This was the weekend my darling daughter and I decided to do something with the liver, kidneys and heart of our pig Thumbelina.
As a child in Germany I grew up with a reasonably revolting bland version of Kalbsleberwurst, liverwurst made with veal and as an adult had tasted the most divine foie-gras. So I was intrigued to find out what it takes to make Liverwurst, a "peasant" style pate, and whether my family would eat it.
But first, I had to mince the meat! Since my last endeavours, involving a mains powered GRUNTY drill of my husband attached to a manual mincer, we had bought a proper electric meat mincer. And did it work a treat! I won't go into the details here, that'll be on the food blog!
Just trying to generate a bit more traffic over there. ;-)
Interestingly, for the first time ever I did feel a bit squeamish handling these amounts of raw meat. I suppose because liver does have quiet a distinct strong smell.
Anyway, nearly 4 kg's of processed and seasoned meat later, I can say the family is not against eating pig liver! And they did not eat that all in one go, I've made some into pate and the rest into meat patties, which will be frozen and served as my homemade fast food! But, we had the patties for dinner and my carniverous bunch devoured a huge load of them.
And as for me, I think I'm actually all meated out! But I've still got to finish frying the rest of the patties. I'm really looking forward to my shower tonight!!!
Our way of paying respect to a lovely animal is making every bit count beautifully.
Not quite sure if I will ever get to do something with the head though: the kids and I were perusing an old cook book and it had a recipe for a pig's head! They were not impressed, no cries" We've got to try this one" either. Let's wait and see.
TTFN
and the food stuff should go up, with a few pics too, in a couple of days.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Zippity doo dah yay wayho
Spring caught up with me and as per usual I'm having a hard time keeping up!
Just a quick update, with some pics:
First up in the spring bonanza we had four white baby bunnies on the 2nd of September. There had been two more, but they had been too big and were born dead. Not too sure if my "breeding scheme" is working.
Next, four chickies: I had gotten Light Sussex eggs to add a different colour to my flock. Of 11 eggs four hatched live on the 14th of September.
And a fortnight ago (16.9) Poppy gave birth to two boys ( two days early), with serious help for the first one. I assume due to the stressful birth she developed mastitis and I ultimately had to give her a dose of Penicillin. It was all touch and go with her last Friday, but she's come right since then and is feeding her two boys well. And Tui, not to be outdone, gave birth on Saturday (29.9) to two boys. Three days early. And she did it all by herself, but was still grateful for the fortified cuppa tea I gave her afterwards.
Here are Poppy, Kara and Thing 1 and 2
And here Thing 3 and 4.
And our duck has been laying again, I've got now 9 eggs and I need to find a broody hen to hatch them now.
In the beginning of September we were dog sitting a friend's puppy and that added a whole new layer of organizing. She's a lovely Lab cross and at seven months was a lot more lively than our seven year old dog and 18 year old cat.
And last, but not least our fourth attempt at setting up a vege and herb garden that doesn't get used as a cat's litter box. We've had fences that were too high for the cats or chickens AND me! We absolutely adore the flexi tubs and decided to try these instead of planters. So, here is this year's colour scheme: red for tomatoes and green for salads, herbs and other veges. Surrounded by a mesh fence, the bottom 2 1/3 squares folded over to create a smaller sized gap along the bottom part of it, as the 10cm hole seemed big enough for our old puddy cat to get her head through! Now it's wait and see. And lightly water: I'm always very disheartened at the sight of freshly planted seedlings. Despite being watered, they always look soo bedraggled in the first weeks.
TTFN
Just a quick update, with some pics:
First up in the spring bonanza we had four white baby bunnies on the 2nd of September. There had been two more, but they had been too big and were born dead. Not too sure if my "breeding scheme" is working.
Next, four chickies: I had gotten Light Sussex eggs to add a different colour to my flock. Of 11 eggs four hatched live on the 14th of September.
And a fortnight ago (16.9) Poppy gave birth to two boys ( two days early), with serious help for the first one. I assume due to the stressful birth she developed mastitis and I ultimately had to give her a dose of Penicillin. It was all touch and go with her last Friday, but she's come right since then and is feeding her two boys well. And Tui, not to be outdone, gave birth on Saturday (29.9) to two boys. Three days early. And she did it all by herself, but was still grateful for the fortified cuppa tea I gave her afterwards.
Here are Poppy, Kara and Thing 1 and 2
And here Thing 3 and 4.
And our duck has been laying again, I've got now 9 eggs and I need to find a broody hen to hatch them now.
