larger dug-out square-foot inspired garden</a>. The work involved for <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/07/pickle-party.html">the reward we got</a> was not balanced, in my mind. We put so much time and effort and expense into the garden, to be rewarded, sure, but also disappointed in other things.<br />
<br />
Our land was still a work in progress at that point. We had differing visions about the future. Heck, I changed my mind and let my mind wander down new rabbit holes almost weekly (many of which were not shared, as they were scrapped quickly once reality set in). Raise quail en masse for internet order egg fulfillment? I could do that! Sell saffron for capital? I could do that! Raise, train, and sell llamas and dogs? I could do that! Level it all and build a bunch of hugelkultur in a crazy, rain-collecting pattern? I could do that! Become a seasonal supplier of pumpkins and Christmas trees? I could do that!<br />
<br />
But none of those fulfilled the deep longing that we had - to produce our own food. As idealistic and entrepreneurial as they were, they didn't fulfill OUR needs. None of the standard approaches to doing this that I had found satisfied our desires. I longed for self-sufficiency, and Wife longed for healthier food.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-system.html">garden/chicken/pig/cow/rabbit systems</a> in place now are the result of years of rejecting dozens of other concepts in favor of what is the best approach to meet our ultimate vision.<br />
<br />
<b><u>2. Identify Needs</u></b><br />
<br />
With a clear vision, I now knew what I needed to learn.<br />
<br />
Basically, everything.<br />
<br />
I was starting from scratch. I knew nothing. I knew eggs came from chickens and not "the grocery store" (a step up from some, believe it or not), but I knew nothing on raising them. I had no idea how to keep a donkey, or sheep, or cows, or pigs, or anything like that. I needed to learn how before I took anything home.<br />
<br />
The Google search has definitely been the single most important tool in my self-education. Through it, I came to find several different types on online resources in which I learned a lot and took different pros and cons from, such as:<br />
<br />
<b>Blogs.</b> Blogs are a great way to read one person's perspective, failures, and triumphs. Some bloggers are more open than others, and some tend to put on an obviously shiny, commercial, in-it-for-the-money vibe. The best thing is to try to find multiple bloggers who all write about a specific concern. For example, finding three bloggers who offer similar tips on <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/08/chicken-problems-and-potential-solutions.html">how to overcome egg eaters</a> is a great way to gain practical, real-world wisdom should that problem afflict you. Oh, and as a rule, I avoid the comment sections on most blogs. I'd advise that unless you're into drama, crass language, and name-calling.<br />
<br />
<b>Forums.</b> Forums are great for asking questions, searching to see if your question has already been asked, or just educating yourself on different aspects of homesteading. <a href="http://www.backyardherds.com/">Backyard Herds</a>, <a href="http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/">Homesteading Today</a>, <a href="http://www.sufficientself.com/">Sufficient Self</a>, and other similar blogs are indispensable tools. The drawbacks are that forums tend to be scattered and unclear in general thought and ideas, have people with terrible grammar, and may or may not actually provide help when it's needed.<br />
<br />
<b>Research Papers</b>. Yup, I've read my fair share of abstracts. This is where you find the hard data - how many pounds does a cow poop in a day. What percentage of protein does a broiler chicken need at 4 weeks. How much dry matter does a 100-lb. sheep eat in a day. What amino acid ratio is ideal for feeder hogs. These are questions that are documented, outlined, and charted in research studies. I prefer university studies (URLs that have a .edu in them).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtpeVFoZPKxEAKik0lb_0J5TdvzFNiy7RPmIKkj3WX2G_kz8-Zlgz_WWg0B6Folss5hyn-iWNWvR7u-n_d-jiDSew4IO5C7J0GeYbmEv1ZQCFcmoqwxGxnsBSZq9Eyr3zg5pVbdgp/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtpeVFoZPKxEAKik0lb_0J5TdvzFNiy7RPmIKkj3WX2G_kz8-Zlgz_WWg0B6Folss5hyn-iWNWvR7u-n_d-jiDSew4IO5C7J0GeYbmEv1ZQCFcmoqwxGxnsBSZq9Eyr3zg5pVbdgp/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Books are authoritative and often complete.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Books. </b>Books are excellent at providing comprehensive looks at a particular subject, like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1603584781/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0963181440&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1FX8DMCTN34D831MNJ3M">keeping a family milk cow</a>. Books do have their own scopes, though, so what a book says is not necessarily the end-all-be-all method. For example, <i>Storey's Guide to Raising Pigs</i> yields almost no information on rooting behavior and nutrition - something central to the lives of most pastured hogs.<br />
<br />
The best course of action is to read ALL of these different sources, and come to conclusions about the method or methods that best help you achieve your vision.<br />
<br />
<b><u>3. Turn Knowledge into Action</u></b><br />
<br />
With the knowledge gained on how to turn your vision into reality, the hard part begins - putting your vision into reality.<br />
<br />
It's one thing to <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-10-pros-10-cons-and-8-extra.html">wax poetic about the joys and benefits of cow ownership</a>.<br />
<br />
It's quite another to <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/02/holy-cow-i-got-cow.html">bring home a pair of cows</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJs3it1CT-Q_1zFUNytzW74C4XIN0xYoTuiUpqGSa3yYo6gB-q_gSdN23ZFr-Yxmh3mvRdWdONPD5fUIsw4ADHtSnGFIxu2ug6hLJ4gpLnLPDDZCvq9XDeFNuAVeKOuHE_Ckq9Bq0q/s1600/IMG_3267.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJs3it1CT-Q_1zFUNytzW74C4XIN0xYoTuiUpqGSa3yYo6gB-q_gSdN23ZFr-Yxmh3mvRdWdONPD5fUIsw4ADHtSnGFIxu2ug6hLJ4gpLnLPDDZCvq9XDeFNuAVeKOuHE_Ckq9Bq0q/s1600/IMG_3267.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's one thing to <a href="http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Butchering-Ready.html">read about butchering a chicken</a>.<br />
It's quite another to <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/05/random-reflections.html">actually butcher a chicken</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It takes practice to turn ideas and knowledge into practice. The best ways to do this successfully are to either practice a lot, or gain <b><i><u>a crap-ton</u></i></b> of knowledge about what you're about to do. Nothing trumps experience, but knowing all about what you've gotten yourself in to, and expecting things to go wrong, isn't a distant second.<br />
<br />
<b><u>4. Learn From Your Mistakes - and Be Willing to Change</u></b><br />
<br />
I've learned nearly as much from my failures as I have from my successes. Sometimes, these lie in the <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/02/hand-milking.html">learning the nuances of the best way to hand-milk</a>, which reading about only gives a cursory knowledge of.<br />
<br />
Other times, the learning lies in figuring out <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/07/too-much.html">why another chicken is dead</a>.<br />
<br />
In all cases, applying that knowledge to not repeat mistakes is a great driver of progress. So many times, I read about people who experience death and disease and who don't change their practices. This is insane. Plan, prepare, educate yourself, and be ready - but for goodness' sake, if you're wrong, <i>admit it and move in a better direction</i>.<br />
<br />
I was wrong about running the chickens behind the pigs. I reversed the entire system to fix it.<br />
I was wrong about Coconut. I bought a new buck to fix it.<br />
I was wrong about many other things, and I've adjusted.<br />
<br />
Change is the only constant in life, and if you don't change along with life, you'll soon find that you;re not living anymore.<br />
<br />
<b><u>In short:</u></b><br />
<br />
How do you start homesteading when you don't have clue?<br />
<br />
Be humble.<br />
Read as much as you can.<br />
Be flexible and able to adapt and modify as necessary.<br />
Admit your shortcomings and your failures - and know that we all have them.<br />
Know what you can do - you time, your energy, your budget, you land.<br />
Find the maximum you can support, and then scale it back a bit to fit it into reality.<br />
Experiment a little.<br />
Be sure about the big stuff.<br />
Have a clear vision, and work to achieve it.<br />
Be patient - your homestead is NOT going to be built in a day. Or a year. Or five years.<br />
Life's a journey, and homesteading is merely part of that journey.<br />
Accept the fact that in this life, you will never achieve all of your goals. But hey, that's why God invented eternity.<br />
<br />
And most importantly: if it doesn't bring you joy, it's not worth doing.<br />
<br />Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-21007618536643246942014-09-03T12:22:00.003-05:002014-09-03T12:22:40.173-05:00Bliss Through Farming?On LinkedIn this week, I saw this little graphic:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUya6r-Sry6sB69H6zbMIvAN-MO4-5RvesQOQ_snOKjqODDskpSaUSk3CpObNTtLteLqzshLG8uwCt4OmQuxOWmnoiRzJ4789MBt3cahogg2BanEKv2XsIoF77JocmP5he38ZnyoF/s1600/84a681c6-2e28-11e4-8d22-12313b024af0-large.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUya6r-Sry6sB69H6zbMIvAN-MO4-5RvesQOQ_snOKjqODDskpSaUSk3CpObNTtLteLqzshLG8uwCt4OmQuxOWmnoiRzJ4789MBt3cahogg2BanEKv2XsIoF77JocmP5he38ZnyoF/s1600/84a681c6-2e28-11e4-8d22-12313b024af0-large.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The happy intersection of passion, mission, vocation, and profession?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's a nice cross-section and compartmentalization of different types of work. The point, of course, was to encourage people to find a career that satisfies the little blue star in the middle. Then, we would all achieve supreme happiness, live debt-free, rescue puppies, and live happily ever after.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Except, that just isn't reality.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a name='more'></a><br />Certainly, finding ways to blend that which you love and that which you are good at will make for a great and fulfilling hobby. After all, nobody would get a lot out of a hobby if they stunk at it (who'd want to see a broken ship in a bottle?). Add in being paid, and you're looking at a fulfilling career. I'm sure there are lots of folks on Etsy who make a great career making and selling what they do well. And heck, if the world needs what you do, even better, right? I mean, who doesn't need hand-crafted soap in the shape of Mickey Mouse?