Despite late frosts alternating with 80'+ heat, the pastures grew, even the Hill Pasture, rife with multiflora rose and other invasive undesirables. The Belites ate the tasty forage and left the overgrown, unpalatable stems. With time at a premium, I did not rotationally graze this pasture. The girls ate what they wished, supplemented with green chop from the North Pasture. Our Farmall Cub mowed all but the steepest of the pasture, knocking down the overgrowth and pruning the multiflora before they went to seed. Later this season the cows and maybe the sheep will return to graze.
Blogging time off
With our event coming up, I will take a break from the blog. Rest assured the Lilac Hill creatures are grazing, sunning, resting under trees and the babies are growing.
New bachelor
The "Wedding sheep" have left the farm and Burgess was left alone in the Bachelor Field. With an eye to lambing in April next year, Burgess' services are not needed until winter so he must remain behind the sturdy fence. As a herd creature, he cannot live alone so I selected a wethered lamb from this year to keep him company. Initially I moved one of Maude's twins in with Burgess but Paxton managed to squeeze through the gate. Mab's lamb is larger and cannot escape so he was my second choice.
The weaning process is unsettling for the flock so I moved the ewes and lambs within the confines of the barnyard. Last night, the second night of separation, I did not hear the sad bleating across the farm. I believe the ewes will go back onto pasture, and behind two strands of electric twine tomorrow.
Burgess likes his pasture companion; his gentle nature is apparent. When I had observed this lamb in the field, he seemed to inherit his ewe's calm nature which will be a welcome addition to the flock during breeding season.
Since the little guy will be on the farm until next year, he will need a name. Since the ewe lambs from this year are Shakespearian, Portia, Beatrice and Hero, maybe Claudio or Antonio would suit.
Not our first year on the farm observation
On this week's Chicken Thistle Farm's podcast, Kelli and Andy spoke of their second year of farrowing which had me thinking about farming disappointment. I am not talking about the "don't count your chickens before they're hatched" failures, which happen early on in a rural life. I am talking about disappointing results in spite of the careful implementation of sound farming practices. On Wednesday I culled #003, born here at Lilac Hill from my friendliest ewe. On paper, she had hardy parents, a gentle nature and respected our strands of electric twine fencing through the summer grazing season. In reality she always looked lousy: her coat was often dirty, her nose was crusty (the other sheep did not have these probems), and she did not breed this year. (Her twin sister did not breed either but, I decided, because of her genetics, temperment and health that she has another breeding season to prove herself.) My study of sheep health, careful feeding, acquisition of quality parent stock and daily observation did not prevent this unthrifty ewe. With my farm goals in mind, I decided "it was time to put on my big farmer boots," and she was culled. Hopefully as we continue on Lilac Hill I will develop the widsom of a veteran shepherd and the the disappointments will not be felt as sharply.
Hens setting-May edition
I have two hens setting, one nest of Saxony duck eggs and the other of Buckeye chicken eggs.
I like to have a hen raise ducklings in an open bottomed pen, keeping the babies warm and tended until they feather out. An open bottomed pen on grass is so much cleaner than the raised mesh floor in the barn pen and the mess of duckling splash enriches our thin soil. As long as the hens stay broody this summer, I will continue to set nests of duck eggs. Come July I will evaluate the success of my hen-raising-duck scheme and decide if an incubator full of duck eggs is necessary to fill the freezer.
The nest of Buckeyes is also necessary to hatch replacement layers, roosters and chicks for sale. Broody hens do not lay eggs so chicken eggs are scarce but the ducks keep the egg bowl full for breakfast and baking.
Perhaps I should keep a larger flock of layers next year with an eye towards naturally hatching ducks for our freezer.
Power washer vs. Water tote
ABC's Wide World of Sports:"Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport!
The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat!"
Thrill--Yesterday, thanks to a Google search,I downloaded the owner's manual and read a few engine troubleshooting sites, tried a few suggestions and got the power washer running. Not sure if topping off the oil or replugging the low oil sensor wires made the difference but the washer works and the barn looks great. Victory.