In the beginning of September we were dog sitting a friend's puppy and that added a whole new layer of organizing. She's a lovely Lab cross and at seven months was a lot more lively than our seven year old dog and 18 year old cat.
And last, but not least our fourth attempt at setting up a vege and herb garden that doesn't get used as a cat's litter box. We've had fences that were too high for the cats or chickens AND me! We absolutely adore the flexi tubs and decided to try these instead of planters. So, here is this year's colour scheme: red for tomatoes and green for salads, herbs and other veges. Surrounded by a mesh fence, the bottom 2 1/3 squares folded over to create a smaller sized gap along the bottom part of it, as the 10cm hole seemed big enough for our old puddy cat to get her head through! Now it's wait and see. And lightly water: I'm always very disheartened at the sight of freshly planted seedlings. Despite being watered, they always look soo bedraggled in the first weeks.
TTFN
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Another month gone by...
...and I haven't got a clue where it went!
Not sure when I did what, but by now I've got a few less bunnies and a few more containers of Rillettes de Lapin, or potted rabbit for us native speakers, jars and jars of apple sauce in the pantry (which by the way needs serious extending) and zillions of containers of Leek&Potato and Cauliflower soup in the freezer!
And finally the hens have decided that spring has sprung and have started laying: at the moment we're getting between 6-9 eggs a day and I am finally getting to do some back log baking done! Much to my family's delight and my hips' despair.
We've been having the pork and it's just stunning! We've had a shoulder roast, chops and spare ribs so far and everyone's loving it. The fat has been rendered and used sparingly for the potted rabbit.
Once new season's piglets are available we will get another one.
Ah, just realized why a whole month had gone and I didn't have much to show for it: two weeks of school holidays.
I finally started on building up the concrete and tile wall for my raised beds. I had been dreading it and it proofed to be as hard as feared: not physically but mentally. Anyway, I used up all our available concrete mix and we have to go and get some before I can continue. I only managed to get three of the four sides started, so it will be interesting to see if they join up properly!!! So far it looks alright, and once I know all the ins and outs, do's and don'ts the next lot should be a bit easier and faster. Famous last words, I know, but you got to hope for the best, as the worst will come anyway, one way or another.
The goats are putting on weight now, Poppy's first possible due date is the 18th of September, so I'm getting myself organized and getting the vet down to give them a general check-up.
The ducks, or rather the girl is still not laying, and escaping every day. But obviously not finding enough food, as she stays close to the pen for feeding time in the morning. Her partner, I assume/hope he's her partner, is very distraught but hasn't managed to follow her. Fortunately!
And since we've got space in the rabbit runs again, I have mated Wanda and Werner. As the boy is getting bigger and bigger he has to prove himself as a stud muffin or else. I'm keeping him in a smallish run at the moment, which is not ideal, but will have to do. And once I know what his virility is like, I'll start expanding and modifying the rabbit enclosures down in the garden. As much as the kids and I enjoy having them near the house, the smell and effluent is not something I want to have there on a permanent basis.
And speaking of effluent, I'm so happy that we are now part of a rubbish and recycling collective!! Instead of collecting it in our courtyard, in all manner of bins and boxes, and to take it into town every fortnight, once a car load is full, we can now deposit it properly, whenever needs be. Bliss.Big thumbs up and Thanks!
And we're now the proud owner of an electric mincer and sausage maker! //insert cheeky grin emoticon //
The last mincing session was a two person act involving a mains powered drill attached to the manual mincer! And hubby was adamant this kind of use is not covered under the warranty, so we got one. But we haven't got any meat to grind yet, the cockerels are taking their sweet time fattening up. Do they know??!!
And since the hens have started laying, I don't want to go and willy nilly despatch some.
Yesterday I went through the freezer to check for space and found 8 liters of milk and decided to use it for my first try of making a Romano cheese. A cheese for grating, like Parmesan, but lightly different flavour. And I finally got to use my dumbbell weights to press the cheese over night. Salting it today, then drying for 2 days and then maturing for at least two months. It's going to be a while before I know what this one will taste like.
And last Friday we went out for a special dinner at The White Swan.
Finn had had a whole day's singing and entertainment organized by school and we thought we'd do something different with Kara. As this was her first time at a fancy restaurant, she didn't quite get it, but certainly approved of the Fish and Chips.
For my dinner I had ordered a goats cheese entree and scallop starter. The goats cheese entree was beautiful! For quite some time I haven't bothered going out to eat, as I find most foods not up to my standards, taste or preparation wise. But this was just stunning. Only two starters, but I felt beautifully sated and content. Not cheap, mind you, but this time I thought well worth the expense.
