Tiny - Our Muscovy Duckling

Tiny got a rough start as it had problems breaking out of the shell due to it's momma not setting the eggs properly and being more concerned with stealing another ducks ducklings.  I have started doing some blogging through YouTube.  I have found it easier for me and faster than writing.  Maybe, just maybe I'll post more this way.

(And you guys thought we dropped off the face of the earth.)

Oh, on another note, we are now Happy Hilltop Homestead.  I found someone else had Happy Homestead so I figured since we were happy here to add Happy to the homestead.


Care of Muscovy Ducklings When Things Don't Go Right 

We had a momma duck that was to busy trying to take another ducks babies that she neglected her nest the last days before hatching.

It is important for the hatching process that the eggs be hydrated enough.  This is done by the mother bathing daily.  When she returns to the nest the moisture transfers to the eggs to keep them properly moist.

We had 5 eggs that didn't hatch on their own due to the inner membrane not being properly moist.  When the inner membrane is to dry the duckling is not able to spin in the egg to create a "zip" to hatch from.

When we have eggs like this we assist them in hatching.  We know that some don't and that is their choice as it is ours to assist.  Most of the time we have good record of success.

Still sometimes you loose some too.  Out of the 5 that we rescued we have one remaining alive.  I believe this is largely because we were out of town during the hatching and were not here to help sooner.  Of course they were the first things on our mind when we returned.  (Except for that Mother's Day call I needed to make to my Mom.)

We do what we can and leave the rest to what ever Greater Force you believe in.


Snatam Kaur Khalsa is one of the most soothing singers I have heard.  If you have seen some of my other videos then you know I always play it for our babies.  This is especially important for this little one who it by itself in the box and not able to join it's siblings until it gets better.

Rehabilitating Muscovy Duckling Introduced to Water 

This is the first time the Muscovy Duckling we are nursing to health was introduced to actually getting in water.  We were also hoping that it would help it develop a bit of coordination as they are much better in water than on land.

Rehabilitated Muscovy Duckling Returned to It's Siblings and Momma

Our three day old duckling that had difficulties hatching and afterwards has now been returned to it's Mom and siblings outside.  It had a rough start but seems to be doing well now.

Tiny the Muscovy Duckling (Our Little Escape Artist)

2013 - We Are Here

Happy New Year / Feliz Ano Nuevo everyone.

We have entered a new age.  One that I do feel optimistic of.  It is that optimism I work for and towards.

Our first year (2009) on the homestead we were newly unemployed.  Working our 20x20 experimental garden while searching for employment and trying to get our bearings.

Our second year reality set in that finding a job was more challenging than ever before.  We decided to be proactive and expanded our garden to 60x55.  We were so prosperous that we canned, dehydrated, froze and still had enough to donate to a local food bank.  We soon learned people were willing to stand in a line for hours with their hands out but couldn't take the time to plant a seed to provide for themselves.

Our third year, 2011 was a rough year.  We had chickens, guinea fowl, and Muscovy ducks.  Our garden was prosperous early in the year but later failed with the heat wave and drought of that year.  We had wildfires to the west, south, and east of us.  The closest was 2 miles.  It was a scary time.  We all survived thanks to our wonderful VFD.  I learned that the county in which I live employees maybe 2 people.  The rest are volunteers. 

2012 is our 4th year here. The beginning of this year we started milking our Nygerian Dwarf and Pygmy goats.  Our neighbor sent down their Lamancha/Boar cross for us to milk for them.  We milked on of our Nygerians daily.  She provided about 1/2 gallon where as the Lamancha cross gave us 3/4 of a  gallon.

This year we had drought conditions again however we were sparred the heat of last year.  Still nothing grew.  Instead we focused on hatching fowl.  We increased our homestead by adding more chickens, guineas, and muscovy ducks.  We also added Pekin ducks, Rabbits, and Coturnix Quail.  We now know we like rabbit and quail as we have already harvested some.

I learned spring through fall was to busy of a time for building.  The only was to stay a step ahead or to break even is to do all building projects in the winter.  It is windy and cold here on the hill.  I wish I could think of a warmer way.

