Ranch Day

Woke up to the smell of coffee drifting into my room.  That aroma just makes it feel, all's okay.  Today, was my ranch day.  It should be everyday, but with my schedule at work, the college, the academy, and client training rooms.  I'm wall to wall busy.  So I had no choice but to start working the ranch on the weekends, after class on Saturdays, and all day Sunday, until my schedule clears up. 

Sun was up...when I jumped out of bed this morning, chowed down some breakfast,  then made my way to the back of the house into my makeshift barn shack.  A gray 20' x 20' canopy that I use as a barn.  Need me one of them metallic 60' x 40' x 20' warehouse type barns.  I'll get that when we move to the back property. 

I got the lawnmower, a green mulcher,  serviced and ready to go.  Started cutting the trails by the house, then noticed I was balding the ground.  My wheels were to low.  Aiii, somebody used my mower and adjusted the wheels.  A quick readjustment to get them high, soon got me on my way.  Then I noticed the mower wouldn't start.  So I primed her up again, and she started up just fine after the 2nd pull on the rope. 

I mowed the trail from the back of the house towards the North Side, got past the wall.  I'll have to cut down some saplings to fit and cut through on the next lawn day.  After I was done mowing the North Side.  I went South.  My intention was to keep mowing the grass until I ran out of gas.  Unfortunately, some big rocks had other things planned for me and my green mulcher. After my rocks delays, I was finished just a bit after lunch.  Took a small break just to catch my breath.  Big difference between my mower and my bushcutter - my back isn't hurting. 

After a quick lunch, I was back out in the barn shack.  I grabbed my chainsaw, a 16" Poulan Pro, added some fuel and bar/chain oil.  When I started her up, the chain wasn't rotating on the bar.  I hit the kick back device...nothing happened.  I turned off the chainsaw and tried to move the chain.  It was frozen to the bar.  I figured it was just tight.  So I loosened the chain tightening device, started her up again, and still nothing.  I opened up the sprocket cover and was surprised to see all the gunk inside the cover and all around sprocket.  A closer look to the chain...it was rusted frozen. 

Somebody had used my chainsaw and didn't clean it up.  There was mud and sawdust all gummed up.  I took a stick broom and cleaned up the inside the cover and all around the sprocket.  I took the chain off the bar and applied, some Water Displacement # 40 to all the links.  Then I manually loosened up each link to get the oil inside to clean up any rust.  Reassembled everything, primed it 6x's, started up on the choke 5x's, then at half choke...she fired up nicely, gunned the engine.  Still nothing!  Had forgotten to reset the kickback device.  After gunning the enginet, the chain moved.  Again I gunned the engine and the chain started purring on the bar.  NICE!!! 

At the South Side with chainsaw in my hands, it was firewood making time, of all the trees that were felled a couple of weeks ago.  I cut the limbs and trucks down to 2' lengths.  Some of those trunks were a good 6' to 8" thick in diameter.  Have to start planning a barbecue soon to use the wood.  After I was done cutting up some firewood.  I felled one of the trees that I planned to cut down months ago.  It opened up the tree canopy nicely.  Now the sun's rays will be able to get to the ground and provide some solar energy to my grass.  Looking forward to cutting down the bigger trees in the up coming months.

After I had finished using the lawn mower, I let the goat herd out on their own.  No leads, no ties.  They just roamed around the immediate area eating their favorite grasses.  My herd sire, Fluffy, didn't give me any problems.  He was easy to handle when he's loose, compared to when he is tied out on his lead.  When I whistled, they all came running back into the pen, except the lamb rams.  Those two think they're so special.  So I left them out of the pen for a little while longer. 

When the hens were fed, I worked on the big empty fly pen next to their coop.  The tin roof went on easy.  Then came the thick branch for the hens to roost on.  I'll need to get some nest boxes attached to the inside wall before I move any hens in there.   I'm dividing up the hens in the next couple of days.  It's too crowded in the fly pen that they are currently in.  Moving 6 of them to the new coop will be good for the flock.  Just until I get the canopy for the bigger coop for them to lay their eggs in. 