Ross had a wild platter, which was very interesting and tasty too, the only downside the mini drink served with the meal. As part of the package they served a certain drink with it, but only half a serving! And has he had asked for it to be brought out before the meal, he had finished it of course by the time the food arrived. And that was that. Fortunately I wasn't drinking mine as fast and we shared my drink.
And then we went to Masterton to hear a children's songs concert. Organized by REAP, senior students from several local schools had been tutored by Julian Raphael, a music educator, and presented the songs they had rehearsed all day! Lovely.
Not exactly farming, but a very memorable experience after all.
Right, so quite a bit has happened after all, and that's me again for today,
TTFN
Not sure when I did what, but by now I've got a few less bunnies and a few more containers of Rillettes de Lapin, or potted rabbit for us native speakers, jars and jars of apple sauce in the pantry (which by the way needs serious extending) and zillions of containers of Leek&Potato and Cauliflower soup in the freezer!
And finally the hens have decided that spring has sprung and have started laying: at the moment we're getting between 6-9 eggs a day and I am finally getting to do some back log baking done! Much to my family's delight and my hips' despair.
We've been having the pork and it's just stunning! We've had a shoulder roast, chops and spare ribs so far and everyone's loving it. The fat has been rendered and used sparingly for the potted rabbit.
Once new season's piglets are available we will get another one.
Ah, just realized why a whole month had gone and I didn't have much to show for it: two weeks of school holidays.
I finally started on building up the concrete and tile wall for my raised beds. I had been dreading it and it proofed to be as hard as feared: not physically but mentally. Anyway, I used up all our available concrete mix and we have to go and get some before I can continue. I only managed to get three of the four sides started, so it will be interesting to see if they join up properly!!! So far it looks alright, and once I know all the ins and outs, do's and don'ts the next lot should be a bit easier and faster. Famous last words, I know, but you got to hope for the best, as the worst will come anyway, one way or another.
The goats are putting on weight now, Poppy's first possible due date is the 18th of September, so I'm getting myself organized and getting the vet down to give them a general check-up.
The ducks, or rather the girl is still not laying, and escaping every day. But obviously not finding enough food, as she stays close to the pen for feeding time in the morning. Her partner, I assume/hope he's her partner, is very distraught but hasn't managed to follow her. Fortunately!
And since we've got space in the rabbit runs again, I have mated Wanda and Werner. As the boy is getting bigger and bigger he has to prove himself as a stud muffin or else. I'm keeping him in a smallish run at the moment, which is not ideal, but will have to do. And once I know what his virility is like, I'll start expanding and modifying the rabbit enclosures down in the garden. As much as the kids and I enjoy having them near the house, the smell and effluent is not something I want to have there on a permanent basis.
And speaking of effluent, I'm so happy that we are now part of a rubbish and recycling collective!! Instead of collecting it in our courtyard, in all manner of bins and boxes, and to take it into town every fortnight, once a car load is full, we can now deposit it properly, whenever needs be. Bliss.Big thumbs up and Thanks!
And we're now the proud owner of an electric mincer and sausage maker! //insert cheeky grin emoticon //
The last mincing session was a two person act involving a mains powered drill attached to the manual mincer! And hubby was adamant this kind of use is not covered under the warranty, so we got one. But we haven't got any meat to grind yet, the cockerels are taking their sweet time fattening up. Do they know??!!
And since the hens have started laying, I don't want to go and willy nilly despatch some.
Yesterday I went through the freezer to check for space and found 8 liters of milk and decided to use it for my first try of making a Romano cheese. A cheese for grating, like Parmesan, but lightly different flavour. And I finally got to use my dumbbell weights to press the cheese over night. Salting it today, then drying for 2 days and then maturing for at least two months. It's going to be a while before I know what this one will taste like.
And last Friday we went out for a special dinner at The White Swan.
Finn had had a whole day's singing and entertainment organized by school and we thought we'd do something different with Kara. As this was her first time at a fancy restaurant, she didn't quite get it, but certainly approved of the Fish and Chips.
For my dinner I had ordered a goats cheese entree and scallop starter. The goats cheese entree was beautiful! For quite some time I haven't bothered going out to eat, as I find most foods not up to my standards, taste or preparation wise. But this was just stunning. Only two starters, but I felt beautifully sated and content. Not cheap, mind you, but this time I thought well worth the expense.
Ross had a wild platter, which was very interesting and tasty too, the only downside the mini drink served with the meal. As part of the package they served a certain drink with it, but only half a serving! And has he had asked for it to be brought out before the meal, he had finished it of course by the time the food arrived. And that was that. Fortunately I wasn't drinking mine as fast and we shared my drink.
