Easter Saturday

Mike had an opportunity for overtime today, so he worked all day but now has Sunday and Monday off. Weatherwise, was a very nice day here, and I got to do my favorite thing of just piddling around at home. 
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This girl was looking down at me from the hayloft, and she's not supposed to be in the hayloft. bad bird! but a pretty bird!

The little cockerals are back under the heatlamp now, I was just showing them the world. They liked what they saw.

We also run a retirement home for old chickens. We love Spec.

When feathered, the 9 red silkie chicks will move in with Bulli and Bebop.

Aren't the 3 boys gorgeous? They were out enjoying the sunshine today.

Red-Velvet Cake & Snow

My mother-inlaw made this Red Velvet Poke Cake last night, oh my, so sinful, so good. Shhh, please don't tell my doctor that I was near the stuff, she'd slap me straight. http://www.thecountrycook.net/2012/07/red-velvet-poke-cake.html 

Weatherman says it's gonna snow for the next three days but I'm ready for Spring. 

Saturday - sausage & silkies

http://www.culinary.net/recipes/RecipeDetail.aspx?ID=6141
I made this Bob-Evans recipe
but instead made 'em in a muffin tin.
Easy and very good. 

Red Silkies and Address Labels

I have 9 red silkies in the brooder. Received them last Thursday through US Mail as day-old chicks from Ideal Hatchery. This is a photo of what mine will look like when they are grown. 

We have two black silkie hens, Bulli and Bepop, but no rooster. 

If you want to read up on silkies - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silkie  

Of course, I like red critters, so I ordered the red variety. 

I got some new address labels.  And yes, I raise mostly RED Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats.  Notice the conformation of the goat, that's what we breeders are shooting for.

Mike in the tractor

Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats

From a bloodlines perspective, I'm quite content with my herd, and I've got lots of good options for breedings. Except that MariGold goes around biting everybody in the barn because she's a brat and thinks its funny, the chemistry is good.   

At present, we have: 16 Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats -
green = naturally polled

In 2012, we had 12 bucklings and 5 doelings born. We sold all the bucklings except Ancho. We kept 3 doelings - Ruthie, Chili, and HollyBerry - and sold 2 - Tulula and Black Dahlia.

In 2012 - we purchased:  Trophy, GoldMedal, and Tank  

8 Senior Does - and 2012 freshenings
Rhubarb (twins - C-section Mar 28, 12. Ruthie and Rhutroh)
MariGold (single buckling. Mar 30, 12. Rowdy)
Tulip (triplets - Apr 2, 2012. Spud, Tulula, and Black Dahlia)
Cherry (2 bucklings - Apr 10, 2012 Bing and HashBrown)
Casablanca - (2 bucklings - Butch & Cassidy 5/24/12)
Cali (1 male, 1 female - July 23, 2012 Ancho and ChiliPepper) GingerBreadGirl (3 bucklings - July 27, 2012)
Holly (1 male, 1 female - Oct 4, 2012 Hootie and HollyBerry)
1 Senior Doe - we don't breed: SweetPea - (just a pet)

4 Junior Does - Ruthie, Gold Medal , ChiliPepper, HollyBerry

3 Bucks - Bordeaux, TigerTank, Ancho

Today on  the 13 girls, we did hoof trimming, udder shaving, and general spa treatments.

Quiz - How can you tell when Cherry is pregnant?  When she starts sitting on her butt a lot.

Although these 4 girls are part of a herd, they never forget that they are family.  It's always amazing to observe these dynamics; which occurs within the bucks too. Not pictured is HollyBerry, Holly's daughter. 

 

Here's HollyBerry!