I was wondering what last year was like for the weather and the critters. I keep the photos filed by the month and year, so I decided to look back.
Last March 9 we still had snow, but not much more or less than we do this year. There wasn't much snow all winter, just like this year. By the end of March the temperatures were warm, just above freezing during the days and just below freezing at night, just like it is right now. This is not usual for this neck of the woods. It is more likely to have a colder winter with more snow, however; it appears that the warming trend is definitely affecting our area as well as the entire planet it seems.
On the 19th of March I cleaned the chicken coop, a job that no one, including myself, likes or wants to do. If the temperatures continue to stay warm, the coop will be thawed and ready to clean by about that time this year too. It gets very smelly as soon as it thaws and must be cleaned to avoid the ammonia that is built up in the frozen waste and hay and straw. It will be some time before the rabbit shelters and the duck and goose shelter can be moved though. Rather than attempt to clean those by hand, I have discovered that If I roll them over once completely, then the clean up can be done with the skid steer,whew! I used to do it by hand and that is one huge wet smelly mess to fork out of there.
Earlier in March both Jean the Jacob sheep and Lena the Karakul, had their twins. This year they had singles sired by the Shetland ram lamb and they were one month earlier. Fortunately the weather was great in February for their lambing. I thought the ducks and geese were early this year, because I already have one duck and one goose egg, but last March,by the end of the month, I had lots of duck,goose and turkey eggs and tons of chicken eggs. I do have lots of chicken eggs and it is time to put the sign out again.
So, this year and last year area almost the same for the weather conditions and the behaviour of the animals. The pot belly sow had babies in early March last year, but the ravens took all but the last one. She is due today and at the close of the day had not had the babies yet, but went off to the separate shelter so I think by tomorrow they will be there, if the ravens do not take them. It will be her last litter. She has a slight prolapse and after this litter is weaned, she will be sausage, sad to say. I will keep one of the daughters instead for breeding.
Looking back to when I first arrived here in March 2011, everything has changed so much. There was no farm, no fences, n shelters except the dilapidated old barn. My belongings arrived on March 17th and the moving company were extortionists. I ended up paying a whole lot of money or they refused to give me my things. I reported them but it was too late. They had purchased the company I contracted with, scammed a bunch of folks and left town. That was my start here. But, although I was terribly upset and didn't know where to start exactly, look how far things have come! In 5 short years the farm is up and running, productive, and the bed and breakfast will be back on its feet once the flood damage is restored. I have 4 or 5 more years to complete my stint as farmer before I retire. It has not been a bed of roses, but I have never been more peaceful, grateful and content than when I am with my animals. Life is great. Life is what we make it. I could have chosen to be miserable and give up or persevere and continue. It is that way with everything. I choose to love my life. You should love yours too. No? Yes?
Last March 9 we still had snow, but not much more or less than we do this year. There wasn't much snow all winter, just like this year. By the end of March the temperatures were warm, just above freezing during the days and just below freezing at night, just like it is right now. This is not usual for this neck of the woods. It is more likely to have a colder winter with more snow, however; it appears that the warming trend is definitely affecting our area as well as the entire planet it seems.
On the 19th of March I cleaned the chicken coop, a job that no one, including myself, likes or wants to do. If the temperatures continue to stay warm, the coop will be thawed and ready to clean by about that time this year too. It gets very smelly as soon as it thaws and must be cleaned to avoid the ammonia that is built up in the frozen waste and hay and straw. It will be some time before the rabbit shelters and the duck and goose shelter can be moved though. Rather than attempt to clean those by hand, I have discovered that If I roll them over once completely, then the clean up can be done with the skid steer,whew! I used to do it by hand and that is one huge wet smelly mess to fork out of there.
Earlier in March both Jean the Jacob sheep and Lena the Karakul, had their twins. This year they had singles sired by the Shetland ram lamb and they were one month earlier. Fortunately the weather was great in February for their lambing. I thought the ducks and geese were early this year, because I already have one duck and one goose egg, but last March,by the end of the month, I had lots of duck,goose and turkey eggs and tons of chicken eggs. I do have lots of chicken eggs and it is time to put the sign out again.
So, this year and last year area almost the same for the weather conditions and the behaviour of the animals. The pot belly sow had babies in early March last year, but the ravens took all but the last one. She is due today and at the close of the day had not had the babies yet, but went off to the separate shelter so I think by tomorrow they will be there, if the ravens do not take them. It will be her last litter. She has a slight prolapse and after this litter is weaned, she will be sausage, sad to say. I will keep one of the daughters instead for breeding.
Looking back to when I first arrived here in March 2011, everything has changed so much. There was no farm, no fences, n shelters except the dilapidated old barn. My belongings arrived on March 17th and the moving company were extortionists. I ended up paying a whole lot of money or they refused to give me my things. I reported them but it was too late. They had purchased the company I contracted with, scammed a bunch of folks and left town. That was my start here. But, although I was terribly upset and didn't know where to start exactly, look how far things have come! In 5 short years the farm is up and running, productive, and the bed and breakfast will be back on its feet once the flood damage is restored. I have 4 or 5 more years to complete my stint as farmer before I retire. It has not been a bed of roses, but I have never been more peaceful, grateful and content than when I am with my animals. Life is great. Life is what we make it. I could have chosen to be miserable and give up or persevere and continue. It is that way with everything. I choose to love my life. You should love yours too. No? Yes?
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