And then we went to Masterton to hear a children's songs concert. Organized by REAP, senior students from several local schools had been tutored by Julian Raphael, a music educator, and presented the songs they had rehearsed all day! Lovely.
Not exactly farming, but a very memorable experience after all.
Right, so quite a bit has happened after all, and that's me again for today,
TTFN
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
What a week!
After a lot of tearful deliberations we had decided our pig Thumbelina had to go. I had organized the home kill man to come on Monday and spent the weekend before mentally preparing myself for it. I had also decided that I was going to butcher her myself and spent a lot of time researching and printing out diagrams.
A Sunday night call about the time confirmed Tuesday then.
Tuesday morning was spent in a daze, cleaning everything and getting the other animals sorted, so I wouldn't have to do anything major for the next couple of days.
At 2pm he arrived and by 3pm she was hanging under cover behind the rabbits.
I was very pleased having stuck with the original plan, as Vic is a very gentle and kind person and he undertook the job with the utmost professionality and kindness. Considering his job, I found this the most pleasing aspect.
On Wednesday morning I had Kara home sick, which made me feel a bit worried, but I just went ahead as professional and calm as I could be. She was keen on observing me, so any qualms or squeamishness I might have felt, I had to subdue.
Fortunately my husband had supplied me with an ample supply of sharp and appropriate tools and the job got done a lot faster than I had anticipated: by the afternoon I had made her up into all the parcels I wanted and packed her away into the fridge.
Kara, who had been the most adamant about not killing her, was ready for pork chops for dinner at the end of it! But I decided we were going to have our first home grown meal on the weekend for Sunday lunch. With mashed potatoes, apple sauce and homemade Sauerkraut.
And it was beautiful! Moist, and what struck me as most interesting: no pig sty smell. Store bought pork always smells like a dirty pig sty. Not this one. The children hooved into it, and even cleaned up the bones. Winner all round I'd say.
With the freezer being full of meat, we got 33kgs of ready to eat meat, and then some bits and bobs that I have to do something with, we are feeling rather rich. Quantity and Quality wise.
The first pics were taken by me, than Kara decided to document the process too.
On top of that we had a mother-of-gale on the weekend, with a major power cut on Saturday. We had been invited to our friends for dinner, and were wondering how they would manage without power. The other neighbour's had rushed to their aid with a big diesel generator and a gas barbecue and all was on track!
We had a lovely turkey dinner, with all the trimmings, and even got to see a slide show: another neighbour had been for a month in Afghanistan to teach tractor driving!
By the time we got back home still no power, so straight to bed! And in the morning? Still nothing. After realizing that and drawing a film picture for the tv, the kids got on with life playing a board game!!
Ross started our little generator to boost the freezers and I had cooked Breakfast on our trusty fire place and by the time I had brewed a coffee for Ross it was back on again.
Interesting exercise in survival and we did pretty well actually.
Glad to have electricity back though, the generator was deafeningly loud due to a corroded exhaust.
That's it for now, having quiet times for a while now.
TTFN
A Sunday night call about the time confirmed Tuesday then.
Tuesday morning was spent in a daze, cleaning everything and getting the other animals sorted, so I wouldn't have to do anything major for the next couple of days.
At 2pm he arrived and by 3pm she was hanging under cover behind the rabbits.
I was very pleased having stuck with the original plan, as Vic is a very gentle and kind person and he undertook the job with the utmost professionality and kindness. Considering his job, I found this the most pleasing aspect.
On Wednesday morning I had Kara home sick, which made me feel a bit worried, but I just went ahead as professional and calm as I could be. She was keen on observing me, so any qualms or squeamishness I might have felt, I had to subdue.
Fortunately my husband had supplied me with an ample supply of sharp and appropriate tools and the job got done a lot faster than I had anticipated: by the afternoon I had made her up into all the parcels I wanted and packed her away into the fridge.
Kara, who had been the most adamant about not killing her, was ready for pork chops for dinner at the end of it! But I decided we were going to have our first home grown meal on the weekend for Sunday lunch. With mashed potatoes, apple sauce and homemade Sauerkraut.
And it was beautiful! Moist, and what struck me as most interesting: no pig sty smell. Store bought pork always smells like a dirty pig sty. Not this one. The children hooved into it, and even cleaned up the bones. Winner all round I'd say.
With the freezer being full of meat, we got 33kgs of ready to eat meat, and then some bits and bobs that I have to do something with, we are feeling rather rich. Quantity and Quality wise.
The first pics were taken by me, than Kara decided to document the process too.
