Well, I did it again - ordered more chicks. But this year I got serious about egg production. Both Black Austrolorps and Rhode Island Reds are excellent layers. I need to have a couple of breeds like them so that I can keep buying the feed to take care of my Campines! I am hooked on those marvelous little birds, but they hide their eggs. That means I have a chicken whose production is not that good to begin with AND who hides her eggs - not to hatch them out, but just because these chickens seem to be just one short step from wild chickens.
I will butcher the last of the Buckeyes as soon as I bring the new chicks out to the Moop - probably early July. Buckeyes are what are called dual-purpose birds, and the protocol is to let them lay for just one season, then butcher them. They are heavy birds that will make great stewing hens. My problem is that I let them lay for two seasons, so I am not getting many eggs from them, and being big birds, they eat a lot of feed.
I got conflicting information about the best brown egg layers. I couldn't decide between the Austrolorps and the Rhode Island Reds, so I ordered a dozen of each. Then I threw in a few Ameraucanas (they lay blue eggs, and I am amazed that the two I have are still laying pretty well, but they won't for much longer), another dozen Campines, and to round it out, some Welsummers. Welsummers lay a very dark brown egg, and some of them are medium brown with dark brown spots. Believe it or not, some of my customers buy my eggs because they like the mixture of colors that I provide, so I will be giving them something new next season.
The chicks usually arrive in June. This year, it's March 19, so I should be seeing some eggs by July. I am always excited about getting my chicks. This year, I am excited about perhaps making a little money from them! LOL
Monday, January 9, 2012
It's a good day
Lucy was quite a bit of trouble after freshening. She couldn't nurse her calf because her udder hung too low for the calf to get to a teat. So it meant bringing her into the barn to milk her and then taking the milk back out to the calf in a nipple pail. Of course, Lucy was frantic the whole time she was being milked, not understanding that she would get to be back with her calf in a few minutes. I had to milk her with the water hose in hand, because nervous cows make lots of manure.
I got splattered with manure more than once, including in the face. One always nose breathes when milking newly fresh cows!
After the first week, the calf caught on, but she was not drinking from two of the quarters, so I still had to bring Lucy in every day or so to get her milked out. Leaving milk sit in the udder is a good way to get mastitis, so we didn't want to go there.
Mike realized that Lucy would behave better with other cows in the barn. Rosie was always so good about going in the barn, and so we brought her in. But then Rosie left us. In anticipation of her departure, I had starting bringing in her daughter Lucky (now Lucky Rose) every two or three milkings. Of course, that was a change, and cows don't like change. So Lucy bolted a few times, broke down some fencing, and took to pooping in the barn again.
Things seem to be under control again. Androo did a great job of repairing the fencing that Lucy had destroyed. He also put up a bit of fence to keep Lucky Rose from jumping over the machinery to get to the clover hay bales on the other side. BIG help.
The cows seem to have adjusted to losing Rosie, and I don't have to wander all over the paddock to find Lucy and Lucky Rose at milking time. They came in docilely this morning, and nobody bolted or leaped over machinery or broke anything. I came in from milking unscathed, and not needing a shower. And Lucy milked so well! Best milking ever. With only one cow milking, the shareholders are not getting much, but everyone is so thankful that we have milk again, after the herd went dry in late October.
So the cow situation couldn't be better. I think about finding them a new home, and then a morning like this one makes me want to hold on to them until I absolutely can no longer physically take care of them. Bovines are beautiful animals. I am bonded to them, and can't imagine this farm without them.
I got splattered with manure more than once, including in the face. One always nose breathes when milking newly fresh cows!
After the first week, the calf caught on, but she was not drinking from two of the quarters, so I still had to bring Lucy in every day or so to get her milked out. Leaving milk sit in the udder is a good way to get mastitis, so we didn't want to go there.
Mike realized that Lucy would behave better with other cows in the barn. Rosie was always so good about going in the barn, and so we brought her in. But then Rosie left us. In anticipation of her departure, I had starting bringing in her daughter Lucky (now Lucky Rose) every two or three milkings. Of course, that was a change, and cows don't like change. So Lucy bolted a few times, broke down some fencing, and took to pooping in the barn again.
Things seem to be under control again. Androo did a great job of repairing the fencing that Lucy had destroyed. He also put up a bit of fence to keep Lucky Rose from jumping over the machinery to get to the clover hay bales on the other side. BIG help.
The cows seem to have adjusted to losing Rosie, and I don't have to wander all over the paddock to find Lucy and Lucky Rose at milking time. They came in docilely this morning, and nobody bolted or leaped over machinery or broke anything. I came in from milking unscathed, and not needing a shower. And Lucy milked so well! Best milking ever. With only one cow milking, the shareholders are not getting much, but everyone is so thankful that we have milk again, after the herd went dry in late October.
So the cow situation couldn't be better. I think about finding them a new home, and then a morning like this one makes me want to hold on to them until I absolutely can no longer physically take care of them. Bovines are beautiful animals. I am bonded to them, and can't imagine this farm without them.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Happy New Year!