We also have decided that hatching fowl is best spring through summer.  Fall through winter was a good time for breeding rabbits.  The fowl need the warmth and the rabbits need the cool.

So we have had good years for vegetable growth and good years for meat production.  We are hopeful this year we can bring them all together and create a balance.

I hope this year find you doing well.  Our wish this New Years to you is that the year ahead is filled with much happiness, blessings, and laughter. Reach out to those less fortunate for they will in turn reach back and give you something money can't buy. I am excited about the year to come and all that it will bring.  I also look forward in sharing that year with you all.

Staying Maybe 1/2 Step Ahead, If That

Our First Sunflower

Things have been busy around here.  I seem to be staying maybe a half step in front of the critters if that much.  Building and maintaining seems to be all I can do lately.  Let's just say we are on hold with any new additions that are not already in progress.  I need some catch up time.


We did have a week and a half with our wonderful granddaughters.  They are great help around here for anything we might need.  Not to mention some of the best company.  It sure is quiet around here now that they have gone back home.  I hope they come again soon.


All the babies are doing good.  We didn't really have a good hatch rate or survival rate on the coturnix but that could be human error.  We do the best we can.  So far we are not happy with the A&M Coturnix.  They just seem to have the most problems.  Probably from all that inbreeding to get what they wanted.  The Pharaoh are our favorites so far followed by the Golden.  When you open the cage to feed or water it is like tribbles falling out of the ships compartment.  They are funny little creatures.

We have our momma hen raising the surviving guinea keets and we added 5 Muscovy ducklings.  She sure is a good momma.  She gets special treatment and is housed in the chicken tractor in the back yard.

We have some Peking duck eggs in the incubator that we are hatching for a friend.  We get half of the hatch.  We are also hatching out chickens for one of our neighbors and we are hatching out more guineas to sell.  I think that will about do it for me this year.  Although there were some geese at the sale barn last night I wanted really really bad.  They fell under the category of "we don't need them".

Here is our daughter and granddaughters with a baby bunny and a Muscovy duckling.

Pictures of Our Coturnix Quail Chicks

We still have a few stragglers hatching out.  The are so tiny and cute.

About 53 of the 129 have hatched.
Counting them while they move around
is not very accurate.

Newly hatched Golden Coturnix Quail

Golden Coturnix Quail Chicks

Pharaoh Coturnix Quail Chick

A&M Coturnix Quail Chick

Coturnix Quail

The first Coturnix Quail to hatch

Our eggs started hatching late last night.  The first one to hatch was a Pharaoh quail.  As I have said in previous blog we are hatching Pharaoh, Golden, and A&M quail.  So far we have 26 that have hatched as of noon out of the 129 eggs incubated and they are still hatching.

The first two.
The one on the left has been out a short while
the one on the right is brand new.

In our brief experience we have found the babies do better if you do not leave them in the incubator for an extended period of time.  When we were hatching our chickens the ones that spent a few hours in the incubator after hatching seemed to be weaker and sickly.  As a result we decided to remove them and place them in the brooder shortly after hatching.  We also had a problem with a chick rolling eggs in the incubator causing one to drown in the egg in mid hatch.  Sad since it was already on it's way.

I created this little 5x7 wire mess box where we can place the newly hatched until they dry off and get some sort of bearings and for any that may seem a bit week and just need time to rest and recoup without getting trampled or pecked.  It has worked really well for us.

Expecting - Coturnix, Rabbits, Guineas, Ducks

We have had two neighbors and one friend lend us incubators and we are rocking.  We have 22 chicks that we incubated and hatched on the 10th of this month that I blogged about earlier.  Well we also have Muscovy duck eggs and 129 Coturnix quail eggs due to hatch along with now some Peking duck eggs we added to the incubator last night.  This is new and exciting territory for us.

Coturnix - Pharaoh, Golden, A&M

The Coturnix quail are a mix of Pharaoh, Golden, and A&M.  They should be hatching starting tomorrow.  It is good I finally got that quail brooder finished.  My next project will be building pens for those we will keep for eggs and grow out pens.  I don't want to mix the breeds for grow out either as I am going to take advantage of the egg laying with them too.

From everything I have read these birds fully mature in 10 weeks and start laying at 6 to 8 weeks.  I just hope we like how they taste.

