tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31339315109209623152024-02-07T02:41:32.426-08:001/10th Of An Acre HomesteadThis is JUST a journal of our daily life here on the mini-'stead. We're doing what we can to sustain on an urban scant more than than 1/10 an acre, KISS (keeping it simple stupid) & loving every minute...Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-1443442262214095422010-08-30T08:56:00.000-07:002010-10-19T05:56:21.380-07:00EggopotamusWe were goofing off the last time we ate this, which is how we came up with the name Eggopotamus. Actually it was me that called it this. It's a spin off tortilla de patata.<br /><br />Eggopotamus<br /><br />3 medium potatoes<br />1 medium onion, chopped<br />8 eggs<br />2 T butter<br />1/2 t each garlic powder & onion powder<br />Salt & pepper to taste<br /><br />Peel your potatoes, then grate them onto a plate lined with paper towels. Spread them into an even layer & press more paper towels on top of them. This gets them as dry as possible for frying. While your potatoes are drying between paper towels, crack your eggs into a bowl & whisk with spices.<br /><br />In a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, melt your butter. Add onions in a layer & spread your shredded potatoes atop the onions. Sprinkle with salt & pepper. Fry on medium heat until browned on the bottom. Lay a plate on top & carefully, but quickly, flip the potatoes & onions onto the plate. Slide back into the pan. Fry until browned. Add eggs, fry until they are done on the bottom, then flip again onto a plate. Slide into pan & cook until done through. You may also put them under a low broiler rather than doing the flip if you prefer.<br /><br />Cut into wedges & serve.Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-89062466449401718462010-08-29T11:15:00.000-07:002010-08-29T11:20:28.795-07:00Rabbit in the Crock Pot<div style="font-weight: bold;" class="section clrfix heading"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;">In the comments section, I was asked for a rabbit recipe. This is a favourite in our household. It was originally used on an older doe, and I went with the crockpot method, as I knew she'd be a bit tougher. We left her whole & cut her up after she'd simmered all day.</span></span><br /><br />Rabbit in the Crock Pot</span> </div><div class="section clrfix ingredients"> <ul><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span> 2 rabbits, whole or cut into serving pieces </span></span> </li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span> salt and pepper </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span>1 large can crushed tomatoes (30-32oz)<br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span> 1 medium onion, chopped </span></span> </li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span> 4 garlic cloves, chopped </span></span> </li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span> 1/2 teaspoon rosemary </span></span> </li><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span> 1 cup dry white wine </span></span></li></ul></div><div class="section clrfix directions"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span>Salt and pepper the rabbit to taste.</span><span> Place the rabbit in the crock pot.</span><span> Mix the rest of the ingredients together and pour over rabbit stirring to coat.</span><span> Cover and cook on low for 6- 8 hours.</span><span> Serve and Enjoy!</span></span> </div>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-6292021357456320492010-08-28T11:21:00.000-07:002010-08-28T11:26:01.711-07:00Butchering Day<span style="font-size:130%;">Today I've butchered 2 of my 5 month old rabbits. As I mentioned in my last post, I'm far behind on so many projects. These rabbits should have been done 2 months ago. I have 2 more rabbits to butcher today, then I'm caught up (for now) on rabbits. My other batch will be ready for butcher in about 4 weeks or so.<br /><br />I learned how to do rabbits a few months ago when a friend of ours came to show me. It took awhile since he was explaining everything & I was learning & asking questions. The first rabbit I did this morning took over an hour. My 2nd took just 36 minutes. I'm hoping they go quicker & quicker as I get more accustomed to doing this.<br /></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-28439947021303442562010-08-27T20:47:00.000-07:002010-08-27T21:04:27.323-07:00It's not all fun & games!!!<span style="font-size:130%;">This is a tally so far. We're not done yet, but I wanted to get this logged.<br /><br />This year's additions:<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-size:130%;">7 baby bunnies (1st litter)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">5 baby bunnies (2nd litter)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">10 more baby bunnies (3rd litter)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">21 White Plymouth rocks for meat</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">2 barred rocks</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">2 easter eggers</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">2 Rhode Island reds</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">2 silkie bantams</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">3 turkey poults</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">1 rouen duckling</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">5 chicks hatched by Floppy</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">5 chicks hatched by Goldrush</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">LOTS of seedlings</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />This year's losses:<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-size:130%;">1 adult doe rabbit obtained August 09 (she refused to breed)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">7 baby bunnies (1st litter; 1st time mom, and she killed them)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">5 baby bunnies at birth, 1 several weeks later (2nd litter)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">1 silkie bantam (pecked to death)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">3 turkey poults (mycotoxicosis)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">1 rouen duckling (didn't take to eating or drinking in the first 24h)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">LOTS of seedlings</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />This year's miracles:<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-size:130%;">We had TWINS hatch in Goldrush's batch. TWIN CHICKS!!! This is a Very Rare Thing!!!