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuB-7-IjRS-cAHokzQQfF84fZe0CiOZw7rKjgfFdr70WTi37Y25muRbxD6YXkhjFo3MH1gQTr8W9soz3gTQtiR6jcD2PPks2dB0AslWA0sZTwI7w9j2XjKagu65NS2_yANIWmlZ5t/s1600/Creativity-and-Vocation-Austin-Hill-Shaw-Creativity-Expert1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuB-7-IjRS-cAHokzQQfF84fZe0CiOZw7rKjgfFdr70WTi37Y25muRbxD6YXkhjFo3MH1gQTr8W9soz3gTQtiR6jcD2PPks2dB0AslWA0sZTwI7w9j2XjKagu65NS2_yANIWmlZ5t/s1600/Creativity-and-Vocation-Austin-Hill-Shaw-Creativity-Expert1.jpg" height="333" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same idea, different words. This one adds:<br /><b>Satisfaction</b> as the intersection of what you love, what you do well, well, and <br />what the world will pay for;<br /><b>Comfort </b>as the intersection of well, pay, and needs;<br /><b>Contentment </b>as the intersection of love, needs, and pay;<br /><b>Fulfillment</b> as the intersection of love, well, and need;<br />And <b>Bliss </b>when they all intersect.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First and foremost, I need to clarify the definition of "vocation." As a Catholic, vocation refers to the state in life in which we fulfill our call to holiness - be it married, single, or religious. I've always struggled reconciling this definition with the world's, which is that a vocation is "a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or occupation," according to Google. It's confusing in that a person could have TWO vocations, one of God, and one of world. I'd like a better word for the world's definition, but I'll go with it for now.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW84gleo1E67sPnUxY3LKs_u4jMWS3Di-gCsdEUnD0p6qIupYfwS5C8Z8_9HUDk9R89RYbQKA4rLr6GacMVd4aiJ_ySQyeKfdyFDngdPSSKAmkGr54uMvvT_7q9J_ItIQYG8gCXj3q/s1600/vocation.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW84gleo1E67sPnUxY3LKs_u4jMWS3Di-gCsdEUnD0p6qIupYfwS5C8Z8_9HUDk9R89RYbQKA4rLr6GacMVd4aiJ_ySQyeKfdyFDngdPSSKAmkGr54uMvvT_7q9J_ItIQYG8gCXj3q/s1600/vocation.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of life's most important questions.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My main issue with the view expressed in these two graphics is that they implicitly leave out the spiritual components of life while simultaneously joining purpose to economics. It's selfish and Marxist.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
But to be fair, it's a great thinking exercise. In this day and age, with <a href="http://www.monster.com/">so many career options available</a>, finding a job that pays fairly based on your skills and experiences, and also that you don't hate, is certainly a reasonable goal. i think, too, a common theme in the younger generations is to find a career that is "meaningful." Manufacturing plastic widgets from 8 to 4 every day just doesn't seem to resonate with most people in the West - <a href="http://socap14.socialcapitalmarkets.net/idea/generation-meaning-why-millennials-want-meaningful-work/">we want our work to<i> mean</i> something</a>. So in this sense, this graphic makes sense in the lumoing together of all of these different elements into the Little Blue Star of Blissful Purpose - the key .<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, this attitude is the first step on the long road down the slow, windy slope of unfulfilled promises.<br />
<br />
"Our hearts are restless until in rest in thee, O Lord," said the great St. Augustine. And this holds true to this day. Unless the Little Blue Star of Blissful Purpose happens to coincide with work of and for the Church, then we will always feel that something is missing - no matter how many <a href="http://www.ediblefrontrange.com/?p=78&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=300111">local veggies</a> we buy or <a href="http://www.mobilecause.com/millennial-giving/">dollars we donate with our phones</a>, we will remain unfulfilled. These things must occur within the framework of the Church, with Christ at their center, or they will ultimately break and down and leave us wanting something else.<br />
<br />
Which brings me around to the point. To imply that the Little Blue Star of Blissful Purpose can be achieved by gaining what WE love, what WE are good at, what money WE can make from it, and what causes WE support is to turn fulfillment inward toward ourselves. It is a place in which WE get everything that WE want in this life, and merrily continue about our own ways. It is to deny the need to rely on God's providence for our lives.<br />
<br />
It is, in essence, to make ourselves the Rich Man:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7EnPf8juvMecsIARAp0j_ZcRlIubOzXatb0u6k0-cAJiP_QbjiK0CqDOdfl0n-bTDv9DKjgzX0Clkc_c9B-tLXCaemcEPuPpRbcqbMxS-piWiqxAptOuyjFnysHVu8sh3I2kCtZS/s1600/Meister_des_Codex_Aureus_Epternacensis_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7EnPf8juvMecsIARAp0j_ZcRlIubOzXatb0u6k0-cAJiP_QbjiK0CqDOdfl0n-bTDv9DKjgzX0Clkc_c9B-tLXCaemcEPuPpRbcqbMxS-piWiqxAptOuyjFnysHVu8sh3I2kCtZS/s1600/Meister_des_Codex_Aureus_Epternacensis_001.jpg" height="640" width="438" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rich Man supported the livelihoods of many others through his wealth.<br />His spiritual emptiness ultimately led to his eternal destruction.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
"[And Jesus said to them:] There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell. And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom: And he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame. And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted; and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot, nor from thence come hither. And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren, That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments. And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance. And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead." <i>-Luke 16:19-31</i><br />
<br />
<br />
The Rich Man did not go to hell because of his wealth - he went to hell because of his greed and selfishness. He went to hell for seeking nothing but "good things in [his] lifetime" and not the spiritual fruits necessary for salvation. He went to hell for distracting himself with his wealth to the point of ignoring the needs of his neighbor (i.e., Lazarus, the beggar at his door).<br />
<br />
He went to hell for seeking bliss in the secular world.<br />
<br />
And that is EXACTLY what those Venn diagrams would have us all do. They would have us search for our own wants, desires, and needs, rejecting the spiritual component and perpetuating the lie that bliss can be found in the world. In this case, the lie says that we can find bliss in a career that checks a few boxes related to the self's desires.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA49no320Ja26WEbfcktKycahzrUv9bloXb9P8i1oMyn262ZDHU4x0B6xTMBKADn-ie_s4Hd8bGXDFJ1hRg9AY7a-mS-nGjIdUlvlrF2hhZjYOmmrmNymhlDdeWKPm8C88oHLkQNr2/s1600/Psalm-37-Verse-4post.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA49no320Ja26WEbfcktKycahzrUv9bloXb9P8i1oMyn262ZDHU4x0B6xTMBKADn-ie_s4Hd8bGXDFJ1hRg9AY7a-mS-nGjIdUlvlrF2hhZjYOmmrmNymhlDdeWKPm8C88oHLkQNr2/s1600/Psalm-37-Verse-4post.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
"Be not emulous of evildoers; nor envy them that work iniquity.<br />
For they shall shortly wither away as grass, and as the green herbs shall quickly fall.<br />
Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land, and thou shalt be fed with its riches.<br />
Delight in the Lord, and he will give thee the requests of thy heart.<br />
Commit thy way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will do it.<br />
And he will bring forth thy justice as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.<br />
Be subject to the Lord and pray to him; Envy not the man who prospereth in his way; the man who doth unjust things." <i>-Psalm 37:1-6</i><br />
<br />
<br />
The Bible and the Catholic tradition tell us that happiness is NOT found in the work of the world, but rather in c<i>ommitting our ways to the Lord</i>, as the Psalmist says..<br />
<br />
So how does this relate to me and farming? Can I find my fulfillment, my Little Blue Star of Blissful Purpose, in working the land? Even if I could quite my job and make a great living by it?<br />
<br />
In short: no.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqFOZ9hxdo-pzk5VEVPdnwUJE_RW_BO1N7OSm9y-soj-iONWqlQtVtYjQ-PAaZNA7_4eEVuHqrAEB49cVUETdFsTnB4z6lknX55mC5HlV0ziCQ6apfyH4oBQYNeto8iKuabSLLbpB/s1600/happy_farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqFOZ9hxdo-pzk5VEVPdnwUJE_RW_BO1N7OSm9y-soj-iONWqlQtVtYjQ-PAaZNA7_4eEVuHqrAEB49cVUETdFsTnB4z6lknX55mC5HlV0ziCQ6apfyH4oBQYNeto8iKuabSLLbpB/s1600/happy_farm.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy farm is happy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Farming is a fulfilling activity for me, for sure. It brings me pleasure and a sense of Earthly joy. I get a great sense of purpose in raising quality food, instilling values of hard work in the children, developing patience and perseverance in myself, and appreciating the beauty and complexity and raw power of creation. But farming will never help me achieve bliss, or the type of purpose that drives my life.<br />
<br />
What drives THAT level of happiness, bliss, fulfillment and/or purpose is in my spiritual work. Things like raising godly children, deepening my relationship with God, strengthening my marriage, and witnessing to the parish and the world around us bring far more of a deeper sense of satisfaction and purpose than anything else I could do.<br />
<br />
In <a href="http://lift-up-your-hearts.blogspot.com/2009/08/catechism-of-catholic-church-on.html">our natural desire for happiness (according to the Catechism)</a>, we often overlook the most basic and foundational thing, and that is fulfilling not what we want to/love to/can/be paid to do, but rather <b><i>that which we were created to do</i></b>. God created us not for jobs, not for money, not for earthly success, but to love Him and love our neighbors.<br />
<br />
I was created to be husband and father - my TRUE vocation. If I do things to support THIS purpose, then happiness will follow in its own way. When I suppress or do things contrary to this purpose, then my life is found wanting. My farming is a way to help support this vocation, but farming is not my vocation. No career is a vocation, unless you're a priest. Farming can support a vocation, but cannot replace it. No career can do that.<br />
<br />
Farming lets me love God by using my abilities and gifts to work in and with creation.<br />
Farming lets me love others by serving them (tasty veggies and meat!) through my work.<br />
Farming lets me love God by developing virtues like perseverance, patience, fear of the Lord, and hope through the waiting and changing of the seasons and the crops.<br />
Farming lets me love others by being an example for them.<br />
Farming <i>helps</i> me achieve my purpose in life - to become more of image of God every day.<br />
<br />
But will i ever achieve bliss <i>through</i> my farming? No, I won't. But farming can help me get there.<br />
<br /></div>
Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-15848807978682167862014-09-02T10:14:00.000-05:002014-09-02T10:14:28.966-05:00Catching Up: RabbitsThe rabbits have been beyond disappointing thus far. Since <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/04/new-meat-rabbit-breeding-stock.html">acquiring the original buck and two does</a> five months ago, we have yet to produce a <i>single</i> litter.<br />
<br />
