Around & About the Wannabe Farm (Photodump Warning)
- Thread starter Shai
- Start date
Thanks, guys. Slowly but surely it's coming together...definitely playing a long game here.
Yeah the main herd is in a 12' x 21' colony, indoors. I also have growout pens for weaned adolescents to prevent crowding in the main stall. So far I have had no issues with coccidiosis but it has only been a year and I'm constantly on the lookout for it.
Yeah the main herd is in a 12' x 21' colony, indoors. I also have growout pens for weaned adolescents to prevent crowding in the main stall. So far I have had no issues with coccidiosis but it has only been a year and I'm constantly on the lookout for it.
The Wannabe Farm's next generation arrived yesterday 
Four new chicks, destined to be laying hens.
Pretty much impossible to tell but there is faint patterning on some of this chick's feathers. The other two light chicks seem to be plain. It'll be interesting to see what all four chicks look like as adults. I don't really care for white birds so I am hoping to be surprised.
My super beautiful brooder. Repurposed wood isn't pretty, but it's functional and "free." That said I'd like to paint it if I have some extra paint sitting around some day...it really is ugly haha.
Four new chicks, destined to be laying hens.
Pretty much impossible to tell but there is faint patterning on some of this chick's feathers. The other two light chicks seem to be plain. It'll be interesting to see what all four chicks look like as adults. I don't really care for white birds so I am hoping to be surprised.
My super beautiful brooder. Repurposed wood isn't pretty, but it's functional and "free." That said I'd like to paint it if I have some extra paint sitting around some day...it really is ugly haha.
So jealous! This is like my dream.
Where do you live that you can keep rabbits comfortably outside? And what do you need to keep them happy outside? I lovelovelove rabbits but have found that I'm allergic to hay. I would love to keep some outside someday but am not sure about the Tennessee cold winters and hot summers.
Where do you live that you can keep rabbits comfortably outside? And what do you need to keep them happy outside? I lovelovelove rabbits but have found that I'm allergic to hay. I would love to keep some outside someday but am not sure about the Tennessee cold winters and hot summers.
The pullets are growing up fast. Adolescence is even more awkward when you are a chicken.
The chicken with faint patterning is turning out to be colored (hurray). The other two plain chicks look like they are going to stay white. Not sure what the darker chicken's color is going to look like in the end but she appears to have blue at the moment. So far all do appear to be pullets (vs. cockerels) so that's the main thing
The chicken with faint patterning is turning out to be colored (hurray). The other two plain chicks look like they are going to stay white. Not sure what the darker chicken's color is going to look like in the end but she appears to have blue at the moment. So far all do appear to be pullets (vs. cockerels) so that's the main thing
Rough month for the Wannabe Farm. One of the new pullets turned out to be a cockerel, one that actually is a pullet disappeared...I just found a few feathers out by the woods. Guessing she somehow escaped the temporary run and was picked up by one of our many neighborhood hawks. So we are down to two pullets -- the dark one and the lightest one with the yellow legs.
Also had our first run-in with coccidiosis -- not in the rabbit colony but in the moveable pasture growout pens. Their growth rate was slower but I thought that could have been due to the heat and being on heavy pasture, little pellets. Nope. Guessing they picked it up from local wildlife. Unfortunately I pulled the nicest one and put her in the colony as a keeper several days prior to learning of the coccidiosis...so this could get interesting. Pulled the new female ASAP and did a bedding change and scrubbed the food/water so hoping for the best.
It's always something...!
Also had our first run-in with coccidiosis -- not in the rabbit colony but in the moveable pasture growout pens. Their growth rate was slower but I thought that could have been due to the heat and being on heavy pasture, little pellets. Nope. Guessing they picked it up from local wildlife. Unfortunately I pulled the nicest one and put her in the colony as a keeper several days prior to learning of the coccidiosis...so this could get interesting. Pulled the new female ASAP and did a bedding change and scrubbed the food/water so hoping for the best.
It's always something...!
Looks like we beat the coccidiosis, good news there
The two 2014 EE hens just started laying in the last two weeks -- one is laying brown but the other is laying a pretty green-blue egg. Which makes me disproportionately excited every time I open the nesting box haha.
Also just integrated three young orpington pullets into the flock, from a local farm. Would love for at least one of them to turn out broody once they finish maturing.
Growing out a promising outside young buck rabbit over the winter. I think he'll be a nice new addition. He was pretty wild when he first came home but is gentling down quickly and actually running up for treats and to investigate now. He was living solo in a wire cage so this has been quite a change for him.
Also using the winter to build more moveable pasture pens for rabbits and hopefully for chickens as well so we are ready for spring when it comes.
And last but not least, looks like the "Wannabe Farm" will be the "Wannabee Farm" in spring 2015. With the guidance of beekeeping family we will be adding a hive. Currently in touch with local-ish suppliers to reserve bees, and getting everything ready to roll...
Also hauling a year's worth of compost into the garden so it has time to settle in before spring rains and planting.
Wintertime at Camp Shai is mostly about cleaning up, bedding deep, keeping water available, and prepping for spring.
The two 2014 EE hens just started laying in the last two weeks -- one is laying brown but the other is laying a pretty green-blue egg. Which makes me disproportionately excited every time I open the nesting box haha.
Also just integrated three young orpington pullets into the flock, from a local farm. Would love for at least one of them to turn out broody once they finish maturing.
Growing out a promising outside young buck rabbit over the winter. I think he'll be a nice new addition. He was pretty wild when he first came home but is gentling down quickly and actually running up for treats and to investigate now. He was living solo in a wire cage so this has been quite a change for him.
Also using the winter to build more moveable pasture pens for rabbits and hopefully for chickens as well so we are ready for spring when it comes.
And last but not least, looks like the "Wannabe Farm" will be the "Wannabee Farm" in spring 2015. With the guidance of beekeeping family we will be adding a hive. Currently in touch with local-ish suppliers to reserve bees, and getting everything ready to roll...
Also hauling a year's worth of compost into the garden so it has time to settle in before spring rains and planting.
Wintertime at Camp Shai is mostly about cleaning up, bedding deep, keeping water available, and prepping for spring.