On top of that we had a mother-of-gale on the weekend, with a major power cut on Saturday. We had been invited to our friends for dinner, and were wondering how they would manage without power. The other neighbour's had rushed to their aid with a big diesel generator and a gas barbecue and all was on track!
We had a lovely turkey dinner, with all the trimmings, and even got to see a slide show: another neighbour had been for a month in Afghanistan to teach tractor driving!
By the time we got back home still no power, so straight to bed! And in the morning? Still nothing. After realizing that and drawing a film picture for the tv, the kids got on with life playing a board game!!
Ross started our little generator to boost the freezers and I had cooked Breakfast on our trusty fire place and by the time I had brewed a coffee for Ross it was back on again.
Interesting exercise in survival and we did pretty well actually.
Glad to have electricity back though, the generator was deafeningly loud due to a corroded exhaust.
That's it for now, having quiet times for a while now.
TTFN
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Another month gone!
And what's happened since?
Riley's gone home and according to his mum has picked up a different accent!! He seems to have done the job well and truly as neither of the girls have come back into heat! The earliest possible due date is the 18th of September. I have been drying of Tui as well, so for now I'm just feeding them and keeping an eye on their condition.
Thumbelina's nose has healed and she's putting on the pork! Her siblings/cousins were butchered yesterday, and according to the homekill guy he wouldn't do them any bigger than now: juiciest and easiest to handle. Interesting experience, made a lot easier to observe when the person doing it all has heaps of experience and is quite calm and happy to explain! Scored me the liver, kidney's and heart of the first pig. Now searching to get all the ingredients together to make a nice pate with it.
Our pet bunny Brownie had been recovering and putting on a bit weight again when she came down with snuffles/flu/pneumonia. As I couldn't afford to take her to the vet, they can only identify these through extensive blood tests, I trawled the web to find out about these and natural remedies. In the mean time I settled her inside in a large box to take her out of the worst of the cold and keep a close eye on her. She seems to be going through the "classic" stages of a flu in a human, snotty nose and all. But, she's started eating her apples and pellets again. So here's hoping she's strong enough to pull through by herself.
The ducks are behaving like a couple now, he's guarding her in the house, but still no eggs!
Same as the chickens, 20 hens and NO egg in sight. A lot of beaks to feed for no visible return. On top of 14 late chicks that seem to be fending rather well for themselves. Either we must be feeding the rats well enough or the chicks hide well at night. None lost since I've let them free range a week ago.
The teenage bunnies are going on a rampage every now and then, so I will have to divide them up and put the boys with Werner into the big run!
As our local dairy farmer has finished milking for the season, I had a frantic last week, trying to make a cheese every second day. And I did, but more of that and pics on the foodie page!
Gardening is getting harder and harder as the air gets colder, but I've still got 1-2 rows of winter veg to plant before it's too late. That digging soil is quite hard work. But hey, one spade at a time means it'll get turned eventually.
That's all for this month, the next one peeking around the corner already,
TTFN
Riley's gone home and according to his mum has picked up a different accent!! He seems to have done the job well and truly as neither of the girls have come back into heat! The earliest possible due date is the 18th of September. I have been drying of Tui as well, so for now I'm just feeding them and keeping an eye on their condition.
Thumbelina's nose has healed and she's putting on the pork! Her siblings/cousins were butchered yesterday, and according to the homekill guy he wouldn't do them any bigger than now: juiciest and easiest to handle. Interesting experience, made a lot easier to observe when the person doing it all has heaps of experience and is quite calm and happy to explain! Scored me the liver, kidney's and heart of the first pig. Now searching to get all the ingredients together to make a nice pate with it.
Our pet bunny Brownie had been recovering and putting on a bit weight again when she came down with snuffles/flu/pneumonia. As I couldn't afford to take her to the vet, they can only identify these through extensive blood tests, I trawled the web to find out about these and natural remedies. In the mean time I settled her inside in a large box to take her out of the worst of the cold and keep a close eye on her. She seems to be going through the "classic" stages of a flu in a human, snotty nose and all. But, she's started eating her apples and pellets again. So here's hoping she's strong enough to pull through by herself.
The ducks are behaving like a couple now, he's guarding her in the house, but still no eggs!
Same as the chickens, 20 hens and NO egg in sight. A lot of beaks to feed for no visible return. On top of 14 late chicks that seem to be fending rather well for themselves. Either we must be feeding the rats well enough or the chicks hide well at night. None lost since I've let them free range a week ago.
The teenage bunnies are going on a rampage every now and then, so I will have to divide them up and put the boys with Werner into the big run!
As our local dairy farmer has finished milking for the season, I had a frantic last week, trying to make a cheese every second day. And I did, but more of that and pics on the foodie page!