I've tried every trick in the book. I tried breeding at different times of day. I swapped the buck and doe cages so them could smell each other first (in fact, I did this every day for a week with no success). I took her to his cage, and him to her cage. I took them to a neutral, unused cage. I changed their feed. I restrained the does. I did everything but crack a bottle of wine and turn on some Barry White by the fireplace.<br />
<br />
No kits. Zero. Nada. Niet.<br />
<br />
I <i>really</i> wanted to be enjoying some rabbit dinners by now. So, yesterday, I bought a new buck. Meet <b>Cap'n Jack Sparrow</b>:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAs04sT6v8W5mlF1ktFHq0_O4fNhYbL5Mk7TT8yZO5CKPsedeTIZpWt1x4hqfKeEJ2P0NJWj4vQsVAYQOUOn8iwrzQQZUIryrn2_iPaJJBlFy2NqKgpz5_oDwkpwYR4yxMMsB97hOU/s1600/capn-jack-sparrow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAs04sT6v8W5mlF1ktFHq0_O4fNhYbL5Mk7TT8yZO5CKPsedeTIZpWt1x4hqfKeEJ2P0NJWj4vQsVAYQOUOn8iwrzQQZUIryrn2_iPaJJBlFy2NqKgpz5_oDwkpwYR4yxMMsB97hOU/s1600/capn-jack-sparrow.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cap'n Jack Sparrow is our new New Zealand white buck.<br />He's 2 years old, proven, and has only one eye.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I also bought two extra does in an apparent rabbit close-out special.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
But first, here's another shot of Cap'n Jack Sparrow.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiFeoHrJSbY3MPGTen_B7VKo5h1FvXLWQhIRdNDifa_lIJYShyphenhyphenPEpbfs-n5g1aeSNhxN2Tmsx6qLOKeJN_mDhbv0pCZFwty5gyRPgR_XMUjlTz5pPwKuQPjJwMCHLzN_rqhBKwGEg/s1600/capn-jack-sparrow-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiFeoHrJSbY3MPGTen_B7VKo5h1FvXLWQhIRdNDifa_lIJYShyphenhyphenPEpbfs-n5g1aeSNhxN2Tmsx6qLOKeJN_mDhbv0pCZFwty5gyRPgR_XMUjlTz5pPwKuQPjJwMCHLzN_rqhBKwGEg/s1600/capn-jack-sparrow-2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cap'n Jack Sparrow is a hot mess.<br />He lost his right eye when he escaped from his original owners for three days last year.<br />He needs a nail trim really bad.<br />But, he is on record producing 8-12 kits per litter over the last year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yeah, he's not a looker. But really, there's only 1 part on the buck that I <i>really</i> care about properly functioning. And <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/05/rabbit-update.html">apparently, it isn't functional on Coconut</a>. We'll give Cap'n Jack a week to settle in before breeding. The heat will be down next week (from the mid-90s to the 80s), and I am SO ready for these buns to produce.<br />
<br />
We also picked up two additional proven NZ white does. They were cheap, and I figured with the extra two cages, I might as well make up for lost time. The owners were selling their whole setup as they were advancing in age. The looked to be downsizing everything, perhaps were simply getting too old to handle it all. Their son helped catch the buns for them and load them for me.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbaJxaWFoaPeaV1nCgN69Sz6J39-INwBbK5m3bDLmP3VP_5HujCo6kM1dWoYPKuLm7idKBkG7nK5PleC4mJ0mop4wkJ_6k9mKjbTzlhCwUgvu5AcfYBYCn0-l-BiVen943U-q7Xn1/s1600/new_nz_white_does.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbaJxaWFoaPeaV1nCgN69Sz6J39-INwBbK5m3bDLmP3VP_5HujCo6kM1dWoYPKuLm7idKBkG7nK5PleC4mJ0mop4wkJ_6k9mKjbTzlhCwUgvu5AcfYBYCn0-l-BiVen943U-q7Xn1/s1600/new_nz_white_does.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two new girls, still in their <strike>small game traps</strike> carrying cages.<br />They are yet to be named.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9hz_m7fNaP_-s55V4rYWZd2F-pUYNbNhMEW1nek5n-p1UFlQabyAJLEVSo5VEZ_TrLi8WkclHdzB5006RG7nMPOr4r-PWNV8aoWtmylBi-NOR-VEpiGnyEeBWDgZgKMcQcG5WysV/s1600/new-nz-white-does-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9hz_m7fNaP_-s55V4rYWZd2F-pUYNbNhMEW1nek5n-p1UFlQabyAJLEVSo5VEZ_TrLi8WkclHdzB5006RG7nMPOr4r-PWNV8aoWtmylBi-NOR-VEpiGnyEeBWDgZgKMcQcG5WysV/s1600/new-nz-white-does-2.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new girls, housed in their cages and resting on their ceramic tiles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was kind of unexpected, but the price on them was the best I'd ever seen in this area. So, I jumped and got them. It forced my hand a bit to provide a roof I was unprepared to add. A few bricks and a strip of roofing underlayment did the trick in a pinch.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QadNpzuF1UgHoCJhevkuH1Fs66Y9UagWVi9i78w4h5TgLu2VgU6BkEO8C812giEWFZ8Ki2Pj_l3vT2G_e5FxxL4aEuLvH166ca_Z_34Tbirq7d7VSpl-RUT6ut-Ue3CAu3I9Mgny/s1600/updated-rabbitry.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QadNpzuF1UgHoCJhevkuH1Fs66Y9UagWVi9i78w4h5TgLu2VgU6BkEO8C812giEWFZ8Ki2Pj_l3vT2G_e5FxxL4aEuLvH166ca_Z_34Tbirq7d7VSpl-RUT6ut-Ue3CAu3I9Mgny/s1600/updated-rabbitry.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rabbitry as of yesterday. With the makeshift roof, it lacks a bit of the curb appeal<br />we'd like to see. But we'll be adding a larger roof over the whole area this fall,<br />so this setup is quite temporary.<br />The original Californian does are still in the bottom cages.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Coconut is off to the side in this^ picture, awaiting his fate in a separate cage. I haven't decided if I want to butcher him or try to sell him as-is. I feel leery of selling this issue off to someone else, though. But I'm not prepared to butcher quite yet. (I can be in a few days.) I thought I'd have an extra cage to keep him for the time being, but with the new does at a great deal, I'm having to make do right now.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, the new blood has ignited in me a new excitement in the rabbits. I will breeding them in a rotation beginning next week, starting with the newest (who have all, ahem, <i>known</i> each other already) and finishing with our Cali does. Maybe, this whole time, they just needed an experienced buck who wasn't a little crazy to boot.Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-91558367460935000372014-08-29T10:20:00.002-05:002014-08-29T10:20:16.210-05:00Last Milk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Well, until November, anywhoozles.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKa9tTPomu3URn2MAHhmcNQBQg6WtqI2OaPABIhATso9grLfPfDvEZrHdAPP_X2ve9JEw6cSe_xJAAPi4b72E_H6XjbkvgFBU0DNPKE_XTgpmF8uN025obtAesqkpoG_lqp9fX90a/s1600/jersey-milk-cow-oats-at-milking.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKa9tTPomu3URn2MAHhmcNQBQg6WtqI2OaPABIhATso9grLfPfDvEZrHdAPP_X2ve9JEw6cSe_xJAAPi4b72E_H6XjbkvgFBU0DNPKE_XTgpmF8uN025obtAesqkpoG_lqp9fX90a/s1600/jersey-milk-cow-oats-at-milking.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridget chows down her last bucket of oats before I milk her out for the last time <br />until after she calves.</td></tr>
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It was kinda sad, but I'm also ready for a break.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a name='more'></a><br />The saddest part is no fresh chocolate milk or coffee cream. :(</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I am ready for a break. It's been steady milking since February, with a brief few-day break in March when I let Brisket have it all while we were out of town. Her production plummeted then, so I went to three-a-days for a week to get it back up.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Since then, it's been twice a day, every day. I never did the kids to milk successfully this go-around, and Wife was exempt due to her yogurt, butter, and cheese making abilities. In preparation of the dry-off, I went to once a day in late July. So, mid-March up through nealry August, I milked twice a day. Every day. I knew this, and accepted it, back when I was musing about <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-10-pros-10-cons-and-8-extra.html">the pros and cons of the family milk cow</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But like all things in nature, it can't be "ON" 24/7/365. We all need a sabbath, of sorts. So, Bridget will now devote her energy into growing out her calf and building her condition before winter. I will get a much-needed rest for my forearms.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9l5jVSYg556yuLnKANEbuRVe0rACYRW9wQWfOqm5NQ6NnCLPbq4Fl7RLc4Y_2mXCCgvU0wLnKp3MvbFUx9rQfCwomXNbQuw_1IahR7Fq2XS6gLij3McUYLZIWu5FTUaBj8fxDp4tE/s1600/milking-supplies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9l5jVSYg556yuLnKANEbuRVe0rACYRW9wQWfOqm5NQ6NnCLPbq4Fl7RLc4Y_2mXCCgvU0wLnKp3MvbFUx9rQfCwomXNbQuw_1IahR7Fq2XS6gLij3McUYLZIWu5FTUaBj8fxDp4tE/s1600/milking-supplies.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The milking supplies will be put away for two months. From bottom, we have the milk jug, <br />a cloth to dry the udder, a bowl of soapy water with a washcloth for udder cleaning, <br />my morning coffee, a bottle of DIY fly spray (ineffective, FWIW), and a brush.<br />Bridget turned to smell it all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div>
Yup. The last milking for two months.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnxdUjKST3iGDXhfKkcCR-bdTXqDHj-6bkn5SqemnIsnMNdgvmDjrrU58z_NN40TRz2cLlv1hLmZBkIP4TPqyQgvNaeS7cFtJ-h-mMV8LlS6rv6BOi2aikiLcQgVfbbbKWvIwgD3k/s1600/jersey-milk-cow-stanchion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnxdUjKST3iGDXhfKkcCR-bdTXqDHj-6bkn5SqemnIsnMNdgvmDjrrU58z_NN40TRz2cLlv1hLmZBkIP4TPqyQgvNaeS7cFtJ-h-mMV8LlS6rv6BOi2aikiLcQgVfbbbKWvIwgD3k/s1600/jersey-milk-cow-stanchion.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridget in the stanchion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8x1wYxoCVSTbF1QWAOJ8gi5OoKphhlqomXwCleOt1GnGATwBFOb3qReUgXm_U2oY1-RMvItECNJ38oTh5RW65_j-FqwAkIG8Ja7AC6z_o6Msq0lWps1c7Xjvj_uShrG6en9uP5xQ/s1600/jersey-milk-cow-teat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8x1wYxoCVSTbF1QWAOJ8gi5OoKphhlqomXwCleOt1GnGATwBFOb3qReUgXm_U2oY1-RMvItECNJ38oTh5RW65_j-FqwAkIG8Ja7AC6z_o6Msq0lWps1c7Xjvj_uShrG6en9uP5xQ/s1600/jersey-milk-cow-teat.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Action shot!<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
This is what I got today:</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyF6_4LhUp0oHAODO1LzaQtjx-yhC160EihZsicQ1ePYUnulQfku17HRQOgQ6LqtsFQ3vXVblT1pVrLsdsKBcaO6NYg69dCsVYMex-ta2ED73Gisk7oMbEA60dLpZpNqhvOmrUfngt/s1600/bucket-of-fresh-raw-milk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyF6_4LhUp0oHAODO1LzaQtjx-yhC160EihZsicQ1ePYUnulQfku17HRQOgQ6LqtsFQ3vXVblT1pVrLsdsKBcaO6NYg69dCsVYMex-ta2ED73Gisk7oMbEA60dLpZpNqhvOmrUfngt/s1600/bucket-of-fresh-raw-milk.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a bit less than a gallon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, tomorrow morning, and for the next 60-ish days, I will simply tether Bridget out to graze first thing in the morning. She'll be off her oat treat, and be grass-only with water and minerals.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
