Waterberg Quails

11/06/2026

Geese have taken up smoking

11/06/2026

10/06/2026

he was pecking at his leg (looks like maybe caught on fence, the other leg showed some friction too) - but ultimately unsure. Got I'm in the coop, covered him with a blanket after him going nuts before I got it over him. Treated him with wound spray and vet self sticky bandage to stop him pecking the wound. now we hope this gives him enough time to stop fussing over the wound before he takes it off.

10/06/2026

Chris did an amazing job somehow managing to run the game this weekend. He'd taken it easy for the last few days while I handled most of the cleaning, sorting, and prep so he could do the bare minimum.

He's covered in blisters and, for some unknown reason, seems to need small, consistent meals every hour or two. Strangely enough, that seems to be helping, and he's been feeling much stronger with that approach.

We took a break at one point and sat quietly waiting for the bushbabies to make an appearance, but sadly they never showed up today. I suppose even bushbabies have their own plans sometimes

09/06/2026

The pigs looked so cute and snug this morning, all piled together and enjoying the cooler weather.

I also heard a huge warning call coming from the coop area. When I went to investigate, one of the bushbabies was staring at me quite unhappily. A moment later I spotted the reason... a rat had moved into its leafy nest in the granadilla. The rat has since been dealt with, so hopefully peace and harmony have been restored.

We offered to cancel this weekend's D&D because Chris is still not feeling well enough to run a game, but everyone still wanted to come out for the weekend as a bit of a getaway. We had some regulars visiting, along with a few fellow animal enthusiasts, and I couldn't believe what they brought with them.

They gifted us a much-needed snake handling kit. What an incredibly thoughtful surprise. It is exactly the sort of thing we've needed on the farm, and I honestly don't have the words to express how grateful we are. It will be put to very good use, and it's one of those gifts that shows someone has really listened and understood our daily challenges.

Sometimes it's the unexpected acts of kindness that mean the most. Thank you.

09/06/2026

What a day it's been.

Chris's bite is getting worse and he's feeling absolutely horrid, which is quite worrying. We even had the hospital bag packed and ready to go last night, but he decided against it. We headed back to the doctor today and have been given new antibiotics. The doctor suspects a complication from a tick bite fever, specifically Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and has started him on doxycycline. We're really hoping this does the trick and that he starts feeling better soon.

On a happier note, the lard is all finished and looking amazing! There's something very satisfying about seeing jars lined up and ready after a productive day in the kitchen.

The weather was beautiful for most of the day, but then a huge storm suddenly swept through and everyone scrambled for cover. Even Lula made a beeline for our stoep with her babies in tow and settled in to wait it out.

Later, I headed into town to drop off our worker and pick up a little comfort-food dinner for Chris. On the way home, I was treated to a wonderful sight: a family of bat-eared foxes standing in the road. Moments like that have a way of making even the longest days a little brighter.

09/06/2026

Treated the cows for ticks again today. It's one of those jobs that never really ends, but it's all part of keeping everyone healthy and happy.

Our worker is doing an amazing job on the fence lines and I'm incredibly happy with the progress being made. It's always satisfying seeing things slowly come together and knowing the hard work is paying off.

The pickles are all done and now resting in the fridge, waiting for their next happy customer. Next on the list is rendering a fresh batch of lard.

Sadly, Chris is feeling much worse and that's becoming quite worrying. We're hoping the antibiotics start doing their job soon and that he turns a corner. Fingers crossed.

08/06/2026

Buttons is absolutely thrilled with all her new toys! She's been spending ages running up and down with excitement. To be honest, she's never really been much of a toy bird. She tends to use them more like toothpicks after eating, but I always like having a few around just in case the mood strikes. More than anything, she enjoys company. Not necessarily active attention, just being able to watch people going about their day seems to make her happy.

Sadly, the flock isn't laying much at the moment and things are very slow in the egg department. I've warned everyone that supplies will be limited for a while. There's not much to be done until the moult is over and the girls decide it's time to get back to work.

The piglets have grown so much! I can't believe how quickly they're changing. Unfortunately, our new Star Finch didn't make it, which was absolutely gutting. There was no obvious reason either, as it seemed healthy when we got it.

Chris is still taking quite a strain from the bite infection, so we're hoping he turns a corner soon. We shaved the area to keep antibiotic plasters and on to aid healing and prevent infection. Still managed to get deliveries done and make a fresh batch of pickles.

08/06/2026

Well, what a day!!!

It started with packing up and saying goodbye to this lovely place. Chris is still feeling the effects of the infection and was taking a bit of strain, so he took things a little easier while we packed up camp.

On our way out, we couldn't believe our eyes. We stopped at a scenic bridge and spotted Cape clawless otters, my first ever wild sighting! It was amazing watching them bob in and out of the water as they searched for food. Definitely one of those special wildlife moments that sticks with you.

We made a few stops in Pretoria on the way home and picked up some birds to join my singletons. The pet shop was a little understocked, so from my rather ambitious wish list I only came home with some Star Finches and canaries.

Back on the farm, reality was waiting for us. The pigs had broken the plumbing, which had been pouring water for quite some time. This created a very appealing trench under the gate, and unfortunately one of the pigs got hold of a duck and ate it. Such an upsetting thing to come home to.

On a brighter note, it looks like all the foam I packed into the wall has done the trick. There have been no sightings or signs of the baby black mamba since, so hopefully that little problem has moved on. Fingers crossed!

08/06/2026

It was a lovely day out driving around and looking for animals. We didn't see a huge amount, but that's all part of the adventure.

The highlight of the day was watching a pair of giraffes fighting. It's always such a strange and comical sight, almost like something out of a cartoon. Seeing these enormous animals swinging their necks at each other never quite feels real, no matter how many times you witness it.