Chooks

The house is full of little chicks kept warm by light bulbs ( the old type). We sit at each meal and watch them whilst we try to decide what breed and sex they are. So far we think the yellow chicks are faverolles the black ones are faverlolle /aracana cross and the brown ones are welsummer cross, but we could be wrong.

They are all very cute still. the older chicks have grown feathers and at four weeks old look about quail size. They don't look at all cute now.

We have started to sell excess animals and another five goats were sold this week. Saddly japaljarri had to go too as the new brown buck will be used this year. It is always sad to see animals go but they are now looking in lovely condition and we hope their new owners value them.

The Murray grey calf ,Bonnie, is also going home next week . We have weaned her off her twice daily bottles of goats milk and she is still looking fat with the Spring grass so her owner has arranged to pick her up next Monday. We have phoned the shearer as the sheep are in need of a hair cut . He is getting old now and each year we are worried that he will have retired but it looks as if we are still lucky this year. He comes really early so we have to run around getting everything organised at first light but he gives us a few hours warning before he arrives.

It is 80 degrees F or 26 degrees C in the cool of the house but much hotter outside. I have dug out my thongs and been for a swim in between work. The restaurant has ordered extra eggs for tonight and I am making a Wensleydale cheese from todays goat milk .

Dave P is back on his yearly migration following the sun from the UK . He wants to help here again this year . woopee . Last year he fixed gates and made life easier for all.

Bo has ripped out the kitchen at her new house and is sanding down the floor boards in between breast feeds for the new baby. She has had no stove for weeks and no sink this week either . for a mum with three young kids she is staying remarkably calm.

The first brood of chicks have been moved to a pen in the shed and are coping well. The new chicks I brought at the week end seem Ok but another brood hatches from the inncubator ( all being well ) next week so we may have a space problem. They got slightly too hot over the last few days so I hope they will still be OK.

The goat kids are all growing well now and we have moved their mothers into the hay paddock. The cows are now on the hill and the horses in the far East paddock. Next we need to sell stock as the grass is burning off fast. The two lambs I have been training as pets are ready for their new homes now .

the lambs are quite large now

7.11.2008

It is raining. At last . The lack of rain is already causing problems. I have to drive all the laundry to Yarra Glen where they have town water so that the water in our tanks can be saved for drinking and showering. Even the small shower today is welcome and luckily it started after the school students left.

I have been spending an hour each evening getting water to the vegetables and citrus fruit trees . We still have plenty in the big dam but in past years it is overflowing at this time of year. Tonight I can have a break from that job.

The chicks are two weeks old now and I have another batch in the inncubator ready to hatch about the 20th . The chicks are still in a big tank in the dining room where I can keep an eye on them. We need to set up the next stage cage for them before the next group hatch.

November 4 2008

If Obama can handle the USA , surely I can learn to blog , if such a verb exists.
The purpose of doing this is to allow visitors to our eco-farm to keep in contact with what is happening during the farm year . WE have many young visitors who want to know how their special animal friend is doing so this might help them . Also people can plan a stay here to co-incide with special farm events .

here goes try one !!