based on when the farmer I got her from says, Bridget is due to calve on All Saints Day - the first day of November. Now, it could swing a few days to either side, of course, but based on a cow's cycle, could also be three weeks later.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But she IS pregnant, which has been confirmed both by a blood test I did in May and by my feeling the calf kick me during several milkings. That's a cool sensation.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I will miss the yogurt, the coffee cream, the chocolate milk, the fresh butter, the heavy cream and fruit, the farmer's cheese, and the other <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/03/homemade-raw-milk-dairy-products.html">yummy dairy stuff</a> Wife is so awesome at making. But that's OK. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, eh?<br /><div>
<br />Plus, with the extra half hour back in my day (45 minutes if you count clean-up), I can use the next few months to first catch up on sleep, and then catch up on odd and unfinished projects around the homestead. i am looking forward to that.<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am also looking forward to the calf - our next newest member of the farm family.</div>
</div>
</div>
Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-89228010516331022512014-08-29T09:48:00.002-05:002014-08-29T09:48:20.573-05:00Catching Up: SheepNot much to report on them. They stay in <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/06/moving-electric-netting.html">the electro-net</a>, eat grass and bushes and stuff, and baa at me every morning when I bring them water. We interact for about 4 minutes a day. They are, BY FAR, the easiest keepers on the homestead.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNu5zhCWo9e5JX6-Re3X62GyVaIOmxpKpP-M9fzThhlO_0Pu6OfJMe9_lSBq9qfKKhHQEd8ibaFeryvVjh7dOhexD78eeZDXVB_sqimAWlWfcPcqwmSfvSLe6qDmPKhJnGDozqQVg/s1600/katahdin-sheep-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNu5zhCWo9e5JX6-Re3X62GyVaIOmxpKpP-M9fzThhlO_0Pu6OfJMe9_lSBq9qfKKhHQEd8ibaFeryvVjh7dOhexD78eeZDXVB_sqimAWlWfcPcqwmSfvSLe6qDmPKhJnGDozqQVg/s1600/katahdin-sheep-3.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pot Pie, right, Meatloaf, middle, and Meatball, left saying "hi" this morning.<br />We baa back and forth each morning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The biggest challenge and time investment I have is when i switch the netting.<div>
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<div>
<a name='more'></a><br />But even then, I've got so good at it I can move three nets, the charger, and their makeshift shelter in about an hour and a half. Generally, the day before I move, I'll set up one net and corral them into it. The next day, I'll set up the three nets around the first, then take down the one net so they're in their new area. It works great. I've no escapes or issues with this system, and the back acres are getting trimmed down and already look a LOT healthier than this spring.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The biggest difficulty in the process is working the netting feet into the rocky soil we have back there. Sometimes, I have no choice on a post but to balance it, or support it with something. I had to tie a post to a tree once.<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0-vr9OoeN0efSSErcjIF4bWJBCe1EWqq8dHJK2_zjEzAj_8_-FVV_3s_Fz62QE8MwqolOdXSFyM7dipJc1yUI0KjDdUMGcSYZopA1IbUlnxJWZhm2wD3c0vObDLdTzNgp2OszQKf/s1600/katahdin-sheep-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0-vr9OoeN0efSSErcjIF4bWJBCe1EWqq8dHJK2_zjEzAj_8_-FVV_3s_Fz62QE8MwqolOdXSFyM7dipJc1yUI0KjDdUMGcSYZopA1IbUlnxJWZhm2wD3c0vObDLdTzNgp2OszQKf/s1600/katahdin-sheep-1.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My <strike>peeps</strike> sheeps, behind the electric net.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sometime late this fall, I'll process Meatball and we'll cook up some leg o' lamb, along with the other meatstuffs we'll get from him. I think <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/03/is-pot-pie-preggo.html">Pot Pie may be pregnant</a> again, so there could be a lamb joining them in <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/11/my-diy-sheep-dry-lot.html">the back pen this winter</a>. Meatloaf has been very protective of her the last month or so, so I wonder if she's knocked up and he knows it. We'll see. I sure do hope so, because with running the ram and ewe together like I do I REALLY want that 3 lambings in 2 years production rate.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So that's really it for them.</div>
Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-61882967672263719222014-08-28T11:40:00.001-05:002014-08-28T11:40:08.408-05:00Catching Up: PigsThe pigs have been quietly rooting their pen, working in manure, and making bacon.<br />
<br />
Well, quietly, that is, unless they're hungry. Then they oink til Kingdom (or food) comes.<br />
<br />
They have a happy little life, basking in shade, wallowing in their pits, visiting the chickens next door, getting excited over buckets of food, and digging and tilling up their land for me. :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDEmGw8TRhLU46ojpjxgVx-GUaTneWoetgtuk_zacDn3SDSu05HPHNpeAbt3PeHVsoE23vhv8BBc_DThyphenhyphenEZFqiyUhG_HBNHHFEAWkqYuDV4Y_LWcwZYEUqt_w4edPZTbozwIMpzL1/s1600/pigs-getting-bath.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDEmGw8TRhLU46ojpjxgVx-GUaTneWoetgtuk_zacDn3SDSu05HPHNpeAbt3PeHVsoE23vhv8BBc_DThyphenhyphenEZFqiyUhG_HBNHHFEAWkqYuDV4Y_LWcwZYEUqt_w4edPZTbozwIMpzL1/s1600/pigs-getting-bath.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I turned loose the water for them on one particularly hot day.<br />They wallowed for hours. It was funny.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There's really not much to report on them, so here's some pictures.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Some of these are from today, but most are from the past 4 weeks or so. Enjoy!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawVVsUAvCvdTG8WaDCj1t4IbYcFRm2ejzU9GdyauM9dGw94QqTXCWFiIGaxEaZktdMZVm_QzonYXoW-atVAToM9_OkmZPJm9c2gTUxqCDGTWCv6eEveNExQ3QoR7IAuyuHz2IlLX9/s1600/hog-sayin-hello.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawVVsUAvCvdTG8WaDCj1t4IbYcFRm2ejzU9GdyauM9dGw94QqTXCWFiIGaxEaZktdMZVm_QzonYXoW-atVAToM9_OkmZPJm9c2gTUxqCDGTWCv6eEveNExQ3QoR7IAuyuHz2IlLX9/s1600/hog-sayin-hello.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Look, it's Food Man!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGGXGyb17r-d0nx3n28_pSTh5fJWEIa7UoNqBY8HOnIV0hQK7Kr35hB2eR4tYewtwCMNo1mgluWG2CW1MZr4v6zzb9P7nhN665ZUp_R__It3gV64b0JRq4XGWvdvw9_h0w9hQwgko/s1600/pig-close-up.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGGXGyb17r-d0nx3n28_pSTh5fJWEIa7UoNqBY8HOnIV0hQK7Kr35hB2eR4tYewtwCMNo1mgluWG2CW1MZr4v6zzb9P7nhN665ZUp_R__It3gV64b0JRq4XGWvdvw9_h0w9hQwgko/s1600/pig-close-up.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooling down and curiously checking out my camera.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0J-Dmc9E2IoNeCcAc_cVPkiNzXy7lZ6ptHQ_LG-kK-C5cVLFHYqEm0FkmorzYMtAX0M8gUlP-AhwrHaYxUu_tcFNl5QvPtlEkgNoqAoAzKJ2W0Ev3EdU8pGO7wWc6uc-N_M-MiSSD/s1600/pig-digging-for-roots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0J-Dmc9E2IoNeCcAc_cVPkiNzXy7lZ6ptHQ_LG-kK-C5cVLFHYqEm0FkmorzYMtAX0M8gUlP-AhwrHaYxUu_tcFNl5QvPtlEkgNoqAoAzKJ2W0Ev3EdU8pGO7wWc6uc-N_M-MiSSD/s1600/pig-digging-for-roots.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Found something tasty here!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13Tbm9ql2_9f5SJXrqW6fFTnWw1o8V6wz0b0teb0T6H-dNNl7AQg70uFr563aECfSRU-4Hei7I6-woe2jJ2Axk_CD1tPB3qge1dyQ3q6L0ydazWtmhvvjKyVkQH4Nly4R66kCYmsx/s1600/pig-eating-weed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13Tbm9ql2_9f5SJXrqW6fFTnWw1o8V6wz0b0teb0T6H-dNNl7AQg70uFr563aECfSRU-4Hei7I6-woe2jJ2Axk_CD1tPB3qge1dyQ3q6L0ydazWtmhvvjKyVkQH4Nly4R66kCYmsx/s1600/pig-eating-weed.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nom nom weed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguF0BtvzSF4ls4M8jMvPBBGWe_LpR4o5fRFUUYo1hhqDIfd0mS27zzd4dpHnF8b-PU-kHM_lSSU7mzbaKk-SLRGPck5wNeSI2m7CT67NV9JLb-05h_Yfxku9Dln3rXLbFqEJmNLeHI/s1600/pig-in-rich-soil.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguF0BtvzSF4ls4M8jMvPBBGWe_LpR4o5fRFUUYo1hhqDIfd0mS27zzd4dpHnF8b-PU-kHM_lSSU7mzbaKk-SLRGPck5wNeSI2m7CT67NV9JLb-05h_Yfxku9Dln3rXLbFqEJmNLeHI/s1600/pig-in-rich-soil.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Dude, where's my roots?"<br />They tilled this section up very well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1zRIs4aMq526sCrbrTGTDBgP9Q9CPs0ELkxK2__ejrY6UyNZKM4C8YwpgJhuMK0kJ9svCszPn2zRwqaUSfVnFbhIGxwP-4dHdusQN1Pj3Ct3WBEyFCdh1LvLLw6romvBgRuyukI1/s1600/piggie-in-wallow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1zRIs4aMq526sCrbrTGTDBgP9Q9CPs0ELkxK2__ejrY6UyNZKM4C8YwpgJhuMK0kJ9svCszPn2zRwqaUSfVnFbhIGxwP-4dHdusQN1Pj3Ct3WBEyFCdh1LvLLw6romvBgRuyukI1/s1600/piggie-in-wallow.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the fresh water and getting that wallow going.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7FRjPKV1-Oe0QbBc58KokSewwVQd1URgg_cXXQLUVxylMm9M66BqhOPdahBYfEieV6lqCDxB8sQjkEttFjPMkyXnj41y-b9-pZ0bCJfjC_FxQd70V9fr_thuEAbevrBZp34V-O6X/s1600/pigs-rooting.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7FRjPKV1-Oe0QbBc58KokSewwVQd1URgg_cXXQLUVxylMm9M66BqhOPdahBYfEieV6lqCDxB8sQjkEttFjPMkyXnj41y-b9-pZ0bCJfjC_FxQd70V9fr_thuEAbevrBZp34V-O6X/s1600/pigs-rooting.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking around for the last few roots before moving on to new ground.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-74882787249234883522014-08-28T10:34:00.000-05:002014-08-28T10:59:45.608-05:00Chicken Problems (and Potential Solutions)Chicken problems. We've had 'em all. Let's start with the older chickens and work down, shall we?<br />
<br />
<b>Problems #1 and #2: Food Ran Out and New Pecking Order...At the Same Time</b><br />
<br />
About a month ago, I had a small 4-day interruption in layer pellet availability at the same time I <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/07/chicken-collection.html" target="_blank">introduced the 8 new Araucanas to the flock</a>. The 23 laying-age chickens had been laying between 14 and 18 eggs pretty regularly for the previous month, but then sharply went down to around 8-10. The food interruption and the new pecking order disruption were blamed for the egg drop.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZksabZVxSWURyiCwZFzi-2iYREtGCfWwsigIwWEZuKV0_lO9KSMybfgGuGDFIHS99OBbCuIbdWaFh9lCmRaXx3WC2azmbEtvj8uBIXcS2fDRYNlGytMqVC2DIWZmf3D_Jsii5j2EF/s1600/chickens_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZksabZVxSWURyiCwZFzi-2iYREtGCfWwsigIwWEZuKV0_lO9KSMybfgGuGDFIHS99OBbCuIbdWaFh9lCmRaXx3WC2azmbEtvj8uBIXcS2fDRYNlGytMqVC2DIWZmf3D_Jsii5j2EF/s1600/chickens_1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flock flocked for fresh feed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Turns out, those factors were not<i> entirely</i> to blame.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>Problem #3: Egg Eaters</b></div>