</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Hubba got an assistant manager</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Hubba allowed me to bring a new kitten onto the home<br /></span></li></ul><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />This year's obstacles:<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-size:130%;">A death in the family</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">A family member that cracked some vertebrae in his neck & spine</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">A family member that cut off his thumb</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">A family member that escaped murder in a home invasion</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">A sewage flood in our home</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">The ENTIRE five of us coming down with the stomach flu within 38 hours of each other</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Hubba lost his assistant manager</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />This year's WAY behind projects:<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-size:130%;">New rabbit hutches</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Weeding the garden</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">The garden</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Butchering animals</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Schooling</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Painting</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Fixing the chicken coop & run</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />This year's accomplishments:<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-size:130%;">New flooring downstairs</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Front porch restained</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I have ended my daycare business</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I have a part time job that will net more take home pay in about 1/5 of the time</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I have another part time job as a greeting card rep that I do about once a month for one store & quarterly for another</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I stayed out of the mental institution just one more year</span></li></ul>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-79137812725740754412010-08-17T10:33:00.000-07:002010-08-17T10:35:42.797-07:00A Miracle on 1/10th!<span style="font-size:130%;"><span id="profile_status"><span id="status_text">Do the math:<br /><br />We had FIVE eggs left. There's still an egg in the nest.<br /><br />We have FIVE babies<br /><br />WE HAD TWINS!!!! That's almost unheard of- twins hatching out alive!!<br /><br />A brief snippet from a 4-H site says:<br /><br /></span></span><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">"1. Can two chicks hatch from one egg?<br /><span class="text_exposed_hide"></span><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /><br />Yes. It is a rare occurrence. When two chicks hatch from the same egg, the egg usually has two yolks. Usually, one embryo out competes the other and only one chick survives to hatch. Many time both embryos die before hatch."</span></blockquote><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /><br />Never in.my.life did I think I'd be blessed enough to see this!!!<br /></span></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-74834727981426480982010-06-22T17:23:00.001-07:002010-06-22T19:28:08.870-07:00More pics!!!<span style="font-size:130%;">If I don't throw treats into the run before entering the coop, this happens (yes, that is a view from the door to the coop barely open):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczsSbByvExHpIZy2nFB9k2Wvx9V_g3fHUuwNvVEcWra9o3ppxZcKYGh8HqpWXRGu8o9xiZYGRq6XNLLhE7I3V-N1IKMO7eUmZd1s3jokGua1I4jpctuZ3rae8JNAd44EPAQ9maH5g-r0/s1600/HPIM0858small.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczsSbByvExHpIZy2nFB9k2Wvx9V_g3fHUuwNvVEcWra9o3ppxZcKYGh8HqpWXRGu8o9xiZYGRq6XNLLhE7I3V-N1IKMO7eUmZd1s3jokGua1I4jpctuZ3rae8JNAd44EPAQ9maH5g-r0/s400/HPIM0858small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485759316169723298" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Remember <a href="http://onetenthacre.blogspot.com/2010/03/baby-rabbits.html">the babies born in March</a>?? These are the 3 girls. One looks JUST like her Daddy, only her spots are a little lighter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4UguXQeDyd02KvGTyq1xFZg-3UHsUa4rZLQq1NELiEcVSZ2S_zBJg5kow2Mit7UFUJi84vxw7hA8yAM5RWOMj2IBW6_Xs2gmph9XwI7Mq1pLYyw1UmC_5dWei6WQlEat3yYSvBVDuFE/s1600/HPIM0859small.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4UguXQeDyd02KvGTyq1xFZg-3UHsUa4rZLQq1NELiEcVSZ2S_zBJg5kow2Mit7UFUJi84vxw7hA8yAM5RWOMj2IBW6_Xs2gmph9XwI7Mq1pLYyw1UmC_5dWei6WQlEat3yYSvBVDuFE/s400/HPIM0859small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485759323737358994" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />And these are the 9-day old new babies. Their eyes are ALREADY OPEN!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5F-pOMRsGXk5GRd-1NXofUnQvuYnYvujTP7uXUgagPQSTFxYRQ_WJeC6-57TgS0PS6PSSvy7VtG67ecKRSVDwS6vjd3IniaRjdY10UBttruJuLWYkm-30GzeQhe89J82D_Nbar3xe5TA/s1600/HPIM0857small.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5F-pOMRsGXk5GRd-1NXofUnQvuYnYvujTP7uXUgagPQSTFxYRQ_WJeC6-57TgS0PS6PSSvy7VtG67ecKRSVDwS6vjd3IniaRjdY10UBttruJuLWYkm-30GzeQhe89J82D_Nbar3xe5TA/s400/HPIM0857small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485759313284091874" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Here is a MUCH better pic of that gorgeous cockerel. His tail feathers are finally coming back in. When Momma & babies were reintroduced to the flock, a couple of them would wander off. She'd bark at them, but would stay with the majority of the chicks unless she HAD to leave the larger group. So little mistah got all his bum feathers pecked of, LOL. I also love the colouring of the other one in the pic. Guess what? That's a cockerel as well.