Castrating, bullies and planting the garden!

Where oh where did that sun go now that I found my sunglasses???? Come back here!
I'm trying to ignore the predicted snow for tomorrow. Really I might just not get out of bed tomorrow if it is snowing!!!! ha, yeah right.

So this past weekend we looked at another farm. We made an offer. We'll see how that goes.
50-50 chance of it right?

We also finally castrated last years 5 bull calves. It went pretty well. We invested in a very nice (and pricey) bander castrator last year called Callicrate Bander. Think really thick rubber bands and a crimper.
The boys have more of a fit when I give them an injection for Tetanus (really a 1/2 20 guage needle is a mild prick). Then we put an ear tag in one ear- just to help us tell them apart and for the butcher's paperwork.
So some we just walked up to and slipped a halter over their head, walked them over to a post or feeder wagon, tied them to that, Cam and I lean against them and rub their backs while Matt crouches down behind them to do the castrating. 3 went really easy- they were the youngest ones. The older highlander and hereford were not so happy with being restrained and poked with a needle. Once we are done, they hop and gallop off with the others. This is so much easier than other ways to castrate (think knife and blood). They are slightly uncomfortable for a bit but are back to being hay eaters and pushing each other around. Nice.
So we decided it was time for Molly to come out of her pen under the pine trees and mingle with the herd. She is still nursing a calf so he came out to. He is almost as big as her! He is half jersey half Ayrshire- we got him from our friends at Wake Robin, Jordan NY (yogurt!!!).
The highlander herd would have none of her. One boy- 2 year old trouble maker- crashes into her then proceeds to ram her until she slides under the fence on her knees. This takes dominace attitude to far! After chasing Molly down- she had headed for her old pen- I checked her over. Phew she seems okay. So I put a halter on her and try this again- with stick in hand for attitude adjustment if needed. Yup, the bullys came back. A little tap of the stick on their nose and they back off, circle around back to try that way. So after a few minutes of this rodeo- it was decided it wouldn't work.
So we put Molly and baby in the corral, blocked it off with a gate so they can talk over the fence. MAYBE they can all calm down.
I go out to feed her this morning and 3 boys and the bull are all standing at her gate pushing on it. This is really to much. so I put up an electrified wire and that ended that.
I'm having a feeling Molly might not be bred- she was bred in October!!! Looks like I need to draw some blood from her for pregnancy testing. She hates needles. oh joy.......
I'm hoping all this is because of the huge full moon and it's now SPRING!!!
Spring fever!!!

I planted lettuce, spinach, chard and carrots in my inlaws garden... Almost time to get some peas in also. We get warmer in the valley in spring- compared to those hill around us.
Can't wait to see some local asparagus soon!!!

March 16th, 2011

Sorry everyone for the lack of posting. To start we've been in the duldrums, depressed, discouraged, down and out...... you get the idea.
We haven't bought a place and it sure doesn't look good the place we were looking to buy in Mexico, NY. Yeah up north but it was PERFECT for us and farming.
So far the sellers aren't going anywhere. Long story too....
so we keep looking and looking. Not much out there in our price range and local area.

I'm getting the farm email back up and running so an update will be sent out this week.

BUT the good news is we are in business. Land is precious but we have gotten enough around to get us through the year.

The buyers of our old place are WONDERFUL people and said we might be able to graze the cows there. wow!
The chickens can be at Matt's parent's field and maybe we can scroung up a bit more also.
Pigs hopefully can be in the woods there or at the old place.
No plans for thanksgiving turkeys yet..... well not this year. Too crazy and short landed.

Sign up for our email, just jaunt off a line and put Farm update emails in the subject line:
thefarmer@creeksidemeadowsfarm.com

More in a bit. Yes I promise to be a regular blogger not a slacker!!!!