Coturnix Brooder

Muscovy Duck Eggs

The Muscovy duck eggs were given to us by a guy who's hen was killed.  These were the eggs she was laying to sit.  I feel good knowing we are finishing the job for her.  It is so cute to candle them and see their feet stretch or a beak.

The guy also ended up giving us his Muscovy male as he was afraid something would get him too.  It is a good thing because it looks like someone permanently clipped his wings and he would not be able to fly to safety.  We added him to our flock and call him Jedediah.

Last night the same guy gave us some Peking duck eggs.  Well the deal is we hatch them for him and we can have half.  It's a good deal if you ask me.

We also have 3 new baby rabbits as of last night.  They are from our mini Rex Tara and our lion head mix Bugsy.  We believe "T" is laboring as we speak.  Talk about getting another project completed down to the wire.  I just came in from adding the nesting box addition to her hutch.

I like the addition of a wire nesting box on the back of the hutch instead of in the hutch as it does not limit the space of the doe.  I also like using wire since we do live in Texas and it is starting to get pretty hot.  We are off in a hour or so to get fans for both the coop and the rabbits.  Last year it got so hot our hens stopped laying.  We are going to try and be ahead of the game this year.

We have a black Australorp hen that has been broody for 4 months or so.  Bless her heart she just kept breaking every chicken egg.  So we finally gave her 10 guinea eggs.  Those are tough little boogers.  They are due to hatch the 29th.  Wish this little girl luck because she has been trying so hard.  She deserves to hatch and raise some babies.  Hopefully it will mellow out the natural instinct of those crazy guineas.

Our duckling Dyanne, from last year is now sitting on her own clutch of eggs.  She started actually sitting the 19th.  We are looking forward to our little one being a mother.

There you go.  Now you are all caught up.  See you guys next time.  Until then live hard and full.

Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes

I decided the premix packages/boxes are full of stuff that I don't want to eat.  Figuring homemade was easy enough for my ancestors who cooked on wood stoves I thought I would learn how to make them homemade.  I am no wimp.  For the most part that is.

My first step was to scour the internet for recipes.  They were all kinda sorta basically the same with the exception of quantities for the various ingredients.  With about a month tweaking the ingredients this is what I finally came up with that works for us.

Wet Ingredients:
2 3/4 - 3 cups Buttermilk
2 Large eggs
1/4 cup Butter (melted and cooled)

Dry Ingredients:
2 cups Flour
1 Teaspoon Backing soda
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 Tablespoon of Sugar


Combine the wet ingredients and set to the side

Whisk together the dry ingredients.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry.  Do not over mix as it cause you pancakes to become tough.

I use an electric griddle set on 375 degrees.  If you cook them on heat that is to low it will cause them to be dry.  I have found this setting to be perfect as I don't have a doughy middle nor arid pancakes.  You might have to find what works best for you.

Why do I use an electric griddle.  I use it because I like the way it cooks pancakes as well as french toast.  They come out pretty and I like pretty as well as tasty.

Some options you might want to try:

In my last batch I included chopped walnuts and flax seeds to the dry mix.  This batch as been my tastiest.

An option I have seen on the internet; added 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract as you combine the wet and dry ingredients.


I hope this helps those of you that like me want to do things the more traditional way.  I find they taste much better and they look prettier without all those preservatives.  Trust me, you will see and taste a difference.


I will have to note that unfortunately we can no longer produce the quality that our grandmothers were able to.  That is a result of changes in how our food is now produced.  I won't go into that but those who remember what tomatoes use to taste like as well as beef know that our food has lost 3/4 if not all of it's flavor.  Not to mention nutritional value.  I can use my Granny's recipe exactly to make her homemade buttermilk biscuits and it still doesn't taste like Granny's.  It is a sad fact and a sign of our times.

Some More Southern Education for My Friend Kymber

Babies Hatching in the Incubator

Our neighbor was nice enough to allow her broody hens to sit and hatch some of our guinea.  Then another neighbor loaned us a Styrofoam incubator.  We loaded it up with some of our price chicken eggs and the adventure began.

