Late March on the Farm

Windy with her two brothers checking out all the new things

The new goat kids turned two weeks old yesterday afternoon and they are thriving well.  We have moved them into the general goat population a few days ago.  When we first introduced them to the other goats it was with my oversight.  Goats have a ranking system and the lower ones are quick to let the newly arrived know who is boss, and sometimes this can be rough.  The mother often will get between her kids and the older goats to run interference, if that doesn't work, I'm there.  By the third day I'm not needed as the little ones know how to behave.  Surely, who is the leader, doesn't even give notice to the little ones until it is time to teach one of them something.  Goats love to rise on their hind feet and come down head-to-head (butting heads they say) - it's a game for them - and I watched Surely teach Alder Rose last year this game.  Surely would rise on her back feet while Alder Rose just stood still looking at her, then Surely would drop down just short and tap her head against Alder Rose.  She did this over and over until Alder Rose caught on.  We have a special small door to the birthing room that is large enough for the kids to get through but too small for the adult goats - this give the kids a place to go away from the adults.

Pooh Bear living with the boys

We moved Pooh Bear into the pasture with the bucks.  He is just too rough on the new kids.  Last year he chewed on one of the kid's ear, and scratched one bad trying to pull the kid out of a hole.  I just don't have the time to spend training him kid care.

The new bee hive, assembled and painted, ready to move into the orchard

I finally got the new bee hive assembled and painted.  We have two new packages of bees (four pounds each) arriving this next weekend just in time for the nectar flow from our late blooming plum trees; the salmon berries are just starting to bloom - everything is about four weeks late this year, the pears are almost ready and apples are probably two to three weeks away.  With two hives we should have honey next fall for our use and great pollinators. 

Nettle is due to kid May 1st

This afternoon I'll take Windy, our little doeling to Oak Harbor to have her disbudded.

Alure with her two boys