Homestead News, Volume 5
There are lots of different things going on around here, so I thought I would do another version of the news. In the news lately.......
Our latest batch of baby chicks have hatched and been moved to their new abode. Out of 54 eggs we had 47 hatch. Some of them have been fascinated with their older siblings next door.
The momma hen and the first 36 chicks that hatched had to move next door so the new babies could have the pen with the heat lamp. The 'teenage' chicks are almost feathered out, but not quite. They are in the ugly stage.
After the crew finished up the lean-to for the pigs, they started on the other side of the barn. This lean-to is bigger and will have a concrete pad. They poured the first half of the pad today and will finish up the other side tomorrow. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of it, so you will have to use your imagination until next time. It doesn't look like this anymore.
Later on in the week, the same crew will begin construction of our long awaited greenhouse. When we moved here in 2008 we had new siding put on the house along with the porches that extend the full length of the house on the east and west sides. Frank had the foresight to have them pour a pad for the greenhouse when they poured the porches. So, this pad has been awaiting for us for seven years. It currently houses a few ladders and the sections of Frank's new radio antenna towers. That is another project that is on the list in the near future. We bought the supplies for building the greenhouse a while back, but Frank's back has prevented us from completing this task. We will write an article on the hows and whys of the greenhouse, including pictures of the construction when it is finished.
We have a doe, Cricket, that has developed a bad case of scours (diarrhea) that is cause by the barber pole worm. We have never had a case like this and have been doctoring her for about five days. Today we took a stool sample to the vet and found out she has worms so bad, it's like she's never been wormed even though we have treated her twice in the last three weeks. The vet gave us a different type of wormer and information about using a copper bolus. I came home, researched copper boluses and ordered some. I am going to arrange for the vet to come out next week after the boluses arrive and teach me how to administer them properly to our entire herd. With all of the record breaking rain, the worm load is tremendous this year. I will take pictures and explain the bolus properties more when we administer them. It's all new to us.
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| One Stripe |
Since Cricket is sick with worms, and has gotten very thin, we won't be breeding her in July along with One Stripe which was our original plan. That means one doe will breed in July for December babies and five will breed in November for April babies. We'll see how that goes.
The new part of the garden I planted with cowpeas and sunflowers last Monday is growing very well.
I finally got the porches put back together. They sure look better. There are definitely not enough hours in the day to get half of the things done we would like to do.
We watch Greece, Puerto Rico and the financial conditions around the world with trepidation. This causes us to spend more time discussing and pondering what we might need to acquire or learn before we are no longer able. There are many folks talking about the devaluation of the dollar, bank holidays or a total financial collapse. We feel like this is the beginning of a scary roller coaster ride that will not end well. I suspect there will be ups and downs along the way, just like any roller coaster ride, but I really don't think we will all arrive on the platform with smiling faces when this ride is over.
Frank's radio class starts tomorrow night, and we are really looking forward to that. It will be very interesting to see how many folks show up and what type of community communications system comes out of this new group of people. We hope to do articles about each class to give you an idea of how it is going, what works and what doesn't. This may give you some ideas about how to form a group in your area.
We hope everything is going well in your neck of the woods. Keep your ear to the ground, your powder dry and watch your back. Things are looking dicier everyday.
Until next time - Fern
Are you concerned with humidity and moisture with the green house next to the house? Ralph and I have been following Greece closely and it is unnerving....no one here seems unduly concerned....well at least our party neighbors,,,what was it Nero fiddled while Rome Burne?
ReplyDeleteWe will see how the greenhouse turns out. Frank and a man we hired started framing the walls today. It's very exciting, and of course in my biased opinion, it looks great. I'm not sure if they're planning on a barrier on the house or not, I'll let you know.
DeleteI hope I don't hear any fiddling any time soon, Fiona. Keep your seat belt on, I'm afraid it will be a rough ride.
Fern
Keeping you and Frank in my prayers and hoping (and knowing) that the Ham Radio Classes will be a huge success. You have both achieved so much. Like you I'm watching what is happening regarding Greece etc with a view to what else do we need and need to do. We're all in for a very rocky ride. I just hope we are all prepared enough.
ReplyDeleteThe first class went very well, Calidore. There was a bigger turn out than we expected, which was great. Frank will continue to post articles about how the class is going. I really hope we are prepared enough, as well. Thank you for sharing.
DeleteFern
I thought maybe this post from this website would be informative for your one doe with the barber pole worms. http://www.mitchellplainfarm.com/blog/tag/barber-pole-worm/
ReplyDeleteWe have to watch for this problem too and I know it can cause a lot of issues if not found early enough. I really enjoy your blog and look forward to reading it daily. Nice to know that there are people out there with the same feelings and thoughts and are trying hard to do what is right and helping others. God Bless......
Thank you very much for the link, Lisa. Cricket is doing much better. The levamisole must have worked. She eats almost all of the greens I take her, especially the comfrey. Next week the vet is coming to teach me how to administer the copper boluses I got in yesterday. I will post an article on that process sometime next week. Thank you for your kind words and for sharing with us.
DeleteFern
First time poster here. Found your blog from Survivalblog a couple months back and have greatly enjoyed your postings. It is rare to find a couple like you who see the writing on the wall. This society is so caught up in their "instant gratification nation" that they will be hit hard by the coming fall that is just around the corner. There are so many scenarios that could play out alone or together it just boggles the mind. This society cannot continue exponential growth in a finite system. We are slowing dying the death by a thousand cuts.
ReplyDeleteIt really warms my heart to read your blog on days when I'm feeling the stress of getting prepared. I am the lone wolf preparing as best he can, my wife does not hinder my progress but she does not do anything to help. I think it is too hard for her to believe that we will face a big disruption in the status quo. God has yet to open her eyes to the fall of the empire we are experiencing today.
Peace and blessings to you both and may El Shaddai bless the works of your hands and give you the strength to persevere in this tribulation we face. Keep your powder dry and keep stacking it high :)
Welcome to the blog, Swordsmyth, we're glad you found us. We have discussed this statement many, many times. " There are so many scenarios that could play out alone or together it just boggles the mind." The world is so interconnected and complicated that it's impossible to see all of the different possibilities that may occur. One thing that most people are in agreement on, is that it appears 'something' is going to happen sooner rather than later.
DeleteThank you for your kind words and for sharing with us here.
Fern
I have been reading the blog for a while now, not sure how long. You are an inspiration to some of us, Please, keep up the good work. I live not really that far, I'm in NE Texas close to Texarkana and my family and I are preparing for the worst and praying for the best. But be that as it may, I feel that something bad is around the corner. Just wanted to let you know that there is help close and prayers even closer.
ReplyDeleteHi, Randy. You're right, I love this part of the world. It's a good place to get lost. For the most part the people are decent and humble. Just the kind of people I like being around. Hang in there, someday it will all have been worth it. Thanks for the comment and thanks for reading.
DeleteBy the way, when I was much, much younger I used to love to go play around Lone Star. I'm sure it's changed in the last 50 years, but I really used to like that area.
Frank
Thanks for this article and for the links. I have been looking for s copper bonus for our goats for awhile, as they are copper deficient, but could not find any in stock who would ship to Canada. Thanks to your link I now have some on the way here! Thanks so much for sharing your research!
ReplyDeleteKarin, I had only briefly read about copper boluses until the other day. I'm glad the source my vet gave me has been able to benefit you. That's great! I hope they help both of our herds. I'm glad to say Cricket is doing much better. I'll show you our bolus routine next week when the vet is here.
DeleteFern