Bring on the Kits!

We're finally ready for babies over here.  I tend to procrastinate just a tad, so I waited until tonight to get a nesting box and new cage for the rabbits. Until now, the sisters had been sharing one big cage, and I needed to finally separate them.  The smaller sister picks on the bigger sister, plus the bigger sister is expecting a litter very soon.  I left Big Sister in the big cage (30"x36") and put the smaller sister in the new cage (30"x30").  Once Little Sister gets bred, she'll move out into the big hutch outside and the male will move into the cage she's in now. 
















Big Sister was bred on March 31st, and gestation is about 28-31 days for rabbits, so I figure she's due anytime around Saturday.  I'm excited to see what she has.  This will be my first litter of meat rabbits!

She's got plenty of room in the cage, and has already been hanging out in the nest box, although that's pretty much so she can eat the hay (I've got a round bale of hay, so I used that instead of straw). 

And Little Sister now has a cage all to herself so she doesn't have to irritate her sister anymore.  Not that little sisters ever truly irritate their big sisters, right Becky?

Please excuse the fuzzy pic, my batteries were about to die.  And please also excuse my pile of feed sacks. I'm collecting them to put down in the garden aisles this year to help combat the wire grass.

Stay tuned for pictures of baby bunnies...hopefully soon!

The Kids' New Home!

Selling animals can sometimes be nerve wracking!  You always want to know that the animals you've cared for are going to a good home.  I sold the goat kids last week, and had no doubts that they were going to a great home!  The lucky brothers went to live in Virginia, with Shannon and Andrew, who are the nicest people!

Shannon sent me these pictures of the boys after they got settled in at their new place.  Looks like goat heaven!

They even have obstacles to climb on!

Yep, it's nice to know your animals are now owned by people who will love them and take care of them!  Thanks Shannon and Andrew!

Seeing Spots

The baby pigs are doing really well!  They're eating like pigs (that saying is so true) and there are no visible rib bones or spines anymore.  In fact, the little runt drinks better than his bigger brother!

The pigs stayed in the house for only a night before they just got too stinky to stay any longer.  They're out in the barn with a heat lamp and are having a great time.  They run all around exploring, then crash under the heat lamp until the next feeding time. 

Here's the little runt above.

And the bigger of the two likes to try to escape. He's pretty vocal, and he loves getting back rubs and scratches. The runt does not like to be touched on his back.  It's funny how different they are. 

I'm really hoping they grow fast, because I'd like to put them in with the big pig so she has buddies.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate too, because it's gotten cold all of the sudden. You'd think it was spring or something!  ;-)

Sailing the High Seas

We bought a boat!  We are surrounded by water here on the Eastern Shore of MD, so we wanted to get a boat so we'd have a fun hobby this summer.  We like fishing, but it's depressing fishing from the shore because we can't seem to get anything good.  Plus, Maryland is famous for our blue crabs, and they're expensive to buy so we'll hopefully be able to catch our own from now on!  

We found this 16' boat and it's perfect for us.  It's big enough for us and the kids to fit comfortably, but still small enough to be affordable (to both purchase and run) and maneuverable.  

David's Dad had a boat when David was younger, but my family didn't have a boat so I'm a little nervous on it.  I need to get my sea legs!  I've only been on boats a handful of times, usually in relatives' boats when we go camping.  It's exciting to have our very own one!

We took it out in the river today for a very short ride, mainly to make sure everything works.  

What a view!

This picture cracks me up.  I'm being crazy and David looks so serious.  Really he's just squinting because he didn't have sunglasses. 

I can't wait to take the boat out for an actual fishing trip!  I'm imaging lots of fresh fish and crab this summer, and hopefully a good bit in the freezer too!

The New Boys

 I sold the 2 goat kids last night and the pig is pretty lonely.  I'd been anticipating this, and have been looking for a second pig.  The guy I got my current pig from had a litter born recently (on Easter, April 8th), so I put the word out that I needed another one.  He said he had a little runt who wasn't doing well, and probably wouldn't survive (having to fight against much bigger and stronger siblings for food) so I could have him if I wanted him.   Of course I did!  I love a challenge.  I went over there today and he had 2 piglets in a box for me, since both of them were having a hard time competing with the bigger pigs.  One is truly a runt, and was born teeny. The other just probably didn't get to nurse as much as the others.  So I brought them home. 

















 First thing I did was bathe them.  They were pretty stinky.  The piglet below is the bigger of the two.

And below is the little runt (in the kitchen sink).

Then I handed the piglets off to the kids to wrap in towels and hold for a bit. 

They smell much better after their baths.  Then I tried feeding them with a bottle, but they weren't too interested.  They like drinking from a dish much better. 

After I while I wanted to go outside and put up my new electronet fence for the sheep, so I went to the closet and got a sheet to make into a sling. 

I tucked them inside and fastened the loose top with a safety pin.  They were snug as bugs in a rug! 

I snapped the photo of the sling so you can see how it looks. It just ties in the back and I slung it over my shoulder.  It let me carry them around and still get work done. 

I'll keep you posted on the boys' progress.  I may name them...not sure.  It's not exactly like I can call them all Pig Pig now.  And they're all spotted, so I can't call them by color.  :-)

Seedlings

Every year I try to start some seeds and they never really do that well.  Partly because I don't have a bright space to put them inside the house, and also because I hate all the work of putting them outside during the day and bringing them in at night.  This year we splurged on a greenhouse!  Yeah, well, it was only $20 and is teeny, but it's still technically a greenhouse!  (We got it at Tractor Supply Co, in case you were wondering)























So far I really like it!  For the small amount of seeds I start, I think it will work really well. 

I got the idea to use toilet paper and paper towel rolls as seed pots from one of my favorite blogs, Squash Blossom Farm.  They seem to be doing the job!   The nice part is when I plant, I can either plant the whole thing, or just tear the cardboard away!

So far I've planted hollyhocks and 3 kinds of tomatoes.  I need to get started on the other things soon. 

Every day I cheer on the tomatoes.  Grow, babies, grow!

My Car is Possessed

I think aliens are trying to send me messages through my car stereo.  I get weird messages like this from time to time.  

Ok, maybe not.  It could be because last year a lady pulled out in front of David, causing him to have to swerve and jump a curb to miss t-boning her truck.  The car was in the shop for a while, and the stereo had to be sent out for repairs, and hasn't been quite right after that. 

Nah, it can't be that. It's definitely aliens.