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First of all, the interruption in food and pecking order had the side effect of creating at least one egg eater. I know, because I found a mess in a nest box, and yolk on her comb the next day. By then, our daily production had dropped to between 3 and 5 eggs a day. It was a slow, steady drop over about 4 weeks.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYl12SEaVg8kfUnt1s8x7gsywpqDe1ieOKpBpzzacW9wYXXeRiBnMsW1kMotkH_LcPwr2RFdievZraB65ElnuaMwF0sl2K4G3OqR7xmheLB1aeojvp4WDI1RNmq4ni_zWy1Oagplf/s1600/egg-eater-yolk-on-comb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYl12SEaVg8kfUnt1s8x7gsywpqDe1ieOKpBpzzacW9wYXXeRiBnMsW1kMotkH_LcPwr2RFdievZraB65ElnuaMwF0sl2K4G3OqR7xmheLB1aeojvp4WDI1RNmq4ni_zWy1Oagplf/s1600/egg-eater-yolk-on-comb.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annie the Ancona with a yolked-up comb.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, I ended up jailed 5 total chickens after a stake-out in which I saw some suspicious behavior by her ^, a Leghorn, a Buff, and two pullet Araucanas. I fed them electrolyte-enriched water and straight-up layer pellets, with some extra milk, during the entire time. I also gave them a trough of nothing but peas and flax to boost their protein ration. In case they were simply battling a deficiency, those several days of free-choice "complete nutrition" and added protein, vitamins, and milk <i>should</i> have gotten them back up to full strength. being then re-integrated into the new feeding system (see the next problem) <i>should</i> resolve this for good.<br />
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One interesting thing (albeit likely unrelated) was that Annie and the Leggy both had floppy combs. Hmm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-H4suSoPgINc9LkIDhVKP5_3kzdrb1vhEJk9koHKmlvlcV-4K1K__4whCw5_vioX7ulTjI3dCMc7S_KTrfxnE3bOvvocuxKlXEy2KrtShAOZ-uj54-MWOgnMCAJEYIRRO2vQtabS/s1600/chicken-jail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-H4suSoPgINc9LkIDhVKP5_3kzdrb1vhEJk9koHKmlvlcV-4K1K__4whCw5_vioX7ulTjI3dCMc7S_KTrfxnE3bOvvocuxKlXEy2KrtShAOZ-uj54-MWOgnMCAJEYIRRO2vQtabS/s1600/chicken-jail.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The usual suspects, behind bars in <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/11/my-diy-sheep-dry-lot.html" target="_blank">the winter pen</a> (which I now need to formally rename).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With the egg eaters behind bars, my eggs were SURE to be safe now!<br />
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Well, kinda.</div>
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There were no more eating incidents, but the production was still wretched. The day of and the day after I hoosegow'd them varmints, we got 6 eggs. Total. In two days.</div>
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<i>(<u>Sidenote:</u> if the egg eating re-occurs, I have no hesitations in whipping out the kill cone. It'll be like <a 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" target="_blank">Christmas at the Cratchets</a>, but tasty nonetheless.)</i></div>
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<div>
<b>Problem #4: Feed changes</b></div>
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<div>
Meanwhile, Wife and I had been discussing ways to rid ourselves of GMO feed forever. We've been <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/02/diy-fermented-chicken-feed.html" target="_blank">fermenting our chicken feed grains</a> for a while now, but I wanted to make sure it would work to drop the pellets for good. I did a statistical analysis of the crude protein and the ratios, and concluded we were at about 14.5% protein (and that factors in the 3% boost provided by the multi-day ferment). In order to swing it, we'd have to add a higher protein component.</div>
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<div>
Enter field peas (25.5%) and flax seed (22%).</div>
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<div>
The ratio ends up being 3 parts fermented grains and 1 part flax/pea combo. The downside to this system is that the peas are very hard. I've been soaking them, but in the near future I'll be adding them into the fermentation process to soften them up and further boost the protein like the other grains. Look for a formal post on that once I figure it all out. But for now, I'm soaking the peas, adding the flax raw, and scooping the grains in with it all.</div>
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<div>
Yes, it's a lot more work than simply pouring pellets. However, at local prices (and I'm paying more for the peas than I will once the other feed place gets them in cheaper), I'm only paying $5 more per 50 lbs. of feed than the "all natural" pellets. My #1 and #2 ingredients are no longer "processed grain by-product" and "soybean meal," so there's a huge win right off the top. And, it's about $15 <i>less</i> than the local organic feed (which STILL has soy in it as a top ingredient!).</div>
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<div>
The other change I've made is that we're now feeding ALL of their feed at once in the morning. Before, we'd been doing a feeding of fermented grains in the morning and evening. We'd have to spread the feed out along the fence line to make sure everyone in the pecking order got theirs, but even then, the older chickens got greedy and the youngins at the bottom of the order got zilch. Annie and the black Araucanas are at the bottom. Coincidence?</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FbhqwfCMk4kBxmyebAQN8nbySMtMajP4QcPe5zVx0fuNRpjVbiSgSMVjEsLknM7VQHEQEE-rEp4Pi3hQzyyt6nGbvzzJUfgt34edykpJB2bC_j2cN_oo6-UTVwzOR5o9uGwrDPNp/s1600/chicken-daily-feed-one-time.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FbhqwfCMk4kBxmyebAQN8nbySMtMajP4QcPe5zVx0fuNRpjVbiSgSMVjEsLknM7VQHEQEE-rEp4Pi3hQzyyt6nGbvzzJUfgt34edykpJB2bC_j2cN_oo6-UTVwzOR5o9uGwrDPNp/s1600/chicken-daily-feed-one-time.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The all-at-once feeding method allows for about 10 chickens to crowd and scarf.<br />
Within minutes, they move on, and the next batch comes along.<br />
The pecking order maintains its integrity, and nobody misses out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<div>
Now, we're putting all the feed in a big plastic tub first thing in the morning. I've noticed that the big chickens swarm and get their fill first, then as they wander away, the pecking order progresses nicely. They eat about half of their feed first thing in the morning, and then peck at it periodically throughout the day. I've been keeping a feeder of pellets handy to round out any nutritional deficiencies for now, but when it runs out, I'll likely load the feeder with peas and flax. They've been very slowly whittling it down (in the 10 pounds/week range at a 16% ration), but I expect with a 23%-ish supplement, they'll eat it a lot less quickly.<br />
<div>
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<div>
We've being doing the food-at-once system for about 5 days, and so far the results are pleasing. The chickens are not swarming the fence at the sight of me, and there's constantly food left in the trough. There was enough left over one morning that I tossed a bunch to the pigs. It's been a great system so far.</div>
<div>
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<div>
Yet, egg production is not back up.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Problem #5: HEAT WAVE</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
I didn't connect the dots until two days ago. The decline in production correlates exactly with the rise in ambient heat index in our area. As it topped 90 every day, we went from 15 a day to 10 a day. As it crossed 95, we were down to 6. With temps above 90 and the heat index topping 100, the rate fell to 3 a day. This seems to be our bottom-out level. While all of the above problems were happening, the brutal Southern heat slowly and quietly engulfed us.</div>
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<div>
To attempt to combat the heat, I started filling up our wading pool with cool water and dropping big blocks of ice in the waterer. I've also been feeding electrolytes. They have shade provided by the coop, and they're in an open, breezy area. There's just not much else I can do. <a href="http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/livestock-forums/poultry/523301-help-me-chill-my-chooks.html" target="_blank">The internet advised me</a> to just endure it and be glad they're not dropping dead. Woo hoo! No dead chickens.</div>
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<div>
Well.....</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Problem #6 Coccidiosis in the Chick-u-Bator</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We stayed out for a late night Saturday after attending Mass and going to visit friends, which had a forecast of 30% chance of rain. We got a torrential thunderstorm. <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/05/chick-u-bator.html" target="_blank">The chick-u-bator</a> got <b><i>soaked</i></b>.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HqNo2ke09Zp5bVKB7aggXyjc27GWUwGsdGwm40Ya6b3kgtQ1cv5dTXt-6qR5ZRogd9v8rO3F5IHscdXY7uh1Ym8TQ29h7RMBP3wuQ1xx038q7Q2Qt5KQjg2raFM9KH3KfwXIeG9r/s1600/chicks-in-brooder-with-shade-tarp.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HqNo2ke09Zp5bVKB7aggXyjc27GWUwGsdGwm40Ya6b3kgtQ1cv5dTXt-6qR5ZRogd9v8rO3F5IHscdXY7uh1Ym8TQ29h7RMBP3wuQ1xx038q7Q2Qt5KQjg2raFM9KH3KfwXIeG9r/s1600/chicks-in-brooder-with-shade-tarp.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chicks in the brooder.<br />
Notice the green shade tarp on top.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had to set the chick-u-bator outside because the electric in the shed inexplicably went out the week before our <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/07/baby-chicks-round-3.html" target="_blank">newest baby chicks</a> arrived. The only way for the extension cord to reach power for the brooding lamp was to set it outside of the house and use the outlet on the deck. I keep it totally covered with a tarp at night and during rainstorms, and leave the tarp half-on for shade during the day. It's been working just fine.</div>
<div>
<br />
But on that particular evening, I had left the tarp open. We had been threatened by a 30% chance of rain for days, and had remained bone dry. It never even crossed my mind to preventatively cover them up. Well, the rain sure came, and it was still raining when I came home. I covered the whole thing and left it, since it was dark and still raining.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The next morning, I opened them up early to find an already-dead chick, several sick chicks, bloody poops, and a stinking, sloppy mess. It was awful.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We went into full-on intervention mode, removing ALL chicks from the chick-u-bator. We were planning to send the meat chicks to the dry lot anyway, so they just joined the jailed suspects at that time. They've been there ever since, and they're all alive.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyv6YWeSp1JrV1po_ep38pZpxxnwFBlMg-NUB0oDnGXaY9xp2T3b6_HI-LcMHteLOwsmoAU5mtsDNOJVGSEWO_88MwQg6xyXkiHdT8ivn3Ae_XI5n2MVWYSQka5mXWO6skcd9trdS/s1600/meat-birds-water.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyv6YWeSp1JrV1po_ep38pZpxxnwFBlMg-NUB0oDnGXaY9xp2T3b6_HI-LcMHteLOwsmoAU5mtsDNOJVGSEWO_88MwQg6xyXkiHdT8ivn3Ae_XI5n2MVWYSQka5mXWO6skcd9trdS/s1600/meat-birds-water.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The meat chickens out back this morning.<br />
