Our Heritage Black Spanish Turkeys

Check out my latest Community Chickens Post, Our Heritage Black Spanish Turkeys to read about how we decided to raise a heritage turkey breed!

6 Easy Tips for Duck Brooding Sucess!

Check out my latest Community Chickens post, 6 Easy Tips for Duck Brooding Success!

2nd Annual Iron Oak Farm Vegetable Contests!

I'm going to try to send out a reminder at the beginning of each month for everyone who's interested in the veggie contests we're planning on holding this year. Depending on how competitive you are, it might make a difference in your selection of plant varieties to grow this spring.

Last year we had so much fun with the pumpkin contest! So we will be holding that again. In addition, many of you wrote to me explaining that you would have liked to be a part of the contest, but didn't have the space available to grow a large pumpkin vine. So...we're going to do a tomato contest as well. Even apartment dwellers can grow a tomato vine.

The pumpkin rules are the same as last year. Take a photo of your pumpkin with a measuring tape around the circumference. Largest pumpkin wins! We will announce the winner on Halloween, October 31st!

Tomatoes we're going to do by weight. Take a photo of your tomato on the scale with the weight visible. I was thinking by September 1st.

I will get the entry forms up as the date gets closer, and will keep the contests updated on the blog and the Iron Oak Farm Facebook Page. Send entries to jenniferannmurphy@yahoo.com and I will post them for everyone to see. The winner will receive one of our hand forged items. I'm also looking into certificates so you can brag to your neighbors about your gigantic gardening endeavors! I'll keep you posted!

Don't forget, we always have the Facebook "like" contest going. For every 100 "likes" we give away a prize! Visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/IronOakFarm2

50 Chickens and a Bird Dog

Check out my latest Community Chickens Post, 50 Chickens and a Bird Dog. It discusses some techniques for happily raising chickens with dogs.

Iron Oak Farm's a Buzzzzing!

Zach finally got his bees! It's been a long time coming and I'm SO happy for him! He's wanted bees for years, we both have, but he has been at the heart and driving force of the operation. I want honey, which is perhaps a little different than wanting bees. I think they are fascinating little creatures, but up until the other day, I have to be honest, I was quite petrified.

I gave Zach his first hive set up for Christmas this past December.

The kit was mostly self constructive and he spent the winter evenings nailing the frames and boxes together methodically.

We painted them white and settled them out on the property on cinder blocks, facing south, between two honeysuckle bushes.

We got the call that our bees were in so, with our trusty, bee keeping enthusiast and assistant Stacey, we headed out!

We're lucky enough to be within driving distance of one of the largest bee keeping suppliers in the United States. Dadant, located in Albion, Mi. is only about an hour and a half away! So with Benedryll, Calamine lotion, and water bottles for quick administration of antihistamines, we were on the road to pick up a box of bees!

We arrived at the loading dock where there were boxes and boxes of bees waiting to be taken to their new homes.

They were buzzing, but not the terrifying angry sound that I had imagined in my head. It was sort of peaceful and kind of soothing. A stray bee landed on me and a I jolted. But I didn't want to make a fool of myself in front of the workers who did this for a living, so I reigned in every ounce of self restraint and blew it off my arm. Hmmm, not so bad.

In fact, the more I was around the bees, the more my amazement helped me forget about my fear. Zach and Stacey's enthusiasm also helped a great deal! I told Zach I wanted a veil of my own so I could help.

When we got back we made a simple syrup to feed the bees while they get their home established, and grabbed a little marshmallow fluff, (I'll explain later)

We headed out with our box of bees, our veils, and our supplies. When we got to the hive, Zach removed the tin can carefully. This is filled with a simple syrup as well to feed the bees during delivery.

Then he removed the queen which is separated by a tiny box with a screen. This allows the worker bees to tend to the queen, but makes her easily accessible to us so we can put her in our new hive. The bees cluster around her in the shipping box to keep her warm.

He removed the cork that keeps the queen in her box and replaced it with a bit of marshmallow fluff. The worker bees will eat through the marshmallow to release the queen once we're gone and the lid is on.

Then Zach sprayed the bees in the shipping box with that same simple syrup. This keeps the bees busy cleaning themselves and eating while he "dumped" them in.

That was pretty much it! We all got through it sting free! Even Zach, who found that wearing the gloves was more of a hindrance than a help, as the bees kept flying up his sleeves. 

We have to check them in a couple days, to make sure the queen is ok. I walked out there yesterday and they were pleasantly coming and going. We also have to keep their syrup filled until they establish enough of the hive to support themselves, and even then, it's not a bad idea to feed them during bad weather.

Knowing myself, I'm sure eventually you'll find Zach and me working out there side by side. I'm also sure that at some point we'll both get stung, but for now...baby steps. I'm comfortable playing photographer, or errand girl, running back to the house for something we may have forgotten.

When I look out on our field, I'm happy to see the little white box nestled near the tree line, and am filled with respect for these hard working little insects that do so much for us. Welcome bees!   

Our Kidding Story

I feel as though the past two weeks have been a strange dream, where one day passes into the next, the countless hours spent in the barn, night and day. The sun will set with the last glimmers of daylight dimming unnoticed between the chinks in the barn walls. We've been too concentrated, analyzing the goat's movements, behaviors, eating habits, wants, needs...

Then in a rush of adrenaline, the babies are here! And a new kind of worry sets in. Are the mom's ok? Are the babies ok?  Is everyone warm, are they eating enough?

