Thursday, April 18, 2019
Twelve baby Silver Fox rabbits!
Sanka had four kits this morning, and Cinder had eight this afternoon. This weekend I will baby-proof Cinder's cage, so that when the kits are large enough to leave the nest box on their own, they don't escape like half the last litter. And the recaptured yard bunny will be moved out of the duck coop and into her own cage tomorrow or Saturday as well. I am debating line breeding her to Momiji, or seeing how quickly I can acquire a good quality blue buck to breed her to, since I would like to add blue to my lines. In either case, I will breed her in 6 weeks (the end of May) when Sanka and Cinder are re-bred, so that I have foster moms available in case she has first-time mom issues. If the weather is decent tomorrow, I'll get pics of the babies and post them here.
New house, new phone, new computer, new baby bunnies, new chicks...
It's been awhile. A long, long while. I have a new laptop computer, since the desktop kicked the bucket. Also a new phone, because the Pirate needed one (so I can stalk her when she drives my truck), so she got my old one. I have a new house, too. We knocked down Cookstove House last fall (after removing the cookstove, yes). We put up a smaller modular home behind where the old house stood. This happened because after adding up all the estimates for necessary repairs to the120 year old farmhouse, I had a number that equalled a new house. And since there was absolutely nothing of any architectural value about the old house, and even if we put all the money into the repairs we would not have a house worth that much money... it would still probably not last more than 20 more years. So now we have a 3 bedroom, 1500 sq ft home, with a REAL basement (not that ludicrous "Michigan basement" and crawl spaces that were under the old house). I've painted the bedrooms, but won't get to the living room, dining room, kitchen or baths until the weather gets cold again... there is just too much to do outdoors, and I hate being inside when the sun is shining.
Today, our two original Silver Fox Rabbit does should kindle again. Actually, one of them did already this morning - I think there are only 4, but because of the extra wrap on the cage due to last night's thunderstorm, it was a bit awkward to see for sure. I finally recaptured the escapee bun from the last fall litter - it had been living under the chicken coops and the rabbit shed most of the winter. It is one very large doe, since it has been free feeding on the chicken pellets. I'll be moving it from the duck coop (currently unoccupied, since the duck prefers to hang out with the chickens) into new quarters this afternoon or tomorrow. I hope it isn't too fat to breed...
There are 15 ten day old baby chicks in the pole barn from the first bunch out of the incubator this year. There is another bunch in the incubator that won't hatch for a couple more weeks. I need to process about 15 of the grown birds in the coop this month, so there will be room for the new ones. There are currently two guineas, one duck, and 27 chickens in the coop. They are overcrowded because they refuse to use the second coop since the opossum got into it and killed a hen. I killed the opossum for his crime. Anyway, that's why it can currently house the rabbit. I think I will put the chicks into it as soon as they can handle the temps.
One beehive made it through the winter, plus the feral hive in the barn wall... which is NOT going to be removed, because it throws swarms for me every year and that is just too convenient (and far less expensive) than messing with them would be. I have to get my swarm traps out tomorrow, which will entail a trip to Dadant's for fresh pheromone. A nice drive... I 'll get in another episode of the History of the English Language podcast I enjoy so much.
Now I'm off to Physical Therapy for this biceps tendinitis mess that is interfering with the use of my right shoulder, and causing me to take time off my beloved kettlebell classes. After 6+ months, it is finally improving (yes, I should have seen the doc sooner), and no, I didn't mess it up this weekend while doing the kettlebell competition. I only did the 5 minute events, with the lightest weight allowable, so it was good. And the Pirate did fantastic - this was her first event - and she was not even breathing hard enough to stop her from smart mouthing her daddy in the middle of her event. The Princess is planning on competing for a slot on the National Team in June, in order to go to World's in the fall. She had to miss last Saturday's event (sad face) in order to take the ACT, which completely bummed her out. I hope we will all be able to complete in June...
Today, our two original Silver Fox Rabbit does should kindle again. Actually, one of them did already this morning - I think there are only 4, but because of the extra wrap on the cage due to last night's thunderstorm, it was a bit awkward to see for sure. I finally recaptured the escapee bun from the last fall litter - it had been living under the chicken coops and the rabbit shed most of the winter. It is one very large doe, since it has been free feeding on the chicken pellets. I'll be moving it from the duck coop (currently unoccupied, since the duck prefers to hang out with the chickens) into new quarters this afternoon or tomorrow. I hope it isn't too fat to breed...
There are 15 ten day old baby chicks in the pole barn from the first bunch out of the incubator this year. There is another bunch in the incubator that won't hatch for a couple more weeks. I need to process about 15 of the grown birds in the coop this month, so there will be room for the new ones. There are currently two guineas, one duck, and 27 chickens in the coop. They are overcrowded because they refuse to use the second coop since the opossum got into it and killed a hen. I killed the opossum for his crime. Anyway, that's why it can currently house the rabbit. I think I will put the chicks into it as soon as they can handle the temps.
One beehive made it through the winter, plus the feral hive in the barn wall... which is NOT going to be removed, because it throws swarms for me every year and that is just too convenient (and far less expensive) than messing with them would be. I have to get my swarm traps out tomorrow, which will entail a trip to Dadant's for fresh pheromone. A nice drive... I 'll get in another episode of the History of the English Language podcast I enjoy so much.
Now I'm off to Physical Therapy for this biceps tendinitis mess that is interfering with the use of my right shoulder, and causing me to take time off my beloved kettlebell classes. After 6+ months, it is finally improving (yes, I should have seen the doc sooner), and no, I didn't mess it up this weekend while doing the kettlebell competition. I only did the 5 minute events, with the lightest weight allowable, so it was good. And the Pirate did fantastic - this was her first event - and she was not even breathing hard enough to stop her from smart mouthing her daddy in the middle of her event. The Princess is planning on competing for a slot on the National Team in June, in order to go to World's in the fall. She had to miss last Saturday's event (sad face) in order to take the ACT, which completely bummed her out. I hope we will all be able to complete in June...
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