Time to Redefine our Lives in Oregon

Posts tagged ‘Oregon’

Creepy Crawlies….YUCK!

Less than a day after the hatching of chick number two, Kermit, left the nesting box. She moved herself and both chicks down to the larger brooder area, leaving five eggs behind. I have seen this happen with Chardonnay, but normally that took a good four days, or so, before she totally let the eggs go cold. This move was definitely early, but this was her first brood, so I chalked it up to inexperience….until…….

……WAIT…….WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT!!!!

As I was reaching down to move the eggs back under, Kermit, hoping she would hatch one or two more….I paused…..looked….what’s on the eggs? Tiny, tiny little specks…and they were moving!! I looked at my hand…tiny, tiny little specks were moving on hand, on my shirt sleeve, both my hands….WHAT WAS GOING ON??!!!

Photo captured from http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/insectid/2014/03/07/bird-mites/

MITES!!! Oh my gosh!! It was so gross. I have never had mites, at least I have never seen evidence of mites, on or around my birds. What was I supposed to do??? I remembered the goat rancher saying to get diatomaceous earth (DE) to powder the goats if they got itchy….in other words, fleas, ticks, etc. I had some…..I ran to the shop.

By this time I was feeling things crawling on me….on my face and in my hair. KEEP CALM!!! I put on gloves, and a heavy duty mask….I was already wearing glasses so I thought that would suffice for eye protection….put a bunch of this fine powder into a bucket and ran back to the hen house. I doused the nest, the brooder area, and even mama hen, Kermit.

There was no evidence of the creepy crawlies on any of the eggs laid that day, but I wasn’t taking any chances….everything got dusted….every nesting box, every roosting board, window eaves, and the entirety of the floor of the hen house. The place went from a pine, wood board color to grey. I left a good amount on the roosting boards so that the hens, and Benedict would be laying in it as they roosted for the night. Then I went out to their usual dusting spots, and dusted those areas.

I dusted the goats…for good measure. I used the residual dust on my gloves to run my hands over Penni and give her a light dusting, I dusted my clothes….then….oh gosh…I can’t believe I’m admitting this…..I very, very, lightly dusted my hair.

OH MY GOSH!!!! SO GROSS!!! I could feel the creepy crawlies on my scalp….. BLEH!!!!

I left it on for about fifteen minutes, then showered. They critters were gone, which gave me good hope for the hen house.

That night, however, I didn’t sleep well. My mind was all about having to clean up the chicken house, and having bugs crawling on me. Thankfully, after leaving the place thoroughly dusted for three days, when I did clean it from top to bottom this weekend, not one creepy crawly was felt, or found on me, or anywhere else.

OMGOSH!! I don’t know what caused this to happen. I’ve never had mites in my flock!! There are two things that I suspect…I used straw as bedding the last couple of months; I normally use pine shavings. Straw, apparently, has hollow spaces perfect for little mites to thrive and populate…ok…back to shavings we go!!! Secondly, mites are spread by other birds…and the other birds hanging around ALOT right now are my neighbor’s peafowl (two peacocks and a peahen), the Canadian Geese have gone.

In the meantime…this little beauty hatched in the incubator….

…..and is running around with Mama Kermit…and his siblings…

All is well!!!

Thanks for visiting today….no itchies for you!! Hahaha.

Have a great evening, afternoon, or morning (depending on when you’re reading this!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Buff Orphington / Rhode Island Red Mix, Buff Orpington, Chicken Mites, Free Ranging Chickens, Hatching Chicken Eggs, Hatching Chicks, Peacocks

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Outside the Box

It is spring…in case you didn’t know!! The grasses are tall…very tall. The wind is blowing, and the rain is falling…and for obvious reasons, that’s okay!!

With the wind and rain came two more things….well, I don’t think I’d really call them, “things!”

Both look like Buff Orphington / Rhode Island Red mix chicks. I’m hoping to have one that is a true Buff Orphington chick … it would be a Benedict / Claudio baby, my only pure Buff Orphington adults.

With the wind and rain, also came a realization….these little cuties were going to need a little extra heat in their brooder. How was I going to hang a heat lamp with my makeshift design? So I started thinking….a tripod? That could work! I looked around, and my eyes landed on a more stable alternative……

….it works, and I think it is a little more stable than a tripod. Sometimes you have to think outside the box…inside the box.

And so it continues as there are six more eggs to hatch…I expect at least four more, there are two that seemed a little questionable when candled a week and a half ago. Exciting times!!

Thanks for stopping by the farm today. This cool spring day has been full of blessings! I hope you find the blessings of your day too!!

Your friend from Oregon,
Tami

Category:

Brooders, Buff Orphington / Rhode Island Red Mix, Buff Orpington, Hatching Chicks, Rhode Island Reds

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Cardboard Brooders??

The objective…..use these materials (wire structure that they are lying on top of not included)…..

….and figure out an acceptable brooder for the impending hatching. It has to be able to house mama hen, and chicks, within the current chicken house, and allow an ease of cleaning. (more…)

Category:

Brooders, Buff Orphington / Rhode Island Red Mix, Cardboard Brooders, Chicken Eggs, Hatching Chicken Eggs

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A Whole New World

To continue on with the good, the bad, and the ugly, today, we get to focus on the good!! There definitely was some good along with the bad, and the ugly…..little Clark’s scours was, shall we say…solidified!! I actually confirmed today during our “Good morning, Hello” the real-time evidence of perfectly formed little jelly beans…YAY!!!!!! But there is more….there is much more!! Take a look at the picture above….now envision three little billy goats…shorter than the tops of the tall grasses…roaming, eating, and lying in the shade of a big, ole tree on a warm, spring day. That’s good….that’s very good!!

Fence building was priority one this past week, but before we could even get started, there were a few trees impeding the future fence line that would need to be cut. Tony lined out the fence to go directly through a grove of Douglas Firs….

….that needed thinning….two had broken tops….this worked out very nicely. We will have plenty of logs to burn this coming fall / winter.

