A few questions

OK, I need some advice from you experience farmers out there. I have 2 questions.

First, I found a hidden stash of eggs yesterday. They are Kudzu's, I just thought she was a spotty layer, but had also been searching for a hidden nest. There were 6 eggs in it, I know 5 of them are less than a week old, but one of them is at least 2 weeks old. Our temps have been in the mid 40s most days but we've had a few days in the 60s. Are they safe to eat? Should I just throw them all away? Can I test them somehow? I know about the float test and that it will show age, but will it show if an egg is rotten? Should I just open them in a separate bowl before using and decide on an individual basis?

Hopefully now that I know her secret spot I'll be able to get the eggs when they are fresh from now on.

My other question regards keeping sheep and goats together. Does anyone keep sheep and goats together? I plan to have both and with the layout of my property it will be much easier to keep them all together. However, I know goats need more copper than sheep. If you keep them together how do you handle the different mineral needs? I guess I could add minerals to the goat food when I feed them and not keep it out free choice. Our I could have separate stalls and only put the mineral out at night. Are these realistic ideas or should I just plan on keeping them totally separate?

Thank for any input! I need it.

Too funny - Kid's interview

I read this on Madeline's and Alex's blogs and had to play too. Logan was a good sport and went along with me.

1. What is something your mom always says to you?

>>>I love you

2.What makes your mom happy?

>>>When I say I love her

3. What makes your mom sad?

>>>When our animals die

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

>>>Play with my belly

5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?

>>>Play on the golf course

6. How old is your mom?

>>>37 or 38

7. How tall is your mom?

>>>4 ft 7 inches (I'm a little taller)

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

>>>Play with the chickens

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

>>>I don’t know, I’m not around

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

>>>Teaching about farm stuff

11. What is your mom really good at?

>>>Cooking

12. What is your mom not very good at?

>>>Building stuff

13. What does your mom do for her job?

>>>Teaches community college

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

>>>Tortellini

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

>>>Teaching

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

>>>Eeyore

17. What do you and your mom do together?

>>>Lots of things

18. How are you and your mom the same?

>>>Lots of ways

19. How are you and your mom different?

>>>I have more energy

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

>>>She tells me

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

>>>He’s funny

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

>>>Poultry judging


He knows me pretty well. Although cookies are probably my favorite food and home is probably my favorite place to go.

Comments

I tried to leave comments on many blogs last night but the word verification would never load. I tried again this morning, same thing. So, I'm giving up. If you have word verification on your blog, I tried to leave you a comment and it wouldn't let me. Sorry.

Orion

A few people asked what the wether was for. The wether will be Logan's goat to train for 4H. Even though he hasn't been born yet, Logan has already named him Orion. He is also to keep my doe company so she won't be lonely. We are going out today to get some supplies, including a nipple and a collar for Orion. I can't wait to show you pictures of him!

Busy Day

Saturday was a busy day for us. We went to look at some llamas and to 2 different places to look at goats. We were gone from 10:30-4:30!

Here are the llamas we looked at:
They are a mom and her daughter. Logan liked the daughter but the mom wasn't very nice. She kept spitting and was hard to handle. They were only willing to sell them both together, so we declined.

At the first goat place, Logan got to play with the babies and had a great time!

Isn't he just the cutest thing ever?

We then moved on to the second goat place, which would sell us a doe in milk and a wether for a lot less than the first place. I really looked at the goats at the second place to make sure they weren't sickly or anything since they are a lot less, but they all seemed healthy. She has 3 does that will be giving birth sometime this week.

I picked out this one. It will be her second freshening. She is used to being milked. She is really friendly, has blue eyes and is polled. We are just waiting for her babies to be born.

We will also be getting a baby wether from this place. We are waiting for him to be born. He will be bottle fed by Logan and I. We should be bringing them home in about 2 weeks. I can't wait!

Projects

We've been busy working on a few projects here. 2 of them are done.

Here is a cold frame I built using an old window to start my brocolli in and grow some spinach.


Here is a cistern that Mark has been working on getting set up. It is now half full of water from 1 night of rain!

I need to build a few more raised beds, one soon to plant my peas. I also need to build a milk stand, we should be getting a milk goat in 2 weeks!

Flowers

Look what we found in the pasture yesterday! Woo hoo, spring can't be far off now.




And another psycho chicken picture just for fun.

Logan took all the pictures in today's blog.

Birds

We love birds here. We put up this feeder assembly shortly after Christmas. We haven't seen any bird at it even though the food has gone down some. Yesterday we finally saw birds! A group of gold finches flew in and ate the thistle.


I got a better bluebird picture and changed the logo to go with this name.

In other news, Kudzu is being difficult. She keeps changing where she is laying. For 2 day I didn't find any eggs from her, I'm not sure if she just didn't lay or if I haven't found where yet. There was an egg today in a new place, I'm assuming it is Kudzu's unless Buttercup changed where she is laying because there was no egg in her normal place. I guess I will find out tomorrow, they should both lay tomorrow.

Chickens like cameras!

We went out taking pictures last week and decided to get some of the girls. Here is my view of the proceedings.
And here is Logan's view.
Anytime we go out there with a camera the chickens have to put their faces into it. Do you think they know what it is and want to be sure we get good close ups?

More fun with farm names

We've decided to wait until at least June to decide on a name. That way we can experience more seasons here. So far we know that winter is foggy and windy. It will be interesting to see what other seasons are like. Come summer we may be considering Hotter Than Hell Farm as a name.

Anyway, I came up with 2 more name ideas and really enjoy making these pictures, so here are the new ones.

Mark of course doesn't like either of them. I think he is just going to end up being left out of the naming.

Blog problem

Does anyone know why my sidebar is now at the bottom of my blog and how I can get it back on the side? I REALLY don't like it this way! I've tried changing templates and removing my cutest blog background but neither of those worked.

EDIT: I also tried removing the pictures from my last post because it started around that time and that made no difference either.

If you go to an individual post, the sidebar is fine, it is only on the main page that it is messed up.

Pretty bird

Doesn't he look more manly now?

What is Buttercup doing in the coop in the middle of the day?

Oh, THAT is what she was doing. Good girl!

And cuddles were in order for doing such a good job.

I never would have believed you could get so attached to chickens. But I sure do love these girls!