My last check today was looking in on Gera, our karabao.  He was just relaxing when I approached him earlier this evening.  Next weekend, I'll be working on his side of the ranch, the North Side. 


ESTA

KEEP SMILING 


 

Hurry Up Typhoon! Hit this island already!

Today, it rained harder and we had a breaking number of amount of rain fallen since 7 am.  I like rain.  I love playing in it.  Getting drenched to the bone, is chilling, but fun.  In fact, it's still raining as I prepare this post. 

It was hilarious reading all the posts on facebook and looking at all the rained out flooded pictures throughout the day.  We had hard rain, then came the floods, then an earthquake, and more rain.  Yet, everyone acts like it's the end of the world.  I just read a post on facebook from a poster asking if the snakes will be coming out.  Really?!   

Most common greeting of concern was "Be Safe, or Drive Safe".  I'd like to be the devil's advocate for a moment and just say, "No, don't drive safe.  Drive Crazy!  (rolling eyes)".  Yes, I'm being sarcastic.  But really, Should the person behind the wheel of a vehicle not know how to drive safe...They shouldn't be driving at all.   

People act like it hasn't rained on this island before.  

If you can't drive in the rain or through a flooded out road...Get off the road or Go Home! 

Also, if you see a big white 2013 Ram Crewcab 4x4 in your rear view mirror with water splashing on both sides of the truck.  I highly recommended you get out of my way.  

We need a typhoon to cleanse the island.  


ESTA

KEEP SMILING :) 

2013 Egg Laying Flock: Rhode Island Reds.

Got Eggs?

 
It's been a week since we first brought home the new chicken flock of Rhode Island Reds.  Since then we've collected more than 3 dozen eggs.  Yes, they are quite very good. better than store bought eggs.  Right now, the hens are producing for family consumption.  I'll need to breed up the hen flock to get a good number of egg layers to have a sustainable egg selling venture.  

1st Egg for the ranch.

The first egg was collected on Monday, September 9, 2013.  I wasn't expecting any eggs since we just moved the flock the other day.  The stress from moving would have probably played a role in delayed egg laying production.  Finding an egg on the ground just before 0600 was a real treat. 

During afternoon checks, I found a couple more eggs, bringing up the total number of eggs to 7 on our very first day of egg laying production.  I was happy that the flock was off to a good start. 

Throughout the week, we collected different numbers of eggs.  Day 1 was 7 eggs collected.  Since there were 12 hens, I predicted the next day, Day 2, would be 5 eggs.  I felt good to be correct when I collected 5 eggs the next day.  Day 3 was 7 eggs again.  As well as Day 4, was 5 eggs collected.  However things changed on Day 5, we collected 8 eggs.  Then on Day 6, another 6 eggs were collected.  There seemed to be an extra eggs on those days.  Even today, Day 7, we collected 9 total, 2 more than usual.  There maybe a hen that is laying daily, instead of every other day.

7 eggs collected on the 1st day. 

Yes, we've started consuming our ranch fresh eggs.  I'm glad to be eating fresh eggs compared to store bought eggs.  Taste is so much better.  I know what my chickens are eating.  The hens have been given NO Medications since they've moved here. 

My goal is get my eggs, Organic Certified.  There is so much paperwork and standards that I have to follow before I even apply for the inspection.  So I'm going to just claim Farm Fresh, or in our island's case, Ranch Fresh, for the time being.

By going Ranch Fresh, this gives me time to build up to Organic Certification.  Especially, when I move ranch operations to the back property sometime next year.  I'll be able to claim the properties in the back as Organic, since it's raw land.  Lots of room back there to pasture raise the birds to lay, pastured finished eggs, or pastured finish birds.  

For now the hens are housed in a former fly pen, now turned coop.  This is temporary until I the birds get used to me as their new steward.  Also, they have to get accustomed to the new ranch.  I don't want them running all over the place and getting into the neighbor's yards.  They might not come back again.  Then I'll have to walk over to the neighbors and knock 'em out for taking my birds.  Seriously though, it's for the safety of the birds until I can get a bigger coop established for them, and the property fenced off to keep outsiders outside and my birds inside the ranch.

Temporary hen coop. 

