Breeding Time

Looks like its that time for our two girls to be bred! As this is the first time for all of us waiting for all the signs to be there was key after all we wanted the breeding to take. A while back the method was in question do we get a buck? Use AI (artificial insemination)? Or just go to a breeder?
The ideal choice would have been to take them back to the ranch the girls came from as the folks there are great they have many bucks and we have a standing invitation but it is a couple hours away and without a livestock trailer the easiest way to move the goats is in the van which nobody enjoys! As we didn’t find an AI breeder in time taking them to a local buck was the way to go so a Craigslist post was made in the farm & garden section (CL is the best! ) and later that day we had a local who breeds Nubian and Alpine goats.
The girls were loaded up and taken down to the farm for their “date” with ‘Leroy’ a good looking 3 year old Nubian buck, now the waiting game starts as it takes 140-150 days to kid and that is only if they are pregnant…Fingers are crossed here!!

Here is JaJa and ‘ol Leroy

20111231-074348.jpg

Posted in goats | Leave a comment

Cold Weather

Yes again I know but this is cold for where we are at! 🙂
Set the coffee cup down on top of the car for a moment and had to take a picture this was just a cool (pun intended) shot.

20111219-111651.jpg

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The lone honeybee

With the cold weather upon us… Well for California anyways 🙂 the bees have retreated for the season and now there are just a few buzzing around looking for remaining flowers. In spring and summer this rosemary bush is buzzing loudly with the bees almost covering the whole thing today there were three.

20111202-122235.jpg

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Radishes are starting to come up nicely!

20111128-132446.jpg

This picture is taken about 2 weeks after planting the seeds which were taken straight out of the seed pods from the spring plants.
I don’t remember exactly what variety they were but most radishes are quick and should be ready around 25-30 days . Around the tail end the size can be checked by obviously just pulling one out or digging gently around the radish if you do it this way if it’s too small just bury it back up no harm no foul as long as you didn’t yank it out, same goes for onions, carrots and similar vegetables. To small and they aren’t done growing too large and they get a unpleasant woody texture and usually are spicier.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Chickens enjoying some fresh hay

The chickens and gang enjoy a fresh load of alfalfa hay on Thanksgiving morning.. They get the leftovers from the goats feed once a week and love to peck through it keeps them entertained for quite some time!
Special appearances in this video from ‘Peep’ as the Turkey, ‘Ella’ playing a floppy eared rabbit, ‘Rocket’ as the guinea pig and a great soundtrack preformed by our Guinea Hens who are on the outside of the fence wondering when I am going to leave so they can swoop in. Bonus points for anybody who wants to name the different chicken breeds!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment