Sunday, March 16, 2014

Working the ranch with Michael.

Did some work on the ranch today.  I put the goat herd out and had them out on their leads along the side of the house.  They're slowly cleaning it up.  Our goat buck was there last week and did majority of the browsing work to clear up the place.  The buckling and doeling were placed along the trail.  

Readjusted the herd buck, Fluffy, and moved him South.  He'll be following the Karabao, two days later as I rotate them in the South Paddock.  The challenge is getting Gera the Karabao his daily water of 15 gallons with all the rocks in the way.  I'm definitely going to have to run waterlines in the South Paddock to make it a lot more convenient to work.  

During the morning chores, I harvested 6 eggs.  It looks like the hens are getting their rhythm  on and have settled down a lot.  That rainstorm last year really messed up their laying capacity.  Discovered that one of the hens was not laying in the nest box but outside by the perimeter guard dog.  I harvested those 8 eggs and added them to today's collection. 

After lunch, my nephew Michael came out from his cousin's house next door and asked if he can come into the ranch with me.  We got a nice fire going to help keep the mosquitoes away.  Then I started adjusting things here and moving thing there.  I showed Michael what type of wood to get for the fire to keep it burning.  He seemed to be enjoying himself with the fire and burning the tips of the sticks he finds.  He maybe another arsonist in the family, lighting fires or blowing things up.  I had him go back to the house to fetch some newspapers to help light up the fire.  When he got back, I had him stuff newspapers on the leeward side of fire pit, in between the firewood.  I did the same on the windward side.  While he wasn't looking.  I took out the lighter and lit the newspaper and returned the lighter to my pocket.  Michael looked up from his side of the fire stack and exclaimed how did I do that?  I told him that I just snapped my fingers and there was fire.  LOL...he tried doing it. 

I did some upgrades in the ranch while the fire was burning.  To protect the ground feeders from the weather, I retrieved two sheets of roofing tin to cover them, making a makeshift lean-to against a tree.  Then placing the feeders underneath the makeshift lean-to's.  That'll work for the mean time. 

Michael was concerned that the roosters were beating up the hens by pulling their head feathers and getting behind them.  I told him, the birds are having sex.  He asked why so rough.  That's how they like I replied back. 

The fire embers got Michael's attention again.  As he was busy playing around the fire.  I went and collected the firewood that I cut months ago and stacked them on one side of a small tree.  There are a lot of felled trees that I need to cut up into firewood lengths and stack them for future barbecues. 

While I was stacking up the firewood.  Michael went wondering about and discovered my live worm bin.  He thought he discovered it on the ranch.  He asked what was inside.  I told him to go look.  And exploring he went.  When he came back.  I asked what was inside.  He said, lots of feathers, wool, and looks like a goat's head.  Also, lots of flies.   He asked why is that on the ranch.  I explained that was where we put the dead animals from the ranch.  We recycle their carcasses into the bin.  He asked how does that happen.  So I had to explain to him that when the animals die for whatever reason.  I put their carcasses in there.  Later the flies will lay their eggs on the bodies and within a day the fly eggs will hatch into maggot larva and start feasting on the carcass.  Some of those maggots will find the drilled out holes at the bottom and sides of the bin and will crawl through it.  On the other side waiting are the poultry.  My Rhode Island Reds, Guinea Fowl, Jungle Fowl all devouring their maggot treats.  This gives my birds the protein they need to sustain them.  So we're doing our part to recycle the circle of life. 

Discovered the wild pig grove are visiting at night again.  They devoured some taro roots.  Will have to make time to go hunting to cull out the drove. 


ESTA


KEEP SMILING 





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