Many holes were augered for the wooden posts necessary for support….fencing on a hill is a lot of fun…uhhh yeaahhhh. Just ask my He-Man ….. I wish I had pictures of Tony carrying those heavy logs while walking uphill to drop them into place…oh well, it’s engrained in my memory banks…. 😉 Although fencing-in this pasture was a team effort, most of the build fell onto Tony’s shoulders (literally.) My son helped out as his time allowed…and I came along in between work, the house, and everyday farm chores. Thankfully, Tony had a full week to devote to this project….nonetheless, it was a busy week for all of us. Thank goodness for Alleve!!

We ran an electric, shock wire all the way around the fence line about 2 inches above the top, and 6 or 8 inches above the bottom. Since we do not have a guard animal yet for the herd, we’re hoping this will do the trick … let’s have a collective “fingers crossed” moment out there…readyyyyyyyy…..NOW!!

I’m inviting you to experience the moment….the moment that the gate was opened, allowing our three young wethers into their new world….the world beyond their previous fence line….the world of tall grasses, Douglas Fir trees, and cool, shady places….a whole new world!!!! At first they payed absolutely no attention to the opened gate…..it was a look, back to chewing….continued staring, and chewing….standing, staring, chewing. Really, what did I expect??? They are goats, not dogs!!! Hahaha!! Finally, surprisingly, Lott led the way….

….we had really expected the leader to be, Montana.

The first day, they stayed around the gate. However, the herd is slowly expanding their grazing. They seem happy!!

Despite the residual aches and pains Tony and I are enjoying….it is very satisfying to have this first pasture fenced and open for the kids to grow and flourish on. Plans continue for growth of this farm. Did you notice the strength of the fencing?? It is strong!! Why so strong? Why so many wooden pole supports? Can we hear a “Mooooooo?” Okay, not yet….but…………that’s a maybe!!!

Thanks for helping us enjoy the farm today. We always look forward to your visits!!!

Please, have a wonderful, wonderful Sunday!!

Your friends from Oregon,

Tami & Tony!!

Category:

Building a fence, Farm Fencing, Goats, Pasture fencing, Spanish Goats, Spanish Meat Goats

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OY VEY!!

Sometimes, OY VEY, are the only words that work. The last couple of weeks have been…well let’s just say…full. Yes, “full” fits. Full of ….. the good, the bad, and the ugly!!! So that I don’t overwhelm you with too many words on one post, I’m going to break these things up into two posts (the bad, and the ugly kind of go together…yes, they definitely walk hand-in-hand.) Let’s start with the feo y el malo….

About a week and half after bringing our Spanish Heritage Goat kids home, I noticed a bit of “softening” to some of their droppings. Not diarrhea, more like a softer dog stool…not alarming, but did raise my eyebrows a bit. Was this normal in goats? I went to the internet. Keep in mind, two evenings prior to this, I had fed the kids those first Douglas Fir tree branches…they ate quite a lot. Yes, an abrupt change in diet can affect them in this way…”Great!” I had my answer. I found these droppings once again the next day (Saturday)….”No worries…it will work its way through.”

Sunday morning…….WHAM!!! …… and I mean, WHAM!!!! Buckets of warm water in hand, I was bathing the backside of little, Clark … yep, we had a case of full on diarrhea, or, more properly known as, scours. I cannot tell you….more appropriately, I will not tell you the fine details of what this was like, but as a quick synopsis…there were periods of continuous oozing. Enough said!!!!

After cleaning Clark, their “locker room”, and the grounds of Candlestick Park 2, I headed for the Corid, replaced their water buckets with new water and, what I thought was a proper dosing of Corid. My goat’s breeder had told me that this was an item to keep on hand just for this type of situation…I’m glad he did!! Oh my goodness….I didn’t sleep very well that night. I thought I really made a huge mistake with the fir branches…I felt so bad for the little guy. Monday was more of the same, and after seeing a big, “squirt” while jumping into the “locker room,” I had enough…as I’m sure Clark was feeling as well. I called the vet!! He was able to come out on Thursday. Since Clark was eating and drinking normally, it wasn’t an emergency call….Okay…that put me a little at ease. Additionally to the Corid, into the water buckets went a probiotic, and electrolytes.

Each day was about keeping Clark, and the shelter/grounds clean…hoping, hoping, hoping that Montana, and Lott would not start in with the same. Thankfully, they remained solid.

Long story short, the vet came out (really nice), took fecal samples from each goat…Clark cooperated with a fresh sample 🙂 while the vet was checking him over. He was concerned that the herd felt too thin…we talked about their feed, and he pointed me to the direction of a lamb / calf starter grain. He started Clark on, Albon, for coccidiosis, and the next day, all three were on a dewormer. Thankfully, those parasites found in their stool were goat gut specific (or more appropriately, ruminant gut specific) and not transferable to chickens, dogs, or people.

Clark taking his medicine. What a good little fella!!

Within a day, Clark started to dry up … oh my gosh…thank goodness!!! The kids love, love, love the starter grain, and are putting on weight. They are more energetic, and there is lots of cud chewing going on. A great sign that their tummies are working more efficiently now that they aren’t competing with parasites for their food.

Little Clark is behind in size and weight, and hopefully, will catch up. I’m keeping a close eye on him as Montana and Lott are growing much faster. This was quite the learning experience, and I’m feeling more confident now. Seriously, that Monday evening when I saw the “squirt” I about lost it. I was about to throw in the towel…get the little guy well, and sell off the herd. I had not anticipated scours, nor the mess it created, and my confidence as a new goat mama was cracked…not shattered, but definitely cracked!! I’m glad the little guy feels better, he’s a sweetheart, and my confidence is growing.

Enjoying fresh cut grass from a lower pasture.

Thank you for visiting the farm today. I’ve missed talking with you!!

Please have a wonderful, day!!

A beautiful spring afternoon.

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Diarrhea in goats, Goat scours, Goats, Meat Goats, Spanish Meat Goats, Treatment of Scours in goats

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Peahens and Peacocks

We’ve had an invasion of sorts….a far east, invasion. Exotic? … Yes …. Beautiful? …. Yes …. Loud, chicken feed loving, and hard to capture by cell phone photography? …. Yes, yes and yes!!