Well, life goes on without Rosie. It has been a real challenge to get Lucy in the barn without Rosie leading the way. Lucky, Rosie's daughter, is not always as cooperative as her mother was, and she totally refused to go in the barn yesterday morning. So I took in Blackie.
Blackie believes I have indoor plumbing, I think. Every milker who reads this will know what I mean. Even if I dawdle getting her in, even if I watch her pee and poop copiously on the way to the barn, she always saves some for indoors. So Blackie obliged by going to the bar in front of Lucy, Lucy then went in docilely to be milked - and Blackie pooped not once, but three times IN THE BARN. Argh!!!!
Last night, I got Lucky in first, at which time she jumped over some equipment and got to the hay. I had to chase her out of the barn and start over. Double Argh!!!!!!!!! Rosie, I miss you!
Everyone in the pasture was acting silly. It was the snow. They had a snow day, and there was much cavorting around, fake fighting, kicking up of heels. Separating Lucky from the fun was a challenge - she is young and was in the thick of it. And then when I finally got both Lucky and Lucy settled down and got the milker on Lucy, I heard a banging on the barn door. It was Sam, trying to get in the barn. He had managed to open the gate into the holding pen and was in there looking for Rosie, I am sure. He is puzzled, to say the least.
It will take a while, but they will all adjust over time. Lucy has quit crying for her calf. Sam will find another "best friend." Lucky will come into the barn without incident and stand quietly while I milk Lucy.
Life goes on. Enjoy it. And have a Happy New Year!
Love and good living to you all, from down here on the farm.
Susan, the Accidental Farmer.
Blackie believes I have indoor plumbing, I think. Every milker who reads this will know what I mean. Even if I dawdle getting her in, even if I watch her pee and poop copiously on the way to the barn, she always saves some for indoors. So Blackie obliged by going to the bar in front of Lucy, Lucy then went in docilely to be milked - and Blackie pooped not once, but three times IN THE BARN. Argh!!!!
Last night, I got Lucky in first, at which time she jumped over some equipment and got to the hay. I had to chase her out of the barn and start over. Double Argh!!!!!!!!! Rosie, I miss you!
Everyone in the pasture was acting silly. It was the snow. They had a snow day, and there was much cavorting around, fake fighting, kicking up of heels. Separating Lucky from the fun was a challenge - she is young and was in the thick of it. And then when I finally got both Lucky and Lucy settled down and got the milker on Lucy, I heard a banging on the barn door. It was Sam, trying to get in the barn. He had managed to open the gate into the holding pen and was in there looking for Rosie, I am sure. He is puzzled, to say the least.
It will take a while, but they will all adjust over time. Lucy has quit crying for her calf. Sam will find another "best friend." Lucky will come into the barn without incident and stand quietly while I milk Lucy.
Life goes on. Enjoy it. And have a Happy New Year!
Love and good living to you all, from down here on the farm.
Susan, the Accidental Farmer.
Friday, December 30, 2011
A tribute to Rosie
I got this poem from Lynn Patrick, one of the founding members of our dairy herd association, and a milker during the first year of our existence. I asked her if I could pass it on, and she agreed. Here it is.
Ode to Rosie
Hail Rosie!
Righteous bovine.
First of our Herd.
Independently - minded.
She would go where she would go,
And I would chase her through the pasture,
While Baby Doll, ever obedient, followed Rosie's every step.
Now, Rosie is following Baby Doll
Into the great hereafter.
I pray for green grass, pure water, gentle rains.
The great herdsman is there - and there is no sorrow;
And all calves survive.
So may our herds increase.
For we must have cream in our coffee in heaven!
And it couldn't be heaven without our sweet cows,
Our dogs, our cats, all our animal friends.
I will then honor her and all the others with my tears.
Until we meet again.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Rosie's final journey
The average "factory farm" cow lives about 36 months. They are bred too young, given hormones to bring them back in heat and get them bred quickly after they freshen, are milked three times a day, and then are thrown away. Enjoy that McDonald's hamburger.
Rosie is our oldest cow - she is now 12. She was our first cow, too. Two of her offspring are part of our herd now. Romeo, a bull calf, has already proven himself and the two heifers he was penned up with will freshen in March and April. Lucky, the first calf that Rosie had once she was down here, has freshened twice, will have her third calf in March. I am so glad that we will have these reminders of Rosie.
Rosie is getting frail, and she didn't settle (that means to get pregnant) this year. I should have sent her to the butcher six months ago, but I kept thinking, "She will get better soon." Talk about denial. If she is getting a bit crippled and losing weight, why do I think that being six months older will "fix" it?
I called the hauler and the butcher. Rosie will be gone on Monday. My heart is heavy. I console myself by remembering that she has had a very good life here, living in the open, well fed, shown love by every milker who handled her. She was a favorite of every one of us.