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZqARV3sADPkDtFdKKvqOoRRcmutCIYz5uAioPHWn_lMCCOpVPfV-hp0ttBejOvJZMnsaAu43A1Cq8QQI_kN9WIFDbRjMxqqbpNJBJQwC3tYpTcnSlz5glfjvrJqnkuVBnfhyztedEJg/s1600/HPIM0855small.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZqARV3sADPkDtFdKKvqOoRRcmutCIYz5uAioPHWn_lMCCOpVPfV-hp0ttBejOvJZMnsaAu43A1Cq8QQI_kN9WIFDbRjMxqqbpNJBJQwC3tYpTcnSlz5glfjvrJqnkuVBnfhyztedEJg/s400/HPIM0855small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485759301679214946" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Here are 2 more of the broody's babies. The black is shaping up to be a girl, and I think the little tan & cream one is as well. The tan & cream has beautiful colouring & pattern, too. She seems to be getting some black (little) spots on her now as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJQ7KC5qJAWcwA1EyR1f4Jkxs2yQoh7mbE72cO_JgmV5SU9ZwXiA8gKlDdgP1TA0gNwAlO1o9-gfVLfIhoevgxnWb4TLGhvRe7aiGruvstmIF2O1tgDyH9HpRrcFd3_Z1ArkFysseGrk/s1600/HPIM0853small.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJQ7KC5qJAWcwA1EyR1f4Jkxs2yQoh7mbE72cO_JgmV5SU9ZwXiA8gKlDdgP1TA0gNwAlO1o9-gfVLfIhoevgxnWb4TLGhvRe7aiGruvstmIF2O1tgDyH9HpRrcFd3_Z1ArkFysseGrk/s400/HPIM0853small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485759298068468962" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-67278169318308033452010-06-21T20:22:00.000-07:002010-06-21T20:29:30.315-07:008 weeks 1 day<span style="font-size:130%;">Our baby chickies (<a href="http://onetenthacre.blogspot.com/2010/04/we-have-babies.html">from the broody hen</a>) are 8 weeks, 1 day old today. They are cornish hen size, like what you see in the grocery store. I plan on keeping them a bit longer. We have 2 cockerels, for sure.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Here he is in the middle (from top to bottom)<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCV5Wl4r3X-5dXdhUdn7RSobzmr4r30Qy_akF7lPwfYf2PKkC-K6N-PPzX_l-0MTKnR13defdo0I_aiuHt2WTCj_kBC1qVZJh118qF9R3WdSCbLA37X4P2My4-5g8KsxEDmfgFQg-1oA/s1600/broodychicks.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCV5Wl4r3X-5dXdhUdn7RSobzmr4r30Qy_akF7lPwfYf2PKkC-K6N-PPzX_l-0MTKnR13defdo0I_aiuHt2WTCj_kBC1qVZJh118qF9R3WdSCbLA37X4P2My4-5g8KsxEDmfgFQg-1oA/s400/broodychicks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485434234753038610" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And here he is in all of his beautiful cockerel glory.<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMl9HFzCycvvdhLanyodRZqtLALVfEjjHBmp47hY_LN1uZXoChSFxA3zeuWL2vvMgJOzxF7nMPemmwWy3S9DOniETh1ljgYtKZMMnp7EZ9fJsbZFETY_Ugz81GEhIuGXBRz61gNM94_6o/s1600/cockerel.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMl9HFzCycvvdhLanyodRZqtLALVfEjjHBmp47hY_LN1uZXoChSFxA3zeuWL2vvMgJOzxF7nMPemmwWy3S9DOniETh1ljgYtKZMMnp7EZ9fJsbZFETY_Ugz81GEhIuGXBRz61gNM94_6o/s400/cockerel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485434228745742802" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Oh HOW I wish I could keep him. He is BEAUTIFUL!!! I'll get a better pic of him on the real camera soon. This was taken with my cell and he wouldn't stay still.<br /></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-83024018190640258912010-06-18T09:07:00.000-07:002010-06-18T09:12:22.424-07:00And the layer of this one is.....<span style="font-size:130%;">Well..... We're not sure. We *think* it might be <a href="http://onetenthacre.blogspot.com/2010/04/active-bunnies-broody-hen-freezer-full.html">Floppy's</a> egg, but I thought she'd been laying for more than a week already. Maybe so, maybe not, but she'd been in the nest box several times. This was found on the floor of the coop, as was another one.....</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGztV3J2Ro10motGyJaLHjdc2zz2tloQxeC0mMcjxZ3ByP5OF2VBvZlMzLS4zpp4P-hpYfIwUAGjOxd_bwFluD9_SvV2-NnNl48JePACCd8uvSe2oOMHbbrYozK3ycenvXtA0DoQzxTBI/s1600/fart+egg.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGztV3J2Ro10motGyJaLHjdc2zz2tloQxeC0mMcjxZ3ByP5OF2VBvZlMzLS4zpp4P-hpYfIwUAGjOxd_bwFluD9_SvV2-NnNl48JePACCd8uvSe2oOMHbbrYozK3ycenvXtA0DoQzxTBI/s400/fart+egg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484146707243134002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">That's a nickel for size comparison ;-)</span><br /></div>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-57261076374290648652010-06-16T14:26:00.000-07:002010-06-16T14:52:44.786-07:00Quick update on the funny farm<span style="font-size:130%;">After the <a href="http://onetenthacre.blogspot.com/2010/06/baby-bunnies.html">baby bunny debacle</a>, we lost 2 more. The 5 left are in with Momma & she has resumed her Good Momma status. Yay!<br /><br />The chicks are all doing well.<br /><br />Of the 3 poults, we've lost one white. After getting the buns situated & everything became calm again, I was checking the brooders & found a dead poult. No warning, just..... gone. I noticed the other 2 were acting very strangely. Lethargic, watery poops, listless & EXTREMELY thirsty! I immediately brought them into the house into a makeshift brooder, aka ICU. I was able to use google & narrow their illness down to <a href="http://poultryworld.tripod.com/dis_dir.htm/#72">mycotoxicosis</a>. Saturday night I almost culled the white, but Hubba talked me out of it. The poult was convulsing & his poop was pure clear liquid. He had zero control over his body, and the poor thing couldn't stand. He had even quit eating & drinking. I decided to force feed both of them some vitamin & apple cider vinegar water and pray for the best.<br /><br />The next day I started out feeding them the same water mixture, and later in the day after the convulsing had quit, I started alternating between the water mix & baby rice cereal mixed with milk. I scrambled an egg & mixed in some dairy kefir & apple cider vinegar. By early evening they were FIGHTING me on the force feeding. By Monday evening their poops had become a mix of clear liquid & white liquid. There was no more convulsing & they began chirping quietly. They were still a bit listless & lethargic, so I added some rolled oats & dry rice cereal to their PICU (poultry ICU). They weren't touching it. Before bed I added a smidge of the feed they were accustomed to & by morning, it was gone. Every.little.bit. Tuesday morning brought the sweet songs a poult sings, solid poops & hunger. