Hoof trimming

One day we'd really like sheep (yes, leaning away from goats), but I know little about their day to day veterinary care. Which worries me.  Scares me actually.  I'm the type of person who likes to educate myself a lot before jumping into something.  Years before getting chickens, I read tons of books (some I reread multiple times) to study up on them so I'd be familar/comfortable when the time came. Yes, all that for chickens.  Which are really about as much work as a housecat.

The veterinary care scares me, because reading it is one thing, seeing it and doing it is something else altogether. And it's a mammal - way more complicated. So, in preparation for wanting sheep, I put up an ad on the local farm co-op, and found a local person with goats who needed assistance trimming her goats hooves.   I'd help her out with the chore, in exchange for learning how to do the task.  Last week was my first 'lesson'. I watched her do it, and have confidence to try it myself next time.  I am definitely feeling motivated to learn new skills!

Goals for the year

I don't usually make 'goals' for myself as part of new years, but am feeling pressured to do so for some reason.

 I was reflecting on this past year and feel like we accomplished so much last year.  I learned how to (and did) to cull a hen, I complete a first year beekeeping apprenticeship,  and we built 2 garden beds.  Also I made friends and connections. 

This year I feel so limited. I can't get any new animals (other than ducks, hubby still isn't a fan of that idea).  I could do a batch of meat chickens.  I am going to do another year of beekeeping apprenticeship, and get my own hive (as well as the hives of my mentor to manage). I definetly need to continue making friends/connections here.  I'd also love to build a new chicken coop. 

I also feel like I need to develop my skill set more. Eventually, we'd like to move further into the country with more land.  Unfortunately, that means less people to learn from. So I need to learn other useful skills while we live closer to the city. 

Kitchen Pictures: Before and After

 Kitchen work began the first week of December.  Some things did not function, for example to open a utensil drawer, you first had to open the oven so the drawer would open fully. The counters were original gold swirl Formica.  The space the fridge was in, had been roughly cut with a jigsaw to fit the modern fridge into the space.  There were holes in the floor from where we moved the washer, dryer, and utility sink out of the kitchen. Also, the fridge was next to the stove.

In the new kitchen, the hardwood flooring will be continued from the living room (bye-bye laminate). Cabinets are custom built, white beadboard, with a Cambria stone counter (tan/brown, to reflect the warmth of the new floor). Also, there will be a stone and glass tile backsplash, with some accents.  I can't wait to post after pictures so you can see the new space!

The East wall

Close up of the sink

 

 

The  South wall leading to the living room and hallway

                                           Note the large burn mark in the old counter.

The West wall where the washer and utility sink were

 The North wall, where the fridge used to be

Some other pictures of details:

Constructions starts in a week!

Last week we got a call from the construction company. Our complete kitchen remodel was supposed to start in January or February.  They had a cancellation in their schedule, and it starts in a week.  So, for the entire month of December, we will have no kitchen. Great timing, eh? Work will supposedly be done on Jan 2nd. This date projects work being done the day prior to and following each holiday (i.e. Christmas and New Years Day).

Also, I won't be able to cook the wonderful roast I got for the holiday dinner.  Sounds like Chinese food is in order.

I will be posting before and after pics of each wall of the kitchen. 

Molting

Right now 2 of the hens are starting to molt. This is my first time experiencing a molt.  The Speckled Sussex started last week, and now my best layer, Blackie,  (a Black Star) has started (and is even w/the Speckled in terms of feathers lost). I swear, the Star's are the best breed of chicken. Early to lay, cold hearty, large and consistent eggs, and thusfar quick to molt. They look very scraggly and pathetic w/half their feathers gone. I've increased their protein a bit to help them get through the molt more quickly. 

1st year

August marks the end of our first year living here.  So much has happened since then! 

In the past month, I've watched a honey harvest, and winterized a few beehives.  The small colony that was cutout from someone's house and put in my yard returned from the mountains with very little resources for winter.  My mentor decided to we will put them into a Nuc (small hive) that we will feed over winter, and in Spring put them into a colony.

The chickens are well, the 2 new girls are well acclimated. The Speckled Sussex is laying, but the Buff is not.  She was infested w/mites, so I treated her. She hasn't started up since then. I suspect it's b/c she pulled some of her feathers out due to the mites, and she needs the protein to regrow the feathers.  Which brings me to another issue. All of my original 4 girls just completed their first laying year, and are due to molt this winter (meaning no eggs while their bodies devote protein to regrowing feathers).  It will be their  (and my) first molt. Chickens look pretty sad when their feathers fall out. 

I ordered my beehive, so over the winter I will be putting it together, and painting it. Also, over winter, I'd like to reorganize my chicken and bee area of the backyard. 

Goals and Mites

Beekeeping season is winding down, sadly so is my beekeeping apprenticeship.  It has been a fantastic experience!  I still have yet to experience a honey harvest, that will be in the next month or so.  Unless the harvesting experience is horrible, I have brainstormed a few goals for next beekeeping year.
1)  Add my own hive to my yard (in addition to the one I host)
2) Continue my apprenticeship, checking on a local hive (but change the location form last years)

I'd also like to add another animal to our abode. I was thinking ducks, since I have chickens down pretty well. We recently tried duck eggs, and did not like them at all. However, a friend reminded me that there is a high demand for ducks eggs here, so I'd easily be able to sell them.  Hubby doesn't like the idea of having an animal whose product we don't like ourselves.   We shall see.  I only want 2-3, and I have all winter to work on him.  :)

I also discovered that the Buff hen has a severe case of mites.  I have treated her and the whole flock (i.e. forcible dust bath in DE - natural non-toxic remedy) to help, but have ordered a product (chemical) that will take care of the problem for real. I am against using chemicals usually, and never have treatment my flock once.  Ever.  With any chemical.  But her mite load is so high, her behavior is off and she seems unhappy. And she stopped laying. I think the mite load is so high, she stopped laying.  So, I'll treat her and the coop when the product comes. It's similar to a 'flea dip' for your cat or dog.   Because it's a chemical and I'm weird about their use, I'll dispose of the eggs for a few days after I use the treatment.