New Life!

Last Fall a young kitten, perhaps 3 or 4 months old, made her way to our front door. Our big cat, Daisy, wanted nothing to do with her. (Nothing has changed there!) We found out later the mama, brother and sister had made their way to the neighbor's place across the field. We called the kitten "Baby," and being such a friendly girl, quickly won our hearts! Well, little did we know that kittens can get pregnant. One morning in February I heard an awful howling at our front door. I ran to the door, flipped on the lights, and there right in front of Baby's house was the long-haired tomcat from across the road. OOPS! Looks like kittens will be arriving around April 27!

The night of April 25, our oldest boy dreamed that Baby was laying on his bed and had five furry kittens with her. He was sure excited! We thought she'd have maybe two or three kittens.

On April 27, around 2 a.m., Baby started having babies in a birthing box in our closet. She gave birth to two in that hour. The boys were so excited. I got them on the school bus, went inside and grabbed the camera. Wanted to get some more pictures of the Baby's baby. So, I took the picture, and saw on the digital screen not two, but three kittens in the birthing box! And Baby was working really hard at giving birth to a fourth! Wow!

After school, I let the boys go look at the new kittens. They were surprised to see four. We wondered if our oldest had seen 4 kittens + Baby in the dream. No, he saw 5 kittens + Baby. After dinner, our dreamer boy went to go check on the new family. He came running to the kitchen to tell us there were now 5 kittens!!!!! Oh boy!

So, we now have five male kittens. As soon as they are weaned, we will be taking the Little Mama to be spayed. We don't need any more cats around here! It's a good thing we have farm fields all around on three sides, and lots of mice! Baby has turned out to be quite a good Little Mama, even though she is still not fully grown herself. She's very protective of her little ones. :)

We are letting our oldest pick out one of the kittens for himself. Not sure yet if his brother will be allowed to keep one. The jury's still out on that one. So, around Father's Day (June 19) we will have 3 or 4 male kittens ready for new homes. :)

Free-Ranging in Spring

Meet Friendly. She decided to get up close to me this Spring. All the hens (12 of them) are friendly. Very friendly. Becoming a rooster-free property has encouraged this behavior! :)

On Easter morning, our youngest and I had to make a run for the car - the hens spotted us and came running! They think that every person (or little dog) will have a treat for them. :)

The hens mostly lay their eggs in the chicken houses. But every once in a while...


...we find a couple in the haystack! :)

Transitions

Our family is full of changes and transitions - it's in the air!

The acre is turning into a hobby farm. Both boys started back to full-time school this week. It's the first time they've both been full-time. Once again I planted the garden over too large an area and it is "organic" again - very weedy. I'm thinking I may have to pen the goat out there one of these days. Next year I plan to plant in a much smaller area - with the same amount of plants to help block out the weeds. I'm hoping for a fenced area, and a greenhouse on the side (maybe with a strawbale foundation).

Yes, we have a goat!!! We purchased him at the county fair. His name is Hercules, a Boer goat. Here Trixie is meeting Hercules the day we brought him home.


Daisy had to have a meet and greet, too! He was a market goat that hadn't made market weight. Next year, the plan is for Sean to raise a market kid and show him at the fair for 4-H. Not such a daunting venture now that we know a little more about goats.

Since early summer we have maintained a "Rooster-free Coop." One of the hens, "Precious," has taken over the job of protecting the flock. She is quite a bossy lady! Right now there are six hens who take turns laying eggs. The seventh is Sean's 4-H hen - she doesn't lay anymore. In July we added another pen of seven pullets - 6 Ameracaunas and 1 white Brahma. They are on track to begin laying the end of September. Any extra eggs are sold.

This hobby farm stuff is a work in progress, that's for certain. Although we plan ahead, it's important to remember what Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)