Thursday, April 28, 2011

Easter

Typical Easter weather! Glad to have it though, it keeps the wildfires at bay.

Is that a basketball?







It appears that Josephine is carrying a basketball between her back legs. I can't believe the size of her udder for a first time mom. AND she isn't due to kid until May 9th! I'm watching very closely to hopefully prevent mastitis.

Chicks are growing!

At 15 days old the chicks are trying to fly around the brooder. I Have to be careful when I take the top off that no one escapes. They would be cat snacks immediately!

Hoping to get the outside coop ready for them on Friday. Hoping this broody hen will adopt them.









Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sad news

Yesterday morning I opened the barn door to find Rosie dead. She probably died of bloat in the night. The worst part is that she was due to kid in 10 days :(
I considered opening her up to try and save the kids, but it had been too long and there was no movement of any kind.
Rosie narrowly escaped a bear attack at Claire's house last September, she then came back here to live. Lilac is her twin sister. Rosie's daughter Lucy, still lives at Claire's house about 10 miles from here, and has been very freaked out the last couple evenings. Do you suppose she knows?
We will miss you Rose, you were a sweet non assuming goat.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Chicks
















These pictures were take on April 9 - so the chicks are twice this size and getting feathers now.

And yes, the brooder is in the sunroom.

Cilantro

You won't believe the level of excitement that a handful of cilantro stems can cause with the chicks in the brooder :) It was fun to watch.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Full moons and goats

There is crazy goat behavior during a full moon. When I go to do chores in the evenings of a full moon, even though it is still light and the moon isn't up yet, there is still an influence.

So last night, two goats (Owen and Brigitt) forced their way out the gate under my feet as I went in with the hay. Then all seven (the fuzzy family) were out dashing around the pasture! They were eating some of the nice green grass, but mostly they were just running around. I let them play for a few minutes while feeding those in other pens. Finally corralled Melanie, Missy, Junebug and Firefly, putting them in their house. At that point Owen, Nelsen and Brigitt came in pretty easily and went to bed. :) It was a fun game......

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Mattie learns to drive

Course this was only between the barn and the driveway :) You should always teach the youngsters to drive on the farm roads or in the fields....

Goat kid predictions

Here are my predicts for the number of kids to be born this May. Daisy - twins Baby Belle - triplets Rose - single Brigitt- single Annie - triplets Josephine -triplets Avalon - twins I may be totally wrong, but it is fun to see.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Chicks

Baby chicks have arrived!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Farmers Markets


I'll be selling soap, handspun yarn, knitted items and eggs at three farmer's markets this summer.

I have known for a while that I will be at the Aspen Grove Market in Littleton on Wednesdays and Wheatridge on Thursdays starting on June 15. But was just offered the Highlands Ranch market on Sundays last night. It starts Mays 1st so better get more soap made soon!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Arlo

Arlo celebrated his third birthday on Wednesday March 30. He was very excited when I let him out that morning, as I reminded him it was his birthday. He went dashing around the pen several times - well at least dashing as much as a 180# goat can dash....