January 12, 2020
We tried to find Ninja's owner - online posts, checked with the shelter, got her scanned for a chip...
We accepted she would live her and took her to be Spayed. She has been inside to recover. I am ready to move her outside again but it is storming, snowing, blowing, extra cold, so I feel a little bad. Given a choice I think I would keep our old cat inside and have the rest as outside only animals. Macaroni is funny sometimes as she plays, but overall 3 cats and 7 people in one house is too much for me.
I am grateful for the snow, as I know it means water for crops in the spring, but I wouldn't mind an early spring :)
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Ninja the Feral Kitten
December 4, 2019
Sunday afternoon Matt came in saying Panther (our outside cat was fighting with Macaroni our inside/outside kitten). When we went to look we realized that it was not Macaroni (who was currently inside) but a full black kitten. Monday the Black Kitten was back, and Tuesday. Tuesday it was up near the house, clearly under nourished. One of our College age daughters was visiting and went to check on it. It did not want to be picked up but would rub between and around her legs and cry. I know they say never to feed feral cats or they won't leave. I felt bad for it though and really I don't object to it, as long as it stays outside. I don't think Panther agrees, but I figure if the kitten and Panther have enough of an issue, Panther can run it off. I was chopping chicken for dinner and let the girls give the kitten a tiny bit of it, then as we watched it devour the chicken like a starving child, I let the girls give it a little dry cat food, and I brought out the pan the chicken was cooked in so it could drink out the warm juices from it. That seemed to satisfy her little tummy and she soon ran off.
The girls named her Ninja.
When we moved here we built an outside shelter for a cat, thinking our outside cat would live outside. When our first shelter cat disappeared and we feared a wild animal had gotten to it, we started locking up our 2nd Shelter cat at night in the shop. As winter approached we insulated the outside shelter that we had moved to the shop thinking the cat would like to be even warmer in the shop. She has rejected it, and instead has a variety of spots around the shop she prefers, including some old hay we got for the bunny we keep in a box and the cat likes to sleep on.
Our original plan was to keep the shelter under our back porch steps to make it easier to feed the outside cat.
I just moved the shelter and a tarp there. It is much drier under the porch and with the entrance facing the house, but plenty far away from it to enter, a cat could be mostly protected from the wind. I hope the tarp will help keep the house dry. It may not be needed, but hopefully won't hurt :) I may adjust it some the next time I go out with real snow gear, but it is also possible the tarp would freeze to the ground by then.
I don't know if the cat will accept it or not. We will see.
Sunday afternoon Matt came in saying Panther (our outside cat was fighting with Macaroni our inside/outside kitten). When we went to look we realized that it was not Macaroni (who was currently inside) but a full black kitten. Monday the Black Kitten was back, and Tuesday. Tuesday it was up near the house, clearly under nourished. One of our College age daughters was visiting and went to check on it. It did not want to be picked up but would rub between and around her legs and cry. I know they say never to feed feral cats or they won't leave. I felt bad for it though and really I don't object to it, as long as it stays outside. I don't think Panther agrees, but I figure if the kitten and Panther have enough of an issue, Panther can run it off. I was chopping chicken for dinner and let the girls give the kitten a tiny bit of it, then as we watched it devour the chicken like a starving child, I let the girls give it a little dry cat food, and I brought out the pan the chicken was cooked in so it could drink out the warm juices from it. That seemed to satisfy her little tummy and she soon ran off.
The girls named her Ninja.
When we moved here we built an outside shelter for a cat, thinking our outside cat would live outside. When our first shelter cat disappeared and we feared a wild animal had gotten to it, we started locking up our 2nd Shelter cat at night in the shop. As winter approached we insulated the outside shelter that we had moved to the shop thinking the cat would like to be even warmer in the shop. She has rejected it, and instead has a variety of spots around the shop she prefers, including some old hay we got for the bunny we keep in a box and the cat likes to sleep on.
Our original plan was to keep the shelter under our back porch steps to make it easier to feed the outside cat.
I just moved the shelter and a tarp there. It is much drier under the porch and with the entrance facing the house, but plenty far away from it to enter, a cat could be mostly protected from the wind. I hope the tarp will help keep the house dry. It may not be needed, but hopefully won't hurt :) I may adjust it some the next time I go out with real snow gear, but it is also possible the tarp would freeze to the ground by then.