The did this same thing to the food when I set it out for them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I took the wading pool and lined it with fresh hay and DE, with a chicken wire roof. I set this on the porch. I took the sickest 5 egg layers and quarantined them separately in the greenhouse for a day. 3 made it. I fed ALL the chicks a heavy dose of fermented grain with lots of electrolytes and antibiotics in their water. I kept them warm and dry.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I put the egg layers in a makeshift emergency tractor while the chick-u-bator sun-bleached and absorbed a TON of DE. They were there for three days, and I just put them back in this morning.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxujQXWWJRgvat8fGP4ZUqYwfd1EDMrLB6QR42LXt5gFYaly7SyLjW4JIk_nS85pje_ZAjoiuNHTiqb7K-U6nrWnh0moCBjDxMxuB9lgBS_sPdXUvA1zwM3aTm_kZAhYHa8TnUYzD3/s1600/emergency-chicken-tractor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxujQXWWJRgvat8fGP4ZUqYwfd1EDMrLB6QR42LXt5gFYaly7SyLjW4JIk_nS85pje_ZAjoiuNHTiqb7K-U6nrWnh0moCBjDxMxuB9lgBS_sPdXUvA1zwM3aTm_kZAhYHa8TnUYzD3/s1600/emergency-chicken-tractor.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This emergency "tractor" very well may have saved several chickens.<br />
I did it from an old raised garden bed frame, the chicken wire used to top off the kiddie pool,<br />
the shade tarp (held down with bricks), and some wood.<br />
I used metal trays for food and water.<br />
Lots of work, but worth it to save our chickens.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We ended up only losing those three - the one DOA, and the two sickest of the 5. The rest are recovered and doing fine now. I added fresh hay and got the egg layer chicks back in the chick-u-bator today. Yay!!<br />
<br />
<b>Solutions?</b><br />
<br />
Well, I covered them individually, but I really, really hope that the jail & pellet intervention, the new food plan, the ice and pool, the medical interventions, and a little extra patience will cure all of these issues for good.<br />
<br />
If not, there's always room for another chicken dinner. At least for some of them....<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-45560057893803919402014-08-14T10:53:00.002-05:002014-08-14T10:53:54.612-05:00Catching Up: CowsPart 2 in my catching up series is on the cows.<br />
<br />
First, in case you missed it, Bridget is pregnant and due the first of November. Her belly swells daily, and I felt the calf move last week. It was a small rolling motion, and very awesome.<br />
<br />
I have cut back to once-a-day milking since August. I will stop altogether and dry her off by Labor Day weekend. Hard to believe that my milking will come to an end. It's been a daily thing <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/02/holy-cow-i-got-cow.html" target="_blank">since February</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRRD5YWN_3RztonP4VElfviArGQFDByiZXuO8jqevFSQRdw4ZGiT_RGNd2AGMAzPIagkYpQ7dJxLPEqYZujBTmYVaK3_BUX5UMJP90a7Lj7qy4wxmOuNTdgB7JjjM7c4vkUtgBQ3n/s1600/cow-selfie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRRD5YWN_3RztonP4VElfviArGQFDByiZXuO8jqevFSQRdw4ZGiT_RGNd2AGMAzPIagkYpQ7dJxLPEqYZujBTmYVaK3_BUX5UMJP90a7Lj7qy4wxmOuNTdgB7JjjM7c4vkUtgBQ3n/s1600/cow-selfie.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cow selfie. Because, why not? Even with the oats all over her nose.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I will miss milking toward mid-October, I'm sure, but I'm ready for a break.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a name='more'></a><br />It's not that I don't like to milk. I do. It's peaceful and meditative. But breaks/vacations/time off is healthy.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Plus, last weekend, she developed mastitis. That's been stressful. It just showed up one day, and as of this morning, i believe it's totally gone. I've milked out that quarter only every night since it happened, and I'll do it once more tonight to be sure. She's down from ~2 gallons a day to closer to 1.5. Without the mastitic quarter, it's been much less. I've just milked it to the ground.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, September and October will be milk-less, and November will bring a new calf and a freshening. We'll be ready for it by then, as we're ready for a dry-off now.<br /><br />
Meanwhile, Brisket continues to grow.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjza1rncBTnqgkWT6JBnY_AqUl9wEgLlC3QA9xKxLl6AEjZ3gpymgLY0NX4rsdN_KNEVNgLyseMnVQun6qcdqARAQSXX68rPaj3jGbbskoRhRutkhuH-2GSU49F7spikxojg2k2tPH8/s1600/IMG_3672.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjza1rncBTnqgkWT6JBnY_AqUl9wEgLlC3QA9xKxLl6AEjZ3gpymgLY0NX4rsdN_KNEVNgLyseMnVQun6qcdqARAQSXX68rPaj3jGbbskoRhRutkhuH-2GSU49F7spikxojg2k2tPH8/s1600/IMG_3672.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nom, nom, nom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8QjXVhS0Au7C2I6Om8PoM0iRBJ4ClV9gtuRCC5WMlAfAI6FOwBWSllgA2ezm6DqiFMCM7GLnWUOUaQjcW9fwg9YqIDGOVNTXlQJ7ZN7zcwR_LA_zKuF_EQDk8Ll1y3sb0wG1AcDn/s1600/IMG_3675.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8QjXVhS0Au7C2I6Om8PoM0iRBJ4ClV9gtuRCC5WMlAfAI6FOwBWSllgA2ezm6DqiFMCM7GLnWUOUaQjcW9fwg9YqIDGOVNTXlQJ7ZN7zcwR_LA_zKuF_EQDk8Ll1y3sb0wG1AcDn/s1600/IMG_3675.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at those horns.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When the two graze near to each other, Wife has a hard time telling them apart. He's getting that big.<br />
<br />
We take him in for processing toward the end of November (near when the grass stops growing). I have no idea what to expect in terms of output, as I have no idea how much he weighs right now. But, we'll be able to get a lot of really good grass-fed beef for the freezer, and some <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/08/catching-up-chickens.html" target="_blank">BKH for the chooks</a>.<br />
<br />
It's been a wild 6 months of cow ownership. I'm very glad we took this plunge, and couldn't be happier with how things have turned out. And no - I haven't mowed the grass all year - but I shovel it daily.</div>
Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-66147292969917007792014-08-14T10:33:00.004-05:002014-08-14T10:58:44.908-05:00Catching Up: ChickensMy blogging has really taken a downturn these last few weeks. There's been a lot going on that I should report out on, and I figured the best way to do that was through some individual catching-up posts.<br />
<br />
And where better to start than with our chickens. Oh, the chickens. They have been driving Wife and I CRAZY this past month.<br />
<br />
After the raccoon attack, I took the <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/07/chicken-collection.html" target="_blank">8 new Araucanas and introduced them to the existing flock</a>. Every went very much according to plan, very smoothly, etc. Some of the Leghorns even jumped into the chick introduction pen with them. It was pretty funny. I topped out at an 18-egg day about a month ago.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCV3B9Q-djqL2rDytLfAPbQtitFqfTm-3ncRtupLX99lwddrGGCUIIL9qdli2IaELr-fCnfy3vYfmApMkN2bPfaN-oxgnL9aoTswEPZPx9TNfwGr6YUhcbGqZMXXNkFQ_hPBFiDqi/s1600/multi-colored-eggs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCV3B9Q-djqL2rDytLfAPbQtitFqfTm-3ncRtupLX99lwddrGGCUIIL9qdli2IaELr-fCnfy3vYfmApMkN2bPfaN-oxgnL9aoTswEPZPx9TNfwGr6YUhcbGqZMXXNkFQ_hPBFiDqi/s1600/multi-colored-eggs.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cool day's dozen seems a distant memory, what with the molting, pecking ordering, <br />
and feed-running-outing going on.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then, the egg production took a SHARP turn down. We went from 13-16 eggs a day to fewer than 8. I believe the reason was a perfect storm of them running out of pellets while I had no car to get more for 5 days, a poorly-timed molt from our Australorps, and a disruption of the pecking order on the lower end due to the new Araucanas. At least that's the prevailing theory.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I was able to dismiss theories of disease, parasites, egg-eating, etc. by very careful observation and investigation. Everything seemed totally normal with them - except the lowered egg counts.<br />
<br />
In response, I tried feeding them extra salt, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, garlic powder, basil, fennel, oregano, flax seed, diatomaceous earth, chili powder, and every combination of the above I could think of, every day, for 2 weeks. There was no noticeable difference in production, but I did have very nice-smelling bowls of grains. :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXAoO9mdAdYGWeh2y8eoNB5rHL2pqxEXLJDRGLWoTLAZwbgt3PPRoj2b7a9SceGQ2Y77J6E1y5MHwbx01fm-4gBdwy_WWmTfwLak26utqhtQL6OwfvXLp14mwr8dF9_VJapIX_ROo/s1600/feeding-time-chickens-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXAoO9mdAdYGWeh2y8eoNB5rHL2pqxEXLJDRGLWoTLAZwbgt3PPRoj2b7a9SceGQ2Y77J6E1y5MHwbx01fm-4gBdwy_WWmTfwLak26utqhtQL6OwfvXLp14mwr8dF9_VJapIX_ROo/s1600/feeding-time-chickens-1.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding time gets a bit frenzied.<br />
This was over whole wheat and sunflower seeds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiYWdou7LY5SNx8NGJNzJpXV7yWIs3EcY4zoqEToHYEFCgjg6sbXDcQNed58-VoJbApSjNH4bU8AgRh6YKMJjUXTtjp4dupwIG_2P7enQyyXDWmeZ8FnS8HTbKw8-IX03G3eR70ha/s1600/feeding-time-chickens-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiYWdou7LY5SNx8NGJNzJpXV7yWIs3EcY4zoqEToHYEFCgjg6sbXDcQNed58-VoJbApSjNH4bU8AgRh6YKMJjUXTtjp4dupwIG_2P7enQyyXDWmeZ8FnS8HTbKw8-IX03G3eR70ha/s1600/feeding-time-chickens-2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">However, they get distracted and I can get some good close-ups.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l2MGXOb_2FX4762rCLTbYRfgS2RqirweocfFxMWTR8vYO5GNs5CpyAAz6auy6WUbkRsUJkrNaXdkcXqwyUkqkT0niK48OUsv8uPN0RxTSFgNm3Wa6-vcsbrGo-HKJ4rfGedKUTt2/s1600/feeding-time-chickens-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l2MGXOb_2FX4762rCLTbYRfgS2RqirweocfFxMWTR8vYO5GNs5CpyAAz6auy6WUbkRsUJkrNaXdkcXqwyUkqkT0niK48OUsv8uPN0RxTSFgNm3Wa6-vcsbrGo-HKJ4rfGedKUTt2/s1600/feeding-time-chickens-3.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the variety in our flock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's been steadily climbing back up (13 earlier this week, 9 yesterday). But still, for a flock of 22 laying-age hens, 10 eggs a day in mid-summer is absurd. We used the lack of layer pellets as an opportunity to try switching to organic (we'd been using the "all-natural" stuff) to try to get off corn and soy. Whelp, wouldn't you know it, but con and soy were still some of the top ingredients. Plus, they ate the $37 bag in two weeks. This was in addition to the fermented grains we've been feeding them. That's economically unsustainable for us.<br />
<br />
Given the expense, and in our desire to continually improve the health and well-being of our family and our animal friends, we abandoned pellets completely. Now, we're feeding our 31 chickens (9 hens, 1 rooster, 12 laying pullets, 8 non-laying pullets):<br />
<br />
4+ pounds of <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/02/diy-fermented-chicken-feed.html" target="_blank">fermented feed</a><br />
1/5 pound beef BKH (ground beef, kidney, heart mixture)<br />
free-choice wheat and sunflower<br />