I think it’s mating season!!

Our neighbor’s Peahen hangs around our back patio area…many times sitting at the glass door, almost as if she is saying, “Can I hide out for awhile?”

But, the boys call out to her….and she hides in the grass….

CAN YOU FIND HER??

The boys seem to know where is…..

They climb the waterfall as their instincts tell them that they are getting closer…

Ms. Peahen is well hidden…she has gotten as low as she can in the tall grass…..

…well, maybe not in this picture….but, you can’t see her at all in the next picture….and the boys searched…

…and I believe that they peacefully found each other, or they didn’t…either way, they disappeared. Maybe in a couple of months or so we will see something like this again…..from 2014….

I hope you enjoyed our little far east invasion……

Please have a wonderful, wonderful Sunday!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Cats and Peahens, Movie about Peacocks, Peacocks, Peahen, Springtime

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Satisfying and Delicious

Who can take a sunrise…..sprinkle it with dew….cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two….the Candy Man…..oh the Candy Man can….the Candy Man can cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good. (The Candy Man – by Sammy Davis Jr. Writer: Chambers, Karina / Monaco, Katherine / Schjolin, Morten / Ingoldsby, Denis Noel Copyright: Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing)

It’s kind of amazing how all creatures..big, small, human, animal….zombie…..are all attracted to the sweet things in life, at least sometimes. There are THOSE yummy things that take more effort to resist than others.

I think that that kind of treat will be important in the management of our little goat herd. Clark and Lott, being bottle fed babies, are easy to handle. They come running when they hear our voices….they call out when they see us….in stark contrast is, Montana!

Since Montana was raised to forage with the herd, he is not accustomed to as much direct handler contact. He does not relish the idea of being scratched or hugged, and if he senses movement in his direction…he goes the opposite way. Montana is completely wonderful….he is exactly what we wanted to help the bottle fed babies learn the basics of, “How to Be a Brush Goat.” However….I do want to be able to handle Montana when it is necessary, so he and I have been working on familiarity with being touched. He doesn’t have to like it, he just needs to be able to stand still when it is necessary. We have made pretty good progress….and then…there was yesterday!!

We broke boundaries yesterday….Montana actually ate out of my hand!! The lure….goat candy…better known as young Douglas Fir branches. Tony introduced the three to this delicious treat a couple of days ago.

Since licorice flavored goat treats weren’t pull enough for Montana to breach that border between food and hand…I decided to try a young fir branch…..SUCCESS!!!! This seems to be a treat that all three of our kids cannot resist.

As chomping ensued, I was able to get a few scratches in behind Montana’s ears, and between his horns. Petting his furry body was a little more intrusive than Montana would welcome, but progress is progress!! Later that evening after I had closed them in for the night, Montana stood still and allowed me to pet him a bit. I didn’t push it….by the way…I never knew that goat kids were so fluffy!!

No worries, little guys…there is plenty more where that came from!!

Thanks for visiting the kids this morning!! I hope you have a sweet, sweet day!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Douglas Fir wood, Goat Treats, Goats, Meat Goats, Spanish Goats, Spanish Meat Goats

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Peace of Mind

Peace of mind is a valuable thing. It allows me to sleep…it allows me to…well…basically, carry on in life. Recently, there has been this issue…I don’t really know if I should talk about this in such an open forum. My thoughts run to, “Well maybe if I just get it off my chest.” “Maybe then I can stop feeling so guilty about this thing?” So here it goes…..

……we’ve enlisted the help of a guardian…more powerful than even our big, Penni girl. I know!!! I feel a little guilty because this guardian has Penni on the run…literally. Meet the Guardian…hot wiring around goat base camp..AKA – Candlestick Park II.

Penni has been zapped…twice. The first time, I believe she touched the lower line with her paw because her reaction was to bark…incessantly for a about 30 seconds while running as far from the fence as she could get…and then straight to Mom. She needed comfort, and there was a totally confused looked on her face. We cuddled for a moment and then hung out paying attention to chicken chores….Penni didn’t mind as long as we were far from the fence.

Today, curiosity was far too intense to be dismissed. Penni just had to find out why the fence had bitten her. As I glanced to the left….there I saw it. Penni was slowly pushing forward with her nose, and just as I had yelled out, “Penni, Leave IT” ….. zzzzzap ….. and then a running, yelping, running, yelping Great Dane took flight. She was zapped smack dab on the nose! Obviously, that area is a bit more sensitive than a paw.

Knowing that this type of incident would probably take place, and that Penni would not be injured….the importance to provide some protection for our youngest babies on the farm trumped the occasional “zap” that Penni may experience. I think she is learning very quickly.

And now, I have peace of mind once again.

Thank you for visiting the farm today, but please keep you hands, feet, and especially noses away from the black and white strings along the fence lines. You may have a shocking experience!!

I hope you have a wonderful, wonderful day!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Farm Fencing, Great Dane, Guarding Goats, Hot Wire Fencing, Penni the Great Dane

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Great Strides

The Wolf and the Goat A WOLF saw a Goat feeding at the summit of a steep precipice, where he had no chance of reaching her. He called to her and earnestly begged her to come lower down, lest she fall by some mishap; and he added that the meadows lay where he was standing, and that the herbage was most tender. She replied, “No, my friend, it is not for the pasture that you invite me, but for yourself, who are in want of food.” Aesop’s Fable – Translated by George Fyler Townsend – Chicago, Belford, Clarke & Co., 1887

There is a look in Penni ‘s eyes, an instantaneous moment in time that predicts one action, yet is also that brief “you’ve got one shot at this” invitation allowing correction and redirection. It is easy to recognize, if you can catch it….in one pin-pointed blip on the radar the entirety of a 130 pound Great Dane is focused, poised, energized….readied like a loaded gun….and then, as if the trigger has been pulled, the explosive energy forward is unstoppable.

