Very busy spring

Spring has been filled with time consuming tasks and I now find I am way behind in updating you on what has been happening.  I'll try to fill you in during the next few days.

Today is our 7th day in a row of triple digit temperatures with 5 of those days being above 110 degrees.  The heat has taken its toll on many things, not the lease of which is the chickens.  We have lost two clutches of newly hatched chicks to the sweltering temps.  It is so sad to see the little fluffy creatures who struggled so hard to release themselves from their egg shells only to be wiped out by the weather.  The look just fine one minute and when checked on again in less than 3 hours they are dead.  No one else is setting right now and I suspect the temperatures in the incubator have risen to the point that the embryos which may have been developing there have also been killed.  I will wait until the scheduled hatch day before disposing of the egg, however, just in case some have survived.

Wilma Turkey has been determined to hatch some babies.  The problem is she doesn't take care of them after they hatch. All but 3 of the birds that hatched fell from the nest and she squashed the others.  I took her from the nest and put her in a cage overnight thinking she would give up and go back to just being a turkey, not a potential Momma.  The first time I let her out she went right back to the original chicken house and climbed in ON TOP of another hen who was hoping to raise some little ones.  Removed once again and place in the cage, this time she was left in there for 2 days.  Upon her resease, same result.  I had too many other things to do besides fight with a turkey so she was allowed to stay and set on the chicken eggs which were in the nest.  After 21 days some hatched and she was no better at caring for them.  She is now in the cage again and will stay there for several days.

Fortunately, one of the hens who had previously hatched some chicks was more than willing to adopt the birds who fell from the nest.  I think we have one baby turkey (to go with our one lone duck who hatched and is busy chasing bugs all day long).  It is hard to tell as  baby Royal Palm Turkeys look just like baby White Cornish chickens.

Annabelle had 4 kittens in May.  They are old enough to be really cute and playful now.  Daddy was obviously gold as all 4 kittens are golden colored.

Camomille had twins last week.  Mom and twins are doing fine in spite of the heat.  Ginger is due on Saturday.  Oxi has an unknown due date and Blonde Brownie does not appear to be on the road to motherhood.  I hope Ginger has hers at night and not in the blistering heat of the day since we hvae triple digit temperatures predicted for the next week at least with no rain in the forecast.  It has only been getting down to around 70 even at night.

There is a lot more news but not a lot more time.  I promise I will endeavor to do at least one update weekly even if it is just pictures of life on the farm.  If I schedule it like a regular j-j-j-job maybe I can keep that promise.

Keep cool best way you can for now.