ANOTHER NEW RABBIT!

WE GOT ANOTHER BUNNY!

We have a total of sixteen rabbits now, our latest edition is a Long Eared Holland, its a girl her name is Holly. I plan on breeding her to my Mini Lop male, Sandy Brown, in the fall when he is mature.

AN UPDATE ON THE BABY BUNNIES!

They are doing well, they have opened their eyes and two of them have started to crawl out of the nest box.

~Kaitlin

TURKEY BUTCHERING & POTATO PLANTING!

****WARNING GRAPHIC****


Today is the day for butchering. It's never the easiest day, but it is a day that needs to be done. Our Turkey, who has been named "Mr. Celebrity" is our Easter meal this year. While we are butchering him we are butchering 3 roosters. We are of no shortage of roosters around here. I was just surprised it was only 3 this time. One of our friends brought over 5 of his roosters. Why not we have all the stuff already out. Plus it gets the job done faster.

These are the 3 roosters. One of them has already been picked on. 

Mr. Celebrity - his day has come.

As you can see he is bigger than a five gallon bucket.

 That's not all feathers either.

No joke!

Skylar checking to see if the water is at the right temperature.

Tim turning up the heat.

Getting started with the roosters first.

We noticed that the turkey won't fit in the cones or boil tank and we definitely know he won't fit in the plucker. We have the ladder out to help with the butchering of these gnormous bird.

We are using a water tank to dunk him in.

Tim notched a board to put his legs in. Let me tell ya, it made the job easier. He was so heavy!

We decided to weigh him.

41 lbs at this point.

Tim and the girls are getting him gutted.

We decided to get the weight of him again.

36 lbs.

This is a big boy. Our son in law is planning on smoking him for our dinner on Sunday. He might need a bigger smoker.

It must be fascinating to watch a chicken lay a egg.

~~~PLANTING POTATOES~~~

Tim pulled back the mulch we put down at the end of fall last year.

Our plan this year is to lay them out and layer them.

We will see how this works out. Last year we dug a hole and stuck them in it.

We are planting them in rows but when they grow it should look like one big giant bunch of plants. Reason for this method is one its easier to plant and two when the grow this way it helps with weeds growing and three easier to harvest.

The first layer will be the compost.

The second layer is the manure/compost.

The third layer is the mulch.

Now we wait for the rain.

While Tim and I were at the store we bought 2 blueberry bushes.
We got them in the ground too.

Spring is a exciting time! The trees start to bud and the grass seems to turn green over night. I just wish we had warmer weather.

CANNING BUTTER/PUMPKIN-CHOCOLATE COOKIES!

A couple of days ago I went and picked up my co-op order.
We were down to one jar left on the shelf from canning butter just last year. We use butter to cook with and bake. Plus lets face it everything tastes better with butter.

I got one batch jarred. I don't think I planned this very well this time. The girls were gone most of the day. The jars will need to be shaken for several hours to keep the milk from separating. Last time I made the butter the girls helped and not long afterwards Tim was home to help. Four people meaning eight hands last year and only two hands this time. I didn't do the math before making it.

Got the second batch started and the supplies.

Waiting on the butter to completely melt.

That's the last of it, now to wipe the rims off.

Then put the seals and rings on. Shake 'em and shake 'em.

Shaking them is the longest process. It takes 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 hours until they are cooled.

I was able to get my scooby started so I could make homemade Kombucha. It's so expensive in the store. A friend of mine let me try her homemade batch. Super yummy!

I even had time to make some pumpkin-chocolate chip cookies.

Now don't forget to keep shaking the butter jars!

Pumpkin-chocolate chip cookies:

3 cups Flour

1 cup sugar

1 cup coconut oil

1 cup oats

1 can pumpkin

2 pinches of baking powder

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 cup yogurt

1 bag of chocolate chips

Cream it all together. 

Spoon out on baking sheet.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

These are super yummy! Not too sweet just enough though.

The girls made it home and look what Skylar bought me. 
My kids - I just love them!
It makes my eyes tear up with the things they do and the love they show. I am a blessed women everyday. I thank God for all of it!

Have a wonderful week!

MOVING CHICKENS AROUND!

This past weekend I decided to move around some of our chickens.
I want to group some together. I will be using a couple of chicken tractors for some of the hens. Not sure which hens yet.


Since we moved out the old rabbit hutch from this space.
I have plans for this. Even though Hope and the chickens are enjoying the spot.

The family helped me with this project by moving the dog kennel.

It has had many purposes. But for now it houses my banty rooster and hen. I also put in 2 bantam mixes. I did add another hen that was just insistent not to be separated from who she thinks is her mother (Charcoal).

Since all these hens and rooster were used to being in the area we moved them during the daylight.

We moved Mr. Celebrity out of the stall of the hen house and put him in the chicken tractor. His days are limited as Easter approaches. 

Squirt and Alex

We moved over the buff orpingtons at night. As we added the brown leg horns and mixed roosters to the hen house. This was so they can rest and smell each other through the night and make somewhat of a easier transition. I can't say it always works but it is easier than during the day because they don't know where to go back to.

The stall I was using for the turkey (Mr. Celebrity), I have the silkie rooster and hen plus one mixed hen as she doesn't want to be separated from them. They get picky.

The next day the buffs seem just fine. Now I just need some fertile eggs from them.

BUNNIES ARE GETTING BIG!

They are covered up with straw and fur from
 their mother to keep them warm until 
their fur grows in.

Just two days later and they are getting bigger.

Rain (Mother rabbit) has started leaving them uncovered now as they are filling in with their fur.