Penni has a passion for our new little kids, Montana, Clark and Lott. She seems confused by her primal instinct to hunt and chase, and her desire to “mother.” With direct supervision, she is off-leash now within the goat’s penned area. Clark and Lott were the bottle fed babies, and they seem to have no problem with Penni ‘s sniffing and slobbering….Montana on the other hand, was raised with the herd and is much less accepting of Penni ‘s affections. He stares at her … in Dane language that is the equivalent to, “You want a piece of me?” , which then causes the response back, “You want a piece of ME?” … and the chase is on. If I can catch the stare, before the quiver of muscle just prior to take off, I can stop the chase with a stern, “OFF IT”….but it is a very brief moment, and the cue is ambiguous at best.

All of this energy, the entire reason for the chase is that Penni needs to sniff, and slobber……but how can you reason with a strong-headed goat…..and how can you negotiate a warmer encounter with a female Dane driven by her desire to mother. For safety’s sake, the use of a shock collar may be in order here. I don’t advocate the frequent use of those, but in terms of a dog’s or goat’s safety, I’d rather Penni got a quick jolt than a pair of broken ribs from horns on Montana’s head….and if Montana is in a vulnerable position like his head is through the fence and his horns are preventing a quick pull back…I’d rather he not hurt himself because he is panicked. He’s just too cute!!!

Everyday, Penni is calmer and more bored with the whole situation…especially when it comes to Clark and Lott…they don’t run…but the chase……..that is a hard game to give up!!

Thank you for visiting the farm today!! I hope you have a fabulous, Sunday!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Goats, Great Dane, Meat Goats, Penni the Great Dane, Spanish Goats, Spanish Meat Goats

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Penni the Goat Mama

– Pay no attention to my shushing of my husband…LOL

Our Great Dane, Penni ‘s first introduction to Montana, Clark, and Lott was….well, shall I say, exuberant??!! The excitement was immediate, and intense. That of course, is Penni ‘s way. She is big, her excitement is big, her movements are big, her voice is big, and her heart is huge! Penni demands to be “Mommy” to every new baby critter she comes in contact with….the new Kids were no exception.

Basically, the afternoon and evening were all about trying to welcome, and help make our little ones feel comfortable and safe….and allow Penni to get some familiarity with the little critters that she can see through the windows of the house. If we wanted to have any peace at all, this was non-negotiable. I knew that it was going to be the kind of day that would require a lot of patience, and a good, sturdy leash.

As big as she is, Penni can still stick her head, all the way through to her shoulders.

Getting her head out, is not as easy.

Does this picture look familiar??

She is ever watchful…these are her new babies.

Once a baby is smelled from head to toe, and slobbered on all over…they are hers. Be it chick, kid, or poult…her motherly instincts are strong….either that or…..no, I don’t want to think about the “or.” It’s never been the “or”….but sometimes it looks like the “or.”

Today, the leash came off….but NOT inside “The Stick” (Candlestick Park)….only on the outside of the fence. Thank goodness for this reduction of intensity. The exuberance is still there, but she has brought it in a little bit, and is more able to control the instinct to just mow everything down to get to the kids. They are responding with a little more calmness around Penni too. Everyone is adjusting…WHEW!!! Right now, the adjustment period is strictly for the big dog and the kids…the little dog’s introduction will be several days from now…after more of the exuberance wears off.

Other than that, the kids had a good night….no surprises. They seemed warm and cozy, and everyone seemed well….very well. I think they slept just fine.

I think they are happy!!

Thank you for visiting today!!

I hope you have a wonderful morning, day, evening, or night…whenever you may be reading this!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Goats, Great Dane, Penni the Great Dane, Rasing meat goats, Spanish Goats

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The Boys

Last night’s sleep was pretty restless. It felt like I wrestled all night with the logistics of the kids’ arrival. Then, I had this dream…..

It started out with Tony and I wrestling with the thought of where to store the hay…yesterday we purchased, loaded, and hauled 10, 80 pound bales of Willamette Valley Grass Hay from our neighbor who is in the hay business….anyway…back to my dream….

….so we were trying to decide where to store the hay….time was running out, we had to go pick up the kids, but I hadn’t cleaned out the x-large dog carrier yet, nor put a layer of straw (or pine shavings) inside of it for them. It seemed like nothing was in place…the gate to their “base camp” had not been hung, they had no water, and everything was still in the back of my SUV. We had no time left we had to go. I was flustered. So we get there and the rancher already had the goats boxed and ready to go. They were boxed up in a moving box. He said, “Just leave them in here, and when you get home, put the box in the barn, leave, and then check on it in about a half an hour. So we did. When we went back to look, there was like this beautiful, glowing light in the barn (old chicken house) and lots of little animals….hedgehogs, burrowing prairie dogs, a small cat like cuddly thing that turned out to be a baby mountain lion (in no way did it look like a cougar cub), various miniature birds that looked like hawks, and seagulls, and two tiny, tiny baby deer…..spotted, and only about a foot tall. But there were no goats…not one!! I thought, “hmmmm…I need to get them some water” … and then my alarm went off.

Hahahaha….that was too weird.

Welcome little ones!!! We picked up our two….no, three little kids from the rancher at Cozine Springs Ranch ( http://www.cozinespringsranch.com ) – never go to pick up animals with extra money in your pocket…hahaha…our plan was for two! The fact is, we couldn’t split up the twins…they were bottle raised together, and are very sweet. The brown one was raised with the herd going out to forage with mama from the beginning. He will be a good teacher for the two bottle fed kids…they have a job to do.

We carried the two bottle fed babies into their new enclosure, but the brown kid wanted a different kind of entrance. He needed to feel out the territory first….then once he had feet on the ground…he checked out the hay….kept walking and started munching on a patch of grass….YES!!! Exactly the job we need them to do.

Their names…..introducing….. Lott (as in Ronnie); Montana (as in Joe); and Clark (as in Dwight)…in that order! Hence the need for their stadium…Candlestick Park II…in case you haven’t guessed, or just plain have no idea….it’s all about the 49ers…as in football that is.

