Ranch Goals

I've acquired two goats: A proven Buck and a doeling.  That's the start of the new herd last month.  I will acquire 5 more does within the next couple of months before I start my breeding program.  

Next we'll be ordering some Egg Layers and Meat Birds.  I'm leaning towards Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, and Brown Necks for my egg layers.  For meat birds, I'm looking at White Leghorns or Cornish X's.  All the birds will come from Hawaii.  I believe 100 birds for Egg Layers and 100 birds for Meat Birds will do.  Then I'll order a new group every two years to change up the line.  The meat birds will be around only for 7 to 8 weeks, from a week old to slaughter weight.  

More Guinea Fowl and Quails will be next on the list.  The guinea fowl, or Gayinola as we call here,  helps out in bug control, especially red ants and the fire ants.   The quails are good for eggs and meat.  Both are really good.  

There is so much to do and acquire for the ranch.  In the future, we'll have two cows.  I already have two calfs on order.  Fresh milk will be great from the cows and does.  I already have an area for the future cow herd.  We have a good size area of good grass.   

I'll also be planting more trees and plants: coconut saplings, lemons, kalamansi, atis, donni, bananas of different varieties, dragon fruit, mulberry and papaya.  

I also plan to bring back pigeons.  But the ones I buy will be incarcerated forever.  Only their young will fly about the coop.  Pigeons bring out another diversity to the farm.  

One last definite must have are bees.  Honey bees will help pollinate my plants and trees.   Also harvesting their raw honey will be another farm fresh product for the family table.  

 There's more to come. 


Esta, 

Keep Smiling.     

Trimming, Cutting, and Grazing.

Got up this morning and got ready to head into the ranch.  I released my ranch dog, Duchess, from her post.  She knew we were going out to lead the goats to pasture.  It was good to see her running around the ranch exploring everything again.  

At the Goat Pen, I brought out the buck and the doe followed.  They were hesitant to follow me because Duchess was in their way.  So I sent her ahead.  At South Side, I pastured them close to the Annonas tree.  So they can graze the area around the two fly pens.  

I cleaned up a little, cutting back the trails.  I moved Scout aka Brownie back a bit from where he was tied off.  Scout is one of my perimeter guard dogs.  He had a tussle with a wild pig a while back, and lost.  But he's getting better.  His wounds have healed up nicely and his fur is returning to it's nice reddish chocolate color.  

Duchess and I decided to explore the rest of the ranch.  We strolled carefully into South One.  There are 4 more South Areas on the ranch for a total of 6 areas.  The old trail is blocked off by a fallen tree.  So we skirted around it.  I cautiously eyed the trees looking for rubbings.  Their were many at different levels.  It's good to know that the wild life enjoys the ranch as much as I do.  

One of my water troughs is missing.  That thing could not walk out on its own.  It was two heavy, more than 100 pounds.  Someone came in and stole it.  I'm going to have to put up more Posted Warning Signs and spread out my dogs.  From now on, Duchess is going back to Rover duty.  

It feels good to be working my own ranch again.  Partnering has it's advantages.  But it didn't work well with me.  I didn't liked to be second guessed.  And I believe Organic Ranching is sustainable on a tropical island.  If it can work in Costa Rica, Philippines, Hawaii and other tropical regions, why not Guahan.  

My ranch will be in operation again, for the familia.  I have lots of ideas to implement to get food for the table and develop my own breeding stock. 


Esta

Keep Smiling  

Clearing South Side.

Herd Sire:  PR Fluffy

Woke up really late this morning.  Didn't want to waste the rest of the day.  So I pastured the goats at the South Side and did some work cutting back the saplings that have taken ground with a dull blade.  As soon as the goats settled down to the new eating area.  I went back to the house, brought my machete. and sharpened it.  I may have to put it to the grinder next weekend to  get a good angle on it.

Guinea Fowl

Went back out, after a quick meal, and started clearing back the jungle with the goats eating what I cut and dropped on the ground.  I cleared around one of my old fly pens that was covered in water vines.  Going to turn that into a breeding pen.  Found another fly pen a couple feet away.  It's going to take some work to get the holes repaired.  But after it's all fixed up,  It'll give me a couple more seasons to use it.  

Did some rough trimming on one of my Annonas trees.  Trimmed up to just about my height.  Don't want to trim to much, only a 1/3 of the tree or less.  So the tree don't go into shock.  Found a fruit on it.  Yes, it was ripe.  So I cracked it open and ate the warm custard fill inside.  Really nice and juicy.  

MR Chokoy 120601

On most of the trees there, especially the Annonas.  I found rubbings about waist level on the trunks.  A good side Deer Buck has been visiting the ranch nightly.  The rubbings are still fresh.  I'm wondering if it's our neighborhood Toro.  That's been hanging around the area with a doe and baby, last year.     

On some of the other trees are different rubbings.  The lower trunk of the trees are covered with mud.  Could only mean a drove of wild pigs are also visiting the ranch.  It would be nice to catch a couple to raise.  Going to have to clean my weapons and harvest some wild pigs for the house.  

As we were making our way to the South Side of the ranch.  You could clearly see the pasaderu's the animals were taking.  One main trail that is well worn with travel.  Some tributaries that lead away from the main trail...but not used as often.   Have to recon the area to take advantage of my hunt.

It felt really good to be out there in the cold breeze.  But that same breeze got me a fever after I came in from working up a sweat out there.  So much for wearing long sleeves.   

Ranch Upgrade 2013.

PR Fluffy 110601

Been busy in the ranch today.  My goat herd of two have been busy clearing back the jungle.  They're doing pretty good.  So many feet per day.  But we're moving slowly, getting the area cleared up. 

I cleaned around the Guinea Fowl pen, cutting off the vines that wrapped itself around the pen's wires.  Then cleaning the vines off the small brooder and the water trough.  I have a lot to do to get my ranch back up and running.  

I'm glad that I have a goat herd to help eat up the jungle once again.  I've did some cutting and trimming as the herd was eating.  Sometimes the buck, Fluffy, would eat up what I cut down.  The doe is still a bit cautious.  But she moves closer to me day by day.  

Plan for tomorrow is to reallocate the dogs to new perimeter posts.  I don't need them so close to the house.  I need to push them out a little more.  No more debating if I'll get that female pitbull from my cousin Leo.  I'll take her if she is still available.  Turn her into a ranch dog.  If not her, then her pups.   Most of my ranch dogs are part Pitbulls, some have more percentage bloodline, than the others.  I'll have to get her pen ready too.  

 It's been two years since I've been active with the ranch due to concentrating my efforts studying Safety at GCA Trades Academy.  Then my venture partnership with the other ranchers didn't work out.  I'm back doing my own thing.  Going Organic is my primary goal.  Raising free ranged, grass fed, or in my case boonie fed goat and poultry meat.  Getting back into the organic niche, especially for my family will be a great thing.  

The challenge is getting up my fencing to keep my livestock on my side of the boundary.  Then rotating my stock through the paddocks and having them graze the grass or jungle over.   

2013 will be a great year for the ranch.