Gardening is getting harder and harder as the air gets colder, but I've still got 1-2 rows of winter veg to plant before it's too late. That digging soil is quite hard work. But hey, one spade at a time means it'll get turned eventually.
That's all for this month, the next one peeking around the corner already,
TTFN
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
First post of the month on the first day of the month! Hah!
I know, that title is a bit of a mouthful, but I just couldn't resist!
Right, where are the animals?!
Goats: still in the next door paddock and yesterday Riley was VERY territorial and I saw him paying attention to Tui, who was Very much a tart! Next Monday I will know if he was successful with Poppy and then it's home time for him. Way too smelly and when I have to take them of the paddock I can't tether 4 goats.
Here they are attacking the gorse at the far end of the paddock:
Thumbelina decided to get one of her nose rings hooked into the fence and pull the darn thing out! Now one side of her snoz is hanging down and I'm waiting for the vet to decide whether anything needs to be done: I had taken photos and emailed them to him. And he's just come back to let nature take its course, no discernible improvement could be gained by removing the flap! I love my vet: has a look at the pics and makes a decision that saves all of us time and money! Other than that she's turning into a truly greedy piggy and putting on the daily pounds!!!! And loves to roll over onto her side for tummy and chin rubs.
Three of our drakes have dearly departed and provided already two very yummy meals. I still have to perfect my cooking of them, but Ross reckons I pretty near nailed it last time. One more lot sitting in the freezer waiting for another Sunday feast.
The chickens and rabbits are having a bit of a reprieve, I just don't seem to find the time to do it. Nor the inclination in the weather, which happens to be getting colder and colder.
Yesterday Ross and I went out to the neighbour's place to cut down a couple of trees for firewood. We got two good trailer loads and were feeling rather cheekily smart while keeping the fire place stoked today.
My first attempt at making a concrete feeding trough was quite successful, so I will try to make a trough a week! At $5 versus $40 a pop I reckon it's well worth the learning curve.
TTFN
Keep safe and warm.
Right, where are the animals?!
Goats: still in the next door paddock and yesterday Riley was VERY territorial and I saw him paying attention to Tui, who was Very much a tart! Next Monday I will know if he was successful with Poppy and then it's home time for him. Way too smelly and when I have to take them of the paddock I can't tether 4 goats.
Here they are attacking the gorse at the far end of the paddock:
Thumbelina decided to get one of her nose rings hooked into the fence and pull the darn thing out! Now one side of her snoz is hanging down and I'm waiting for the vet to decide whether anything needs to be done: I had taken photos and emailed them to him. And he's just come back to let nature take its course, no discernible improvement could be gained by removing the flap! I love my vet: has a look at the pics and makes a decision that saves all of us time and money! Other than that she's turning into a truly greedy piggy and putting on the daily pounds!!!! And loves to roll over onto her side for tummy and chin rubs.
Three of our drakes have dearly departed and provided already two very yummy meals. I still have to perfect my cooking of them, but Ross reckons I pretty near nailed it last time. One more lot sitting in the freezer waiting for another Sunday feast.
The chickens and rabbits are having a bit of a reprieve, I just don't seem to find the time to do it. Nor the inclination in the weather, which happens to be getting colder and colder.
Yesterday Ross and I went out to the neighbour's place to cut down a couple of trees for firewood. We got two good trailer loads and were feeling rather cheekily smart while keeping the fire place stoked today.
My first attempt at making a concrete feeding trough was quite successful, so I will try to make a trough a week! At $5 versus $40 a pop I reckon it's well worth the learning curve.
Keep safe and warm.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Update, of sorts.
Woah, I don't know where to start, so many things have happened in the past couple of weeks!
Bunnies: Brownie had given birth to six kits and was loosing weight rapidly. One had to be euthanised as it wasn't thriving at all, and another fostered onto Wanda. Still no improvement, and she wasn't eating either. On Good Friday I picked her up to give her a proper check up and was mortified to find her just fur and bones. Immediately I took the remaining four and put them into Wanda's nest, to make sure that by night time feeding they would have the same smell as the others. Then checking Brownie I found a big lump under her chin.
First I thought an abscess, and with Ross' help tried to lance, but it wasn't anything external, so stopped before I did any harm. Surprisingly, she was so quiet and holding still for me, "as if she knew I'm trying to help her" Ross remarked. Next I googled Abscess and homeopathic treatments and found some that I had at home. As it was the holiday weekend, I thought I give that a shot rather than wait and do nothing. She seemed to perk up for a couple of days, and then relapse.
