We have added a few new additions to the farm.  In May we received an order of Murray McMurray chicks. My favorite is an Ameraucana I named Rose.  I think she thinks I’m crazy.  I like to carry her around and well…. she likes to run away from me.  Basically she thinks I’m a stalker.

Meet Rose.

Isn’t she cute?

Meet Rose’s stalker.

Oh wait, that’s me.

We also have two cats now.  They’re just barn cats but they are adorable.

Say hello to Nox and Nero.

While I milk Little they stand behind me and wait for me to pour them some fresh goat milk.  They also like to do chores with Justin.

 

We’ve also had a house chicken for the last two weeks.

Meet Pip.

She was picked at by the other chicks.  When we went out to the brooder there was blood everywhere and the poor thing was in pitiful shape.  A little blue-kote and a lot of love later and she is doing much better.  She has watched TV with us and even been introduced to the inside dogs.  Click on the link because Chloe was not so sure about Pip. It made us laugh..a lot.

The sweet thing has finally been moved to the grow-out pen with the others and so far all is well.

Now, onto the final update…the ducks.

We have moved them out to the pond with the Ancona’s.

They are happy as can be.  However, we were supposed to have two new babies:

And unfortunately due to a predator problem…they are no more.

So, are you ready to see our BIG, BAD, predator problem?

Pretty right?

Not so pretty anymore, huh?  Ok, so this isn’t my picture.  It’s this guys.

BUT given that my precious babies and BOTH of my nests…over 40 eggs… are gone and these guys are to blame, I imagine this is what it looked like.

This nest:

Was ONE week from hatching.

This momma is one mad hen. (Well I’m not a hen but who cares about the technicalities?)

We are working on building the ducks houses to lay in…but I don’t know if they will keep the heron’s away or not.  🙁

Our bees are doing PHENOMENAL.  We may even have honey this year.  We definitely did not expect any this year but our hive is working like crazy.  They filled up their super in NO time and we have already had to put on a small super (where we will rob honey) and they’ve got half of it full.

This was a few weeks ago:

Talk about busy bees!

That’s about all that’s going on around here (it’s been crazy).  We leave in less than a month for Africa!

Don’t forget to check out our blog that is chronicling that journey!

https://carryingthegospel.wordpress.com/

You can learn all about us here!

Until next time!