Wish I had more of this homemade eggnog for the recap (so much better than the guar gum garbage they try to pass off as eggnog. The raw eggs haven't killed me yet).
Anyhoo...we'd planned to butcher chickens after Christmas. On Saturday, Dec 22, I checked out the 10-day forecast and it was miserable. Rain, rain, more rain followed by wind and bitter cold. I decided that if I didn't want these birds to get sick and die and if I didn't want to butcher in 40 degrees with a 15 mph north wind, I'd better get them done. So we butchered them all the Sunday before Christmas.
I feel terrible that the change in plans meant some people didn't get the birds they'd ordered but I was not sad to have them gone over Christmas.
We had a really nice time with family get-togethers Christmas Eve night and Christmas Day.
The handmade goat milk soaps were a hit! Didn't my mom do a great job helping to package them?
Cole's little silkies started laying. It's confirmed, they are all 3 hens so I've ordered him a rooster on Backyard Chickens. He's coming from West Virginia and the seller is throwing in an extra for free. That makes 4 roos at Hammock Haven- my neighbors are going to love me.
No, this is not mine! My dear friend got a Mini-Jersey cow. She was on a milking schedule of 4:30 am and 3 pm. I would be an abysmal failure at that! My sweet little goaties put up with my 9 am & 5 pm routine. Morning person, I am not!
Speaking of goats, we visited my adorable little Alpines. The breeder is sending the pregnancy test in on Jan 15. I can't wait to get them but need some bred goats!!!
Friday afternoon, hubby took the kids to his folks' for the weekend. I was looking forward to a weekend of R&R but when I got up to milk Saturday morning, Kat was back in heat. Ugh, I couldn't believe it. At least Onyx didn't cycle this month.
Hubby had our truck and my farm hands and I needed to get the buck! Another wonderful friend let me borrow her husband and son to unhook the trailer from Hubby's work truck and load the goat gofer in the back. Thank God for good friends!
Buddy the Buck is going to spend a month here this time. If yesterday's escapades didn't get her bred, we are running out of time as January is probably the last time she will cycle this year. Keep your fingers crossed!
And finally, I found a clutch of green eggs in the muck (did I mention it's been wet). I assumed that my Easter Eggers had finally started laying again and cursed them for their taste in nests. I removed the nasty eggs, threw them against a tree and blocked off where they were laying.
I found another egg in the run on Friday and yet another in the muck last night. That's when it occurred to me. These are duck eggs not waterlogged chicken eggs! Poor Clay, I destroyed her nest. This morning, I took a bag of hay the goats had spread around the ground and made a nice dry nest where I'd found the first eggs.
That's about it around here. I'm going to putter at taking down Christmas decorations this afternoon. I hope you all had a great holiday!
Well hello. I'm glad you're back. I hope you get your egg situation straightened out. Maybe some ducklings soon? I got 4 eggs today! I have 4 hens so all 4 laid an egg today. You are in the same mess I'm in with the does. My buck's coming home tomorrow! Hope he's not too tired.
ReplyDeleteYes I'm back! The pressure is on to get these girls bred with the season ending. If he's anything like Buddy, I'm sure John Henry will be up for the challenge.
DeleteI think we're going to dive into school tomorrow. The boys have had the whole month off. It's time to get back to work.