Fandom Farm

[SwanSong]

I finally grew some balls and asked my neighbour to take me out to meet "Larry". Larry is a standardbred gelding who is not doing much right now, and the pub owner said I could free lease him. Today I just went up to get to know him a bit. My neighbour pointed him out for me and I took it from there. Just needed someone to hold my hand up to that point lol.

He is a sweet man, very stiff and a bit slow, but maybe he was just reflecting his handler Standardbreds are the racehorses you see that pull the carts - commonly known as pacers, so I expected him to be stiff through the neck. My last horse was an Andalusian who are very flexible horses so this is almost the opposite from my old girl. They do have similar markings though, he had a cute face and wanted LOTS of face rubs. My mare hated face rubs, she was an orphan foal and probably got more than she ever wanted as a bub.

He was quiet enough to put up with me, and educated enough to lead and play with. I stayed out with him for about an hour. I didn't want to push either of us too much. I think he will be good for me - if I keep getting out there. I have to get his feet done. I sold most of my horse gear so no longer own a rasp. I am unsure if someone up there might have one on hand, and socially I am so stupid I am not good at asking for those things. Anyway, I will go out there again, and play around until I have us fit for riding. Might be a while, my saddle is with my mare in the city!

It was great to be near horses and I was surprised at how quick my confidence came back. I had no issue handling him and my self confidence now is off the chats. I run my brain in circles in order to build up the energy to GO. Quite often people are distressed by my circles and tell me to stop/rest but the circles are needed for me to launch into action.

I am limited with what I can do with him at this stage but mucking about in a paddock is better than no pony at all!

 

[SwanSong]

Can't believe how wiped out I am just from doing groundwork! How did I do this all day every day??! He is a sweet horse, not as quick or clever as my previous mare but quiet and obliging so I am not complaining. Haven't ridden him yet but still getting to know him and I dont have my saddle here. He is now so shiney that I would slide right off if I tried to get on bareback!

 

[SwanSong]

Naming the chickens after Supernatural actors and characters was a BIG mistake! They have taken on the personalities of their namesakes, and are making a mess of the world.

Misha is the biggest trouble maker. She is extremely friendly, loves cuddles, but is also the ringleader of the shenanigans. She is always the first to find a way to escape, setting the path for the rest of the chooks behind her. She is awfully mean to Cas and wont even let her drink from the trough! I have had to nurse Cas for the last few weeks since the other 3 have been so awful to her, pecking her neck. Now Princess Cas has her own clean nesting box feed bin and water container but shes too scared to ever leave it and squarks in stiffness when I make her move.

I got so mad at Crowley last night. She refused to go back in the coop. So I just left her out. Figured it is one less chook to fight with if a fox got her. Went to let them out this morning and Crowley had found a way to get back IN the coop, even after I had locked it up for the night. I checked the paddock fence and couldn't find gaps so today I let them out of the coop thinking I had them contained. Not so. Misha, Crowley and Jenshen all escaped and dug up the roots of my hedges. I don't know if the hedges will survive since they ripped up so much of the roots. I chased them back in to the pen with my energy rod and they couldn't figure out where they had escaped from. I think what they are doing is pushing on the wire until it gives in some spot and then creep through.

Jenshen is the biggest, the hungriest and the most aloof. She is the boss but Misha really makes the rules. Jenshen is not particularly clever and does not escape as much as Crowley and Misha do, probably because she is too fat to fit through the gaps they do, and too dumb to find her own.

I am not happy with them right now. I tried to off load two the other week but the person who wanted them was a no show. So I guess I am stuck with the annoying little buggers. I am going to have to overhaul my fencing again, $7 chicken wire from the reject shop is just not doing the job!

 

[SwanSong]

My saddle is on its way next week So, once I have it, and cleaned it I will be almost ready to ride. He is getting his feet done this week, so I really want to get out there more than once a week. I think I could, especially after the new moon passes. My car is a bit of a worry though, it doesnt like short distances. I am going to look out for a bike, but am unsure how to hold my gear on it!

