Loving Life On The Ponderosa

It has been a while since I blogged about the animals on the Ponderosa.

Our chickens have been going great guns with eggs, although now the season has become cooler, production has reduced.  We lost a few brown shavers over the season which is normal and we did not hatch any eggs over the summer which means we need to look at purchasing some pullets to bring up our numbers again.  We just have to figure out what breed.  Although the brown shavers are great egg producers, they are not very good eating so a little research is in need.

We did not have the greatest of seasons with our beef particularly after blogging how well our beef have been over previous seasons in FAREWELL TO OUR CALVES - PART 2.   We lost three bull calves at birth, two of which were twins then 6 months later we lost a heifer calf to bloat.  Given we had reduced our heifers from 8 to 5, we were down to only one calf for the season because we were convinced the remaining heifer was not going to calf.  Miraculously prior to Christmas, a bull calf was born.  If I am honest, I was devastated and worried that we had done something terribly wrong and that it would impact into this seasons calving.  Imagine my delight when the first of this season's calves were born and seeing the calf move as I was heading to check that it was alive.  Then being overjoyed to find a second calf had just been born to another heifer within minutes of me checking the first calf.  Two calves on the same day!!  Within three weeks, our third calf was born.  Bullet the bull has been busy!  Although we are still awaiting the results of the final two heifers.  As this season's calves have started, we have since sold the two calves from last season.  The price per head of beef is pretty good!

Our calf that came just before xmas

The sheep are doing fantastic!  After blogging about them in LAMBS ARE OUR NEXT VENTURE, we have acquired two more sheep.  Another ewe named Shawshank and a ram named Rollroaston.  Both of the new additions are wiltshire sheep, which means they self-shed their wool, are resistance to diseases and are prone to having twins or triplets.  The "sheepeez", are nicely pregnant and it's fair to say that I am very nervous about when they lamb.  Firstly, because we've never dealt with lambing before, and secondly because we've never had to deal with sheep having more than one lamb at a time.  Within the next few months, it'll hit us like a tonne of bricks.  We will have anything from two lambs to six lambs or possibly more.  Eeeek!  The plan for these lambs is to put them in the freezer, but you never know what else might come of it.  

The view from the chook run

 We have also acquire two more fox terriers.  Lexi and Sloan (I'm sure those that are into Greys Anatomy will get it).  They are such great companions for my husband while I'm away with study and have just learnt how to catch rabbits, mice and rats.  They are not too keen on the stray cat that comes around yet ... BUT it will only be a matter of time.

Lexi is on the left with her sister

Sloan

 
As a side note, we were offered a couple of kunekune pigs last week.  Under any other circumstance, we would've taken them in a heartbeat.  Unfortunately, we had to say no.  Pigs are on the cards for the Ponderosa, however not just yet.

Happy living peeps!

Lambs Are Our Next Venture

It's been awhile since I blogged about the animals on the Ponderosa but I just had to share a story about our latest additions. 

Our beef are going well, in fact we don't have any issues with the beef and this years calving was a breeze.  We have downsized by 3 heifers which was the plan when I blogged FAREWELL TO OUR CALVES.  It was a little difficult to decide which ones would go, so we made it easier by seeing which ones calved by the end of October and which ones didn't.  We now have 1 bull, 5 heifers and 5 calves (all of which are heifers).

Our chickens are going great guns and producing 10-12 eggs a day for us.  This is far too many for my household alone so my parents and sisters are getting supplied regularly.  My husband is taking some to his work mates and the added bonus to those who visit us on the Ponderosa gets to take a tray home as well.  We still have 2 roosters (although one will be going in the stock pot over the xmas break) 14 hens and 3 chicks.  We are contemplating getting a few more hens as our brown shavers are getting a little old.

The chicken paddock is fenced off and contains fruit trees.  It's a big space that the chickens can't really manage the grass.  It seemed a waste of good grass to cut it all the time, so we thought pigs.  After speaking to a few people about pigs, the idea of sheep in that space would be better.  Totally green with sheep, we started asking questions about breeds and management.   We settled on looking for the wiltshire breed as they self shed their wool and are less resistant to common diseases.  They are also great breeders producing twins or triplets.

Ok ... decision made .. now to get some and from where.  Again I turned to trade me to gauge prices then an awesome opportunity for two ewe lambs came up that we just couldn't resist.  The breeder we purchased from are a lovely couple who are sheep crazy and helped us trim their feet.  She keeps in contact with me and is keen to come out whenever we need her assistance.  The lambs are due for their vaccination within the next month, so we might be calling on her assistance.

Baabara & Shaunequa ... still shedding their wool

All settled in now

The plan was to simply fatten them up and put them in the freezer, but we've decided that we will look for a ram and breed from these two.  Given the prices for lamb at the moment, it might be a fruitful investment.

Happy learning peeps!