Broody Turkeys

Here are the 3 hens on the same nest. They are so funny. It rained all day yesterday and the roof in the barn is leaking. There was a drip right next to the nest and I was afraid the eggs would get wet. So I grabbed an old drawer and some pine shavings and ran out to put the eggs in there up on a few bricks. Well, the original hen did not like that at all. She broke one of the eggs. So now there are 10. And a different hen is on the nest now and the other hen is back in the corner right next to the drawer nest. Turkeys are funny creatures.

Some Outback Frm Animals

This is Abby and her brand new kids. They were born last night about 5:30 . She had a doe and a buck. First doe kid for her in 3 years. I am so proud of Abby. I named the doe Zarah Belle. I will keep her. The little buck needs a name. He will probably go up the road to my friend's to be their herd sire. He is so handsome. Abby is a great mother. Check out that udder. She's the best milker too. Zarah has a #3 on her right side. My daughter Abby (yes, her name is Abby. That's why I got the goat Abby) said that's because she's the 1st doe in 3 years and the 3rd time's the charm. Now we are waiting on Sandy to kid. They weren't due til the 19th. So she has a few more days to go. Here are the turkeys. That's Harper, the big guy. He is in charge of his 4 ladies. Right now there is 1 hen setting on 11 eggs. There are 2 other hens that think she needs help. So they get right up as close as the can to her. It's so cute. I hope the eggs hatch. Mother's Day will be the big day.

Here are the pigs I had for 3 1/2 months. The one on the right just went to the butcher Monday. The other one stayed here til this afternoon when she left to go to her new home up the road to get bigger. The one I took to the butcher was so small. The butcher said I should take her back home to fatten up some more. I just couldn't do it. After all the trouble of getting that pig loaded in the trailor, I was not about to unload her and keep her 3 more months. I don't have that kind of money anyway. I bet those pork chops and sausage will be so good.

I just love this picture of Mazie and Chuck laying under the shade tree.

This was the day Chuck was born. He's now going on 5 weeks old. He's a big boy.

Much Too Busy Sunday

We finally did it. We butchered the 2 tom turkeys. My hubby was home and I asked him if he wanted to help. Well, really I told him we were going to butcher 2 turkeys, so get up and get a move on, buddy. So he did. I got everything ready and we did it. A friend made a feather plucker that attaches to a drill. Very handy tool. It only took about 1 1/2 hours total. One weighed 12 pounds. The other had so much fat I thought surely he would have eventually died of a heart attack. He must have been hogging all the feed. He weighed 14 pounds. So that chore is done. I had wanted to do that for a long time now. They are 10 months old. Now I might be able to let the other tom and the 4 hens out without the hens running up front to the other boys. Then they head to the road. I have one turkey hen that is setting on some eggs now. They have been laying alot. I have already sold 2 dozen for incubating. I hope they hatch. I will put this hen in a big cage soon. Then take the turkey babies and try to sell them. I also made bread and rolls during all that. Not a good idea. I kept having to stop and get bread out of the oven. Also started some heirloom tomato seeds in egg shells and old toilet paper rolls. I hope they all come up. I had the garden plowed Friday so it's all ready to plant. It's been in the 80's this week. I did plant some broccoli and cabbage in a raised bed. Hubby weed whacked in the huge strawberry beds yesterday. I think he weed whacked all the strawberry plants. But I won't say anything. I'm just glad he still does this for me. The 2 pigs go to the butcher Monday. I let them out for the day to enjoy their last day here. I have a half a lemon cake and some goodies for their last dinner tonight. We are getting a trailor from a friend and will load them up tonight. Then in the morning I will give them biscuits and gravy for their last meal. They have been good pigs. But I do believe a freezer full of bacon, sausage and pork chops will be a whole lot easier to take care of, don't ya think? I took some pictures and will upload later.

Storms Acomin'.

I just saw on the news that there is a tornado watch for several counties around us til 10pm tonight. I'm sure it will be in our county soon too. I hate storms. My animals don't like them either. And why does it have to storm at night anyway? We do need some more rain but no storms, please.

I had my garden turned last week and with rain tonight then all weekend, it will be a few weeks before it can be tilled. But that's ok. It's still just march. I already have potatoes and onions coming up from last year I won't have to plant. And all my spinach, kale and red mustard I planted in the cold frame last week is up and growing really good now. But it will be chilly tonight so I will put the windows back on.

This is a spider web on the front porch. So cool.

Cows

This is a picture of the Hereford cattle up the road from us. There are alot of them. And this year they waited to have calves when it was warmer. So for the past month they have been popping them out every day. They are all so cute. I love cows. And that is Lookout Mt in the background. I love this shot.

It's been such great weather I am afraid it won't last. It is still March. Ya just never know around here.

Mazie

This is Mazie when she was little. So long ago. She is huge now. And a momma. She's a good momma. The other morning it was still dark and I heard her mooing. I thought maybe she's in heat already? Then later after the sun had come up I saw why she was mooing. She had rolled the round hay bale over by the gate and the gate had shut. So she was on the pasture side and poor Chuck was inside. I don't know how long they'd been apart but she was full of milk. And they ran to each other like in a movie. Such love. All is well now though.