Puddin's Pasture Farm

07/03/2025

Hatched a batch of quail today. This time I ditched the old styrofoam incubator and bought this dome one (it's sitting in it's styrofoam form). It allows me to manage the humidity without having to open it. I had a MUCH higher hatch rate. I also did a "dry" hatch, meaning I didn't add any water until the last couple of days. This combo seems to be the ticket!

So, with the old method, I only had about a 50% hatch rate. Today, 83% of my eggs hatched, 20 out of 24 eggs. And of the four remaining, one was bad, one I dropped today so I doubt it will make it, and the other two... 🤷‍♀️ Who knows? I'm happy with what I have!

Also! Instead of the heat lamp, I'm using a brooder plate for the first time. I'm not terribly happy with it so far (poor design), but it's doing the job for now. I'll probably upgrade to a better brooder plate next year.

For now, I'm satisfied!

07/17/2024

All of our animals have a purpose. The purpose for most of them is to feed us. Sometimes they feed us directly and sometimes they feed us indirectly, like when we eat the chicken eggs or when we sell the animal. I've learned to not get attached. Usually when I realize one of them isn't doing to survive, I let them go. I don't put a lot of effort into something I know isn't going to make it.

And then there is this little one. It's front leg was injured when a raccoon tried to pull it out of the cage. We lost three others that night.

This litter is from one of our regular breeding dams and a Flemish giant buck my son gave to us. It's a new pairing and the kits are beautiful, especially this one.

So, against my better judgement, I am attempting to save it. If it survives, it will have three legs and a clever name and will go against our philosophy for animals serving a purpose on our farm.

It happens.

Hoping for the best. Expecting the worst.

06/02/2024

We got a new buck called Merle. (Thanks Carla and Frank!)

This dude is beefy and ripped. And he has a butt! Like, developed glutes! And no neck.

I've never seen that on a goat before, but Merle is 100% meat goat. We've only had dairy mixes.

05/25/2024

Also...

05/25/2024

Patiently waiting for me to come out of the house and give them she grain.

05/23/2024

01/14/2024

The boys were playing King of the Mountain yesterday and I caught the end of it on video. I didn't notice until later that the wether in the foreground was....acting a little bucky. 😝

12/11/2023

Yesterday was a tiring day on the farm. We trimmed hooves on our nine girls, then Molly had to go up in the sling and get a treat as well. The 10 kids will get their manicures next week. We had a beautiful pink sunset and then I caught Puddin' loving on her first born as they were settling in for the night. My hands hurt today from trimming and I'm sure Russell is tired and sore from hoisting 550 pounds of goat in the air so I could trim without hunching over. We need a winch.

09/16/2023

Tractor dog, Molly.

09/15/2023

09/04/2023

Final kid count: 10. Six boys and four girls.

08/31/2023

Here are Noor's kids, born yesterday afternoon. The Oreo one and the one with white on its head are boys. The little girl is so tiny and has moon spots! So cool!