This morning we got an early start and got Chipper and Sage disbudded. For those not familiar with this, you take a giant soldering iron and burn off the nubs of the kids horns that are beginning to emerge. It sucks for the kids and for us and it stinks! As with many things in life though, it's for their own good. They shook off their trauma quickly, luckily, and are no worse for the wear.
Sage is on the left, Chipper is getting a darker mask around his eyes
Next, I was off to pick up our new herdsire, Flash. He's not much on the sire part yet, but he'll be ready in the fall. Flash came from Buffalo Creek Farm in Germanton (same place we got Rosie and Petunia). He's a little unsure about the newness, but hopefully he and Chipper will be bounding around together soon. I'm going to have to do some creative separating over the next few weeks so tomorrow's goal is to obtain a Gallagher smart fence. Here's hoping Clemmon's Mill has them in stock and they're as easy to operated as the videos show. Chuck and I also built a little loafing shed for the little goats. Not sure where it will be permanently but for now it's in the main pen. The back pen has been walked and I'm picking up another fence charger for it tomorrow, also.
Flash- I love the little white band on his nose.
We also got some general farm maintenance done - pens cleaned, ponds filled, etc. Then it was time to plant! Chuck and Madison planted beets, peas (snap and snow) and lettuce, while Willow and I started feeding and bringing animals in.
Coming up, we're still awaiting Scarlet's kids- she is beginning to make her udder, so any time now... Our newest chicks will arrive the week of March 7th. Foxy has been bread to Isaac for bunnies late in March. And, hopefully, this week I will start milking Rosie once a day for our delicious goats milk! Yum!
A couple of our roosters...
Peck- head honcho
(Partridge Cochin)
Spaulding - number 2
(Delaware)
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