If anything, the girls gave us two opposite examples of how goat kidding can go.

Knit was our first. She was easy as pie. We came out to the barn to find a beautiful newborn fuzz ball, bright and alert. Mom was already cleaning her. We helped dry her off, cut the cord, tied it with dental floss and dipped it in Iodine. From then on, Knit took over. She nuzzled the baby up, lifted her back leg to expose her teat, and shoved the baby under her. Beatrix, latched and took her first drinks of colostrum.

Knit rubbed the babies bottom to keep her nursing and we were enveloped in the joy of watching nature, instinct, and the true miracle of life unfold before us. I thought to myself..."This is easy!"...and snapped a few more photos.

Then there was Purl...She's always been a more obstinate goat from the beginning, so it doesn't surprise me that she would give us troubles. By chance, we went to go check on her right when she was ready to deliver. We realized after quite a few unsuccessful "pushes" that she was having some troubles. One of the hooves and a nose were out, but she couldn't get him passed the second shoulder. I grabbed the birthing kit and put on some gloves, lubed up, and helped her. I really didn't do much as far as "assisting", I mean we're talking just a couple of fingers to sort of adjust his shoulder. I wouldn't consider it a difficult birth, but she might have suffered a bit had she done it all on her own.

Purl was exhausted after he came. We named him Ichabod, and placed him on a towel and brought him right up under Mom's nose so they could bond. She cleaned him, and everything seemed to be going splendid. After a while, she stood to drink some warm molasses water that we brought her. Ichabod stood as well, started "pouncing" along his mothers side, looking for an udder. He found it, and he nursed for the first time. I thought to myself..."Pretty easy!" We left them be and watched from outside the stall so Mom and Son could have some private time.

Purl, seemed to be getting some energy and she stood again, and stretched her aching back. Ichabod came stumbling over for another chance to nurse. He pounced his nose against her side, again, looking for an udder. When suddenly Purl looked at him as though she were being attacked by an alien. She spread her nostrils, and flattened her ears, her eyes went wide, and she bolted away from him and stood in the corner. Ichabod went toddling over to her for a second try, again, she bolted. This went on for quite a while, until Ichabod was looking pretty exhausted from chasing his mother around the pen. We were afraid to step in too soon because if she was having bonding issues, we didn't want to stress her even more. We thought that if we fed Purl she might be preoccupied with eating and let him nurse. So we gave her her grain, and placed him by her side. Again, he tried for a drink, and she gave him the "alien" look and ran.

Over the next 4 hours, we tried what felt like a thousand different positions, trying to get Purl to nurse, but she wouldn't have it. Each time, I would think, "Ok, if this doesn't work, we'll bottle raise him." But she ran each time. I don't think it would have bothered me so much, if I hadn't seen how beautiful a bond was between Knit and her baby. I wanted that for Purl and Ichabod, and my heart ached for her that she didn't understand what to do with him.

We brought him in the house to get warm, and to discuss what to do about the situation. Purl was full of healthy milk, so I didn't really want to feed him a replacement unless it was necessary. We decided that we would go into "dairy goat" mode, attempt to milk her, and feed it to him. Luckily, I had ordered some milking supplies as a precaution in the case that something like this might happen. We left him with my mom, wrapped in a towel to go milk our Angora goat. Surprisingly, Purl let us milk her without much of a fuss. She wasn't thrilled with the idea at first, but once I washed her udders with warm soapy water, she relaxed and gave in. To be honest, I think she was bursting, and she probably felt relief.

We brought the milk in filled a bottle fitted with a lambing nipple and warmed it up a bit in a pot of hot water. I imagined that he would be starving, and want to guzzle the milk down, but like everything else that day, he fought me like the dickens. I would get the bottle under his lip, and he would shake his head away. I would force it under his gums and he would cry and wrestle. Finally, after warming the bottle three times, he started to catch on and drank the bottle dry.

Now we had another decision to make. What to do with him? I was afraid to put him back in the pen with Purl, as she showed no interest in taking care of him. And as much as my weepy side wanted to keep him in the house, snuggling, bottle feeding, and watching old movies together on the couch, we felt that he should be bonding with the rest of  herd.

We thought that since Knit had been such an outstanding mom from the get-go, maybe she could love this little one as well. So while Knit was laying with Bea, we snuck him in, and laid Ichabod next to Knits true baby. At first, she hardly seemed to notice. Then it was as if she was surprised at what had happened, and she frantically smelled each baby back and forth, as though she was worried she might loose track.
After some really concentrated smelling, she let Ichabod nurse very shortly.

It's day two, and the three of them are settling in nicely. Knit lays with the two babies, and keeps them warm. She licks them clean and takes good care of the two of them. She's still not really sure about nursing him, she'll let him under her for a second or two, but it makes her nervous. So we've been bottle feeding him Purl's milk to make sure he's getting enough, and to make sure that he's not eating Beatrix's portion. Purl is still fairly concerned about Ichabod and calls to him through the fence. We've tried putting him back in with her, but she freaks out and runs away each time. So strange.

The cousins are getting along really well and seem to enjoy each others company. They snuggle together, and now that they're getting their land legs, they've been playing, which is just about the cutest thing I've ever seen. 
 

More Lace Eggs New CC Post

This is a follow up Community Chickens post to my first round with carving eggs. It includes more examples and a video! To view it click here! More Lace Eggs