We have enjoyed watching the embryos grow and move.  We thought we had lost them when we had a power outage during a storm that lasted 5 hours.  Fortunately they just kept on growing.

Tonight before going off to bed we checked on our little babies and noticed one is starting to hatch.  Of course I took a picture and video.  Gosh, you have to hear the baby peeping from inside the egg.  I mean how many people really get to do something as cool as that?  Since I was blessed with the opportunity, I wanted to share it with you.

The New Males in Our Life

Meet Boudro. 

Meaning:  Boudro , boudro meaning , definition of boudro , what is boudro - Friend, Term used to describe a buddy or pal in lieu of their name. Particularly in Louisiana, Texas and surrounding states.
Some examples : Hey Boudro, let's go grab a beer after work.

He is a year old, Nigerian Dwarf / 12.5 % Lamancha buck.

Ratz - Lionhead buck

We look forward to breeding him with our Tara.  They are going to make some pretty babies.

 
This big buy doesn't have a name yet.  We have been throwing around the idea of Bucky.  He is 1/2 Dutch & New Zealand.

We are going to mate this big guy with our big girls.  We are planning on eating the offspring of the large rabbits.

I am to soft to kill them but the neighbor kid said he would do that.  We can clean them after that.

Homestead General Update

Looky what hatched a few days ago.  Now it takes us about a year to tell the sex of the Muscovy Ducks so we'll have to get back with you on this one.








We also have 11 guinea chicks down at the neighbor's house.  They were nice enough to let us slide eggs under their broody hens.  There are still a few more eggs we are waiting to see if they will hatch.

We also have 8 eggs under our single broody Australorp hen and & eggs under a Muscovy hen in the coop.  If we can keep the snakes out we should be good to go.  We have quite a few guinea eggs in at least one nest that I can find.  I wish those girls would go ahead and go broody.

Other than that I have cut, dried, and stored some hay in the barn.  Some of you may not know but I do this by hand with a scythe.

We also purchase 25 square bales at $4.00 a bale from the field just to our south as our land is leased out for hay production.

We finally went down in the back to see the results of the logging.  Let's just say we no longer have woods.  We have some trees.  There were many areas my father had clear cut.  There are piles of debri in several places and what once was beautiful is just ugly now.  All I keep thinking is that is was a rape.  The area I considered by sacred place is pretty much destroyed.  It is sad and I am not sure when I'll go back there again.  I knew it wasn't going to be a pretty site.  I was right.

We have also been working in the garden some.  We got a late start which might hurt us this year but last year's early start hurt us too.  Sometimes you just got to do the best with what you got.

So now you guys are kinda caught up and I have to go work on a rabbit hutch.  After seeing Randy's hutches I am changing my design for the better.

Apology for My Distance

I apologize for being distant lately.  The loss of Billy really knocked the wind out of us both.  I just didn't have anything to post and I just couldn't bring myself to read others post.  You would have thought we lost a child when we lost Bill in the way we have mourned him.  We still do not know what happened to him.


With that being said we are picking ourselves up by the boot straps.  My next post I'll introduce you to the new males in our life.

Snakes In The Coop

Nothing hacks me off worst than snakes eating my future babies out from under the momma hen.  That is what has happened to our duck and chicken that are sitting.  Not to mention the lack of eggs we have been getting lately.  That always lets us know we have a problem in our coop.  That is when we wage war.  We go snake hunting in the coop and we take no prisoners.

Four foot and a six foot rat snake
May 9, 2012

Update On Billy

Billy napping with me.

We finally decided a week and a half is enough time for Billy to get settled with his original herd.  Yesterday we ventured down to see him in his new home.  

Only, he wasn't there.  We searched and called to no avail.  Today we went back down there and tried again.  Our calls met with silence.


Little Pooter Bill, we don't know where you are but know that you are loved and missed greatly.

How to Speak Texan

Ok, I found this on a social network today.  I thought it might help those of you who are not Texans to understand us folks down here a bit.  Actually, I really just thought it was funny and wanted to share.

Pooter Bill aka Billy Jack

Well our little Billy aka Pooter Bill went home to his herd today.  It is sad for us but we knew the day would come.  We were helping raise him for our neighbors since his mom was unable to nurse him.  She was a retired dairy goat and her teats were blown.  Another words they were to big for him to get his mouth around to nurse because of the milk machines they had used.