So there you have it….our introduction into the world of goats…livestock….growing this farm. Will it be sustainable?? At some point will we start producing income, instead of sinking more money into it?? Will I ever have to mow again?? There is one answer for everyone of these questions….only time will tell.

I have found that this breed is nicer looking in person (or in goat in their case, LOL) and not as photogenic. They are a rugged breed, the Spanish Heritage Goat….built for ranging outdoors most of the time, and in their enclosure only when they want to be…but not yet…they are too little, and fluffy, and cute. How was their first interaction with Penni our Great Dane….that’s tomorrow’s story.

Thank you for helping us welcome the newest members to the farm, today.

I hope your day was wonderful!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

49ers, building a new home, Cozine Springs Ranch, Goats, Rasing meat goats, Spanish Goats

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Crazy Goat Eve

This day, April 6, 2015, will officially be known on our farm as Crazy Goat Eve. Tomorrow is the great goat experiment. It has been close to 4 weeks since we have seen them, soooooo…I’m not sure what to expect. How big will they be? Is the “base camp” area we have planned for them big enough for the next 5 or 6 weeks until we get the first real pasture and goat barn built? YIKES!! I don’t knoooooowwww!! I’ve been just a tad…stressed….even had a few scary goat dreams, but I think those have passed…hahaha. I hope so!!

The preliminary plan is to adapt the old hen house to support our little Spanish kids for 5 or 6 weeks. I cleaned the place from top to bottom, and Tony enlarged the chicken door to fit our young charges.

Creating a temporary “base camp” was the main mission of the day, today. We had to move the house, now known as Candlestick Park II (you will understand that tomorrow) about 15 feet. This would allow us to put up the fencing and evade this beautiful, stomach upsetting tempting goat treat…..Camillia Tree flowers and bark….

….the blossoms are falling off now, which are not toxic, but apparently, can cause stomach upset in goats.

Okay, so the house did separate from it’s foundation a little…a lot, but it is fine now….we lined it back up just fine…

….it’s just a little off…..I thought it was lined up better….LOL. No worries though because there is a large base for the skids to rest on. I tested it out, and it didn’t tip over so it all good!

The fencing went up pretty quickly as the ground was soft from all of the rain. It was so great to find that the roll of fencing we had left over in the barn was enough to encompass the entire area which is about 1500 – 1600 square feet. These little guys are used to foraging over 250 acres with the herd, or staying in if they prefer….hopefully this area that seems large enough for a few weeks will keep them safe and entertained enough that they don’t push their fence boundaries.

There are stumps for climbing onto, and jumping off of ….. and a patch of cement to help keep hooves nicely trimmed….

…and of course, Penni took on the responsibility of checking the yard for and weak spots….after all, we all know that these little goats will be Penni’s kids. I think she’s as excited as we are!!

“Get goats”, they said. “They take care of themselves,” they said. Then, why does the back of my SUV look like this??? Well, I guess I needed these things anyway….right??? At least the two bags on top are for the chickens..LOL. Beyond this, we have a barn to build……pasture fencing to pull…..and a whole lot to learn!! I look forward to sharing it all with you along the way.

By the way, make sure you stop in tomorrow to meet the newest members of the farm….I can’t wait!!! AND…there are now…

…four Canadian Geese (2 couples) on the pond!!! That must mean something good.

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope your day was absolutely wonderful!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Building a fence, Farm Fencing, Goats, Spanish Goats

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The First of Spring

The beautiful, spring weather has given me such an itch (okay, yes, my eyes are a bit itchy since the trees are pollinating, but that’s NOT what I am talking about) to start our vegetable garden. In California, my small, backyard garden would have been in by now…maybe my seasonal planting alarm is going off still based on CA time….STOP IT!!! I’m pushing the snooze button!!

We have experienced frost well into April, since moving to Oregon, and I’ve lost many plants due to the malfunction of my “seasonal alarm clock.” This year, however, I’m trying something new….

…peat moss starters. They stay in the house, away from direct sunlight, covered…..

….to create humidity and warmth. I hope it works…this is the first time I’ve started these particulars plants from seed. There is a problem of which I have become aware….I forgot to make a map of the tray indicating which seeds were planted in which pod. I have a total of eight different vegetable seeds planted into those pots…..hahaha!! This should be fun!!

In the mean time…. just in time for Easter Egg hunting….one of my hens laid this bad boy!!! Really….

…How did this happen?? The shell was really rough, and thin….and calcified. It felt like, well, calcium.

It was delicious, though!!

The flock continues to enjoy the warm, spring sunshine….GET OFF THE PORCH!!

And Penni is enjoying the fresh mounds from the awakening gophers….UGGHHH!!

BTW…I didn’t really eat that egg, hahahaha….YUCK!! I threw it to the frogs in the pond….good eats!!

Happy Palm Sunday!!

(Old Testament) Zechariah 9:9

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.

(New Testament) John 12:12-15

¹²The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:

“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’^[a]
The King of Israel!”

¹⁴Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

Behold, your King is coming,

Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”[b]
**********************************
Christ knew what He was riding into……..He loved us too much to turn and ride away…but He could have….He didn’t.  Blessed be the Lord God, Almighty!!
Please have a wonderful week as we build up to the most Holy of celebrations.
Your friend from Oregon,
Tami

Category:

Calcified Eggs, John 12:12-15, Palm Sunday, Peat Moss Pods, Wrinkly Eggs, Zechariah 9:9

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A Surprise Delivery!!!

Yesterday we were surprised with a very special delivery……well, we are expecting our little wethers…..so….guess what??!!! Are you ready????? Were we ready????? Well… we had better be….because….you may have guessed it already, but…..

ONE OF OUR GOATS CAME HOME TO THEIR NEW FARM!!!

Tony and I are pleased to announce the arrival of the very first goat to our farm…….please welcome….

Goatee the Goat!!

Isn’t he a cutie!!! Tony surprised me with this little gift in the mail!! So sweet!!

