Thor 08/27/2009
 
Picture
Thor is our young Akbash Livestock Guardian Dog. After loosing our turkey hen and some chickens to coyotes we decided we had better 'hire' a livestock guardian. There are a few options available when it comes to guarding livestock, such as llamas, donkeys, and dogs.

Llamas were a definate no as they hate Neil (so he says). I would love a donkey but with close neighbors and the very close proximity of the sheep pen to our bedroom window that was out as well. So it came down to finding the right Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD). We spent time researching the different breeds that have been bred for hundreds, and some cases thousands, of years for this specialized job. 

It was a tough decision but from the information available online we choose the Akbash. Now even tougher was finding one!

By happenchance there was an old ad online for Akbash pups in the Kootenays. We called the number and although they had sold the pups long ago they did have an 8 month old male pup that the breeder had kept for himself. Thor was born in a chicken barn and raised with poultry and sheep, as well as children and other dogs. To our great luck and fortune he decided to let us purchase Thor...and he just happened to be coming over to Creston in a few days!

We have had Thor for a couple of months now and he is just perfect for us. He is very friendly to people, but raises all heck if a coyote comes near. Every day he gets better at his job, and we are amazed at his intelligence. Thor knows his job, needs minimal guidance from us, and has a pure gold heart. He spends his nights patrolling the field around our farmyard, and sleeps nearly all day. 
Picture
 
 

Our fryer rabbits are already 12 weeks old and ready to be processed. We are still new to this part of farming and find it emotionally challenging though it is something that must be dealt with in order to provide ethically raised healthy food for ourselves.
These two litters have grown very well, they are all just over 5lbs each with translates to about 2.5lbs dressed. Rabbit is a high protein, very low fat meat with a delicious mild flavor. It can be cooked as in most chicken recipes. I will post some recipes here as I discover them.

Picture
Our friend Tom is an apprenticed meatcutter. We are very fortunate to have his help on these days. If fact we have a few great friends who are willing to come out and help. The day goes by so much smoother with so many hands. Thank you.
Picture
Some of our chicks are now reaching fryer size as well, I think we may do the cockrels today along with a couple of old hens that are no longer laying. I just have to try to catch them!
 
Busy busy days 10/31/2008
 

We have a lengthy to-do list to try to complete before the snow shows up!
- convert horse trailer into a winter rabbit barn & chicken coop - DONE!
- Bring home the rest of our applewood and chop up
- Fence a winter sheep pen near the house
- complete fencing yard for pugs
- repair fence that Delphine and Sequel destroyed
- set up winter watering & deicers
- put plastic up on all our windows
- replace glass door in living room with the winter wood door -DONE!
- clean up yard before all is hidden under snow
- figure out winter horse accomodations - who lives with who
- can apple sauce and apple pie filling

 
 

Well I don't quite have the blogging thing down yet... just remembered that I needed to put a few minutes aside and write something! To bring things up to date:

August 28: I bought two more Rex rabbits from a family in Idaho. A nice looking senior broken black buck that should cross well with Gina if she will ever accept! Nope, no luck yet. 'Chester' is a pretty active and handsome fellow though, I am sure Gina will take to him one of these days. I hope.

The other bunny is Hershey - a chocolate otter junior doe. It will be a couple more months before she can be bred but I plan to breed her to Tater when she is ready. Hershey is very sweet - the kids who bred and raised her did a great job!

August 31: My mom Rose came to visit and stay with us for a few days. She didn't really get much time to relax - instead she taught me how to can fruit and jam! We spent hours canning tomatoes, nectarines and peaches, and making various jam concoctions such as strawberry, strawberry rhubarb, strawberry banana, and raspberry rhubarb. We also viewed a property for sale nearby with the hopes of convincing her to move to Creston and buy an acreage that we can live on as well :)

September 1: Last day to enter items into the Creston Fall Fair. I decided to enter Gina, Tater, and Hershey, as well as a jar of nectarines, peaches, rhubarb strawberry jam and peach jam. Why not? First time entering into the fair and first time with rabbits and canning! Gotta start sometime.

 



 

 
 

I am new to many things, and blogging is the most recent! Thank you for dropping in for a visit - I hope in some way I can offer you some tips, hints, advice, inspiration, knowlege, or just plain entertainment. All of which are good for the soul. In turn I welcome your own input and appreciate any contribution.