Catching up with more photos/ projects

New fencing Project

 Favorite Shovel Broken

 Beautiful Fence line

 Tired child

 Working hard moving mexican sunflowers around

 Gate in!

New Birds!

There is always a lot going on at the farm, and keeping record of it is not always on the top of the list of things to do. But new chicks...

They are Black Jersey Giants- which apparently get really really big. I'm both excited and intimidated!

These chicks are only 3 weeks old. They hatched April 6.

They are enclosed completely, to keep predators (i.e. mongoose) out.

There are plans to move them up near our shed when they are bigger and can fend for themselves. Up there needs the fencing to be completed and a new coop built. Plans/ work is underway.

We are hoping to keep one rooster with a flock of hens. The goal is for him to be able to keep his harem safe from mongoose. This will be our first foray into keeping a rooster. I hope it's successful!

Calvin and Hobbes

Through the miracle of Pet Adoption, we brought these cuties home from the Humane Society. Luka fell in love with Hobbes there and so we brought him home, with his brother Calvin. They were from a litter of 5 and we were happy to be able to bring 2 of them home with us!

Calvin on left and Hobbes on right

 Luka is thrilled!

 Calvin

 Luka and Hobbes

 Calvin- before he got all big and fluffy

 Photographic proof that at this point (8 months old, according to the humane society), Hobbes is the bigger cat.

Four legged friends

So Joni's been living with us for a couple of weeks now.  So far, so good!  She spent the 1st week or so tethered near a big grass pile.  But I was worried that she was a little lonely there.  I know I was anthropomorphizing, but I just felt like she needed a few friends.

So on a rainy day, GB, Luka and I went down to retrieve the goats from the lower property.  

Luka did a fine job leading them up the hill

GB and I took Joni on a walk to meet her new friends.  Sometimes the walk is a bit of a struggle.  I think GB had taken over for me at this point.  There's just so much yummy food to eat along the way...

 Taking a little snack break while Luka rides up and down the driveway.

 Meeting the goats!

 Hmmm.... Joni seems a lot more interested in me than in the goats.  Loki, however is VERY curious.

 Back to the tether for one more night!  Ducks come out of their enclosure to see the large friend.

We did end up moving Joni in with the goats the next morning.  They've been together there for about a week so far.  At first, Loki maintained his status as the alpha male.  But after a few days it seemed like Joni's got the upper hand.  She stomps at the goats when she doesn't want them around and they scatter!  I suppose it's smart to respond to an animal that's several times larger than you!

Joni doesn't seem all that interested in the goats.   She's there with them, but unless they're in her way, she doesn't pay them too much attention.   Perhaps she likes other donkeys more?  Or maybe she's just a people donkey!

In any case, it's nice to see Joni in the pasture where she can run!  Tethered, she can't really exercise her legs.  Seeing her running is so nice!

Mark and Kassie just sent us some pictures of our dear donkey, dressed in a saddle, with ribbons in her hair.  Isn't she so pretty?!?

 

Typical goat play-- up in the air, butting heads

Burros?

There's been a lot of publicity of late regarding wild donkeys/ burros near Waikoloa. GB read that 100 of them were being airlifted to California, and called to find out about adopting one (or two). Apparently they dislike dogs and would be good protectors for the goats.

He and Luka are going to check them out this week. We may end up with a baby (who would require 3 months of bucket feeding!). OR... there's a pregnant mama who needs a home. We wouldn't have to keep her baby (due in 4-5 mos, they guess), or we could keep it.

It's a new adventure!

Pippi

Before talking about Pippi, I wanted to give a duck update! We went to the mainland and left 5 wee ducklings. 2 weeks later they are full on DUCKS!

We let them out of their cage and within 24 hours we had lost one (to an 'io, I think). We put them back in for another 5 days and they were big enough and now are growing fine! With a larger area, they aren't quite as smelly!

But the big news is Pippi. I have been really angry with her, because right before our trip I found her breaking open one of the chicken eggs. Previous to that, I had been thinking about getting her a boyfriend....

When we got home, though I found her sitting in this planter box. Hmmmmmm.
When I heard her fly away and start cackling, I went down to the box and found these!

Without a male, we're obviously not going to get any babies, so we brought in 3 of the eggs to taste. GB read they are like chicken eggs. It's hard to see how large they are in the above photo.... but they are, and the shell feels a lot stronger/ thicker than a chicken egg.

Cracked in a bowl:

For comparison, 2 large chicken eggs in the same bowl

Verdict? Peacock eggs are delicious!

And Pippi is still sitting on the 4th egg (and we haven't seen anymore since). She is on her nest all day (even when we have a party) and gets up once a day to eat and do her business. When she does get up, she makes a lot of noise to scare away predators. I'm a little sad for her that her eggs won't hatch, but since I don't need any more peacock poop, I'm happy I never got her a boyfriend.