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">They were up on their feet, they were once again interested in my rings (oo, shiny!), they were eating as soon as I added food. They were even FIGHTING over morsels!!! Last night at 3am, we were awakened by the VERY.LOUD.singing.....<br /><br />For fear that it was the feed as mentioned in the above link (as well as copied below), we've decided to begin getting the animals over to homemade feed. It's been on my list, but this turkey thing has me ready to jump into it!! I've already begun on a small scale with the poults- rolled oats, dry rice baby cereal, kelp, hulled sunflower seed. I'm currently waiting on some prices from a local store to order some bulk bags of stuff. I've found several recipes & pending prices, will decide on the mix we can afford that we feel is right.<br /><br />So as of today, we have 2 healthy poults of 3, 5 healthy baby bunnies of 10 & an urban homesteader in need of some calgon.<br /><br /></span><h4 style="line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-style: italic;" align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial, Arial, Helvetica;"><span style="color:#336666;"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></h4><blockquote><h4 style="line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-style: italic;" align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial, Arial, Helvetica;"><span style="color:#336666;"><span style="font-size:85%;">MYCOTOXICOSIS<o:p> </o:p> </span><!--mstheme--></span></span></h4> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:Arial, Arial, Helvetica;" > </span><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-style: italic;" align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial, Arial, Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Alflatoxin and many other mycotoxins are produced by fungi growing in raw materials or finished feed. The toxins are very stable and remain in the feed indefinitely. Major effects vary from slight ill-health to substantial mortality. Symptoms include reduced appetite which may be due to unpalatability of the feed, lethargy, diarrhoea, thirst, prostration, poor growth, reduced egg production and immunosuppression. There is frequently severe damage to liver, kidneys and other organs. Diagnosis of disease in the birds may be difficult or impossible. Products are available to prevent mould growth in the stored feed. No effective treatment but vitamin supplements may be helpful.</span></span></p></blockquote>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-2431406781788415902010-06-12T14:06:00.000-07:002010-06-12T14:15:26.189-07:00Baby Bunnies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhj20WfyOhTLqFo_Pfx6eHXYuOE6pDO5SscUEu6P-ngLpXrGOvnSEUmUMbYpYFUVKTXBkSgXXNG947A0n4jvYeVxU-N3nJEd_13_MUfYd3t10UXQOPokykJerPg9AclZwOQKvFRiiThw/s1600/baby+buns+June.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhj20WfyOhTLqFo_Pfx6eHXYuOE6pDO5SscUEu6P-ngLpXrGOvnSEUmUMbYpYFUVKTXBkSgXXNG947A0n4jvYeVxU-N3nJEd_13_MUfYd3t10UXQOPokykJerPg9AclZwOQKvFRiiThw/s400/baby+buns+June.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481998623790595618" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">This morning, 6/12/2010, Bunnicula birthed 10 babies..... outside of the nest box. She didn't even nest this time, and after she had them, she freaked & was running around the cage. We got the 6 bunnies we could reach with ease into the nest box, and then I was able to reach 2 of the 4 that somehow got stuck up under the wood & between that & the hardware cloth. Bunnicula proceeded to jump in & out of the nest box trampling the babies. 2 more were even further back & I had to cut the wire to get to them. My hand is all cut up now, but the babies were out. They were SOOOO cold & we were so worried she would kill them by stepping on them, I brought them in to warm them. After they were warmed, I took 4 back to the hutch to see how she'd react. I slathered vicks's vapo rub on her nose, and went about my business. The 4 were fine about an hour later, so I checked the buns inside. 3 of those were gone :-( I took the remaining 3 back out to the next box & will continue to check on them throughout the day.<br /><br />I did make a run to the store to purchase some items. If the babies are not fed by morning, I'll need to make formula for them in an attempt to save them. From what I understand it's going to be <span style="font-weight: bold;">near</span> impossible to rear them by hand, but not totally impossible.<br /></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-55197120724573761412010-06-11T20:56:00.001-07:002010-06-11T21:00:54.122-07:00The white Easter Egger chick<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I picked this little "girl" up & she immediately decided she wanted to snuggle.</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKF_MSE1L3Y7YUHgx4pPWkKtNme3ehO3UYmJSIRldUAIFpQ8_TZvYY2RTMErtv9aaRLKdfhTL73A3hJsUBfNblmoyKgpMhMhElRi44XU8GlbBa2TMBtA8rmJEvsBN0qWjIRV2HjYtYO0/s1600/Me+n+White+EE.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKF_MSE1L3Y7YUHgx4pPWkKtNme3ehO3UYmJSIRldUAIFpQ8_TZvYY2RTMErtv9aaRLKdfhTL73A3hJsUBfNblmoyKgpMhMhElRi44XU8GlbBa2TMBtA8rmJEvsBN0qWjIRV2HjYtYO0/s400/Me+n+White+EE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481731886210643170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTEwgE2-1bcxGOkV6KPykee6XA6zRokYgKhDkCHB-oZUlPllGwBOPJSbW6RNUHIQs6s7GTo4h8yodGLRO0kvYJtFrDzJe9hplK5jjUpQlmYD3OufJHcoCSflrqKZkITTeJZ_4Xu0i6EI/s1600/whiteeasteregger.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTEwgE2-1bcxGOkV6KPykee6XA6zRokYgKhDkCHB-oZUlPllGwBOPJSbW6RNUHIQs6s7GTo4h8yodGLRO0kvYJtFrDzJe9hplK5jjUpQlmYD3OufJHcoCSflrqKZkITTeJZ_4Xu0i6EI/s400/whiteeasteregger.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481731890225441954" border="0" /></a>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-44939905610085911392010-06-10T15:34:00.001-07:002010-06-10T15:35:33.934-07:00Another quick pic<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This is one of our new Easter Eggers. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL colouring.</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH45rdYY_sEoEmFwDBmNrm0S8v87rdglQzzPJ-q0ityqGmmWcCKicJZVFE6-8nHO-x0Ft6rQO-CBH8km4upgegZfA5YI8nP_PNS59gTMr2mURSGuNbOhrVo5yo9eY6hnVOhvH3y0QD6Bw/s1600/eastereggerbrown.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH45rdYY_sEoEmFwDBmNrm0S8v87rdglQzzPJ-q0ityqGmmWcCKicJZVFE6-8nHO-x0Ft6rQO-CBH8km4upgegZfA5YI8nP_PNS59gTMr2mURSGuNbOhrVo5yo9eY6hnVOhvH3y0QD6Bw/s400/eastereggerbrown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481277282260838866" border="0" /></a>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-29088282913388961502010-06-09T05:44:00.000-07:002010-06-09T05:53:41.558-07:00Just a quick pic<span style="font-size:130%;">I had to share this pic. Many things going on around here, so I'll get back as soon as I can for an update, but this week we have VBS & <a href="http://wyo-helpmeet.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-week-long-internet-sabbatical-in.html">I've been super busy</a>.<br /><br />Here is a pic of Keenan & one of our silkie chicks. I took it with my phone near sundown last night.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-mdQokrrT75fPn-5Cltwkl_Jx2kUjoqnaj3TZgSxS48hhgZaF_vEKLU4lBIrKzfavvX_HR4u_Gvc-cvWnH_Y-tRkbf8adud8AL9Fo-NDhDNSbWWfUzyYbTr3S8n3_-uiH9F5QE5z4DQ/s1600/Keenan+%26+silkie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-mdQokrrT75fPn-5Cltwkl_Jx2kUjoqnaj3TZgSxS48hhgZaF_vEKLU4lBIrKzfavvX_HR4u_Gvc-cvWnH_Y-tRkbf8adud8AL9Fo-NDhDNSbWWfUzyYbTr3S8n3_-uiH9F5QE5z4DQ/s400/Keenan+%26+silkie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480755784408008018" border="0" /></a>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-79716620250905962752010-05-21T09:43:00.000-07:002010-06-01T06:26:46.832-07:00A Funeral on the Funny Farm.....<span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5H0nWKVPHbAxWarAq_j7QohPtVZ-TRYPlNhnmilC6vcRRv0SmVMS8HvVzjhOU0Gg70JH6F0JExzALLZo7nOEbzGWVBjzdn_TkM6LRJcExRNj1JX3xcE0ny6Yzdl61H55KFp1baRcjOQw/s1600/chickies.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5H0nWKVPHbAxWarAq_j7QohPtVZ-TRYPlNhnmilC6vcRRv0SmVMS8HvVzjhOU0Gg70JH6F0JExzALLZo7nOEbzGWVBjzdn_TkM6LRJcExRNj1JX3xcE0ny6Yzdl61H55KFp1baRcjOQw/s320/chickies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473765761409135074" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Yesterday we went to pick up our chick order. 20 White Plymouth Rocks for us, 10 White</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Plymouth </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Rocks for a friend, 2 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Easter Eggers, 2 Barred Rocks, 2 White turkeys, 1 bronze turkey. An order that was canceled had 2 silkies. The lady gave them to us. Then there was this.....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm14uKcWgGkDhYVXqGfjZuea8Ar2ldDC-NOK3FaK-CdVQzww9O675DZ7R2GyLZVLFTkWD2RdIX2JPdMJCVsRzI85qpcXOQu_eJRCEGhJvw_7_OSITo2h_rXoEabWkLz5HSOa5uT3AkCvs/s1600/duck.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm14uKcWgGkDhYVXqGfjZuea8Ar2ldDC-NOK3FaK-CdVQzww9O675DZ7R2GyLZVLFTkWD2RdIX2JPdMJCVsRzI85qpcXOQu_eJRCEGhJvw_7_OSITo2h_rXoEabWkLz5HSOa5uT3AkCvs/s320/duck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473765494110375602" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The kids begged for him. I'm a sucker for the last one left..... So he came home with us. I jumped online & dove into my books to learn how to care for this little 'guy.' I set him up just as I'd read, but by bedtime, he still wasn't eating or drinking on his own..... And sometime in the wee hours of the morning, he moved on to Duckie Heaven. Keenan is quite upset, even though I'd warned him that we may not be able to keep him alive, never having done this. I'm used to this, though. He cried when the hamster died. He cried when the lizard died. He cried when our dog ran away.... He's a very sensitive little man.<br /><br />One of life's lessons..... Today we'll have a funeral for the little duckie.<br /><br />On a good note, the 28 chicks & 3 poults are doing wonderfully. Hubba thinks the silkie pictures on the web look like poodles. We've taken to calling them "Choodles." Fitting if you ask me.<br /></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-37897752123033974872010-05-12T13:09:00.000-07:002010-05-12T13:21:31.121-07:00Chicks & Baby Bunnies<span style="font-size:130%;">5/12/10- The baby bunnies will be 8 weeks old on Friday. For some reason I was thinking they were between 6 & 7 weeks old. Thankfully I looked at the calendar. They HAD to be separated by Friday or I run the risk of them breeding each other. Sunday evening we sexed them. Today I sexed them again, without looking at the notes I'd made, to see if I agreed with my previous judgment. They all matched Sunday's thoughts.<br /><br />We have 3 girls & 3 boys if my sexing is correct. The boys will be butchered once they come to size, which could be in as many as 3 more months. Of the girls, we have plans on keeping 2 for breeding stock. As far as inbreeding goes, when breeding for meat or pets (in other words, not for show) you can breed mother to son & father to daughter. I've read not to do any further inbreeding than that until I know more. I'm not really sure I want to know more as in- I am happy with the aforementioned arrangement.<br /><br />I also bred Bunnicula again to Cowboy. If all went well, which it appears it did, she will be due on or around June 12th.<br /><br />On to baby chicks. I've read that sometimes (though not 100%), you can sex a chick as young as a couple weeks old based on tail formation. Apparently pullets feather out in the tail sooner than cockerels. If this is the case I have 2 definite pullets & another that I think may be a pullet. Of course, I'm not banking on this entirely, but I'll be excited to see how this pans out. 2 of the 5 chicks have very big tails (in comparison), 1 has a tail half the size & the other 2 have no tail feathers as of yet.