Our thoughts lately have been all goat. Where do we put them?? I mean it seems like an easy question, but it’s not….not at all. We need to set up “base camp”….there is a lot to think about, like…Will the barn structure block our view? (that is all me..LOL)…..Do we make base camp within and around an already existing structure? (most of those are too close to the house – I’m thinking flies and smells here)…..If we build a new structure, how much is THAT going to cost?? (I do not want to spend a ton of money, but I want our kids to be safe.

I like this spot….it’s on a hill which will make it a slight bit challenging to build the barn, but the goats will love it….just look at their play ground…..

….there is a bunch of brush for beyond the grass for them to enjoy. It’s a great location!! Far enough away, and down-wind from the house. Tony thinks it’s too far, especially when the weather is bad….he has a point.

On the other hand, there is this spot…..

Of course….I’ll have to move this important piece of the farm….

….which will be okay. The garden gets just a little too much shade for too long in the morning, and I need to make it a bit bigger this year.

Anyway, back to the goats….I need your help. Where would you put Goat Base Camp?

The foreground is closer to the house…..a lot closer to the house. Looking straight through to the tree line is the location I first suggested….with the brushy playground, and further from the house. One downside is that this is a good hill to sled on when it snows….but there is another!! So…where would you set up…closer to the house…or out by the tree line?

Thanks for your visit…and your help!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Goats, Spanish Goats

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Much Ado About Eggs

“For which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me?”
― William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

There really is a “love affair” that happens once you get hooked on free ranged, from Farm to Table chicken eggs. However, there is a question bringing me stress from time to time. The dilemma of the day ….. “To wash or not to wash??” ……. I’m so confused!! This question goes around and around…Much Ado About Eggs!!

A Symphony in Eggs

I was visiting a very seasoned rancher, and we got to talking about chicken eggs. At one point, he had over 100 hens from which he sold dozens, and dozens of eggs. I asked him if he sold the eggs straight from the bird, or if he washed them. He told me that he washed them…”Always wash them,” he said. He just used warm water, no stringent egg wash products. His point was that you just don’t want to take a chance….that you don’t know who is handling the eggs after they leave you, and if they will use good hygiene practices. GOOD POINT! GREAT POINT!!

After talking with him, I was pretty sold on that idea…then I thought….. “I just don’t know.” That bloom that is on the egg from the hen is a great protector. It protects the developing chick inside the egg from harmful bacteria penetrating the shell….left undisturbed, it should do the same thing to eggs intended for the frying pan…right??? AND…it is actually ILLEGAL to sell washed eggs in the UK, and all of Europe!! http://www.forbes.com/sites/nadiaarumugam/2012/10/25/why-american-eggs-would-be-illegal-in-a-british-supermarket-and-vice-versa/ I think that says A LOT!!

From http://thepoultryguide.com/collecting-and-cleaning-fresh-eggs/

Well, the USDA is also on the side of the UK for eggs in shell unless you are a USDA egg handler producing graded eggs sold in grocery stores (large egg producer with caged birds)….. “Should you wash eggs?
No. It’s not necessary or recommended for consumers to wash eggs and may actually increase the risk of contamination because the wash water can be “sucked” into the egg through the pores in the shell When the chicken lays the egg, a protective coating is put on the outside by the hen. Government regulations require that USDA-graded eggs be carefully washed and sanitized using only compounds meeting FDA regulations for processing foods.” http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/egg-products-preparation/shell-eggs-from-farm-to-table/ Basically, if the water is too cold, you run the risk of bacteria permeating the shell…….

From http://www.pure-watersolutions.com/makes-water-smell-like-rotten-eggs/

So, it seems to be one of those “Damned if you do….Damned if you don’t” kind of situations. Since there are no rules I can find regulating the washing or not washing of eggs in Oregon ( I have looked far and wide for regulations on this), I think I will leave this up to my individual customers. And yes, washed eggs are going to have to cost more since they are more labor intensive. It’s not like I have a lot of customers………right now! I guess a call for clarification to my county’s extension office is next on the list for the coming week. I want to be in compliance with my county / state’s requirements.

How do I manage eggs that I personally use, or sell?? I keep my nesting boxes clean…very clean with new pine shavings every few days, or if there is any soiling or broken eggs on any given day. The hens / rooster are outside the hen house all day…unless laying eggs. Their roost, where 99% of the poop falls, is 5 feet or so away from the nesting boxes…so things stay pretty tidy.

That being said, if there are smudges, soiling, or dried products from a broken egg on any of my eggs, they go to the dogs….literally. Depending on the weather….literally, rain or no rain, determines how many treats the dogs enjoy.

So, the eggs I eat, sell, and give away are visibly clean. I, personally, wash my eggs in warm water right before using….and tell others to do the same (with the exception of a couple of friends this past week going by the advice of the farmer …. which I still think is good advice…..) According to the USDA….maybe we don’t even have to do that….not sure. The learning process continues…..always!!!

What are your thoughts????

Thanks for spending part of your Sunday with us here on the farm!! I hope your day is wonderful!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Chicken Eggs, Free Range Chicken Eggs, Free Ranging Chickens, Nesting Boxes, Washing Eggs

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Two…The Next Step

Two…..two are a pair……a couple……a set of twins……a pair of socks…..the usual number of hands, feet, legs, arms, eyes, ears……and mouths. Let that sink in for a moment………..mouths????

GREAT BIG NEWS!!!! The farm is growing by two mouths!!

Two young Spanish Goat kids will be coming home on Monday, April 6th. They are both males….wethers…which means they will be castrated by the time they join the farm. One of the boys has been bottle fed, the other, nursed. One is black, and one is brown….both are extremely cute!!

The herd that our kids were bred into are not pastured…they roam around and eat down the brush on 252 acres….then come home every night to the barn. Spanish Goats are bred for this type of life….our forested terrain is perfect for them.

Sturdiness is synonymous with the Spanish Goat, and it is not unusual to have a buck reach 120 – 150 pounds. Although they may be large, they have a milder temperament, and doe’s generally do not need assistance when kidding…..good information for the future, ’cause right now, our two castrated males won’t even be thinking along the lines of being daddy….