By the next Friday, another friend thought it might be the thyroid gland, as she was only nibbling on apples and broccoli. Googled that, and found inconclusive info. Talking to the vet nurse I came to the conclusion that it would be a very expensive undertaking to establish what exactly is ailing her and then whether she could be cured. At this moment in time we cannot afford to spend hundreds of dollars on one animal and I decided it would be best to release her from her suffering. If she was suffering: she is as lively and sprightly as ever, still keen on cuddles and keeps grooming herself and nibbling on food. Tonight was going to be the night I'd do the deed, but she has eaten all her pellets in her bowl, and devoured her allocated apple.
Of all the "utility" animals we have on our little "farm" she's the only one I feel I have a connection with, and as much as I have to respect our financial situation, I don't want to end her life unnecessarily. So, my decision for today has been to make her a lovely little home, all to herself, where she can stay for the rest of her natural life. As long as I don't feel she's suffering. I won't be able to breed of her, but the last litters have produced several girls, so we will keep a few to replace her on the duty.
Chickens: I knew I had a hen sitting on a nest somewhere in the bush, but every attempt to locate it had failed. One night I went in the hen house for eggs, it was getting dark already, and saw two hens: one sitting in a box and one sitting in a corner on the floor. Worried I had an attacked hen I gently picked her up to discover 11 fluff balls under her. Removed the whole lot to a safe rabbit hutch that night, as the weather was about to pack in again. This morning I found that the other hen, that had hatched 5, had lost another chick over night. Even though they are now 3 weeks old, I will have to lock them up again over night. Blimmin' hassle, as it means another set of water and feed bowls needing to be set up. And again, another southerly front moving in.
Piggy wiggy: in the last week Thumbelina had been doing some SERIOUS digging and so I had called our neighbours if they could help/ advise me regarding ringing her. Sure thing, and didn't hear from them. Until Saturday: "I'm on my way to the beach and thought I'd pop by and we quickly do her ring!" OooooKay! I wasn't prepped mentally and was dreading the prospect, but it needed to get done. Not made easier by Ms.9 insisting on watching. Organized ear muffs for us both and waited for our neighbour. He came, we sorted what to use, wire, and went down to do it.
//Insert loud constant expletives//
I will NEVER, EVER do that again! If I can't keep pigs and raise them to butcher weight without having to ring them, I won't be keeping pigs!
We had to employ the sit-on-it method to restrain her, and I had to use all my strength and weight to keep her 22kg of muscles reasonably still. And as for the screaming? Even with ear muffs it was unbearable! Our friend put three wires in, and by the third one she was sooo livid and moved soo much , he pierced himself. I managed to hold her for the whole ordeal, but in the process pulled a neck and shoulder muscles and strained my arm muscles painfully. Not as painful as her nose of course, but I'm still drugging myself up during the day to be able to move around and do my usual stuff. I gave her lots of milk to drink afterwards, and have been giving her lots of good tummy rubs. I hope I'm back in the good books with her. In the next good weather period I'll move her sleeping drum into the other paddock and open her fence so she can go out and enjoy the fresh tall grass!
And the turned over soil will get planted with winter veges! Gotta see the positive wherever you can.
Goats: on Friday, the 13th, Riley came back for another visit. He had had a bad bout of worms and was looking quite skinny. The girls were VERY keen on seeing him again. For the first two days he was just eating and eating and yesterday afternoon I was able to observe him being his old self again! Marked the date in the calendar, and if Poppy doesn't get back into heat in the next 20-27 days he should have done the deed alright. Tui is in the paddock with him as well, but doesn't seem to be in heat properly yet, as he is ignoring her. I'm not too worried if she doesn't get pregnant, as I want to keep milking her til I can milk Poppy again.
And on top of that, this morning my friend's car didn't start this morning.Our other neighbour is a mechanic, had a quick look and reckons some connectors need replacing.Getting that organized and sending her back home in our car. So now I'm stuck with the kids here and no car. I just hope it'll be bad weather and we have to find stuff to do in the inside. Lego!
I'm knackered! Mentally and physically! And haven't even started on my raised vege beds yet!!!
TTFN and hopefully a few quieter weeks.
Yeah, right.
;-)
Bunnies: Brownie had given birth to six kits and was loosing weight rapidly. One had to be euthanised as it wasn't thriving at all, and another fostered onto Wanda. Still no improvement, and she wasn't eating either. On Good Friday I picked her up to give her a proper check up and was mortified to find her just fur and bones. Immediately I took the remaining four and put them into Wanda's nest, to make sure that by night time feeding they would have the same smell as the others. Then checking Brownie I found a big lump under her chin.