<br /></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-27402418738611171362010-05-10T06:16:00.001-07:002010-05-10T06:26:48.880-07:00Update- Early May 2010<span style="font-size:130%;">The weather here lately has been such a roller coaster. We can go from low 60's on day with sun & a breeze to 30's with snow & rain from one day to the next. It makes gardening..... interesting, to say the least. I'm very far behind on my gardening.<br /><br />I attempted to sex the bunnies again on Mother's Day- 5/9. I had Sebastion help me out for a 2nd opinion. We *believe* we have 3 girls & 3 boys. They have to be separated by the weekend, as they turn 8 weeks on Friday. I'll be calling someone who goes to our church & asking if he used to sex his bunnies when he raised them & if he's any good at it. I'm hoping he'll be able to come help me out. My plan is to do it again on Wed, separate them & pray for the best. It seems to be getting a little easier to sex them, though I've never done it before. So I could be wrong, LOL.<br /><br />Floppy has been a GREAT little Momma hen. The <a href="http://onetenthacre.blogspot.com/2010/04/we-have-babies.html">5 chicks</a> turned 2 weeks this past weekend. Momma is beginning to get a little antsy. She's almost ready to be reintroduced to the flock. It cracks me up to watch them. The babies like to ride on Momma's back. They are eating, drinking & scratching. All things a baby chick should be doing.<br /><br />I'm counting down now to my chick order arriving. They should be here next week. 30 meat chickens (20 are ours), 6 layers & 3 poults. Speaking of orders, I'm also anxiously awaiting a call from the processor any day now or within the next month. The beef should go to the processor within the next 5-6 weeks and as early as next week.<br /></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-16450466296479332632010-04-25T12:51:00.000-07:002010-04-25T13:00:55.372-07:00We have babies!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">You may click on image for a larger view.</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrQELcketm23FuYQoc-yy0wG3mPufctjOcgCAUoQh5txVCqx9_ZCYsrqt_EyM9icIiC9B88pQuLY_p5nlzY8u2vQJDxvgSxU2fdJGQntw8E0o_wAsHopAzKDN50KKQGcz_07e_TD3YTM/s1600/HPIM0374.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrQELcketm23FuYQoc-yy0wG3mPufctjOcgCAUoQh5txVCqx9_ZCYsrqt_EyM9icIiC9B88pQuLY_p5nlzY8u2vQJDxvgSxU2fdJGQntw8E0o_wAsHopAzKDN50KKQGcz_07e_TD3YTM/s400/HPIM0374.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464165415598259634" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">There are a total of 5. We got 10 eggs, one broke a few days later, 3 quit forming & one died before completely hatching (the shell was broken, but the baby never got out). Not bad, I'm happy. They are so cute. I'd forgotten how tiny they are. We have 3 whites, 2 as seen above, 1 black one & 1 brown one. The black one hatched yesterday (4/24) and the rest overnight & today. Momma's being so good. She's lightly pecking at them when they get out from under her & she's lightly pecking at me now that they are hatched <img src="http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/img/smilies/big_smile.png" alt="big_smile" /> I can still get in there & mess with them, and she doesn't seem to mind TOO horribly. She's definitely not being mean to me, but letting me know they ARE HER babies <img src="http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/img/smilies/love.gif" alt="love" /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">So stinkin' sweet!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> I'm in love all over again!<br /></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-30084449567528482692010-04-20T19:43:00.000-07:002010-04-20T19:45:15.016-07:00Forgot....<span style="font-size:130%;">Thursday April 15th, we began raising mealworms for the chickens.</span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-19340398512843001382010-04-18T17:45:00.000-07:002010-04-18T18:41:30.643-07:00Log<ul><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Today Mary was butchered. She is currently in the fridge in a bucket of salt water.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">We begin our 1-week countdown either tonight or in the morning, re: broody hen & eggs. Hoping we have babies soon!<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Water pipe was fixed on Wednesday which means we officially have water outdoors again. No more hauling jugs of water to the garden plots.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Peas were transplanted to the garden last Saturday, April 10th.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">The baby bunnies were 4 weeks on Friday. They are fat & healthy. Nest box was removed on Friday, and they began eating pellets & drinking from the waterer the Friday before that.<br /></span></li></ul><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />It's a beautiful time here, with the exception of us all being sick. But the world keeps turning, so we do as well.<br /></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-18605305339643726552010-04-11T14:31:00.000-07:002012-05-19T18:58:12.399-07:00Some of my favourite homesteading/self-sufficiency links<a href="http://poultryworld.tripod.com/dis_dir.htm/">A-Z Poultry Disease Index</a><br />
<a href="http://www.backwoodshome.com/">Backwoods Home Magazine</a><br />
<a href="http://www.backyardchickens.com/">Backyard Chickens</a> (and their <a href="http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/index.php">forum</a>)<br />
<a href="http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/">Backyard Poultry</a><br />
<a href="http://www.grit.com/">Grit Magazine</a><br />
<a href="http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/sexing.shtml">How to Sex Your Rabbits</a><br />
<a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/">Mother Earth News</a><br />
<a href="http://nzdl.sadl.uleth.ca/cgi-bin/library?e=d-00000-00---off-0fnl2.2--00-0----0-10-0---0---0direct-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about---00-0-1-00-0-0-11-1-0utfZz-8-00&cl=CL1.1&d=HASH018f0698116ebe8c31aa6a96.3&gt=1">Starting a biointensive Garden</a><br />
<a href="http://bioarray.us/Skippy%27s%20planting%20calendar.html">Vegetable Planting Calendar</a><br />