Does anyone wana be on my cheer squad? Or just slap me on the bum with the riding whip if I start to chicken out? I am not scared of the riding bit, its getting out the front gate. Once I am out I am fine but I often procrastinate now on leaving the property. This week should be all days under 30C so if I get out in the morning it will be bliss.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Picture?

 

[SwanSong]

I have a pic on my imgur but the phone is flat. I'll have to see if I can resize it.

I went out this morning, and the poor ol man has a sore leg. He is lame on the nearside hind. It was swollen and he wouldn't let me touch it. Geldings are such wimps. I took him for a little walk and hosed it down to take the heat out. There were a couple of tiny cuts but they were healed over and he would not even let me touch it. He hung his leg in the air while I hosed it. He fussed about trying to paw at me and was such a baby! Then, eventually he realised the cool water was nice, and started playing with the hose, nibbling at the water and drinking from the stream. He is a very sweet horse. The breed is SO different to my last one, he is real sweet and gentle and my mare was such a pushy brat haha.

I couldn't do much with him so I walked up to see the yearling fillies and the mares in foal. The yealings are ADORABLE! Their owner was on about how wild they are but they were so cute and lovely and just wanted pats! I have "known" them since they were born and the bay has barely changed. Still got a head only a mother would love and wanted to eat my hands and shirt. The other one is very cute, doesnt look like a standy yet, she is too pretty I played with them for a while and then gave the old preggo mare a neck rub. They are all so stiff in their necks, it surprised me, but shouldnt have considering their purpose.

I will have to get out a few times this week just to treat his leg anyway. I might go to the pub later and ask if he knew the horse was lame (he wasnt last time I saw him) and if there is anything he wants me to put on it. I dont think there is too much more I can do besides hose and keep the swelling down, its not an injury that requires vet treatment but I am annoyed at myself for not going out on saturday as I might have been able to have treated it before it got to the swollen stage. Oh well. Joys of migraines haha. Its really nice to be playing with horses again.

 

[SwanSong]

Today I got a duck. He was a bully duck to the other birds at his last home, so now he is in my garden. He was straight into the snails on the fence so I hope that means he was not too traumatised by the move. I haven't named him yet. It will have to be a fandom name since so far I have Anya, Xander, Larry ( I didn't name him but he totally suits this name), Cass the chook, Jenshen, Misha and Crowly hens. I have had goats named Echo and Faith - and hope to again! But will need a bigger property haha. Any suggestions? He is medium sized, white and known for wringing chickens necks. I am thinking Moose, but am open to other suggestions

My saddle has been delivered so next job is to give that a clean. I will go visit Larry tomorrow morning but probably won't ride at his stage. I had 2 sleep ins in a row and notice how sluggish it has made me! I have no issue getting out of bed when it is to tend to horses haha.

 

[SwanSong]

Castiel is nuts. If there is a crazy chook disease, she has it. I can sorta see why though, the other 3 chickens are SO MEAN to her. Today she squarked and flew into my arms when Crowly bit her on the bum. She was almost cock o doodle doodling squarking at sunset. What a nut. I hope the neighbours dont complain. She is the only one whos wings I didnt clip so she sits up on the fence and squarks her head off.

Ugh I just noticed a cut on my hand. I hope I did that after playing in Mooses duck pond. I'll probably get botulism or something. I am trying to figure out a way to aerate the water, and eventually a pump. I figure ponds are a cheaper catchment system than water tanks and I can use the water on the garden at intervals. I am so super keen to get some fish haha. The town water is so terrible, I wont be surprised when it gets cut off, so I will be prepared!

Xander is being a real prick tonight. I am guessing his problem was dinner. Everything in the fridge froze again and the garden only has seedlings right now. His greens were frozen. And I just changed their hay too. I am giving him a handful of oats as I type to see if I can induce a food coma. Poor Anya, he was being such a pest.