Defeat--The plan is that this tote will carry water from the downspout or cistern to the Hill pasture across the road. Until we have a running gear under the tote our small skidsteer can only carry enough for one trough filling. When I tried to drain the excess water into the ditch to make moving the tote more stable, the handle broke off in my hand. Agony.
Transitioning to growing season mode
As the days lengthen and warm we shift from feeding hay in paddocks and watching for lambs to moving fence and water to accomodate the rotational grazing of the poultry, sheep and cows. Eventhough our goal of raising delicious meat on pasture remains, the particulars are different each year. This year spring's warming was slow to arrive, especially compared to last year's early heat, lengthening the ruminants' time on hay and off muddy pastures. For the first time we are managing a bachelor pen for Burgess our ram and selecting a wethered lamb to keep him company until December. Blair should drop her calf one month later than last year, therefore pushing back the bull's visit to the farm. And Lilac Hill will host a wedding reception at the end of May, barring the cows from the North field. (Those cow pies that I check, guaging the health of my Belties are just not a welcome addition to the country reception parking field.) It is a juggling act, balancing the present and future needs of the animals without a crystal ball to tell me how the weather wil be later this season.
In spite of a long list directing me to move fence and water , clean barns and plant the garden,home life goes on. A check of the NOAA website can prompt me to do a bit more laundry for the closthesline on clear day or to clear off the desk on a rainy one. No matter the forecast we need to eat, which is especially apparent at around 7PM. After a week of thrown together meals I bought the ingredients for a few refrigerator staples. It is time to prepare the first of the warm weather grilled vegetable/starch/meat or bean salads that sustain us. This early in the season the salads are heavy on greens from the hoophouse and and frozen red peppers, rosemary from the pot near the windowsill and bits of beef. As the season progresses fresh peas, beans, peppers,basil and tomatoes will arrive from the garden and lamb will be featured from the May butchering.
Apple blossoms
My childhood time spent with Dick and Jane on grandfather's farm never prepared me for the beauty of spring; the heavy scent of crabapple and the thrum of bees searching blossoms.
Spring clean up
With a family event on the farm at the end of May, spring clean up is well underway. Our usual pattern of starting a farm-improving project (translation=tearing up some part of the yard or farmyard) has been checked as we prepare for guests.With the flowerbeds edged and mulched,the chickens are back in the portable coops. This triangle coop needed the rotted end and door repaired before the January chicks took up residence.We finally fashioned wheelbarrow handles so it is easy to move across the lawn.
I had expected that the chickens ,ducks and geese would eat all of the corn purchased from the neighbor last fall. They did not so we disassembled the makeshift corn crib ,bought an antique Black Hawk corn sheller (thank you Craigslist) and shelled and bagged the remaining ears.What an ingenious tool:shells the corn and spits out the cob. We attached it to the side of the skidsteer bucket so we could adjust the hieght of our work space.
In addition to the spiffing up I am gradually transitioning the ruminants to pasture. The veterans in the flock know that the sound of temporary fence post pounding means good grazing; the lambs need to learn to stay with the flock inside the electric twine. Because some of our pastures will be hosting non-boot wearing guests, the cows will not graze those areas so the sheep have the Orchard and North pastures to manage.
Hero, a ewe lamb,arrives on 4/27
I believe that lambing is finally done. On Saturday morning I found 006 with her dry and full bellied ewe lamb in the goat paddock. Continuing with the Shakespearean theme, we named her Hero. Her left ear is brown. Since Hero was born outside she has a bit of dirt on her face, probably from the "nest" her mother scratched into the ground.Like this year's mothers, 006 is an attentive mother, protecting her lamb by tucking the lamb behind her when a stranger approaches, nickering to her lamb when the flock is near and keeping Hero's belly full.
Ducks in the orchard
The Saxonies are the first farm animals in the orchard this spring. Because it is mating season, the dark headed males must be separated so one drake and a pair of hens are within the hog panel enclosure. Since the testosterone driven drakes prefer to keep tabs on eachother while defending their harem, the other trio remains nearby. The hog panel corral is not an ideal pen since it is awkward to move but it will work until breeding seson runs its course.
Temporary bale feeder in barnyard
So the lactating ewes and their growing lambs can eat as much hay as they need, I cobbled together a round bale feeder for the sheep's barnyard. Tucked into the corner made by the baryard gate and the barn wall, and sided by a pallet and cattle panel, the sheep have access to the hay.
Ramling with the flock
On the weekend I moved the ramling and 005 back with the flock. Like her flockmates, 005 keeps her lamb near her side by calling to him with those deep "new mama" grunts . When he wanders a bit too far she noses him into place by her side.
A ram lamb
005 sought the barnyard stall, pawed a nest in the straw and lambed this morning.She avidly licked her ram lamb dry and he was soon noisily nursing.
Layering farm jobs
As spring moves forward and the the gardens move into production, it was time to rein in the tidbit searching, dirt scratching hens. Twice a day we move this pen across the lawn. The hens do the spring fertilizing as they eat their way around the yard. The egg box at the wheel end and the feed hopper at the handle end makes their upkeep very convenient. (In this picture the access door is open against the roof of the hen tractor). Although unwieldly, the long handle gives us greater mechanical advantage so one person can move the pen loaded with a hanging waterer and a full feed hopper.
About an inch of rain
Bottom Round Roast Beef
Last night, while we ate dinner, I roasted two bottom round roasts, the last two in the freezer.This lean, boneless roast, also know as a rump roast is cut from the upper part of the outer leg (round). Because it its not very tender, I put the salted roasts in a 275' oven until the meat thermometer read 125'. After I removed it from the oven, the meat thermometer continued to rise, into the low 130's, perfect medium rare. Before bed, the meat was cool enough for storing in the refrigerator. The pan drippings were a treat for the barn cats.
This morning I trimmed the meat of fat, much to the delight of the dogs, and dusted off the slicer. My ebay purchased US Slicing Machine is the enamel and chrome monster that sits in the corner of my counter;it is perfect for across the grain, thin slices that we like for sandwiches. I placed individual portions of beef on waxed paper on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer By lunchtime the portions will be ready to put in a container for storage. The thicker bits of meat, too small for the slicer but too thick for a sandwich will be be featured at dinner in a rice, greens and beef dish.
When we first started putting 1/2 a cow in the freezer I was daunted by the unfamiliar cuts of meat. My early cooking years did not include many roasts so I had alot to learn, a whole freezer full of learning. With plenty of research I learned that some cuts of meat have multiple names, all with their own best method of cooking. Armed with an accurate, digital meat thermometer, a sharp knife, and entries from Cook's Illustrated magazine and Pure Beef by Lynne Curry (BTW-my favorite resource, have loved 16 of the recipes, still working our way through the book and my freezer), I am learning to cook from most of the cow.
Hen setting chicken eggs
Yesterday I set a broody hen on Buckeye eggs, in 21 days I hope to have chicks for a customer. To make sure the hen was solidly broody I set her on two "trial" eggs on Saturday. She stayed on the eggs in her trance-like state, feathers spread out like a blanket. With a dozen fresh eggs available, I moved her off the trial nest and set her on the dozen eggs in the corner of the coop. With all but the hen and winter chicks overnighting in the coop for company, she should have a good chance of hatching her clutch.
And still we wait for lambs
Four of our Katahdins have not lambed. These four sheep are "theaves"( Theave or theaf (plural of either: theaves) – a young female sheep, usually before her first lamb (used especially in lowlandEngland). Also gimmer.), first timers.These two girls, 005 and 006 are showing signs that they are nearing the end of their pregancies. In addition to physical changes, their behavior has changed and their usual reserve has been replaced with friendliness.Verbena and her sister Viola do not show the physical changes associated with late pregnancy. I pulled Burgess from the ewes in January so they could lambs as late as June, if they are bred.
So, my shepherd's mind is whirling. If they did breed, why so late? If they are not bred, why not? They could have been a bit young when l put Burgess in with the ewes so perhaps, if bred, their lambing date is more in tune with their age.These girls are from Mab, one of my first and favorite ewes. She is not skittish, has a large, deep body, and has lambed every year without trouble; I want her genetics in my flock.
Do I give them another year or do I cull?
Katahdin Mauve beginning to shed
With her dark coat,it is easy to see that Mauve is starting to shed.