512 square feet of <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-system.html" target="_blank">new pasture each week</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioC3opOji52pyvRcU2yBkObBnTya8SaPe72ApzNa2jT7BobHbdwGRVfZL7Rf4GgseE7nSrO7p-dqTwPowI-zMMipTTBhFTpM1e_HSwgmQtG65C59nZzpX-XKWARRUdt27BuZW5Itd/s1600/chicken-flock-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioC3opOji52pyvRcU2yBkObBnTya8SaPe72ApzNa2jT7BobHbdwGRVfZL7Rf4GgseE7nSrO7p-dqTwPowI-zMMipTTBhFTpM1e_HSwgmQtG65C59nZzpX-XKWARRUdt27BuZW5Itd/s1600/chicken-flock-1.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Oh look, it's Food-Man!" said the chickens to me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCSA1P6zrv4wZxfCz7rC_nBzQtyqHRFlF216lCCCdD-R26LCXUIQMxzklkVnL34cqf1OnZSXXwjqtCjm27BYsoGEdwPZBKv_PghDFkXaFxN8yAjbDHXvZTV0sU4A-1EAMGY28CaK6/s1600/pecking-bugs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCSA1P6zrv4wZxfCz7rC_nBzQtyqHRFlF216lCCCdD-R26LCXUIQMxzklkVnL34cqf1OnZSXXwjqtCjm27BYsoGEdwPZBKv_PghDFkXaFxN8yAjbDHXvZTV0sU4A-1EAMGY28CaK6/s1600/pecking-bugs.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the main flock distracted by the feeder, these smartuns got some <br />
of the high-protein black oil sunflower seeds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's funny, in that after switching them OFF the organic pellets, the egg count finally crossed a dozen in one day. I think the extra protein found in the BKH mixture is really helping them out. I wish there was a cheaper high-protein source, but for beef products at $1.75/lb., it ain't bad. The 30% protein really lifts the overall oomph of the feeding regimen. I'm also experimenting with attracting insects via a cardboard panel in the run. I'd like to invest in some plywood to turn over to attract crickets, roaches, and pill bugs for extra protein, but the cardboard needs to show promise first.<br />
<br />
So while I sort out and finalize the soy-free, corn-free feeding regimen, the pecking order becomes stable, and the molting chickens de-molt (is that even a thing?), our egg count remains stable, but lower than desired. The chickens look great. They're also doing a great job of clearing out the future garden area in preparation of the pigs. I believe I mentioned earlier that they've been reversed - chickens are now first, and pigs follow. This has resulted in fluffier, less heavily-packed soil.<br />
<br />
Oh yeah, i almost forgot - the <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/07/baby-chicks-round-3.html" target="_blank">48 baby chicks</a> are also doing great. I'll post on them separately. :)Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-91892519001514380842014-07-25T15:39:00.003-05:002014-07-25T15:39:49.560-05:00The Internet is a Fractal: A Hare Tale<a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/05/rabbit-update.html" target="_blank">My three rabbits</a> are simply not breeding like ... well ... rabbits.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixA2mez8G7drO9cvLwJ4Q8CtnQ0z3n5vd8BDIODv0V1ZClwrgmZhYDzBeVYh78yOYx_fpsb1Z7oMkDMdTFwp3jr9TfC-fi_tfVEX5feBOBe1d7t5EWrUmHJ8xpvbpyfJzs1zrIqsL_/s1600/meat_rabbits_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixA2mez8G7drO9cvLwJ4Q8CtnQ0z3n5vd8BDIODv0V1ZClwrgmZhYDzBeVYh78yOYx_fpsb1Z7oMkDMdTFwp3jr9TfC-fi_tfVEX5feBOBe1d7t5EWrUmHJ8xpvbpyfJzs1zrIqsL_/s1600/meat_rabbits_1.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coconut, on the right, just doesn't get it.<br />It's a double entendre. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This weekend, I'm going to be restraining my does so my buck can have an easier time. I've bred them, all together, on at least 7 different occasions, and have no litters to show for it. I think the buck was too young, and I need to help him figure it out.<br />
<br />
This has of course led me into a rabbit hole: the internet.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.freewebs.com/creekside_rabbitry/breedingyourrabbits.htm" target="_blank">2006 "freewebs" posting for Creekside Rabbitry</a> had some great, general info on rabbit breeding. Among the advice,<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<strong style="background-color: #f3e8aa; color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: hotpink;">If you have a doe that will just not let the buck near her you can use a technique called forced mating. This is wear you hold the doe down for the buck. If you are sure a mating has taken place, which is usually after the buck mounts the doe and falls off of her, you can return the doe to her own hutch.</span></strong>"</blockquote>
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Great! But I knew that already. I quickly located a <a href="http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/livestock-forums/rabbits/402232-forcing-them-breed.html" target="_blank">2011 homesteading forum thread on rabbit breeding</a> yielded much more detailed results:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #f5f7f9; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">keep your bucks gentled and tame by petting and scratching them occasionally.(it doesn't take much time and will pay you big dividends) this will help you when you need to restrain a doe for breeding. the buck will "pay you no mind" as he goes about his business.</span></blockquote>
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A 2014 one provided even more specificity:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #f5f7f9; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It is pretty easy to </span><span class="highlight" style="background-color: #f5f7f9; color: red; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;">restrain</span><span style="background-color: #f5f7f9; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> a rabbit just by covering its face.</span></blockquote>
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At this point I remebered that I have all the information I need in my rabbit book. There's a whole section dedicated to that.<br />
<br />
But regardless of the fact that I now need to shut off the laptop and pick up a book, it got my mind going about the nature of the internet.<br />
<br />
The internet is a fractal. The internet is also a tool. The level of detail in each iteration makes the internet a more and more powerful tool. It is a tool much like the way a scythe is a tool, or a machete. Each neo-subgenre, hyper-clique, and act of #reselfreferrentialismness yields a deeper fractal, each split maintaining an indefinitely-growing division, just as each slide of the whetstone yields a more honed, conditioned, and strong- edged blade.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBao5dpWoxs7DvCC5aOgsog6OegLy_k-nXqWbN11_SrTTubUs5vE9eC6LYjSseP63aSnVp1U2FUxAqPhzvjpisGR-PoCxCsAeI6fqMGkYhEg48c1OOGgTPb9ax36cO4LiHS_QwcAUE/s1600/fractals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBao5dpWoxs7DvCC5aOgsog6OegLy_k-nXqWbN11_SrTTubUs5vE9eC6LYjSseP63aSnVp1U2FUxAqPhzvjpisGR-PoCxCsAeI6fqMGkYhEg48c1OOGgTPb9ax36cO4LiHS_QwcAUE/s1600/fractals.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">whooooaaaaa..........</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Like <a href="http://www.unwrong.com/projects/fractalexplorer/" target="_blank">continually zooming in on a fractal</a>, the internet is a growing, branching, crawling tool. Just in a simple, search on rabbit breeding (which, I am surprised, didn't yield many usable results), the evidence of that growth and diversity is evident. Each iteration yields new information, and each new piece of information yields synthesis and further branching.<br />
<br />
2006 mentions that it can be done. New information.<br />
2011 gives techniques. New information.<br />
2014 expands these techniques. New information.<br />
<br />
It got me thinking that so many of the very specific things that I do are pulled from very specific syntheses of other niches that have grown through similar patterns. How much of the information about <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/06/diy-movable-chicken-coop-part-1.html" target="_blank">my chicken coop</a> is a new sub-niche addition to cyberspace?<br />
<br />
I don't know. It's just one of those moments of deep thought. But I must go - I have some rabbit breeding to prepare for.Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-51883442018038505372014-07-24T09:58:00.004-05:002014-07-24T09:58:51.950-05:00Baby Chicks, Round 32014 has basically been the year of the chicken.<br />
<br />
From <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/01/baby-chicks.html" target="_blank">the first January chicks</a>, to <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/02/diy-fermented-chicken-feed.html" target="_blank">switching to fermented chicken feed</a>, to the impulse Araucana buy, to weathering raccoon attacks, to focusing on <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/04/new-chickens-meet-old-chickens.html" target="_blank">integrating birds of different ages</a>, to <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/04/first-chicken-processed.html" target="_blank">processing my first chicken for dinner</a>, to this latest endeavor: 25 new egg layers and 23 new meat birds.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPP4eAsvwEWG197zd2PcbNcxQoinWI1thSPD9MW8azdNgnwZleDRUYkcrvDhOpTxlp3KiVl4-0ErKTsrATYxlt4Ih5v-IRVurSwDleLUrDslOKy0QsafuNb1-JTvpzABjhxehNKqo/s1600/july_baby_chicks_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPP4eAsvwEWG197zd2PcbNcxQoinWI1thSPD9MW8azdNgnwZleDRUYkcrvDhOpTxlp3KiVl4-0ErKTsrATYxlt4Ih5v-IRVurSwDleLUrDslOKy0QsafuNb1-JTvpzABjhxehNKqo/s1600/july_baby_chicks_1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dark ones are egg layers, and the light ones are meat birds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So yeah - we have about 50 chicks now.<div>
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<div>
<a name='more'></a><br />The egg layers will get integrated into the flock as per the other chickens we've had. It really gets easier each time - I've done it twice now.</div>
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_Bk2slAwVbAA1A6H6vTLB2UQvTgjznAoUb88x12f2ou3Bnrcoi3wDcIWL1uFUtjysHn6_rgct4AX-mPcNZFt6cuIVhAUv13P1E0QdM-j3yRJnfJBjyeKHFvr9KQJ1QWl8bN5M2B9/s1600/july_baby_chicks_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_Bk2slAwVbAA1A6H6vTLB2UQvTgjznAoUb88x12f2ou3Bnrcoi3wDcIWL1uFUtjysHn6_rgct4AX-mPcNZFt6cuIVhAUv13P1E0QdM-j3yRJnfJBjyeKHFvr9KQJ1QWl8bN5M2B9/s1600/july_baby_chicks_2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The meat chickens, the yellow ones, are Cornish Crosses.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj7P5ykgdhT5MuAQrJP4Wqb9hfRWXJhcBhieYaZ0Wv9zy7Blb9Uxkl0OlTZZrmnN51IbHA2xpx7eOFpJ-njZ_HNejmxAmKQHslKh2vuwHCKHELi33eSWtLL43SAXA5UsOJcx4nJyO/s1600/july_baby_chicks_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj7P5ykgdhT5MuAQrJP4Wqb9hfRWXJhcBhieYaZ0Wv9zy7Blb9Uxkl0OlTZZrmnN51IbHA2xpx7eOFpJ-njZ_HNejmxAmKQHslKh2vuwHCKHELi33eSWtLL43SAXA5UsOJcx4nJyO/s1600/july_baby_chicks_3.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The egg layers (dark) are a mixture of Black Australorps, Barred Rocks,<br />and two Blue Andalusians (one of which is the blue chick to the far right).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The meat chickens will be moved to the <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/11/my-diy-sheep-dry-lot.html" target="_blank">sheep overwinter area</a> for now, and be processed in late September. It'll be interesting seeing the Cornish breed grow literally side by side with heritage breed egg layers. Right now, they're all just tiny few-day-old chicks of the same size. I expect that by this time next week, they will be markedly different sizes.</div>
Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-22609523841115148242014-07-24T09:36:00.001-05:002014-07-24T09:36:26.957-05:00I, BeekeeperThis past weekend, I got some bees.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-ICpz00vSr2ot8K-XU-vBOfMgnbfVQMV1hzJOXFJ_DUV6uNamtCRHGejdrrP5nhvCFjHOwgZhMRro4FE1-sBLO24forvqIE00yzK4n3HF8IMvxwgyV3DyH8viYchynNApCejPjUH/s1600/bees_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-ICpz00vSr2ot8K-XU-vBOfMgnbfVQMV1hzJOXFJ_DUV6uNamtCRHGejdrrP5nhvCFjHOwgZhMRro4FE1-sBLO24forvqIE00yzK4n3HF8IMvxwgyV3DyH8viYchynNApCejPjUH/s1600/bees_1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of five new frames of bees I installed this weekend.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've been wanting them for a while, but my original bee source had a few hive collapses, so I had to go to another friend. It's funny that some other homeschooling friends of mine are into beekeeping, and one split off a nuc for me.<div>
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<div>
<a name='more'></a><br />I've have the hive for quite a while (several months), and it's been built and sitting in the shed for a long time. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_InkGpIZUK7_Hwfr-0VnhszHatMj8cw6JILgIdgtyKpnZOV7d3SruJfapf6P6v9NeqirXsP-ncq4J7MSrvO6KioNcn5ESMDU3nZZKz421pB9e_ldoh6vRabW1vlmOKKwteMwL5VRJ/s1600/hive_construction_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_InkGpIZUK7_Hwfr-0VnhszHatMj8cw6JILgIdgtyKpnZOV7d3SruJfapf6P6v9NeqirXsP-ncq4J7MSrvO6KioNcn5ESMDU3nZZKz421pB9e_ldoh6vRabW1vlmOKKwteMwL5VRJ/s1600/hive_construction_1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pile of frames, my beekeeping book, and a beer.<br />Hive building night was awesome!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdweQlCA49ZzfooI6Ro9yziaGEOHFBHW3po-ZXqSFL2-EnKP6jSQ_akFs029buqTtihIIOkV7hK-V0TUvKn4BC2_Nmknj-JoroKVqhUzxmdMI66SX1qiWQLRtKFGPk1kIcqLhDunw/s1600/hive_construction_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdweQlCA49ZzfooI6Ro9yziaGEOHFBHW3po-ZXqSFL2-EnKP6jSQ_akFs029buqTtihIIOkV7hK-V0TUvKn4BC2_Nmknj-JoroKVqhUzxmdMI66SX1qiWQLRtKFGPk1kIcqLhDunw/s1600/hive_construction_2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoom-in on the frames.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm66SNvtj5OGOeFTNbtTQdrPVt6jMLCNP-IYGS0IRak9pb3xhFY3wnRKWbTvJBle6Gz25PiXD4FJeTxhtpekXB2yeC8_-08HGxFZcaICHPqO4qWapeot5_bQ4kr1vWFSjtE5jP3kT/s1600/hive_construction_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm66SNvtj5OGOeFTNbtTQdrPVt6jMLCNP-IYGS0IRak9pb3xhFY3wnRKWbTvJBle6Gz25PiXD4FJeTxhtpekXB2yeC8_-08HGxFZcaICHPqO4qWapeot5_bQ4kr1vWFSjtE5jP3kT/s1600/hive_construction_3.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building a super.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
My hive has short frames in it, and my buddy from whom I got the bees used long frames. So, we had to pull out 10 of mine, and the middle divider, to fit the 5 frames with bees. So I can simple buy another super box and add the 10 frames to it to expand the hive. I'll likely do that here in the next month or two.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The bees themselves are doing great. We spotted the queen while transporting them in, and confirmed larvae and eggs.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtq1wZM9RhQk2jiz6Io9lNX7ix_ZUF1zbB-8gIQfc5Q6kG58E2QzqfBbfyGVQFu05iMfN0qv6AJO9f0RqeGFzhmYQV0LmTrhWoRlmGaSt-TL5Mv77t89CRPWc8R1d-cDQxLuBLQtx4/s1600/bees_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtq1wZM9RhQk2jiz6Io9lNX7ix_ZUF1zbB-8gIQfc5Q6kG58E2QzqfBbfyGVQFu05iMfN0qv6AJO9f0RqeGFzhmYQV0LmTrhWoRlmGaSt-TL5Mv77t89CRPWc8R1d-cDQxLuBLQtx4/s1600/bees_2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the discrepancies in frame length if you look closely.<br />I have, on the edges, 2 vertically stacks sets of 2 and 3 frames, respectively, <br />with the 5 long ones in the middle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The hive itself is about 175 feet from the house, set on a large rock amidst the orchard, facing south-east, and set atop a few bricks. I placed a feeder out there to make sure they are plenty strong heading into winter.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6AnpiXe7tbGnBU4YMHAu9UrWOQ0VFhn2lbc6wB5etweGUYYUBD_wlJXgTYb8XmV1AWNZ7dKyKqkrTfw9TZC8UwEiDcU8NLcz7mSfZwJ1QH2cNG1FH_0cMooJ_D1l-SPbmkoT-u-5/s1600/mixing_bee_food.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6AnpiXe7tbGnBU4YMHAu9UrWOQ0VFhn2lbc6wB5etweGUYYUBD_wlJXgTYb8XmV1AWNZ7dKyKqkrTfw9TZC8UwEiDcU8NLcz7mSfZwJ1QH2cNG1FH_0cMooJ_D1l-SPbmkoT-u-5/s1600/mixing_bee_food.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In my <strike>apothecary</strike> kitchen, I mixed up some organic coconut nectar <br />with water in a 1:1 syrup, by weight.<br />I'll be feeding them until it freezes to make sure they can survive the winter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizR7nUTad4m_W7FI0OcIZMEX03cJmcsYYqhl2_p7jw_qHkU1x5MAwj7q1r6ls20uRofLNoiVaKdW4a-VQbMbaiuCzgPcwoZP2wMtEeYkG1-XWqAwRNZwcNKnaVzzFWHhyphenhyphenHaA0_VhRR/s1600/bee_hive_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizR7nUTad4m_W7FI0OcIZMEX03cJmcsYYqhl2_p7jw_qHkU1x5MAwj7q1r6ls20uRofLNoiVaKdW4a-VQbMbaiuCzgPcwoZP2wMtEeYkG1-XWqAwRNZwcNKnaVzzFWHhyphenhyphenHaA0_VhRR/s1600/bee_hive_1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The current hive in all its glory, feeder included. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxOIE79Q873rtNcd8aS4ubiNvYHwlJ9eo8xGeIRWvf6CEmEEV3rKfVrEE9Q1W3wXYafeAKMxZBH836gVJ1Jo8aMTgEp7uRqjU4Lge8wxF8YgL2qjqbusBODZN9e2IS4zaa3I220F7/s1600/bee_hive_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxOIE79Q873rtNcd8aS4ubiNvYHwlJ9eo8xGeIRWvf6CEmEEV3rKfVrEE9Q1W3wXYafeAKMxZBH836gVJ1Jo8aMTgEp7uRqjU4Lge8wxF8YgL2qjqbusBODZN9e2IS4zaa3I220F7/s1600/bee_hive_2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up of the feeder, the hive entrance, and some bees. Woo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMCUaDatFdrE5GlXlUzsRnK5Y2P7b2TlEFwps2DnUI25Y4AsEC2GlIU41YAGeT__eTaJxL3ZZHUWOR2ZM5egHUjb9NzOAsMKd6ZkjRmkAscPg6Pq1CWkON3Ifv6sA_kJ2BEorUcWe/s1600/bee_hive_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMCUaDatFdrE5GlXlUzsRnK5Y2P7b2TlEFwps2DnUI25Y4AsEC2GlIU41YAGeT__eTaJxL3ZZHUWOR2ZM5egHUjb9NzOAsMKd6ZkjRmkAscPg6Pq1CWkON3Ifv6sA_kJ2BEorUcWe/s1600/bee_hive_3.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I looped around a bit to capture the hive in its location. You can see some pear trees,<br />and the hay field behind them.<br />The box to the left held the nuc frames.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />My plan is to feed this hive heavily so they come on string in the spring. I may or may not take any honey then - we'll see how it goes. Over the winter some time, I want to build a perone or a warre hive (or possibly my own modification of one), and encourage the existing hive to out-grow the supers and swarm. Capturing a second hive, and allowing it thrive in a natural state where the bees build their own foundation and everything, is the ultimate vision.<br />
<br />
For now, I have to care for what I have and lay the infrastructure.<br />
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Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3495012845780237955.post-50314712066627214132014-07-24T09:11:00.000-05:002014-07-24T09:11:35.246-05:00Reinforcing Combo Panels IIIn <a href="http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.com/2014/03/reinforcing-combo-panels.html" target="_blank">the first installment of reinforcing combo panels</a>, I took some 2x4's and nailed them onto the metal panels. This worked great - they were stronger and more easier to manipulate.<br />
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Unfortunately, time (and animals) worked many of the nails out, causing the boards to flop and the panel to bend. So, last week, I took some scrap metal cuttings and some heavy-duty screws and reinforced them....again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhus3UPlzZ6jituYWAfT969I50Cth6-9CCUPTPWrR9ZaTEnZQq-xhuvzgtKkW93PG41eudIQBS0yH6ZXJ2-8NtGZsHesgm3qpe2GZ4CPkHhtjaOpHf58424_2065Gi2rloRXJc5fdq6/s1600/reinforced_combo_panels_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhus3UPlzZ6jituYWAfT969I50Cth6-9CCUPTPWrR9ZaTEnZQq-xhuvzgtKkW93PG41eudIQBS0yH6ZXJ2-8NtGZsHesgm3qpe2GZ4CPkHhtjaOpHf58424_2065Gi2rloRXJc5fdq6/s1600/reinforced_combo_panels_1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The metal pieces wrap around the panel wires and screw into the wood.<br />I also overlaid it across the chicken wire to add extra durability there.</td></tr>
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The panels are now 10 times stronger, at least.<br />
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I ended up adding 6 metal pieces to each panel (16 panels), for a total of 96 metal pieces and 192 screws. Thankfully, my neighbor let me borrow the most awesome drill in the world, and it only took about 2 hours of total work. I did have to pause halfway through due to lacerating my thumb pretty bad (and bleeding all over everything) when one of the pieces came loose and spun during drilling. It hurt. :(<br />
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In addition to the metal side, I also added some pieces to the vertical post to help the structural integrity of the middle of the panels.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2qnxs1vJT8Z9FASf8wmJrcMZ1AFYvbZ1XuwjXoXKk9uGqI4wGi8AMplHLHwC-vSsh5TkbD3ShhEID79vTY06AY8vh4q3JO-BYL2GbUPEGTUjOdV054VeOjcG4bB22PI5GnUf6BSQ/s1600/reinforced_combo_panels_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2qnxs1vJT8Z9FASf8wmJrcMZ1AFYvbZ1XuwjXoXKk9uGqI4wGi8AMplHLHwC-vSsh5TkbD3ShhEID79vTY06AY8vh4q3JO-BYL2GbUPEGTUjOdV054VeOjcG4bB22PI5GnUf6BSQ/s1600/reinforced_combo_panels_2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vertical pieces provide extra durability and visual aesthetic.<br /></td></tr>
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And, I finally finished adding all of the eye hooks for pins.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3De4Ce5q_LEmi0Efoi4CeQe67rwE3aEkGMiQjJX12VlB6tc2-qRNixHBeYaqJoY8TQJM4i7N0SUjkavrZXm7Ioo09nUEDbBPM5z5zrGZsxxICabAZLG6v1gP9V1BX2QkfOv6s_HA/s1600/reinforced_combo_panels_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3De4Ce5q_LEmi0Efoi4CeQe67rwE3aEkGMiQjJX12VlB6tc2-qRNixHBeYaqJoY8TQJM4i7N0SUjkavrZXm7Ioo09nUEDbBPM5z5zrGZsxxICabAZLG6v1gP9V1BX2QkfOv6s_HA/s1600/reinforced_combo_panels_3.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The eye hook pins making securing a breeze, and also make good hinges and locks<br />for the door panel to the chicken yard.</td></tr>
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So, this is finally complete. It's been a project I've dreaded, since I knew it would be tedious and very un-glamorous. However, I am thrilled it's done, and I can finally sigh a deep sigh of relief knowing that the panels are in top shape now. It does make moving them a lot easier, as the extra security makes the panels more stable during moving, and the pins make attaching them a lot faster.<br />
<br />Bubshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157536552940997621noreply@blogger.com0