 

[SwanSong]

I am SO CLOSE to chopping Crowlys head off. Absolute escape artist. The rest don't escape but will try to follow, pushing along the bottom of the fence and digging trying to find a way out of their HUGE enclosure. She is a bad influence on the rest of the flock. I was so mad at her today I nearly ripped her head off with my bare hands and booted her dead body over the fence onto the highway. If she gets out again tonight, I am not locking her up. I don't want to attract foxes but I wouldn't mind one getting her! I have tried to give her away but no one here needs chickens cos every second home has them. Mum said she'd be too tough to eat and I really don't know how to butcher one like that anyway since she isn't a meat chicken but a laying hen.

I haven't seen Larry the horse for ages. They didn't get his feet done and there was nothing I could do with him being that lame. I honestly cant remember how to move, horses put me in position naturally and without them I am a walking unco. I am fitter but weaker if that makes sense. Ploughing into my savings for food until I can get the garden beds producing. Family visits always set me back terribly. They are ashamed of such a povo life and make me feel like a completely worthless burden to society. I am really happy when I live in "my" world though. Spending the day in praise for nature is my ultimate existence. The stress hits when the fatigue does and I am unable to continue for the day physically.

 

[SwanSong]

I have to re-design the duck pen. I had initially only prepared for the drake, but now I have his girlfriend too. She was getting really skinny and sad without him, so they gave her to me too. They are so cute reunited. I named her Squirrel. But now we have a problem - she is laying eggs. And I haven't designed the pen in a way that I can reach the eggs. I do not need ducklings at this time of year. I want to move them out to roam in the orchid so they can protect my sunflowers from snails and slugs, but I am going to have to clip their wings before I let them have so much freedom. That could be a challenge. I should probably plan the pen this time instead of just building it as I go.

One of the neighbours said they know a kid down the street who might want to take Crowly off my hands. I'd be happy to give her away. Maybe I can get him to help me clip the ducks wings.

All my lil baby seedlings have poked their heads up. They are so cute!! I hope some survive, everything grows so slowly here.

 

[SwanSong]

I figured out who is making holes in the fence - and its not the chickens... its the feral rabbits. They push under the wire and pull out the anchors. I have put a trap out to try and catch a baby one (I have seen two little fat bubba bunnies) although I think they are too clever to fall for a trap. I would love to try and catch them because when I do finally get around to vaccinating my buns, I will have to buy a vile for 10 anyway so whats another few on the list I would like to test how good this vaccine is too, with a rabbit I don't love as much as my housebunnies. It it does hold up, Anya can go walkies again. It would be good to have a few outdoor bunnies - maybe I could get them to dig out that big bush I haven't managed to kill yet. I doubt my chances on catching them but I figure its better to try than just waiting around for the virus to get them. The boundary fence should be done soon, my neighbour has some tin for me and I will grab some chicken wire to put along the front hedges. We'll see how it goes. His yard is rabbit proof.

The ducks are all moved out next to the chickens now. I love my ducks. I am unsure how I feel morally about eating fertilised duck eggs, but I have 4 so far so I think I could stomach them in a cake Ducks are quite fun to train, they took 3 days to figure out their new night home. They are much like horses as well (I guess all prey animals are similar to train) but they lose their heads in panic quicker and are luckily not as smart as rabbits to evade danger. I was able to grab them the first two nights and point them in the right direction. I could totally train them to do a little obstacle course, they might not like it, it'd be cute and funny. The girl duck tried to take off the other night, she was too fat but I should really clip their wings anyway. They are so beautiful wandering around the garden. I know they are finding snails as well too. I want to dig a pond but I am not going to put my back out for it. I think I will let them have a couple babies in early summer. They don't really sell for as much as they will take to raise but I have a friend who just moved near by who could be interested in them for meat.

 

[SwanSong]

Turns out, I love duck eggs! I have about 20 now... and I gave a dozen to a neighbour. I am going to have to get baking! I think they want babies, but I dont really want ducklings just yet. It feels like spring today, but I know we have more of winter to come.