We got rather attached to this handsome little guy.  He is by far the easiest animal we have ever helped raise.  There were times we even forgot he wasn't a boy and was a goat.  His mom is Saanen and his father was probably Boer.  That explains that handsome roman nose.


Anyway this is his first night on his own without a foster momma.  The lamancha we are milking for them was his foster mother.  They would lay together and both sleep in the dog/goat house.  So little Billy will probably be a bit scared.  He never did learn to be afraid as his foster mom doesn't know it either.  It may sound silly but please keep this little fella in your prayers.  He is adaptable and charming.  I am sure he will be fine.  Still I love what I love and I love this little fella.  Milking around here is not the same without him that is for sure.

He now can stand on off the stand to nurse on our Pygmy/Nigerian Dwarf nanny goat.

He learned he can just lay down and nurse.  This little guy takes it all in stride.

Passing It On / Paying It Forward

What I noticed since joining the blogging community is we are very good about passing it on.  I first learned about "passing it on" or as some call it "paying it forward" in the mid 80's when I first sobered up in a 12 step program.  I had a friend that had more time than I and was much more financially stable than I.  Sometimes when I would leave her home she would give me a ten dollar bill because she knew that I didn't have much money and I never asked for help.  I would tell her that I was not able to pay it back.  She would always reply with "pass it on".

Since that time I have been given the opportunity to do just that.  I remember once I was saving for my first leather jacket that I had on layaway.  It didn't cost much but it was more than I could afford in one lump sum.  I saved little by little to get my leather.  Then a friend of mine needed his naturalization paper in order to get work.  It was going to take most of the money I had saved and he knew what I was saving for.  When I gave him the money he asked where it came from.  I replied, "From God".  He looked at me disbelieving but finally responded with a humble thank you.  This man is not one that asked for help and I know that it was hard for him to receive it.

You see, I know that we work to make money.  But isn't everything really God's?  I feel that God give us what we need.  Those extra things like the wants, we can do without to provide someone else what they need.  To me it is just that fluid.  Sometimes we are God's messengers to pass on his gifts.  What a honor it is to pass on these gifts.

Receiving gifts is also a difficult thing for most of us.  I had a sponsor once teach me a lesson when I felt like someone was giving to much to me and I didn't want to take advantage of them.  She asked me how I felt when I was able to help someone?  I told her good.  She then replied, "Why would you want to take that feeling from someone else?"  I have always remembered this lesson.  It has not always been easy but I always try to remember not to push away gifts out of pride but to accept them in the light at which they are given.  The spirit of giving is a much stronger light.

Needless to say I am proud to be a part of this community.  A community of people who may not have met face to face yet carry each other in their heart.  People we may never meet and some we will travel to meet.  All of which we will share a journey.  What a beautiful journey it is my friend.

Welcome To Hilltop Homestead - Kymber

Howdy and welcome to the homestead Kymber with Framboise Manor.  We'll make a Texan out of you yet.

Our homestead is still in the infant stages.  We have been slowly building since 2008 and loving every minute of it.  We love sharing about our experiences here on the homestead and getting helpful input from our follows/friends.  We are glad to have you join us and look forward to hearing from you.

 Check Kymber and her hard working loving husband at Framboise Manor.

 

(By the way Kymber I went and got Big Tex to welcome you personally.)

The Season Is In Full Swing

This is the time of the year when those of us who are blogging homesteaders start to drop off on our posting and get behind on our reading.  The good news is the stuff on our "to do" list are getting done.

We have been busy hear helping raise the neighbor's kid (goat), milking goats, making cheese, and yogurt.  We have been working in the garden.  That is a post all of it's own and we are excited. 

All those branches I cut this past summer to feed the goats and sheep are now becoming mulch for the garden.

I am still working on fencing.  Have I mention that I really don't like fencing?  Well, I don't really care for having to build a fence.  I like them when they are already there and in a good place.  As for building from scratch.  Well, let's just say there are other things on my list I would rather do.

Day before yesterday our neighbor let us clean up his quail pens and keep the poop.  It was a nasty, dusty job but now we have quail poop.  We have some already in the compost and can't wait for it to turn out.

