Merry Christmas 2016 from the Windsor Zoo
We have had an exceptionally busy year. It has been so busy that I retired from Sleggs in February for the birthing of the calves and lambs and didn’t go back.
We inherited 6 sheep from the neighbors so that brought our total of ewes up to 15 (3 were not bred because they were yearlings) and so ended up with 25 lambs after the bottle babies finished coming through the door. This year we had a gem theme for names Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, etc.
The calves had a greek god theme and we started with Mabel in February with Zeus, the Louise with Artemis, Thelma with Ares and Bee finally in September with Posiedon. Daisy preemied 2 months early and we picked up 3 bottle calves from Moonstruck Cheese; twin Heracles and Iphicles and then Hercules. We also inherited Daisy May 2 or little Daisy a purebred Dexter.
We grew 2 batches of meat birds but the demand seems to have dropped off as there is still a freezer full, 2 batches of turkeys, Thanksgiving and Xmas, and one hatch through the incubator of laying hens. Next year we will try laying ducks, Pekin ducks and we are replacing the laying flock with Barred Rocks.
The pigs have been a bit of a learning curve. We had Fiera and Molly to be bred by Bismarck last December. Unfortunately Bizzy preferred logs to the girls and was no longer fertile. He was then replaced with Hairy George a pure bred Tamworth boar and we were finally pregnant. Unfortunately only Molly caught and she delivered 9 red with stripes and spots babies while we were at medical appointments in Victoria.
Our first attempt at dairy goats is off to a slow start. The five girls are due any day but seem to be taking their time. 4 are Nubian x Boer and Darling is a Saanen X Oberhasli. We also acquired 2 ferocious barn cats. Wing and Nut are presently 4 lbs each and attack pant legs, bottle caps and stuffed mice. Hopefully they get along with Minnie when they are big enough to leave the shop.
Which brings us to Darryl’s news, his shop is finally built. The inside is slowly getting sheeted and painted but it is an actual usable space (and kitten house.) Darryl is still a 3rd engineer on BC Ferries and has started “sea training” – familiarizing/teaching other engineers on the boat.
Britty turned 20 this spring and had a busy year on the farm. Poor girl had all her wisdom teeth out for Halloween under full anesthesia.
Kayla turned 22 as did Matt, and Munchie (Melissa) turned 2. Kayla also had her wisdom teeth out this spring but just as day surgery in the chair. She was more fun to pick on as she was still drooling (and stoned) when we left the office, teehee. Munchie is growing and learning and loves to help out on the farm especially feeding Wing and NUT.
Micheal turned 27 and is still living in Nanaimo although he’s working for Davey tree now instead of MJB. He completed his arborist course in Vancouver this spring.
We were interviewed by the local paper for the farm this spring. Roger Brunt did an exceptional job describing the farm and Jen McClennan took many excellent photos. The article can be found in the May edition of Aqua magazine starting on page 36. http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk//launch.aspx?eid=06ebc071-c7dd-40e6-b8bc-781179c4dd07
We had our best year to date at the Tuesday Farmers Market, with not leaving the property to go to work I had time to make lots of jams, jellies and pickles so the root cellar is bursting. I also learned about fermenting, so as well as the usual yellow or purple sauerkraut we have red pepper salsa sauerkraut, kimchee, fermented zucchini pickles, etc, etc.
Next years projects include building the farm stand/store and an aviary in the front yard, finish Darryl’s shop and finalize the irrigation in the garden. Hopefully I can get my newspaper announcement book finished too. Slowly but surely everything is getting done. All the best, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Darryl, Sheila, Britty and all the critters from the Windsor Zoo
We have had an exceptionally busy year. It has been so busy that I retired from Sleggs in February for the birthing of the calves and lambs and didn’t go back.
We inherited 6 sheep from the neighbors so that brought our total of ewes up to 15 (3 were not bred because they were yearlings) and so ended up with 25 lambs after the bottle babies finished coming through the door. This year we had a gem theme for names Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, etc.
The calves had a greek god theme and we started with Mabel in February with Zeus, the Louise with Artemis, Thelma with Ares and Bee finally in September with Posiedon. Daisy preemied 2 months early and we picked up 3 bottle calves from Moonstruck Cheese; twin Heracles and Iphicles and then Hercules. We also inherited Daisy May 2 or little Daisy a purebred Dexter.
We grew 2 batches of meat birds but the demand seems to have dropped off as there is still a freezer full, 2 batches of turkeys, Thanksgiving and Xmas, and one hatch through the incubator of laying hens. Next year we will try laying ducks, Pekin ducks and we are replacing the laying flock with Barred Rocks.
The pigs have been a bit of a learning curve. We had Fiera and Molly to be bred by Bismarck last December. Unfortunately Bizzy preferred logs to the girls and was no longer fertile. He was then replaced with Hairy George a pure bred Tamworth boar and we were finally pregnant. Unfortunately only Molly caught and she delivered 9 red with stripes and spots babies while we were at medical appointments in Victoria.
Our first attempt at dairy goats is off to a slow start. The five girls are due any day but seem to be taking their time. 4 are Nubian x Boer and Darling is a Saanen X Oberhasli. We also acquired 2 ferocious barn cats. Wing and Nut are presently 4 lbs each and attack pant legs, bottle caps and stuffed mice. Hopefully they get along with Minnie when they are big enough to leave the shop.
Which brings us to Darryl’s news, his shop is finally built. The inside is slowly getting sheeted and painted but it is an actual usable space (and kitten house.) Darryl is still a 3rd engineer on BC Ferries and has started “sea training” – familiarizing/teaching other engineers on the boat.
Britty turned 20 this spring and had a busy year on the farm. Poor girl had all her wisdom teeth out for Halloween under full anesthesia.
Kayla turned 22 as did Matt, and Munchie (Melissa) turned 2. Kayla also had her wisdom teeth out this spring but just as day surgery in the chair. She was more fun to pick on as she was still drooling (and stoned) when we left the office, teehee. Munchie is growing and learning and loves to help out on the farm especially feeding Wing and NUT.
Micheal turned 27 and is still living in Nanaimo although he’s working for Davey tree now instead of MJB. He completed his arborist course in Vancouver this spring.
We were interviewed by the local paper for the farm this spring. Roger Brunt did an exceptional job describing the farm and Jen McClennan took many excellent photos. The article can be found in the May edition of Aqua magazine starting on page 36. http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk//launch.aspx?eid=06ebc071-c7dd-40e6-b8bc-781179c4dd07
We had our best year to date at the Tuesday Farmers Market, with not leaving the property to go to work I had time to make lots of jams, jellies and pickles so the root cellar is bursting. I also learned about fermenting, so as well as the usual yellow or purple sauerkraut we have red pepper salsa sauerkraut, kimchee, fermented zucchini pickles, etc, etc.
Next years projects include building the farm stand/store and an aviary in the front yard, finish Darryl’s shop and finalize the irrigation in the garden. Hopefully I can get my newspaper announcement book finished too. Slowly but surely everything is getting done. All the best, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Darryl, Sheila, Britty and all the critters from the Windsor Zoo