I need to cut some grass to throw down in their temporary coop to keep them off the mud.   Rainy season here is going to get the birds sick if I don't do some preventive care.  Putting grass in the pens during the rainy season will help keep the birds from the mud.  It'll also turn into compost with the bird droppings mixing in with the grass cover.  

The other plan is to put the fly pens on skids.  So that I'll be able to move them to grass areas.  The only problem is that the pens are top heavy, and not as stable as they look.  I may have to make an actual chicken tractor for the birds.  Moving them daily to fresh grass will not be a problem. 

Today, I added the hanging feeder inside the pens and adjusted the height accordingly.  This keeps them from stepping and spoiling their grain feed.  The water trough was also moved to the outside of the pen to keep it clean.  I got tired of constantly changing out the muddy water.  It will also be easier for us to clean and add water. 

Hen getting ready to lay an egg. 

One of the hens getting ready to drop her egg.  This one collected today will make 9 for the day.  Not bad for an increase.  I'll need to make better nest boxes.  A little bigger than what is shown in the picture.  A slanted floor so the eggs rolls out to be collected and kept clean after each one is laid. 











ESTA

KEEP SMILING! 

New Chicken Flock Arrives and Monitor Lizard Escapes.

Our karabao, Gera, eating a flake of alfalfa hay.

Today was an Awesome day at the ranch.  It was sunny and breezy.  Some clouds in the sky but nothing to be concerned about.  The weather was really wonderful today.  

My niece/goddaughter, Arissa, and nephew Michael, and myself did our morning checks.  We adjusted the animals out on leads in the North-side, and brought them water and hay.  Back at the house, Rissa cooked up some hot soup for lunch for us to eat.  
  

Gera knocking over a banana stalk to get to its leaves. 

After lunch, we went to the South-side and worked on the fly pens for the incoming chickens later in the afternoon.  We cannibalized two old fly and scratch pens and used its side panels as doors for the circular fly pens.  We also patched up some holes in one fly pen.  Rissa learned to use a new tool, the Tin Snips.  I showed her how to pull one side up and pull down the opposite side as she started cutting the 1/4" wire cloth to make patches for the holes in the fly pens.  In all, we, Rissa and I, repaired 3 large pens and one small one.  It should be enough for the flock of Rhode Island Reds.

While we were working, Michael was busy playing with toads and turning over water pans.  We sent him back to the house to get us bottled water.  For a short distance, he was gone for quite a long time.  It was hot and we were thirsty.  When he finally returned.  I asked him where he went.  His reply, "I went to go eat".  

After putting on the new doors and patching up the holes.  The three of us jumped into the my truck, the Mud Hopper, and drove to the Santos Ranch to pick-up our new flock of Rhode Island Reds.  While there Mr. Santos was able to catch some birds while he was getting feed, to lure the chickens into a trap.  I started helping out gathering the chicken and putting them in the cage.  Rissa was assigned as door guard to keep the captured chickens in the cage.  Michael was being Michael, asking questions, after questions, and running around.  We were able to catch 20 birds and caged them in the kennel and the extra bird cage that I brought along.  I didn't realize how heavy 20 birds were in one portable kennel.  Until, we started carrying the cage back to the truck.  I need to go back tomorrow to pickup 9 more birds, probably after work.  

Munching on banana leaves. 

Back at the ranch, we started transporting all the chickens back into their pens.  I put all the hens in one large fly pen with a nest box.   While all the roosters were put into one large pen. The breeding roosters were put into two smaller pens.  Michael actually took the free range chicken's feed and put it into the hen's pen.  He was astonished that none of the hens flew out of the pen.  That they stayed in there eating the feed that he brought them.  We both went back to the barn shack to get more feed for the rest of the flock.  It was fun watching him give the additional feed to the hens.  Then he comes over to see the roosters getting fed too. 

After I pick up the stragglers tomorrow.  I'll observe the birds and readjust them into other pens to keep the pecking and feather pulling down to a minimum.  There they'll stay for the next 2 to 3 weeks before we let them free graze around the ranch.  This is to allow them to get accustomed to us as their new stewards.  

