Silly Chickens

Today we found a nest in some brush in the woods near the chicken coop. Well when we looked closer, to our surprise, there was 17 eggs in it. Those silly chicken made their own nesting box outside the coop.
We took all the eggs out. Then cleared all the brush away. We hope this will make the chickens use the coop's nesting box.
I will see if there is an increase in eggs in the coop then I will know if it worked. If not I will search the woods for another nest, ugg.

Goats are Great

Not sure how it happened but we have opened our hearts and home to goats.  It was the last thing we ever thought we would have on our farm but one day at the auction my daughter just had to have one.  Well you cant just have one.  And before we knew it we were the proud owners of two week old baby goats- Kids.  Oh boy what did we just do I thought.  My daughter was smiling from ear to ear.  They were so cute but we were not prepared at all.  We had no clue.  I had not read any books on goats or looked them up on the internet like I did the chickens.  I did know you had to have two, that one alone would not be a good thing. 
So first we had to get bottles and milk for them.  Well not knowing I bought bottles for a baby cow.  That did not work.  The nipple was to big they wanted nothing to do with it.  So next day I had to go out and get just regular baby bottles.  Then it was hard at first to get them to take it but when they finally did OMG.  They loved it and it was so cute.

So we started reading and learning about our new babies and how to take care of them.  I must say this has been a great education for my whole family.  The children are learning so much about the caring of the animals.  They know as much as or if not more than I do about our new farm animals.  They take part in all the care of the animals it is teaching great responsibility.
We were sadden one day when we went out one morning to feed the babies and one was on its death bed.  It died within a half hour of us finding it.  It was heartbreaking for my children, both of them.  But it teaches them also.  We are not sure what happened but we did get them small and we know we did everything we could to make it healthy but it is not always in the cards.  So now we have a little grave yard for the animals that pass. 
So that left us with only one goat and as I have said before that is not a good thing.  So we went back to the auction for another goat to be with our baby girl.  Well we decided to look for a goat in milk.  We did some research and found out that if you found a mama goat that has a milk supply she might let the baby goat we have nurse off her.  Or at least we would be able to milk her and feed the goat milk to our baby goat, which is the best milk for the baby.  So we were so blessed to find our mama goat.

This is Miss May.  She has fit right in at our farm.  Best of all we were able to get her to nurse the baby goat.  Today both goats are very happy and healthy and the greatest additions to the farm.  Again my husband and son built a great home for the goats.  They did it the same way the garden was built.  The goats love their new home.

We made half of the paduck in the woods and the goats are loving it, plenty of woodlands to munch on. 

We have recently added a young buck to our farm.  His name is Elf.  He is going to help with the new babies for next year we hope.  That is the plan.  We just love our goats.  Never would have thought but I cant see us without them.

Round House Farm, it all begins :)

It is funny how time flies.  When I decided to start this blog I was so excited to write everyday.  My mind would not stop thinking about what I wanted to write about next.  Well I still think that way but with one thing or another it just does not seem to get posted. 
A lot has happened since my last post.  So I will, hopefully, get you all caught up to date soon.  But for now let me tell you about our farm.
We moved here with some intentions on getting some animals but well might I say we have kinda gone hog wild.  First we all as a family thought long and hard on a name for our new home and farm.  We came to agree it was fitting to name our farm- Round House Farm.

The reason for the name is part of our home is a round house.  It just seemed to fit.  We all love the name.  First we were really wanting to start with chickens as our first animals.  So we started with a lot of research on the internet and by reading books.  When we thought we had enough knowledge we made the purchase of our first six chicks.

Within the first few days we soon realized six would not be enough so we went right out and bought six more.  We soon fell head over heels  in love with our new flock of babies.  Chickens are one of the greatest part of our home, we just love having them around.  They can make you smile and laugh they just bring you joy in so many ways. 
My husband worked hard and made a great chicken coop for our new chickens and they seem to love their home.  Our chicken flock now is about 30 chickens, some babies and some full grown layer hens.  Fresh eggs for our family is the only way.  The daily droppings they give us provides us with the best fertilizer for our garden.  It all just works out perfect.

My husband and son worked hard on our garden.  We decided to place the main garden in our front yard it is were we have sun for most of the day.  We want our farm to have an old time look and we want to use our resources wisely so we decided to make the fence around the garden with the timber we cut from our land. 

The garden has come along way and we watch it grow everyday. 

Our main goal for our new farm is to have it provide for our family.  We are well on our way.  It takes a lot of work.  My husband works every minute on one thing or another, we have a list that is never ending.  But I am sure it will pay off for our family three fold.