I don't know if the cat will accept it or not. We will see.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Two New Chickens
November 11, 2019
Saturday Matt picked up two new chickens for us. They are young White Leghorns. They have a smaller comb than the one we have. The one we have was a great layer, especially in warmer weather when some of the others slacked off some.
We are back to 12 hens and our rooster. With the two chicks Stir-fry raised for us, 4 will be first year hens and should lay most days, KFC is 5-6 years old and likely won't lay, Stir-Fry is about 3-4 years old and may not lay much but we are hoping we can get her to raise another set of chicks. 6 are 2-3 year old and should lay some but not as much as last year.
This year we tried the preserving eggs where you store them in water and slack/pickling lime. It does not pickle the eggs but keeps them "fresh". The only difference we have noticed with them is the one we were warned about, the yolks break easier so if you want to use the eggs to separate the whites out, it might be harder. We started storing some in June and are down to 2 eggs. I hope to store more next year and get longer into the winter without having to buy any. Laying slacked off the end of September a lot, and October and November we were only getting one egg a day, if that. so we started using our bucket. It didn't last long but was great to have the chance to try it on a smaller number of eggs. Two or Three cracked a little in the bucket and we just composted them rather than risk them, but most did great.
We have been getting stuff ready for Spring to plant more -- I have a long list of wants and plan to shop for plants Jan/Feb when the ordering season opens to get bushes and trees in April/May and Bees around May too. For now I am enjoying a couple weeks of nice weather before winter is sure to hit.
Saturday Matt picked up two new chickens for us. They are young White Leghorns. They have a smaller comb than the one we have. The one we have was a great layer, especially in warmer weather when some of the others slacked off some.
We are back to 12 hens and our rooster. With the two chicks Stir-fry raised for us, 4 will be first year hens and should lay most days, KFC is 5-6 years old and likely won't lay, Stir-Fry is about 3-4 years old and may not lay much but we are hoping we can get her to raise another set of chicks. 6 are 2-3 year old and should lay some but not as much as last year.
This year we tried the preserving eggs where you store them in water and slack/pickling lime. It does not pickle the eggs but keeps them "fresh". The only difference we have noticed with them is the one we were warned about, the yolks break easier so if you want to use the eggs to separate the whites out, it might be harder. We started storing some in June and are down to 2 eggs. I hope to store more next year and get longer into the winter without having to buy any. Laying slacked off the end of September a lot, and October and November we were only getting one egg a day, if that. so we started using our bucket. It didn't last long but was great to have the chance to try it on a smaller number of eggs. Two or Three cracked a little in the bucket and we just composted them rather than risk them, but most did great.
We have been getting stuff ready for Spring to plant more -- I have a long list of wants and plan to shop for plants Jan/Feb when the ordering season opens to get bushes and trees in April/May and Bees around May too. For now I am enjoying a couple weeks of nice weather before winter is sure to hit.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Salvage
September 2019
Just a few of the things we have been working on.
Just a few of the things we have been working on.
My husband calls himself a wood hoarder.
Really all this wood keeps me warm all winter and is much cheaper than the furnace.
He is pleased with the supply for the coming winter.
The shed on the right is the extension my awesome brother made.
It is full of boxes of loose free straw and kindling.
The Adult swing ;)
Salvaged wood, a little left over from beehives
Some of the hardware was left over from the child swing set
I did have to buy a little hardware.
I think in all it cost about $40 with ropes, bolts and carabiners...
We have made 2 Horizontal hives/Russian long boxes.
Mostly Salvaged wood, I did buy about $5-10 worth of supplies
a couple wood strips and hinges
They have an interior width of 45 inches, and are intended to hold at least 30 frames.
My brother is amazing.
We added a follower board so it can house 2 colonies over winter or early spring if needed
or can just give access to part of the hive at a time.
The second hive is almost done, it needs the hinges added and wire "chain" to keep the lid contained.
I want a wedge for both the hives to keep the lid up, just in case.
Now I need to build all the frames for the hives. I have the parts, just need to sit down and do it.
I built one to use to check sizing during hive construction, but have 99 more to build.
