Keep on Growing

The Plonkers are growing so fast- They are gorgeous healthy animals so far, touch wood, etc.

In fact they might be growing too fast but already there are less eggs being collected because of the season and Lady Astor is dropping her production on schedule so that will influence their diets considerably.

I hope to have them all in the freezers of family and friends by Christmas.

The two Bobby’s are growing very slowly. They had such a rough start. And of course because of all the illness, infections and antibiotics they are not destined for my freezer. They will be sold on before I go to Melbourne. Which works well for me and the other wee farm who wants to raise them.   I will get some weight on them first and make sure I am selling healthy  animals. They are still drinking milk once a day to help build back their immune systems. 

Tima’s next due date  (from the second breeding) is at the end of this month. But I am not holding my breath. I think she is just a  fat pig and we know how hard it is for a fat pig to breed PLUS Tane has a bung hip. Ah well.

By the end of next week we should know if our gentle Aunty Del is pregnant.  She was very quiet yesterday (Day 18 of her cycle)  so let’s hope that is a good sign.  I will watch her carefully today… she seldom runs the full 21 days.

I have some bad news.  The Tom (the big male turkey who had trouble with his balance from his hatching day) was found drowned in the stock tank – the day before yesterday – it was a very cold night – I went to break the ice on the water for the cows in the morning and there he was. It is sad. However in the wild he would never have gotton past his first day. When he hatched he could not stand up and kept falling over onto his back unable to right himself. Poor fella. Natural selection I suppose.  But worse – he was my only male.  So my breeding plan is up in the air. I will have to think on it.  

As far as the safety of the flock goes they are better off. They can get around a lot faster now without being stalled by the Tom flopping down into the grass to rest every few minutes.  (They stay together as a flock always.) So they are actually safer from predators. And last night they roosted right up high in the rafters of the barn. Whereas up until now they stayed down low with the Tom who could not fly very well.

So I guess it all makes sense in a sad way.

I hope you have a good day. The weather is warm again and Hugo and I have quite a bit to do on the farm before his family arrives then he takes a week off.

Love celi