I am getting back in the habit of taking a very early morning stroll about the immediate homestead. Max will be happy to note that I am also letting the girls our to graze!
He had warned me that the Light Brahmas are prone to fly up on him............that would unsettle me to the point of flight! However, they didn't bother me at all. He said it was because I was not carrying any feed with me (which I will now never do).
They immediately began pecking on the ground around my feet. I found out later that DH had scattered some bird seed to call them in last night.
Once that was cleaned up they spread out. Note there is still some standing water in the run.
I was near the small group of cows that we keep near for feeding grain and whatever.....I have lost track of the reasons.
Cattle this time of year look mangy. This is due to lice which will disappear as soon as the sun starts shining on a regular basis. They will also loose the longer hair and slick up and look much prettier.
This is most of the group at one of the new (expensive) bales of hay we had to buy.
We have a few with horns due to the introduction of the Jersey genetics. At some point we will have the heifers dehorned and sell or butcher the horned bulls. See the new baby. He was born to a poor old, crippled cow that will not get better but she still bred and calved. We will hopefully not get her exposed to a bull again and sell her. I am embarrassed for anyone to see her. The dark red and lighter one to her right are the retired milk cow and the temporarily retired milk cow, the Jersey.
I think that is her baby next to her with the horns.....she will get dehorned.
The Yard
First the clump of daffodils that were the first to bloom,
I saw another lonely little clump back by the gas tank, but most are in the bud stage.
I like how Mother Nature mulched lots of things with windblown leaves. I never ever rake leaves.
Some perennials are sneaking through the mulch but I fear for my new roses. They are dark black.
The above is daylilies in Kerria Bed
Sedum near smokehouse
Variegated sedum in Kerria Bed
This is a new salvia I planted late last fall.
He had warned me that the Light Brahmas are prone to fly up on him............that would unsettle me to the point of flight! However, they didn't bother me at all. He said it was because I was not carrying any feed with me (which I will now never do).
They immediately began pecking on the ground around my feet. I found out later that DH had scattered some bird seed to call them in last night.
I was near the small group of cows that we keep near for feeding grain and whatever.....I have lost track of the reasons.
Cattle this time of year look mangy. This is due to lice which will disappear as soon as the sun starts shining on a regular basis. They will also loose the longer hair and slick up and look much prettier.
This is most of the group at one of the new (expensive) bales of hay we had to buy.
 |
| Add caption |
I think that is her baby next to her with the horns.....she will get dehorned.
The Yard
First the clump of daffodils that were the first to bloom,
I saw another lonely little clump back by the gas tank, but most are in the bud stage.
I like how Mother Nature mulched lots of things with windblown leaves. I never ever rake leaves.
Some perennials are sneaking through the mulch but I fear for my new roses. They are dark black.
Whenever I see standing water or wet ground in the chicken's area, I always think, "Oh drat. Dirty eggs!" Wish the hens would wipe their feet before getting into the nest boxes. :o\
ReplyDeleteHow lovely (and encouraging) to see all the little green shoots in your various flower beds. Glad you don't rake your leaves. Such good mulch and nutrients when they decay and go back into the soil.
Thanks for another nice newsy post from your farm.
ReplyDeleteNice to see spring starting to happen in your area.
Have a great Friday and weekend ~ FlowerLady
I don't clean my flower beds much in the fall and don't rake. I figure, what's the big deal? The leaves make really good topsoil.
ReplyDeleteOur hens have mud covered feet here. It was a swamp all day yesterday, then turned to snow.
ReplyDeleteI envy you your leaf mulch. We lived for many years in a home with plenty of trees & leaf mulch & wonderful soil. This home has pines. I know some people love pine straw but it certainly doesn't add nutrients like decomposing leaves do.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this update from your farm. I've been to the Ozarks twice (both times to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum) and I think that part of the country is so beautiful!
ReplyDelete