Speaking of compost.  Our compost this year was great.  We didn't have much but what we did have made us do a little happy dance.  I hope it does the same for our plants.

The grass is as high as my waist so I have been cutting it with my scythe and drying it for hay.  It is hard work but it makes pretty hay.  It is also nice to be out in the sunshine and the breeze listening to the birds as you cut grass.  You can't do that from a tractor or a lawnmower.  Last year it was a struggle for us unemployed people to have enough food for our livestock.  This year I am getting a head start.  As the Boy Scouts say, "Be Prepared".

I am sure there is much more going on then again only those of you who closest to us will even care about this update.  I'll post more later on the details of what we are up to.  Until then enjoy this beautiful weather.  Spring is in the air.  Take a walk.  Enjoy a picnic.  What ever you do get outside!

Caddo Lake - Like Participating In A National Geographic Movie

The view from behind Billy & Dottie's home The Wildfern

I talk a lot to various people about the rare treasure here in Texas known as Caddo Lake.  I have vacationed there twice and now visit periodically as I only live an hour away.  Nestled on the border of Texas and Louisiana in the Piney Woods.  It is like a pocket of swamp in the middle of the pines.  The bald cypress trees with their Spanish moss.  Turtle crossing in May so you have to drive with care.  Quiet peaceful setting.

When we vacationed we stayed in a wonderful cabin called "The Waterlily" with Spatterdock.  Billy and Dottie have a way of making you feel right at home.  As a matter of fact when we go out to visit we always stop by and we are always welcome to sit on their pier and enjoy.





Billy and Dottie have also purchased Johnson's Ranch a few years ago and have really cleaned it up.  It went from a dilapidated over grown mess to looking like a nice place to stay and fish.  We like to go out on the deck and see the old honky tonk that is featured in the opening of the HBO's True Blood.  You didn't want to get to drunk there and have to swim back.  There are alligators in that there water.

Billy has a wonderful touring and fishing service.  Billy took us out on a 1/2 day and 1/2 evening tour of the lake.  He knows the place better than the back of his hand.  We saw the sunset and enjoyed the moon light all from Billy's Go-Devil tour.

Here are a few pictures I have taken on my visits there.  The pictures do not do the place justice.  If you have a chance I recommend checking it out in person.

Waterlilies

The old Honky Tonk featured on True Blood

Egret

Baby Hawks
Behind the Waterlily Cabin
We watched the parents feed there while staying the weekend.

God's Gift to You

Someone gave me this in paper form many many years ago at a 12 step meeting. I lived in the faith of what this writing taught me. I lived it with my whole heart.

 

I am happy to say that the promise was fulfilled when I found my wife. My love for her is nothing I could have ever imagined. I am glad I had faith and allowed God to give me my precious gift rather than demanding what I believed I wanted. I would have sold myself way short.

 

 

God's Gift to You

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone-

To have a deep soul relationship with another-

Be loved thoroughly, and exclusively.

 

But God, says:

I want you to be satisfied, fulfilled, and content

With being loved by Me alone-

With giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me-

With having an intensely personal and unique relationship

With Me alone.


Discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found,

Will you be capable of the best human relationship

That I have planned for you


I want you to be united with another after you are united with Me-

Exclusive of anyone or anything else,

Exclusive of any other desires or longings.


I want you to stop planning, stop wishing,

And allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing-

One that you cannot imagine.


I want you to have the best-

Please allow Me to bring it to you.



You just keep watching Me, trusting Me-

Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am.

Keep listening and learning the things I tell you.

You just wait.

That's all.


Don't be anxious.

Don't worry.

Don't look around at the things

Others have gotten or that I've given them.


Don't look at the things you think you want.

You just keep looking off and up to Me,

Or you'll miss what I want to show you.


And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love

Far more wonderful than any you would dream of.

You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready,

(I am working even at this moment to have both of you ready at the same time),

Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I prepared for you,

You won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with me.

And this is the perfect love.


And dear one, I want you to have the most wonderful love.

I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me,

And to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection, and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly.

I am God.

Believe and be satisfied.

-author and original title unknown