I couldn't have done a fraction of this without my sweet husband gathering supplies for us and my talented brother guiding/doing the building.
I have started a swarm/nuc box. I may never catch a swarm, but I want try anyway.
Today we gleaned several boxes of potatoes.
Now back to playing in the dirt before snow flies.
We are looking to get a variety of fruit plants in the spring...
Yeah!
Friday, September 13, 2019
My Bad
Sept 13, 2019
I just went to pull eggs out from under Stir Fry and give her two eggs. I plan to give her all the eggs from today and tomorrow. I had not idea she had been laying and storing eggs.
This is all I pulled out from under her.
Sept 30, 2019
This just gets crazier. Over two weeks later and we have not seen a single egg from Stir Fry. Not one.
We moved her and her babies/teens to the main coop last night. It is getting colder and we want them to keep warmer with the main flock. The two pullets are not showing any signs of being roosters. We are hopeful that they are both hens.
I just went to pull eggs out from under Stir Fry and give her two eggs. I plan to give her all the eggs from today and tomorrow. I had not idea she had been laying and storing eggs.
This is all I pulled out from under her.
Sept 30, 2019
This just gets crazier. Over two weeks later and we have not seen a single egg from Stir Fry. Not one.
We moved her and her babies/teens to the main coop last night. It is getting colder and we want them to keep warmer with the main flock. The two pullets are not showing any signs of being roosters. We are hopeful that they are both hens.
SUPRISE
September 13, 2019
Last night we thought it was weird that Stir Fry and her chicks were in early and over in the corner instead of on the bars like they have been.
Today I was surprised that her teen chicks were in the bushes alone. I went to check and found Stir Fry in the corner alone again. I was even more surprised to find she had eggs under her. There is no way they are fertile so I am going to try to mark and swap in eggs from the main coop for her. So crazy that she is sitting on them this late in the year. I guess I could try to break her of being broody, but I prefer to let her raise them if that is what she wants but I will want to get her good food and treats to try to help her stay healthy and warm.
CRAZY!!!
Last night we thought it was weird that Stir Fry and her chicks were in early and over in the corner instead of on the bars like they have been.
Today I was surprised that her teen chicks were in the bushes alone. I went to check and found Stir Fry in the corner alone again. I was even more surprised to find she had eggs under her. There is no way they are fertile so I am going to try to mark and swap in eggs from the main coop for her. So crazy that she is sitting on them this late in the year. I guess I could try to break her of being broody, but I prefer to let her raise them if that is what she wants but I will want to get her good food and treats to try to help her stay healthy and warm.
CRAZY!!!
Friday, September 6, 2019
Pre-teen Chicks?
September 6, 2019
Chicks are 6 weeks old now. Fully feathered. We are waiting to see if they are hens or roosters. We are hoping to know before needing to move them into the main coop for winter. They are still a little small for that anyway.
They are fully feathered though and have been roosting up high in the coop with Stir Fry for a week or so now.
They still do the frequent baby chick peep sound, but that is getting much louder.
Stir Fry still watches out for them but doesn't give them as much preferential treatment with food anymore. If we offer a treat and she wants it she gulps it down rather than feeling the need to teach the babies what it is.
We have let them free range in the yard because their fenced area is much smaller than the main coop.
I just learned about using google maps to measure areas. If I am using it right it looks like we have just about 1/3 an acre for the animals field.
Chicks are 6 weeks old now. Fully feathered. We are waiting to see if they are hens or roosters. We are hoping to know before needing to move them into the main coop for winter. They are still a little small for that anyway.
They are fully feathered though and have been roosting up high in the coop with Stir Fry for a week or so now.
They still do the frequent baby chick peep sound, but that is getting much louder.
Stir Fry still watches out for them but doesn't give them as much preferential treatment with food anymore. If we offer a treat and she wants it she gulps it down rather than feeling the need to teach the babies what it is.
We have let them free range in the yard because their fenced area is much smaller than the main coop.
I just learned about using google maps to measure areas. If I am using it right it looks like we have just about 1/3 an acre for the animals field.
Soy Sauce headed out on the left, Honey Mustard center
Soy Sauce
Honey Mustard with Stir Fry in the Back
Honey Mustard with Stir Fry
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