My Parents came for a visit!!!

This was my parents first time coming out to our farm.

It was just for 1/2 a day but we will take what we can get.

I made lunch. (Taco Salad)

We gave them a tour of our farm. We visited and played a card game.

We had snacks and coffee. It was cold and we didn't hang outside for long. I just can't believe our weather. The day before was much nicer. I still haven't put up my winter coat yet.

My mom (Joyce aka Mammo) with Kaitlin.

My parents with Kaitlin and myself.

(Krystal, Frank aka Pappo, Joyce and Kaitlin)

Tim taking our picture while my dad was taking our picture.

I had to include this.

Pappo, Mammo and Kaitlin

My beautiful mom and my beautiful daughter!!

(Krystal, Joyce and Kaitlin)

With our farm in busy season not sure when we will see each other next.

Time is precious so we do plan on making a trip to see them soon.

Moving batch 1 & batch 2 meat chickens!!

It is a big deal getting these meat chickens on pasture.

First of all they have more room to grow.

They get to eat fresh grass and insects if they choose too.

And finally they get fresh bedding to lay down in.

It's a win win for them.

Let the work begin for us with the every day moving 8 tractors and raising up and down feeders to them.

This is what we call our busy season. 

Raising the meat chickens from start to finish.

We brought one by one each tractor in for any repairs.

We added chicken wire for any that didn't have it.

Repainted tractor numbers on the front of them.

Stapled any loose hardware cloth.

Zipped tied chicken wire to the poles that needed them.

Put carpet on the outside so the tarp doesn't rub on the wire.

Bolted poles together vs. zipped tied.

Added latches to the inside.

Added a board on the back for better support for the hanging waterers.

We then hung feeder, waters, hung pan for gravel grit and put the tarp on.

Now we just need to add the chickens.

Seven more tractors to go!!!!!!

Lining each tractor up as we go.

We carried them out 20 at a time into each tractor.

Double checking our numbers as we went.

They are exploring their new living quarters.

It's not only exciting for them it is for us too.

Letting them do what comes naturally. Roaming around in the grass.

One tractor

at a time.

Including the 2nd batch of meat chickens.

Carry one tote at a time

Until all the meat chickens are spread out evenly in each tractor.

We even had one tractor to put the new laying hens in.

We had to use a cage to transfer them in. They are at the age where they are flying now.

16 Barred Rock

and 

5 Easter Eggers

1 I have no idea yet what it is??

I love how you order a certain amount and I am fine with sending an extra one or two of the exact same kind. But this company sent one of a different kind. So now I really don't know what I have. They even sent me 5 extra ones with our meat chickens. Don't know what kind they are either. Thanks to a friend of mine for taking them to her farm.

Every night the tractors get moved, feed added to feeder, water bucket refilled and gravel grit if they need it. We roll the feeder up so they are 12ish hours on feed and 12ish hours off of feed. It just helps them to not grow too fast before butchering them. Also we don't want them to grow too fast and can't walk.

It took us 2 weeks in a row to get all the tractors ready and meat chickens moved.

We are so glad we took the time to do it all right with the repairs and setup.

Only 7 tractors shown, trust me there is a total of 8 and they are all full.

With little nice days, lots of  cold days and rainy days I just didn't get the last tractor in the picture.

Now we just watch them grow until butcher date.

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms!!

Thank you for all your love and strength. 

 

Tagging our 2nd calf

We just love having new calves on the farm.

Tagging them is just another process of taking care of our live stock.

The day after she was born, we decided to get her tagged.

Since her mom (Tiny) is a first time heifer you never know how they will react.

We saw a opportunity to tag her and everything went smoothly.

Ya know the others always have to come and check out what we are doing.

Look at the other calf. He has a playmate now.

Tim had to carry her back to her mom as she was waiting over where she gave birth.

Tiny was like, "you took her, now bring her back."

2nd calf is born!!

2nd Calf is Born!!!!!!!

Tiny had her calf.

Cutest thing ever watching Tiny lay down with her calf.

The next day I just had to know what she had.

It's a girl!!!

A little heifer. So fitting for Tiny's first calf to be a girl as she was her mother's first calf.

We were gonna give this little heifer some colostrum but she was nursing just fine.

Mom and baby bonded and doing great!

We still have one more calving to go. Miss Piggy is several months out before she is ready.

1st calf of the year is born!!

Tim and I were out for a calf check as we have been doing for the past week or so.

While we were walking to the back pasture we saw 2 deer.

Thought it to be pretty cool and then thought we saw a fawn.

Then quickly realized one of our cows gave birth. We were a tad bit confused and the color of the calf was reddish. We thought Tiny (who is black) was gonna calf first. As she showed the most signs.

Maple (who is brown) was mooing at the calf. The calf was over the electric fence on the other side from the group. We moved it back and Maple was trying to get it to come to her and he kept running off from her.

We decided to move her and the baby separate from the herd.

Maple moved easy for us. She must of known what our plans were.

Because that was just too easy.

Here's the calf on the other side of the fence.

Maple mooing at the calf.

Here the calf is running from his mother Maple.

Kaitlin and I carried him about halfway and Tim took over.

This little guy is super cute and super heavy. He isn't even the size of a full size calf because he is half Dexter. We were so glad that Tim took him. He wasn't able to bring the truck over as the other cattle wouldn't move from the gate and he was by himself. It takes a team/family to run a farm. 

I was able to give him a bottle of colostrum milk.

Maple knew we were only trying to help her and she was very patient with him.

Every time the calf moved or went under the fence we brought him back to her and helped to keep him close to her. You never know what can happen in any situation with moms and their babies.

This was a huge thing seeing him nurse off of his mother.

It was a late night for us but we needed to take the time to make sure they bonded and he at least nursed.

Now we let them be until morning.

What a beautiful sight. The calf has bonded with his mother. We will leave them to be together for a couple of days before we add girls only in the mix. Leaving the bull and 2 steers on the back side of the pasture until later in the summer.

(We did tag this bull calf #21)

Farm life isn't easy and you never know when a wrench will be thrown your way. You learn as you go and grow with it. This farm has and keeps teaching me and stretching me in ways I never thought before. 

I am so thankful for our farm and the teachings it brings.

The Pigs have arrived!!

Since the pen is setup and ready to go. We just hooked up the trailer to our truck and headed out to pick up our baby pigs. It was so nice to pick them up locally.

In the past we have drove 3-4 hours one way, load them, and drive back 3-4 hours. It really makes for a long day.

The family we bought them from is super nice. We got to see their setup and animals.

They already had the pigs loaded in the cage ready for us to take them. Normally we show up and have to catch them in a large open space and usually muddy.

So this setup was fantastic!!!

They had to coax them with a shove.

They have arrived to our farm.

This one is smelling her new surroundings out.

Pig snouts are so cute!!

A few things before we release them to their pen.

Tim got the water hooked up and ready. 

We are releasing the girls first.

The boys will stay in the trailer while we castrate them one by one before adding them to the pen. 

Releasing the girls.

Only four girls.

Leaving 4 boys to castrate.

Kaitlin and I held the boy piglets one by one while Tim did the castrating.

This little guys are super strong and I was so thankful for the help of Kaitlin.

Last time I had to hold them by myself. It is no easy task single handed.

My hats off to those who can.

The boys are a little skittish right now but give them a day or two and they will be just fine.

The next day all is right with world. Like nothing ever happened.

They are out eating, drinking and exploring!!

They only thing they need to watch out for is the electric fence.