Spring Equinox 2014

The chickens are not amused with Mother Nature's humor. At the Equinox we received quite the dump of snow. In the past few days the glaciers are finally receding. At long last we can safely imagine a growing season.

The goats are giving birth...so the change of seasons must be true. We have two does left to kid. Let's hope for more sun to dry up the lake of cold melt and green up the grass below.

The Latest and Last



Andy's baby buck born Friday 20

  Last two births gave us boys. We will raise them up together and use one or both for breeding. Andy's kid has genetics from outside our animals so we are anxious to use him to get some separation within the herd.



Butch, son of Amos, born Friday 13


Soon we will have pics of piles of baby goats. They will be together until the bucklings are about two months old. Then we will separate them out to prevent unwanted accidental pregnancies. Believe it or not the fellas are able and certainly willing at that age. The boys also start to become more rough and dominant. If we were to castrate in order to keep a wether, this would be the latest we would want to do that. The young females would surely suffer from a premature pregnancy at that age.

Butch trying to greet his new cousin and companion.

 I managed to miss every birth this year arriving on the scene within the hour of the events. Regardless I am relieved that kidding season is over. We had no major complications and all the animals seem healthy and robust.

Total of 4 kids from three births. Two females, two male. Pretty ideal numbers.

New Kids on the Farm

Born Easter Sunday at 2 a.m. Both are female and oh so cuter by the day. Sparky is a great mom and had impressive delivery with no intervention.

 

Especially cute when yawning...

You can already tell this one is going to be a little trouble maker.

We are happy that the babes are well. We have two more does due in May so there should be some more kid pics to come.

Meanwhile in the garden things are really popping. The heat accompanying all this rain has given everything a boost. The peas have just breached the earth in the upper and lower gardens. I've got perennial herbs and walking onions that are starting to grow gang-busters. It's the time of renewal and a quickening. I'm really excited for the season.