Showing posts with label cuckoo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cuckoo. Show all posts

Friday, December 19, 2008

Gettin' out with the Goats

Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats. We have three does and two bucks.

MilkDud

SweetPea. I kiss those lips every chance I get.

SweetPea rear view

Mike and SweetPea

Mike and MilkDud, working with Dud trying to tame him down.

A lady with cattle, gave this cotton to Mike, says her cattle likes eating cotton, our goats turned their noses up to it though.

Early, Cuckoo Marans Rooster likes to have his picture taken.

Nougat and Clara went on a date. Dud didn't like being left out.

Nougat, SweetPea, June, and Clara

The batchelor pad -Nougat in the house and Dud outside.

Nougat and MilkDud

Nougat, Clara and Franklin

Nougat and Clara

Nougat and Clara

Nougat and Clara

Clara and Nougat. Nougat visited Clara's condo.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Two Bucks for us

Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats from Kids Corral in Marion, NC

Kids Corral LB Russell Stover "Nougat" Born: May 9, 2007
and
the son of Russell Stover Kids Corral Milk Dud "Dud" Born April 5, 2008

Dud and Nougat


The bucks couldn't have any privacy from the neighbors who were nosing around.
Franklin! get out of there.


Dud faces off with a Cuckoo Marans hen.


June peeks in the pen of the new boys.


Clara comes over to get a good look.


Dud and Nougat think it's funny that the girls are spying on them.


My gosh Clara, all but throwing yourself at Nougat.
Mike says Clara looks to have a new spring in her step now.


Nougat

One of the Bourbon Red turkey poults scouting the new neighbor.


Mojita, our tame Cuckoo Marans hen, in the goat pen evaluating the new neighbors.

Now, we have 5 Nigerian Dairy Goats
Clara, June, SweetPea which are Grandmother, Daughter, Granddaughter
Nougat, MilkDud which are Father and Son
I suppose we may have some kids in May or June

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Marans Chickens and Eggs

This breed, which originated in western France in the town of Marans, is best known for its dark chocolate-colored eggs. It is a fast grower and does well in damp areas, having been developed in a marshy portion of France. The original French birds have feathered legs, but this characteristic has been bred out of the British and many American lines. Mike and I raise the French feather-legged Marans.

When our local Farmers Market is open we sell eating eggs. (We also sell hatching eggs to folks but those eggs cost more). We like for a carton of our eggs to have color contrast with mostly the Marans, Cuckoo and Wheaten, eggs but also some Ameraucana and Faverolle eggs and we presently need a few hens that will lay white eggs. We always stick a Bourbon Red Turkey egg in each carton too. We get $3.50 per dozen and sell out in a matter of a few minutes. We don't make money at our hobby but selling eggs helps pay for some feed and we really enjoy being a part of the Farmers Market environement

For those you interested in Marans eggs, here's some info.
Click here and go to Bev Davis site, she the Marans guru.
According to Bev - To even qualify as a Marans specimen, a layer must be able to produce a #4 or darker egg reliably for a period of her laying season. If the flock cannot produce #4 eggs at some time, they simply are not Marans, regardless of the breeding. This is how the French begin by defining the breed.

Wheaten Marans

Wheaten Hen

My girls aren't producing many eggs now, I keep giving them pep talks but...

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Backyard Photo's from Sept'08 - 11/20/08


The Cuckoo chicken girls raised 3 Bourbon Red turkey babies, the other 2 are under them.

These are photo's taken by me in our backyard Sept '08, weather was much nicer back then, has been bitterly cold and some snow for last few days.

Franklin, our Bourbon Red tom, a pet.

Hazel checking out the fall flowers.