Slapdash Farm

Okay, you can now try www.slapdashfarm.blogspot.com. I will start posting there exclusively starting now. Goodbye...

decisions, decisions

Ok, so I think I have decided I like Slapdash Farms. The question now is how do I proceed. Do I leave this blog and start a new one with the new farm name, or do I keep using Rocking Rabbit Ranch address? I'm thinking I might start a whole new blog with a new address. This one will still be here for posterity.

Whats in a name?

I've been thinking, I don't want to be a ranch, I want to be a farm. Sooooo... What do you all think about....Wait for it.... Wait for it...Slapdash Farms? Misty and Jeff said they liked it and Stef chuckled when I told him. Let me know!

Got Pig??

We do! We picked up our pigs today. They are a barrow (castrated male) and a gilt (young female) about 4 months old and around 85 lbs. They Berkshire/Hampshire crosses.

We put them in the old buck pen with JD and Jake. JD is a little apprehensive about them right now, but Jake wants to make friends right away.

Sleeping outside

The boys have started sleeping outside with the animals. And before you even ask... NO, we are not making them. They are doing it of their own volition. They sleep on a tarp and a sleeping bag on the ground and some of the animals sleep with them.

I Did It

The ranch is now 7 roosters lighter. The boys and I did it ourselves today. I was able to cut the heads off okay. The boys need to get faster at plucking though. We lost the last few roos to dog food. They were getting so dried out from being dead when I tried to eviscerate them the smallest knick and they leaked out yucky stuff and soiled the meat. Oh well, at least they won't go to waste.

I was going to do the ducks today also, but couldn't do it. I had a few chicken heads that didn't come off clean enough. I think the butcher knife needs sharpened and I didn't want to risk it with the ducks. And honestly, duck feet kind of freak me out with the claws at the end of them and all. They will just have to wait for Stef.

More Dogs...

...than goats now! I am very happy today. I put an ad in Craigslist for the remaining goats and someone came to look at them today. He told me they were going to use the girls for breeding and possibly milking. I was very happy because I didn't want Frosty turned into a taco. He only took the boys because they were such a good price. Well he showed up with his wife and their 4 young children and I was beside myself knowing all of the goats are going to a happy in their new home. YEAH!!

We are thinking about getting a couple of pigs to put in the old buck's pen. J.D. needs someone to protect now that the boys are gone. He gets too nervous around all the other animals and dogs.

Stef also finished getting electricity to the barn today. Now we don't have to go to the shed to turn the light on in the barn anymore. We can also put a radio in the barn now.

So, yes we have 4 Great Pyrenees and only 3 goats. Next week we will be getting another Alpine doe that is already in milk and don't forget about the pigs! So we will start evening out a little bit!

Some goats are gone....

...more to go tomorrow. Our neighbors took Big Mama, Elvis and the kids today. They also took Taco. Everyone seems very happy in their new home.

Tomorrow some people are coming out to take a look at the Nubians for sale. I hope they take them because they are going to try and breed Frosty and try to milk her again. At least they will give her a chance and not just turn her into tacos right away! WE will see how it goes.

Right now I have Lil' Bit in with the Nubian Bucklings. I'm trying to get her bred to one of them before they leave.

Bye, Bye, Goaties

Edwin, our neighbor, and a dad of the boys' friends will be taking 4 of our goats this weekend. They are taking our Boer goats, Big Mama, Elvis, Sissy, and Dekley. They are also buying one of the puppies, Taco.

Now I can take pictures of the rest of them and put them for sale on Craigslist. We are only keeping 3 does and one buck. We are keeping Holly, Lil Bit, Flower and Rocky. So that means I am going to try to sell Trouble, Alvin, Tipsy, and Frosty. I am so torn on what to do with Frosty. She has become such a pet goat, always looking to be loved on. I don't want to keep her and have her get mastitis again. I can't put anymore money into her. Plus, her daughter, Tipsy has fish teats, and I don't want to feed her through the winter and her give me more does with messed up teats. I might see if I can give her to someone willing to give her a chance and not eat her. Actually, if I decide to do that, I bet Edwin would take her.

After, or probably while, I am rehoming these goats, I am looking to acquire 2 new ones. I am looking at a new Alpine buck. Fran and I are going to take a field trip to His Fruitfulness Farm to look at a couple of registered bucks. I am also looking for another registered Alpine doe.

Then we will breed Rocky to Lil Bit, and the Alpine buck to Holly, Flower, and the other new goat.

Garden Update

Yesterday Stef took the boys out to the garden and fixed it. He put new gates, set up the drip hose, watered all of the still living plants and fixed the plastic. I haven't gone out to look yet so this is all still hearsay but I am feeling a bit better about this subject.