Not a great picture….this guy was much cuter in person. Tony reminded me that we’re not looking for cute….these are meat goats that will clear the brush. They will have a job, whether it be to fill a freezer, or save us time on the tractor. Have you ever eaten goat meat (Chevron?) I have not. The farmer we are purchasing the kids from, said that it tastes suttle, like pork, unlike lamb that has a stronger flavor. We’ll see what happens.

There is a lot to do to get ready for these little brush hogs…..stay tuned!!!

Thank you for sharing in the next step of growth on the farm!! The next few weeks should be very exciting!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Brush Hog, Spanish Goats

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Welcome our Guests!!

Have you ever been to Canada? I have, once, as a child. I remember beautiful gardens, driving go-carts, the fairy from Vancouver to Victoria, and everything seemed very clean. In contrast, our current Canadian guests, Fred and Ethel, are really quite nonchalant about their housekeeping. Please welcome the most recent guests to the farm……. <turn up the volume>

This was the first day of Fred and Ethel’s visit, so I didn’t want to spook them by getting too close. We’ve had a myriad of ducks on Gloria’s Pond, and have hoped for geese….now I’m kind of wondering, “Why??” These beautiful pond ornaments are messy, messy, messy!! I wouldn’t mind so much if they stayed in the front pasture / pond area, but they are branching out. There is evidence….evidence that is undeniable (I will spare you the messy visual – LOL.) I’m glad we can accommodate Fred and Ethel’s desire to explore the farm…

….here they are behind the house enjoying the view. The adventure of their day came at the point that Penni caught sight of them…….honking loudly, off they flew….toward the hills, around the trees, over my neighbors barn, and back to the…..

…solace of the pond. I told our guests that their accommodations were on the pond side of the fencing….we had an extensive conversation regarding their reservations. I was convinced that they understood….

….obviously, Fred and Ethel…follow their own rules!! Despite their rebel nature, I really love our new guests, and hope they stay awhile. Might we have a gaggle of goslings this spring….I sure hope so!!! In the meantime, I don’t mind the extra housekeeping…..but I do expect some sort of reimbursement for those services provided. A few tiny swimmers would be much appreciated, but I will accept a couple of their beautiful feathers in consolation. Fred, Ethel…..get busy!!!

I other news…. Ever wonder why it’s so hard to get rid of those nasty thistle weeds…..take a look at that humongo root. We still have a week of winter, right?? Why are these already threatening to take over the garden??!! UGHH!!

In true form…my girl, Claudio, stayed with me throughout my dig-out-the-thistles afternoon catching any bug or worm that were turned out. Claudio and I have a special relationship….she knows when I have shovel in hand, goodies follow….smart girl!!

Thank you for visiting the farm today. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami – P.S. Don’t forget the green on Tuesday!!

Category:

Birds of Oregon, Birds of the Pacific Northwest, Canada, Canadian Geese, Fred and Ethel

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Benedict’s Bungalow

A few posts ago, I hinted…well maybe more than hinted….on the flock’s new house. it has been a work in progress….work a little…..NOT…..work a little….NOT, and finally it is finished I had very little to do with this construction project beyond design …. Tony did 90% of the work, my son…..maybe 10%. So, although the new little shelter should be called, Tony’s Place, (or something like that), it has to be….Benedict’s Bungalow!!!

It started with a moveable foundation, built on skids. The one part I did help with was the building of the trusses for the roof.

Every hen house deserves a nice porch to sit out on while enjoying those long, summer evenings!!

YES!!! We are wired for electricity!!! No more flashlights, or construction extension cords draped across the ground from the shop. Hey…we have to have….

……Christmas lights!!!

Insulation for our fine feathered friends!! They deserve this…they work hard for us.

I think I could live in this little house!!!

I think they are enjoying their little house!!!

The flock is really enjoying this set-up of their roosting boards. There seems to be a lot less picking on each other, and there is enough space for those ladies lower on the pecking order to find a peaceful resting spot.

The new 16″ x 16″ nesting boxes.

I think the girls are happy….I know they are! With more light, peaceful nights, and these amazing nests…we are getting between six and nine eggs a day now!!!

And with this automatic chicken door….. I’m a happy camper too!!! It raises and lowers with the light of day, and as night descends. Now that I trust that the flock understands that this is their home, and they haven’t missed getting into the house on time for two weeks…I am not running out every night to check on them. I’m trusting that everybody has made it in… it’s very liberating, actually!!! 🙂

So, I leave you with this….the next time you crack open an egg…..think about the hen that gave you that little gem, and thank her. If you think it’s easy work….just listen to our morning……they do carry on!!!

Thank you for visiting the flock today!! I hope your time here was fun!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

Buff Orphington / Rhode Island Red Mix, Buff Orpington, building a new home, Chicken House, Chickens, Rhode Island Reds

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T-I-M-B-E-RRRRR

The sound of a chainsaw screaming in anticipation of the job ahead….that was the sound this past week. As most of us, west of the Cascades, have experienced, winter has already turned to spring. I don’t know what happened with that old ground hog’s prediction this year, but for those of us in Oregon, and California (I’m pretty sure Washington, as well) those 6 more weeks of winter did not hold true… at all. My condolences if you live on the east coast…….

Service Dog Project – Ipswitch, MA http://www.servicedogproject.org/ …… snowed over for weeks now!!

Although we are still getting into freezing temps through the night, the days are very mild…perfect for timber work….as necessary, and cyclical as the annual, “mowing of the grasses” season. It’s important to rid the forest of damaged trees, they become unstable…the “widow makers” of the forest. In turn, we resupply our firewood supply for the winter….ideally, we’d be cutting for the winter of 2016-2017 right now, but we are a little behind and are still stocking for 2015-2016. We’ve got to pick up the pace a little as our season to fell timber stops with the “burn ban” that occurs every year in July….maybe earlier this year if the rains stop sooner than what is normal. With the weird weather pattern we’ve had this year, I hope the rains don’t stop too early, but I worry.

In an effort to not add to the particulars and such in our gorgeous, clean, Pacific Northwest air, Tony and I decided a long time ago that instead of burning, we would chip the branches that we couldn’t really use for firewood.

It’s better for the environment, and provides us with some beautiful mulch for the garden. This pile is from one tree….there are a lot of needles as this tree was very full….the aroma is amazing.

Like the best Christmas Tree smell, ever!!!

When the chainsaw, and chipper’s jobs are completed, it’s time to split the wood into wood-stove-useable size logs. Since we don’t live in -0 temps, and our house is pretty energy efficient, we don’t need huge logs to keep the house warm. Plus, smaller logs are just easier to handle…and look really pretty when they burn.

So Gorgeous!!

Seriously, when logs like these are burning hot, like this, we barely use our heater at all. It a wonderful thing!!!

When you think of splitting wood, what pops into your mind? Is it the iconic lumberjack, or cowboy wielding an axe that he purposefully hammers down onto an upright log, as the wood splinters from it’s stronghold, and falls to the ground? Sexy…yes….impractical for my man’s back….also yes!! This is how Tony (or any of us for that matter…mostly Tony) splits our firewood, and I have to say, there is something very relaxing about watching it break apart in slow motion, really…if you can get past the noise. Listen for the cracking…..

This tree that gave us the batch of logs, from the video below, had it’s top crown broken off in a wind storm this year. The wood on the inside of the tree was wet from water being absorbed back inside the tree’s trunk from the top break. It was good to fell this tree.

Amazing how much moisture this tree absorbed.

The beginnings of a rotting, live Douglas Fir.

In other news……I have a question. With all mature hens in the flock…which one of the girls laid this tiny, tiny egg??

Only about the size of a walnut.

Thank you for taking the time to visit the farm today. I hope your winter quickly turns to spring. Keep watching…….it’s on the horizon.

Take care of yourselves out there!!!

Your friend from Oregon,

Tami

Category:

building a new home, Chipping, Service Dog Project, Splitting wood

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My Home is in …….

How do you compare the two, very distinct, environments that I call home? They are remarkably different, as one would assume. I do not find a ton of similarities, however, to the chagrin of many Oregonians, there is a California encroachment of sorts that seems to be occurring……good….some of it…..not so good….unfortunately, that comes with it too. My recent visit to the San Francisco Bay Area, really impressed a few things on me….

…. there is more traffic than I remember… I remember a lot of traffic …

…. there is constant movement …. it seems as though it’s almost a sin to just stop, relax, and not look at, but take the time to gaze upon a sunset, or a playful squirrel … I remember this too, but I’d kind of forgotten ….

…. the pace of change is amazing …. the demolition and construction that has taken place in the last 3 1/2 years is astounding …. much faster, and more prolific than I remember happening in the past …. the buildings are fresh, and new ….

…. there is a lot of concrete…..I seriously forgot about the concrete tunnel that runs along Hwy 101 with the tall, cement, sound barrier walls lining both sides of the freeway …. while we were still going back and forth from our property to the bay area before finally moving north, I always experienced a sadness upon returning to the “concrete jungle” that has become the bay area …. there used to be orchards, and open space ….

…. the 49er’s new stadium – Levi’s Stadium, is gorgeous …. definitely not the nostalgic feel of, “the Stick,” Candlestick Park, but holds a lot of promise of it’s own…now if the Niners can just start winning ….

….. it now costs 10 cents to allow a store, any store, to give you a bag with your purchase …. and, no plastic bags, only paper …. so either pay the 10 cents per bag, bring your own, or carry out your items in your arms ………..

If you’ve ever wanted good Basque meal, the Basque Cultural Center in So. San Francisco is the place to be!!!

…. the Basque community that I have been apart of since meeting, and marrying, Tony, is unique and wonderful…. I have missed that sense of, “extended family,” much more than I knew ….

…. It was good, really good, to see family …. I don’t think I’ll let 3 1/2 years pass again ….

This beautiful young lady…..

…turned a fabulous 80 years old this month. Happy Birthday to my beautiful Mother-in-law!

…. Next time, I’ll need at least an extra day to visit with dear friends whom I didn’t have time to see this trip …. sorry about that ….

…. China Cafe still rocks the socks off of any Chinese food restaurant I’ve been able to find up here in Oregon …. seriously their Moo Shu Pork, and Hot and Sour Soup are to die for ….

The most amazing Hot and Sour Soup ever!!!

Mu Shoo Pork to die for!!!

…. In N Out Burger is still the most “awesomest,” fast food burger joint to hit the planet …. no more 3 1/2 years to feast on one of their beauties …. they’ve breached the border … they’re coming to Oregon!!!! ….

A “double-single” (that’s two patties, one cheese – In N Out jargon)

…. Lastly, the innovation, the excitement, the impression of limitless boundaries of success is an aura that the bay area exudes, demanding incredible amounts of time, and many valuable years of one’s life. Driving around, just being there, I felt a part of it again …. it can be addicting, it is an exciting place to be …. the roads or paths one can take are far reaching into technology, higher education, cutting edge medical advances, and lots and lots of GOOGLE. You get the impression that the world is your oyster, just waiting to be opened …. it’s exciting …. there are many, many opportunities to excel within, really, anything you want to do (except farming) …. however, it’s a false reality in a way …. because when you live in it your entire life, and then leave, it is a bit of a shock to find out that the rest of the country doesn’t necessarily perceive life that same way.

I’m thankful that I can visit, and breathe-in that sense of “limitless boundaries” once in awhile….also, for the life here in Oregon, and the ability to stop and gaze upon that playful squirrel (or deer, for that matter.) … for growing friendships, and the family who are close by (because I miss the one’s who are far.) For the open spaces and broad skylines, and for the slower pace of life, and the uniqueness of Oregon, wherein, most people value recreational time as much as working time …. there is a balance here, and from what I’ve experienced, people are very serious about protecting that balance. That’s a good thing…….that’s a great thing!!