More kids

October 22. 2013-

On Sunday evening the wind suddenly dropped and we decided to have a try and get the chook shed up. There are four large sides and a roof that have to be screwed together on top of the platform we made. Luckily Beni arrived home just after we started and the whole thing became possible. It was not easy but by the time the light was gone we had four sides up and we used Edd’s ute as a platform so that we could get the roof into position. It was too dark to screw it down so Edd lashed it in position with lots of ropes for the night.

Next day it was still standing and we were able to find the screw holes and complete the job. I have painted the inside this morning with a first coat of salmon coloured paint that I found in the shed. It looks quite flash. I just hope the chooks like it when we move them in. The shed is across from the dairy and backs onto the nut and olive orchard. We will have to build a large pen round the trees to keep foxes out and chooks in but it should be a nice area or them. The trees will give them shade and they will keep the grass down around the trees. Chooks do a good job maintaining fire breaks in hot weather.

It has been a very busy morning. Wilma kidded and produced a large buck kid and I have begun making the first Feta cheese for the year. I think Zoe is about to kid too so we will need an extra pen tonight. I have just walked up into the paddock to check her but so far she is OK.  The first four kids are in the weaning process and all but one white buck are taking the bottle well. The white lamb is now a confident feeder and the little black lamb takes a bottle twice a day as well as feeding from her mum. We are now into the busiest time of the year and the milking machine is still not working!

4pm  Zoe has kidded, two enormous black buck kids. Fortunately she came back to the shed to give birth which saved both of us a lot of trouble. She needed help to deliver the kids and she is now licking them off. Wilma’s kid is a lovely fluffy boy and feeding well. The rennet for the cheese is still working so I have cut the curds for the first time and left them to settle. Now I am waiting to see if I am needed to pick my youngest grand child up from day care. Her parents have been away to some work do in Sydney and they are not sure if they will be back in time. This gives me a short break to work on the last of the big curtains.