Mina

Im more than thrilled about my bees... elated is more like it Theyre still alive! After observing them out of the hive during the warm spell, I picked a warm sunny day with no wind to lift the lid and check on their candy board. Seems like the Carniolans dont eat much. I could hardly tell they had touched it. They probably have been eating the honey supers during December and January, but I didnt want to venture that far down yet just to satisfy my curiosity. My goal was to get a quick peek and shut it up again. 

I insulated their hive with a heavy duty sleeping bag (because its all I had in a pinch one night when the temperature was dropping fast and I wasnt prepared as I should have been), along with several bales of straw. Only the south side was left open so they could get some sun and exit freely on good days. 

I have a pollen patty and some Honey-B Healthy ready to go as soon as warmer temperatures are here to stay. I dont want to get the queen starting up her brood laying too soon, but maybe around March.

The three does have been on a consistant regime of herbals for a couple of months now and are looking GOOD! Im so pleased with their health. I dropped their mineral supplements and have elected not to give them a copper bollus (standard in goat care) in lieu of the herbal supplements and I am feeling very good about it at this time. Each goat receives the following each day/week:

• Fir Meadows Kop-sel (copper supplement)

• Thorvin Kelp (selenium supplementation as well as other trace minerals, etc)

• Dairy grade alfalfa hay

• Orchard grass

• Chaffhaye (evening supplement)

• Mollys Herbals Worming Herbs (weekly)

• Fir Meadows Milk Maid (one doe only)

• Milk stand ration of dairy pellets, barley, oats, BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) if in milk

• Fresh water with Apple Cider Vinegar (enzymes, etc.)

I know this sounds like a lot, but its really easy because its an established routine. I feed as much variety as possible because goats are browsers and if they were out in a large pasture, theyd eat more than one thing and gather nutrients from a variety of sources. I plan to supplement soon with cuttings from the brush on our property that Ive determine are non-toxic to goats; I just have to establish a routine for that.

Ill be scheduling their blood draws with a friend in order to complete our 2013 CAE/CL testing as well as preparing Frieda for breeding. In order to get her ready, Ive made sure she is getting her kelp and worming herbs, but Ill be adding some red raspberry leaves, as well as Fir Meadows CyclEase and Gods Greens.

Orders are being placed in the homesteading group for spring chicks, but alas, Ive already missed out on my top choices. Many unusual breeds sell out quickly: Copper Marans in particular. Im so sad about that. However, Gabbard Farms may have some hatching eggs at a later date.

For meat birds, were going to try about 15 Rainbow Rangers this spring. My experiment with White Rock (not Cornish Cross) was a disaster. There is no perfect solution for meat birds, so one must compromise somewhere and Ive decided that it will be in the area of a cross breed. (I could write a whole post on this, so Ill save that for later). Im hoping that Ill time the meat chicks for the early spring grasses and that it will be warm enough for them to be out of the coop in tractors by their fourth week, but this is kind of like going to Las Vegas and gambling... our spring weather is totally unpredictable. 

Clean up is beginning on warm days to get the garden ready for an early planting of cool weather crops. And did I mention the 3 commercial truck loads of wood chips I scored for $50? Yeah, baby!! I have the Mt. Everest of wood chips just waiting to go down in the garden. Another spring workout for nice weather days just waiting for me. 

My youngest daughter and I have taken up archery (I used to do this as a child) and we have a fabulous instructor who is training us not only for target shooting, but for hunting! Im so jazzed about this! Imagine being able to obtain food in the wild without alerting everyone around you. Preparedness continues on the homestead in various ways, including acquired skills.

Ill leave the update at this and hope I can actually pull together two posts this week! Its been good to take a break, but I miss the fellowship and accountability... you all inspire me to keep going.

Blessings,