Monday, August 31, 2009

Dealing with preditors

One of the challenges faced by those of us who raise livestock is protecting them from predators. In our area we have a variety of them:

Mountain Lions - These can be a threat to all livestock. Normally they stay away from human settlements, but if their food source is depleted or their hunting is impeded by weather, they will come right into town.

Bears - In most areas they have lost much of their fear of man. I've had bears climb my fences and destroy barbecue, raid my trash and rip open cupboards. You can't stop a bear. Your best bet is to call your state fish and game warden and let them deal with it.

Foxes - We have an abundance of these furry little chicken thieves. We are so overkill on our flock protection methods that they are not even a threat to our flock. If given the chance, they will make a meal out of a chicken. They are very hard to catch in the "Have-A-Heart trap. The best method seems to be to cover the trap with a rug or tarp leaving it open in front of the door. Try baiting it with raw meat and eggs.

Skunks - I trap and shoot every one that comes near our place. If you shoot them, make sure you shoot them in the brain or they will spray. Even if you drop them with the first shot, there is a good chance that it will leak out and stink up the place.

Eagles - They love chicken, duck and turkey. Again we are over kill in our flock protection. The entire twenty seven buy eighty foot run area is covered with very heavy netting. Some of our friends came home to find a golden eagle in their hen house finishing off the last chicken.

We have never lost a bird to a predator. We take our responsibility to protect our livestock very seriously. It makes good financial sense as well. If you think about the number of eggs a hen will produce in her life time.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Harvest Time


Harvest season is always a busy time of year. It seems that all the "fruit" of the years labor comes ripe, needs to be butchered or processed at the same time. This weekend we are once again butchering chickens (not our favorite task), making and canning ginger pickles, making and canning peach jam, picking apples, picking and processing tomatoes and onions. As well as the normal daily tasks like feeding and cleaning up after the chickens ducks and turkeys. The eggs also need to be collected at least three times a day. The eggs also have to be sorted cleaned, packaged labeled and refrigerated.

Being self sufficient is not a life style for lazy people. All the things I've mentioned here along with much much more, are in addition to our regular jobs.

In the end, it's a great life with many rewards, but you get out of it what you put into it and you work for what you get.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Fires, deer & water...

The heat of summer has returned. It's mid August and the mountains are dry. Last week there was a forest fire that consumed over twelve hundred acres within seven miles of our home. The threat of fire is an ever present danger here. Each spring we repeat the ritual of clearing brush and trimming trees around our home. Even with the precautions we take, fire is always in the back of our minds. Life up here is challenging but the rewards are more than enough payment.

There are several does with twin fawns nursing on them hanging around the property right now. They come right up to us and the babies run and jump bouncing around like ping pong balls. They would like nothing better than to get at our gardens and fruit trees, but like the old saying goes: Good fences make for good neighbors.

Deer season for bow hunters opened a couple of days ago. I've got no problem with hunting deer, but I've sure seen a lot of wounded deer around town over the years with arrows sticking out of them. That just plain pisses me off! Once a hunter puts an arrow in a deer, they owe it to the deer to track it and finish it.

Several miles up the mountain from here, is the source of the water that flows across our place. Back in the 1850s the miners used to route water for miles with ditches that were cut into the mountains and hill sides. One such ditch is still carrying water. A small group of us have water rights and use it to water our yards and gardens. We also are responsible for the maintenance of the ditch. It probably costs us more to maintain the ditch than if we bought the water from the town water system, but it has many other benefits.

Friday, August 14, 2009

The government needs our input

It's time for Americans to wake up. The people we elected are taking our republic down a path from which we may not be able to return. Obama and his ACORN thugs are preventing people from debating issues that they don't like. The president is asking citizens to report anyone that disagrees with his policies. The left is accusing those of us that disagree with them of being obstructionists. The president is sending his union goons to bust heads at anti socialized health care rallies.

Call and write your representatives. Politely and respectfully address the issues. Do not use violence!!! Do not use threatening language! Be firm and to the point. Remember that if you do nothing, they win and the country loses.