By Judy Barnet, Farm Columnist
Another busy week on the farm.
The long awaited lambs have not arrived but Snowflake the goat had twins – one of which was killed by a fox or quoll.
She kidded up in the steepest part of our hill country and when we found her she was still with the deceased twin which looked to have been dead for around a day.
We always leave dead kids or lambs with their mums for a full day, it gives them time to grieve and accept the death.
Speaking of goats, we have a few ready for the market but they have been giving us a run around for a few weeks now.
Perhaps they heard me on the phone to Agent Ross from McDougalls when we had them yarded a few weeks ago.
I advised Ross I had a few I would be bringing in subject to getting them up the loading ramp. When they jumped over every fence in our rather Dad and Dave Sheepyards 3 times we decided on Plan B – parking the trailer in the yards and putting feed in to entice them to load themselves.
That was successful in that every goat went in the trailer except the ones we wanted.
The next day I put Plan C into action – I was able to entice all of the goats into the yard and straight into the race with some feed.
Of the three goats I really wanted to take, two jumped straight out but the third, a goat from last year’s kidding, I was able to get into the crush.
Unfortunately Richie was at work and I knew I would not be strong enough to move the goat from the crush into the trailer and shut the doors so I put a halter and lead on the goat and left her in the crush (which had a centre bar to stop her jumping out) until Richie arrived home.
As we drove down the track to the yards half way down, there were the three goats, including the one with the halter – making their way back to the paddock!
I have a Plan D but that involves taking down the cattleyards and moving them to set up a trap around the sheep yards and loading ramp so that may take a few more weeks.
On the farm we have also previously hosted WWOOFers – World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farmers – however with the current COVID pandemic there are very few people doing this.
However on Friday I received a phone call from a couple that were looking for accommodation for a couple of weeks before they moved to Tasmania.
Monica, Yves, Abel and Indigo arrived late on Monday and what a joy they have been to host.
Both Yves and Monica are Chefs and Yves is also a professional Sand Sculpturer.
We have been eating like kings this week and I am definitely going to learn a few recipes whilst they are here.
The boys, Abel and Indigo are thoroughly enjoying the farm and Abel loves his new best friend – Zorro the dog! They are also going to help out with Plan D in catching the goats! Staying in the cottage this week we have had guests from Cooby Cobba Adventures who thoroughly enjoyed themselves and caught a few fish on the dam.
Renovating the cottage and starting the Airbnb was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.
We hosted our first guests nearly a year ago – at the start of September.
Our first guest was a house designer and her daughter and they were wonderful – giving me a lot of tips that have helped make the cottage what it is today.
The money I earn from hosting has allowed me to maintain and update the cottage but more than the money is the friends I have made, the skills and crafts the guests have taught me and the pleasure of seeing happy children collecting eggs and picking their own vegetables for dinner.
The Australorp Bantam, Araucana and Modern Game Bantam hens are all in full swing laying now and I am hoping to hatch out some replacement pullets this spring.
This will be done using both an incubator and any hens that might go broody.
I also have a pen of mixed breeds – Indian Game, Transylvanian Naked Necks, Frizzles and Silkies that I use to show the cottage guests – and the Transylvanian Naked Neck has gone clucky already which is quite early in the season.
One of the projects I am working on at the moment is an old mobile workman’s wagon that used to be towed by a grader when roads were being maintained in remote areas.
I am planning on turning this into an Airbnb accommodation down by the waters edge.
I watched the Grandest of Grand Designs on TV last week and came up with some Grand Designs of my own for the wagon – I am just missing the Grand Budget to go with them.
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Egg Collecting Guide
• When collecting eggs for hatching only pick clean eggs with a uniform egg shape (point at the bottom and wider at the top where the air sac is).
• Inspect eggs carefully for hairline cracks
• Do not wash eggs – they are porous and can let bacteria in so stick with eggs that are clean
• Clean nesting material and daily collection of eggs should ensure a good fresh clean supply of hatchable eggs
• Store eggs point down in an egg carton, in a cool dry place.
• Write the date and breed in pencil on the top of the egg.
• Set eggs in an incubator or under a clucky hen that are less than 2 weeks old
• Bantams can hatch 6 – 8 eggs and Large Hens 10 – 12.
Happy hatching and have a great week everyone.