Lucy is the cow who just freshened on December 4. She is not a friendly cow, never has been, has always been a bit of a loner. But she doesn't like being in the barn alone to be milked. So I've been bringing in Rosie to stand in front of her and Quattro to stand behind. Then she behaves perfectly, is very easy to milk.
This morning I looked up while milking and saw her resting her head on Rosie's neck. Very unusual behavior. Then the reverse happened, and Rosie was resting her head on Lucy's neck. They both know. Don't ask me how they know, or how I know they know, but they know - and I KNOW they know.
But I must dwell on the good things. Here is my favorite picture of Rosie, taken right after we brought her down here to my farm four years ago. We didn't name her because of the mark on her head, I didn't even see it until a new shareholder said, "Oh, you named her Rosie because of the upside down rose on her forehead!" Can you see it? I can, now that Justin mentioned it.
Our bull Sam and Rosie have always been close, just like to hang out together, even when they are not making babies. This is one of my favorite pictures of the two of them, off from the rest of the herd, grazing on the edge of the woods, just the two of them. Sam will miss Rosie. We will all miss Rosie.
Rosie is our oldest cow - she is now 12. She was our first cow, too. Two of her offspring are part of our herd now. Romeo, a bull calf, has already proven himself and the two heifers he was penned up with will freshen in March and April. Lucky, the first calf that Rosie had once she was down here, has freshened twice, will have her third calf in March. I am so glad that we will have these reminders of Rosie.
Rosie is getting frail, and she didn't settle (that means to get pregnant) this year. I should have sent her to the butcher six months ago, but I kept thinking, "She will get better soon." Talk about denial. If she is getting a bit crippled and losing weight, why do I think that being six months older will "fix" it?
I called the hauler and the butcher. Rosie will be gone on Monday. My heart is heavy. I console myself by remembering that she has had a very good life here, living in the open, well fed, shown love by every milker who handled her. She was a favorite of every one of us.
Lucy is the cow who just freshened on December 4. She is not a friendly cow, never has been, has always been a bit of a loner. But she doesn't like being in the barn alone to be milked. So I've been bringing in Rosie to stand in front of her and Quattro to stand behind. Then she behaves perfectly, is very easy to milk.
This morning I looked up while milking and saw her resting her head on Rosie's neck. Very unusual behavior. Then the reverse happened, and Rosie was resting her head on Lucy's neck. They both know. Don't ask me how they know, or how I know they know, but they know - and I KNOW they know.
But I must dwell on the good things. Here is my favorite picture of Rosie, taken right after we brought her down here to my farm four years ago. We didn't name her because of the mark on her head, I didn't even see it until a new shareholder said, "Oh, you named her Rosie because of the upside down rose on her forehead!" Can you see it? I can, now that Justin mentioned it.
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| Rosie |
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| Rosie & Sam on a date |
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Happy Yule
Tonight we celebrate Winter Solstice, or Yule, at my house. Nothing fancy, just opening my door to visitors at 7:00 p.m. I made lentil soup for my vegetarian friends, collards with smoked ham for my omnivore friends, and a big pan of pulled pork. Of course, there is also homemade bread - two loaves, French baguettes.
Tonight is all about sitting around eating and talking, no bonfire, no ritual, just enjoying the fact that the Wheel has ticked to another Sabbat and we are all still here to enjoy it.
Blessed Be.
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| French Baguettes |
Tonight is all about sitting around eating and talking, no bonfire, no ritual, just enjoying the fact that the Wheel has ticked to another Sabbat and we are all still here to enjoy it.
Blessed Be.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Frustrated chickens
I am pretty frustrated, too. Those darned chickens keep hiding eggs, and this time I can't find them. So I penned them up, closed up their little door in the big gate. Some of them have flown the coop (literally), but most are in for the day. They have a nice big area in which to run, but those Campines long to find new hiding places for eggs. Look at them standing at the gate. Do they really think I am going to let them out?
Nine eggs yesterday, and nineteen today. I only hope I find the latest hiding place soon. Rotten eggs smell, well, ROTTEN!
Just thought I would add that I decided to dress the tree. It's full of homemade ornaments, and a few of my store bought ones. Isn't it pretty? Got those two holiday cards out to my aunties today. The rest can wait a day or two. Well, out to milk, then I can come in and enjoy the evening. I'm going to start wrapping gifts tonight. The holiday spirit is upon me!!
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| The crew staring out at me. |
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| Goldie & Ricky munching away |
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| Look at all those eggs from captured chickens! |
Nine eggs yesterday, and nineteen today. I only hope I find the latest hiding place soon. Rotten eggs smell, well, ROTTEN!
Just thought I would add that I decided to dress the tree. It's full of homemade ornaments, and a few of my store bought ones. Isn't it pretty? Got those two holiday cards out to my aunties today. The rest can wait a day or two. Well, out to milk, then I can come in and enjoy the evening. I'm going to start wrapping gifts tonight. The holiday spirit is upon me!!
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