After all the chickens were fed and given water, we jumped back into the Mud Hopper and drove to meet Joe about some monitor lizards.  He put the 17" long lizard into my bird cage.  We thought that cage would be able to hold him.  But the lizard squeezed itself between the bars and ran as fast as it could in the bed of my truck yelling, "FFFRRRRREEEEEDDDDOOOOMMMM!!!!".  Then he jumped between the cab to the ground and through the breeze way of a generator room behind the building.  It was a hilarious sight.  The seller was upset because the lizard got away.  I was laughing about the whole scene.  

Since the lizard was put into my cage and the door locked, that constituted a delivery of an exotic livestock.  So I paid Joe to be fair.  I wasn't going to take the incident for granted.  The guy was surprised that I was still paying him for the escaped lizard.  I even sweetened the deal.  I committed to buying a younger and smaller monitor lizard from him.  That surprised him even more.  I'm still laughing about the whole incident, the look on Joe's face when the lizard escaped, the look on his face again when I paid him, and again when I committed to getting the other lizard. 

The highlights of today was observing Rissa teach Michael how to work in the ranch.  Especially how to drive the double wheeled wheelbarrow.   He's learning.  


ESTA

KEEP SMILING :)

Labor Day ranch work.

Day started early for me as usual.  Gave the goat herd some alfalfa hay this morning.  They really like that stuff, just like our karabao, Gera.  Got a 15 lb flake of hay for him, walked up to the North Side, gave him his hay, then commenced to untangling his lead from the tangantangan trees and banana trees.  One of my uncles commented that the karabao is to close to the banana trees and he's eating it.  I replied, better him eating all the banana trees then the saki's (thieves) that harvest its fruits.  

We've never tasted the fruits from those trees.  For as long as we've had this ranch, I don't remember ever tasting the fruits from those banana trees.  We'll watch it flower, then fruit, then watch the numerous hands develop into full size bananas.  But when it's time to harvest.  The bunch is gone.  Taken by the sakis. 

Gera, our karabao, is doing a great job eating each banana stalk, one by one, day by day.  He's done a great job clearing that area.  We're slowly working him towards the backside of the Igloo/Egg House.  I'm gonna turn that house into a barn.  Just have to fence up the boundary by the road.  After I get permission from the mayor since the house is abandoned.  Wonder if I can get it at auction.  All in God's hands. 

I moved the toron chibas (bucks) to the North Side just a ways from the karabao.  They'll clean up that area behind the wall.  I'm gonna make that a garden since my banana orchard is right there.  These are a different set of trees from the ones, I've set Gera to eat up.  We eat the fruits from these trees.  I have to start inspecting them more often now.  There are 3 bunches of bananas that have developed.  Sometime this week, I'll cut the hearts off from the bunches to help the fruits grow bigger. 

All the livestock are doing better the last couple of days.  The fly strike from the last couple of weeks really did a number to our herds.  The sheep rams fared better, but they were the first to get hit.  The flies were different than from before.  These species were more aggressive and their maggots were like screw worms.  Had to apply medication topically to help the stocks fight off the flies.  But today's morning checks assured me that the animals are doing a lot better than before.  Can't dwell on the losses.  Have to keep thinking positive and thank God for our blessings and challenges.  

We're still upgrading and investing for the future of the ranch.  A major investment this week, I agreed to buy out the chicken flock of another ranch North of here.  So this week, we'll be getting a flock of Rhode Island Red chickens.  They're a multi-purpose bird, both egg laying and meat production.  We've been planning for years to get into egg production for the family's consumption.  We'll definitely sell off surplus eggs.  We plan to do a limited free range flock.  We can't afford to leave the birds out at night by themselves.  They'll have to protected in a coop at night with trained guard dogs outside.  Then let out during the day to eat organics within the ranch area.  The hens will be used for egg production.  The roosters will be slaughtered for meat.  I'll keep 2 sets of breeding pair and ordering from Hawaii every other year to upgrade the flock. 

Larraine's Flock is growing,  There are a number of hens with chicks to the flock.  The birds were from 3 different flocks before.  Now they've combined into one large flock of 15 birds.  I'm going to have to cull them down to keep from competing with Rhode Island Reds coming in this week. 



HAPPY LABOR DAY!


KEEP SMILING