First I thought an abscess, and with Ross' help tried to lance, but it wasn't anything external, so stopped before I did any harm. Surprisingly, she was so quiet and holding still for me, "as if she knew I'm trying to help her" Ross remarked. Next I googled Abscess and homeopathic treatments and found some that I had at home. As it was the holiday weekend, I thought I give that a shot rather than wait and do nothing. She seemed to perk up for a couple of days, and then relapse.
By the next Friday, another friend thought it might be the thyroid gland, as she was only nibbling on apples and broccoli. Googled that, and found inconclusive info. Talking to the vet nurse I came to the conclusion that it would be a very expensive undertaking to establish what exactly is ailing her and then whether she could be cured. At this moment in time we cannot afford to spend hundreds of dollars on one animal and I decided it would be best to release her from her suffering. If she was suffering: she is as lively and sprightly as ever, still keen on cuddles and keeps grooming herself and nibbling on food. Tonight was going to be the night I'd do the deed, but she has eaten all her pellets in her bowl, and devoured her allocated apple.
Of all the "utility" animals we have on our little "farm" she's the only one I feel I have a connection with, and as much as I have to respect our financial situation, I don't want to end her life unnecessarily. So, my decision for today has been to make her a lovely little home, all to herself, where she can stay for the rest of her natural life. As long as I don't feel she's suffering. I won't be able to breed of her, but the last litters have produced several girls, so we will keep a few to replace her on the duty.
Chickens: I knew I had a hen sitting on a nest somewhere in the bush, but every attempt to locate it had failed. One night I went in the hen house for eggs, it was getting dark already, and saw two hens: one sitting in a box and one sitting in a corner on the floor. Worried I had an attacked hen I gently picked her up to discover 11 fluff balls under her. Removed the whole lot to a safe rabbit hutch that night, as the weather was about to pack in again. This morning I found that the other hen, that had hatched 5, had lost another chick over night. Even though they are now 3 weeks old, I will have to lock them up again over night. Blimmin' hassle, as it means another set of water and feed bowls needing to be set up. And again, another southerly front moving in.
Piggy wiggy: in the last week Thumbelina had been doing some SERIOUS digging and so I had called our neighbours if they could help/ advise me regarding ringing her. Sure thing, and didn't hear from them. Until Saturday: "I'm on my way to the beach and thought I'd pop by and we quickly do her ring!" OooooKay! I wasn't prepped mentally and was dreading the prospect, but it needed to get done. Not made easier by Ms.9 insisting on watching. Organized ear muffs for us both and waited for our neighbour. He came, we sorted what to use, wire, and went down to do it.
//Insert loud constant expletives//
I will NEVER, EVER do that again! If I can't keep pigs and raise them to butcher weight without having to ring them, I won't be keeping pigs!
We had to employ the sit-on-it method to restrain her, and I had to use all my strength and weight to keep her 22kg of muscles reasonably still. And as for the screaming? Even with ear muffs it was unbearable! Our friend put three wires in, and by the third one she was sooo livid and moved soo much , he pierced himself. I managed to hold her for the whole ordeal, but in the process pulled a neck and shoulder muscles and strained my arm muscles painfully. Not as painful as her nose of course, but I'm still drugging myself up during the day to be able to move around and do my usual stuff. I gave her lots of milk to drink afterwards, and have been giving her lots of good tummy rubs. I hope I'm back in the good books with her. In the next good weather period I'll move her sleeping drum into the other paddock and open her fence so she can go out and enjoy the fresh tall grass!
And the turned over soil will get planted with winter veges! Gotta see the positive wherever you can.
Goats: on Friday, the 13th, Riley came back for another visit. He had had a bad bout of worms and was looking quite skinny. The girls were VERY keen on seeing him again. For the first two days he was just eating and eating and yesterday afternoon I was able to observe him being his old self again! Marked the date in the calendar, and if Poppy doesn't get back into heat in the next 20-27 days he should have done the deed alright. Tui is in the paddock with him as well, but doesn't seem to be in heat properly yet, as he is ignoring her. I'm not too worried if she doesn't get pregnant, as I want to keep milking her til I can milk Poppy again.
And on top of that, this morning my friend's car didn't start this morning.Our other neighbour is a mechanic, had a quick look and reckons some connectors need replacing.Getting that organized and sending her back home in our car. So now I'm stuck with the kids here and no car. I just hope it'll be bad weather and we have to find stuff to do in the inside. Lego!
I'm knackered! Mentally and physically! And haven't even started on my raised vege beds yet!!!
TTFN and hopefully a few quieter weeks.
Yeah, right.
;-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)