<a href="http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Rawlins+WY+82301?lswe=82301&lwsa=WeatherLocalUndeclared&from=searchbox_localwx">Weather Channel</a> (living in the Rockies, this becomes a favourite, LOL)Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-81506996849338922442010-04-04T20:57:00.000-07:002010-04-04T21:14:07.188-07:00Active bunnies, a broody hen & a freezer full of meat.....<span style="font-size:130%;">Today I went out to take care of Bunnicula & check her babies. They are starting to come out of the nest box to investigate. They are getting huge already. The baby that was out the first time I saw this, was sniffing at the fresh food I'd just put down & licked it a couple of times.<br /><br />A few days ago I had a Buff Orpington that whenever she was in the nest box & went into the coop, would ruffle up her feathers like a peacock & "bark" at me. Today I went out to take care of the rabbits, and I decided to check for eggs one last time. Floppy was STILL in the nest box, as she was 7 hours before. I had removed the eggs from under her earlier this afternoon, so she was sitting on nothing..... It dawned on me that she is broody. I immediately texted a few times with a friend of mine that has hens & roosters to ask for eggs. I came home with 10 eggs from her various breeds, marked them & put them in the nest box with Floppy. She moved them underneath her, and I'm hoping in 3 weeks I'll be a new chickie Momma (again).<br /><br />While I was over getting the eggs, they gave me a trash bag half full of frozen, sealed meat to bring home. Hubba & He had made an agreement for us to buy the <a href="http://wyo-helpmeet.blogspot.com/2009/11/kitchens-gone-wild-11-30-2009.html">deer meat he taught me to butcher</a> several months ago. He wouldn't take payment from me, and added some elk meat to the bag as well....<br /></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-45005799663220673842010-03-28T06:55:00.000-07:002010-03-28T07:06:25.933-07:00A bit of an update<span style="font-size:130%;">Baby rabbits are now 9 days old (confirmed 6 kits). They should be opening their eyes tomorrow or the next day. They are HUGE compared to when they were born. They have their fur, and they are so soft. 1 black one & 5 white with spots. Momma's doing very well this time!!<br /><br />Tina Turner was re-introduced to the coop the evening of the 20th. The next day the other hen(s) were still pecking at her bum, so I rubbed vicks on her, and we haven't had any issues since. Since she was on antibiotics, her eggs are not being consumed by humans for 3 weeks. I am, however, feeding them to the pup so they don't go to waste. They are still being logged in the amount of food we raise. LT is thoroughly enjoying that treat.<br /><br />We've been planting seeds like crazy. Hubba bought more plant & aquarium bulbs for my grow light set up, and we'll be borrowing 2 more light fixtures for them. I'm just running out of room. On a good note, everything that has been planted & should have germinated by now has.<br /><br />My redneck greenhouse is holding up well. It was more or less a test to see if the plastic would hold in this Wicked Wyoming Wind. I don't have any use for it for still another couple-few weeks. I wanted to get it done ealry, so if it fell apart on me, I would have time to come up with another plan.<br /><br />Hubba started buying 2X4's to build the greenhouse. When we moved in all of the old windows & doors from the house were under the porch. Our plan is to clean them up, paint them & use them for a greenhouse.<br /><br /><br /></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-42842261165135368272010-03-20T07:08:00.000-07:002010-03-20T07:17:01.358-07:00Baby rabbits!!!<span style="font-size:130%;">Or as Hubba says "Congratulations, Granma."<br /><br />Sometime during the night of 3/18, morning of 3/19, Bunnicula gave birth to at least 6 kits. As of last night before bed, there was still movement. After our last experience with her & babies (which I realise is normal), I've done my best not to mess with them too much, but I still remain a little not-so-optimistic. I was advised by a friend who has raised rabbits for meat, to use tongs to carefully lift the fur to see the babies. Giving momma-doe a carrot keeps her busy while I do the task. Each time I have opened the door to her hutch (to see if there's movement), I've made sure I had "something to do" so she doesn't get suspicious. I've given her carrots & added feed or water to her hutch.<br /><br />I'll report back as things progress. Unfortunately, Mary will no longer be with us soon. I'd like to try her just one more time, but I'm really not hopeful at all that she'll conceive. Hey, on the bright side- I'll get to learn how to butcher a rabbit.<br /><br />If Bunnicula cares for her babies, as she's supposed to, we'll be choosing a female rabbit from her litter. When breeding for pets & meat, you can & can't inbreed certain family members (I'll get to that in another post). When I told Hubba of my plans to keep one of the litter, and why, he suggested I keep 2..... just in case. Sometimes that man amazes me.<br /></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-79359515330520736112010-03-17T06:03:00.000-07:002010-03-17T06:42:24.368-07:00Prolapsed vent, redneck greenhouse, pregnant rabbit(s) & May 21st....<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prolapsed Vent.....</span><br /><br />A few days ago I had an egg that was bloody. Occasionally, we get eggs that have a streak or 2 of blood... no big deal. Last night when I let the girls out to range the yard, there were drops of blood on the patio.... So I began checking rearends. Tina Turner was bleeding. I came in & jumped on google, and everything about bloody bums pointed to prolapse. Tina is my most standoffish hen. She just doesn't like people much & prefers to run from us. So, I had to bide my time until they roosted for the night.<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />I started scurrying around the 'stead- finding the chick waterers, antibiotics & kennel crate. I added the antibiotics & some raw apple cider vinegar to the water. I dug through the fridge for soft food & found some leftover brown rice. I mixed the rice with some dairy kefir. I put shavings in the crate & laid towels over the top (to keep it dark in hopes she won't lay, which can further aggravate the prolapse). I had just turned my heat lamps off earlier in the day, but knowing she would be alone & have only her own body heat, rather than the help of 9 other chickens, I set one up aimed at the crate, in hopes she'd stay warm through the night.