Bottle Lamb in Kitchen Sheep and Chickens The next best thing to seeing our children grow up has been watching our animals grow. Just like human kids, their personalities change and they continue to endear themselves to us. I have assembled a few before and afters like I do with our architectural projects. These are at least as surprising as some of our major renovations. Chloe as a Kitten Practicing Her Mouse Catching Moves [...]
One of Many Chicks Our mini farm has been the perfect place to be during the lockdown. We have plenty of fresh eggs, vegetables from the garden and the company of all our animals. Even though our older chickens are still producing plenty of eggs, over time they slow down production and we keep them as pets. Every so often we order chicks from McMurry Hatchery which arrive in a box full of very cute and loud peepers. [...]
Poppy My brother-in-law, Raymond, was doing his family farm chores, picking up hay when he came upon a starving kitten in a barn who had been abandoned. We didn't think she would make it but after weeks of bottle feeding-mostly by my wife, Alicia, she is now our newest family member. After bottle feeding lambs, feeding a kitten is easy. I have taken time during the apocalypse to do some things that I have wanted to do for [...]
Lambs Getting Bigger One of the true joys of spending so much time at home besides family time is animal time. Our animals have been giving back more to us than they can ever imagine. We have always had a close relationship with them, but when we are anxious, there is nothing like hugging a border collie, cuddling with a big bunny, or spending quality time with the lambs. Every morning as I drink my coffee and check [...]
Mary's Lamb We waited a long time for our ewes, Mary and Lucrecia to give birth, and they did not disappoint. Mary had the one ewe lamb while my wife was away visiting colleges with our daughter. My son and I filled in for her with him taking the lead, being a seasoned 4-H member. We had to wait a couple of weeks for Lucrecia to finally give birth and she surprised us with one ewe lamb and [...]
Bunny Under the Piano We have been waiting for two ewes to have lambs, but they are taking their sweet time, and have missed my blog deadline for this month. They are very uncomfortable and ready to give birth. I am almost certain we will have lambs on the coldest day of the year while my wife is out of town taking our daughter to college visits. My 13-year-old son and I can handle it, I hope. Speaking [...]
Chicken and Sheep Enjoying a Bite Together Photo by Alicia Crisp All is well on our micro-farm. Everyone is getting along and we have had no major drama with any of our animals. Our vegetable garden is winding down with the exception of the giant rogue squash plant which has taken over the sheep fence. We are hoping to get one crop of yellow squash before the first hard frost. It is going to be a squeaker. [...]
Grover Growing Up Grover is growing like a weed. Of course, the April showers have made everyone's wool a mess, not to mention our mud room. Our flock has grown to 11 sheep with one pregnant ewe and a yet unknown number of lambs. The chickens almost stopped laying eggs this winter, but now that spring is here I am happily getting a nest full most mornings. Chloe, Rosie, and Oliver are happy spring has finally arrived. [...]
Grover and Lucrecia Nothing on our little farm is more exciting than a new lamb. Grover, our newest lamb, was no exception. As the due date approaches, we try to keep watch, on our lamb-cam, up at the barn. Yesterday morning, my wife told me to check the camera and meet her and my son up at the barn. My heart sank when I saw what looked to be a lifeless shape still covered in its birth sac behind [...]
Oliver at Sheep Barn Leaves are falling by the boatload and ice is forming on unprotected water buckets. Winter is around the corner, but the animals are as happy as ever. Oliver and Rosie are chasing the sheep every chance they get. The sheep aren't afraid at all and have no problem trying to butt the dogs. We are not sure how many pregnant ewes we have this year, but we know there is at least one and [...]
