Dune Fencing

Our first year with free range chickens and a fall garden wound up being a year without any fall produce. So the following spring, we found a cheap and quick way to keep the chickens out for the year.

Milking Prep

I am getting quite uncomfortable. I'm getting a little nervous. Ok, I am freaking out. OH MY GOODNESS. I'm going to start milking a couple of goats in the very near future.

The New Nubians

Sissy's boy, and also the only buckling. He was the first born too. The kids love him, he's a sweetie. They call him Gregor.

Our First Kidding

Is it normal to feel so raw and ragged after a goat kidding? I am exhausted, elated, and worn thin. I feel as if I've been through all the emotions of labor and delivery, but without the expected rest afterward, or the baby to sit around and nurse.

Putting Down a Floor & Moving Goats in

It's funny how fast and busy those weeks off are, isn't it? Jeremy took a week of vacation time to get some homestead work done because we were getting behind. He's working his regular full-time job, and working at Spring Lake Family Farms a lot to get that business up and running. It's going so well, but the homestead work was getting pushed to the wayside. And we needed to play catch up because we have babies coming!

Milk Fever & Mistakes

I noticed the goats' milk sacks had filled up about 2 and half weeks ago, and I also noticed that Sissy had diarrhea, but thought it would resolve itself. Since I know how irregular I am when pregnant. But then one day I went out to feed them, and Sissy was down. And she didn't get up to eat the food I brought out. I knew something was wrong then. Goats eat when there is food. So I started calling for help.

Top Ten Posts for 2015

2015 was a good year for us, with plenty of ups and downs, changes in plans, blessings and stressings. I fell twice, which I am not happy about (don't laugh like my husband did, I got all bruised up and made awful noises on the way down).

Instructions to my Mom

Hey Mom, we're going out of town to visit Jeremy's family, and, well, would you please take care of the animals for us? They won't be any trouble, I'm sure. Here's how to do it:

Firstly, you'll want to wear a jimmy jacket with the hood up. No worries! It'll just keep you a little safer...

The Nesting Buckets that Jeremy Built

We've had a few days here and there when the rain has stopped and the mud has dried up. (But don't worry, the mud doesn't get so dry that it turns back into dirt before it starts raining again.) One night during a dry spell, I mentioned (for the 50th time) that we needed to get some kind of nesting boxes set up in the new coop to Jeremy.

20 More Useful Christmas Gifts

Chickens Vs. Guineas

So we have a few issues with the guinea flock, this time around.

They are mean.

They are a gang.

And there is too many of them.

A Hay Feeder that Jeremy Built

Jeremy's been building again. This time... I'm not going to say it's ugly, but it is pretty funny looking. He wanted to build a quick hay feeder for the goats since we were getting the billy that week. His agenda was to build something the goats could not knock over. And, well, they can't knock this thing over!

Goat Ed.

Honestly y'all, I'm still trying to process what all happened today. And I'm trying to figure out how to tell about it. It was awful, terrifying, horrifying, and soooo embarrassing all at the same time.

We got the billy today.

I'll just die clean

I've been trying to quit using commercial products in the bathroom for about a year now. Which means no shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, or toothpaste from the store. Which means right now I feel like I'm making my life harder than it needs to be.

Chickens in the Coop

Moving the pullets into the new coop was the fun part. They were getting quite cramped in their little box. We had added another kennel to give them more room during the day, but they needed a lot more space.

How to Build a Chicken Coop ~ Part 2

I finally pinned Jeremy down, so he could finish explaining how he built our beautiful new chicken coop. For the first part, click here.

How to Build a Chicken Coop ~ Part 1

As I said before, this chicken coop was...interesting to build. Poor Jeremy. He loves me so much.

Friday Farm Day

We had a fun day outside this afternoon. We had to wait until the worst of the heat (felt like 109 today) passed for the day, but then Jeremy and the big kids worked until dark. The littles and I were sent inside; we weren't being productive and Esmond was getting in the way. Which you shall see.

We're working on the new coop. And weeding the garden. I feel like I'm cutting sod while I'm weeding. So many weeds. Anyway, here's our afternoon!

Changing Flocks

So chickens. Our flock now has 4 Rhode Island Reds, one Easter Egger, and what I assume is a Buff Orpington, although I'm really not sure. And Sunny the rooster is some sort of bantam. It's a mixed flock and has done exceptionally well for us. They provide us with 6 eggs a day, Sunny is the best rooster I've ever seen, and they generally take care of themselves.

Chicks & Needs

I think I have a problem.