<br /><br />Once they were all in, I closed the inside door to the coop, and made my move. She didn't like me touching her, but once I had my hands around her wings, she calmed, knowing she wasn't going anywhere.<br /><br />This morning when I check her at 6:15am, she seemed to be doing alright. I need to bring her in later, wash her bum, "put the vent back in place" & rub honey on it. Wish me hope. This is my first chicken "crisis." Prolapse if left untreated can be deadly in chickens. If left with population, the other chooks can let cannibalism get the better of them & peck at the vent until the affected chook bleeds to death.</span><br /><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><p>Definitions of <b>prolapse</b> on the Web:</p><ul class="std" type="disc"><li>slip or fall out of place, as of body parts; "prolapsed rectum" </li><li>the slipping or falling out of place of an organ (as the uterus)<br /><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn%3Fs%3Dprolapse&ei=wtegS5jyI5HWsgPWpYDlBg&sa=X&oi=define&ct=&cd=1&ved=0CBEQpAMoAA&usg=AFQjCNENxCNobEV_5epUr4n9kTQbTgnjsw"><span style="color:#008000;">wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn</span></a></li><li>Prolapse literally means "To fall out of place". In medicine, prolapse is a condition where organs, such as the uterus, fall down or slip out of place. It is used for organs protruding through the vagina or the rectum, or for the misalignment of the valves of the heart. ...<br /><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prolapse&ei=wtegS5jyI5HWsgPWpYDlBg&sa=X&oi=define&ct=&cd=1&ved=0CBIQpAMoAQ&usg=AFQjCNGX1-efIBr7HrkwLmEaU5JqtZzUIA"><span style="color:#008000;">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prolapse</span></a></li></ul></blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The redneck greenhouse....</span><br /><br />Hubba has been saying for quite some time that he would be building a greenhouse for me..... Well, he hasn't even started, so yesterday I took matters into my own hands, and I produced the redneck greenhouse!!!<br /><br /><br /></span><span><span style="color:#008000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggjZRO-Na1gAsN3K-Wtr0Fh0cPHaYVcXdrYW6iLyeGGfAU1xeO0G2uCMnDecDAVcyOdp9d4HvwQy5GYdYtwkrnP6QXaXR-z4DNGd36cYMr5nTQNN7_U9kX_ka2gBkl4ezt3JN-xwwtjs/s1600-h/redneck+greenhouse.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggjZRO-Na1gAsN3K-Wtr0Fh0cPHaYVcXdrYW6iLyeGGfAU1xeO0G2uCMnDecDAVcyOdp9d4HvwQy5GYdYtwkrnP6QXaXR-z4DNGd36cYMr5nTQNN7_U9kX_ka2gBkl4ezt3JN-xwwtjs/s320/redneck+greenhouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449594014183638050" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pregnant Rabbits.....</span><br /><br />Yesterday I also placed nest boxes in the doe hutches. Everything I've read says to place the boxes just a few days before <a href="http://onetenthacre.blogspot.com/2010/02/nubbies-in-belly.html">EDD</a>. I'm still pretty sure only one is pregnant, and she started pulling fur almost as soon as I placed the box.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">May 21st.....</span><br /><br />Last but not least, the lady from the feed store in Rock Springs called me to let me know that she had an <a href="http://onetenthacre.blogspot.com/2010/02/gardening-in-february-in-rockies.html">estimated arrival date for the new chicks & poults</a>!! May 21st. She was trying to order early, so she could get them early, but they wanted to send partial batches throughout the next couple months. She told them "No. I have people coming in from out of town, and they need to be here all at once." So May 21st, was the soonest they could ship everything she's ordered. She's a wonderful lady & very receptive to her customer's needs.</span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133931510920962315.post-63433233221856619702010-03-10T11:33:00.000-08:002010-04-11T14:21:17.389-07:00Planting seeds<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday, 3/7</span><br /><br />36 Genovese basil seeds<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday, 3/9- </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tomatoes:</span><br />5 each- Tumbling Tom, Orange banana<br />6 each- Black Moor, Isis Candy<br />7 Rhoades Heirloom<br />3 Cherokee purple<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Broccoli:</span><br />6 Calabrese<br />12 Romanesco<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday 3/10</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Flats of </span><br />Buttercrunch lettuce, Baby's leaf spinach, Giant Noble, Bunching onions (24), mesclun, Rocky top mix lettuce<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday 3/13</span><br /><br />Flats of Yellow of Parma & Red of Florence onion<br /><br />I built an indoor greenhouse yesterday, so I'm hoping this will extend my season. A little later I'll get today's seed flats into the greenhouse.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday 3/16</span><br /><br />Thyme (sprinkled in 4-4" pots)<br />Thai white ribbed eggplant<br />Catskills Brussel Sprouts<br />Green Macerata Cauliflower<br />Early Purple Sprouting Broccoli<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday 3/22</span><br /><br />More basil (sweet leaf) & parsley<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday 3/23</span><br /><br />Peppers- Purple Beauty, Rainbow Mix, CA Wonder, Sweet banana, Jalapeno<br />Big Mammoth sunflower (24)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday 3/27</span><br /><br />Peas- Little Marvel, Alaska<br />Tomatoes- Omar's Lebanese (Keenan's pick), Mountain Princess (Tristen's pick), Gajo de Melon (Sebastion's pick), Green Zebra (my new pick for this year)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday 4/11</span><br /><br />Alaskan peas transplanted to garden<br />Tomatoes- 15 each- Fuzzy peach, black krim, Amish paste, yellow pear<br /></span>Michaela Dunn Leeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00042457871654103699noreply@blogger.com0