Castiel the chicken died a few days ago. She was my fave, but a real sook chook. She had a lovely life here, spoilt, because the other hens picked on her. She used to squark and fly into my arms if Misha was mean. I buried her in the garden. The construction workers radio was blasting "candle in the wind" as I carried her out. It was a lovely service

Xander has had some back issues, but recovered remarkably well. I have separated him from Anya unless they are supervised as he is a fragile child. They love their free time together and snuggle and kiss and cuddle all happy to be near each other again. Anya really misses him but I have been giving her more pats. She suckers me in with her cute little face begging for loves.

I did catch a baby bunny. It was so tiny and plump. Healthy, no disease or worms, it doesnt even look like it has fleas or anything. Probably in better nick them my house buns! I have started training it to the small cage so in time I can set it out where the grass needs trimming. (I know rabbits are destructive but this family has done a great job of mowing the lawn!).The baby bun has had a growth spurt and got longer and skinnier. It did not touch pellets to start with, but now seems to be on to them. I put a cup of sunflower seeds for dinner tonight. It doesn't seem to eat hay at all, but I think its teeth were a little bit too tiny when I first caught it. I worry that it will freeze alone in the cold mornings here but its way too wild to live in the house. It has started to toilet train itself which makes cleaning easy for me! Its favourite food is apple. I havent been able to catch another but I would like it to have a friend (preferably of the same sex! Otherwise I will have more meat animals to sell!) Part of me regrets not putting it in the pot when I caught it - it was the perfect age and size for a nice meal! I have seen the rest of the family in the garden, they are thriving. I think it is super cute to go out and see the wild birds, wild rabbits, bobtails, ducks and chooks all happy in the garden together. Its like living in a storybook.

 

[SwanSong]

I have baby ducklings I am going to name them after S.H.I.E.L.D agents. Not the best time to have them - considering it will be a 40C week next week but I didnt know she was broody until they were half cooked. Squirrel made her nest under a hedge near my bedroom window. So far she has hatched 10, with at least another 4 eggs in the nest. She was so proud, she moved over and showed me last night while they were all in the nest, before honking at me for getting too close haha.

I read that Pekin ducks were terrible mothers so I didn't really expect they would hatch, and I am not sure how many will survive, but so far she is a brilliant mother! She wont even let me put duckling crumble in or top up the water without hissing at me and ushering her babies away. Shes usually a lovely duck so this is a side I have not seen but I am glad she is such a good mum. Before I left for town today she was trying to teach them to groom and splash and when I came back they were all happily dipping in and out of the water plate, shaking off and eating well. Its over 30C today so I am glad she has taught them to cool off and seems to be able to keep a good eye on all of them, hustling them out of the water if they have been in for a minute. They sit in their water bowl, in their feed bowl and climb every stick and stone. I wont take any off her unless she looks like she is struggling with the load, she'd be a much better mother than me! Shes so happy with them.

I am very worried about cats though. I put up a makeshift pen around where she nested but a sneaky cat could get in. A cat got into the super secure baby rabbit cage that I mentioned in the last post - there is no more outside rabbit anymore so I do worry about the ducklings but cant move them until shes either hatched the rest or abandons the nest. She wants a swim in the pond, I can tell, but its too far from the nest to take the ducklings to yet. I might let her out at dusk when she usually has a swim and see if she'll leave them behind. Its at least 30m from the pond to the nest and the babies are much too small to be wandering that far. Plus the drake and the chickens will be let out at that time too, and I am not sure how friendly they will be.

Misha chicken died a few weeks ago, Jenshen is looking on her way out, although still cuddling and piggy with food as ever. I knew Crowly would outlive them all! I have enough ducks to take their place now haha, but I will have to redesign the pen yet again to accommodate the new babies. I hope they survive where they are until they are big enough to walk over themselves, I dont want to stress them or have mumma abandoning them as she has abandoned eggs I've touched in the past and gets very upset if I am too near when feeding. Plus she seems to have done a good job teaching them water safety, I'd hate to jeopardise it and make more work for myself lol. I dont expect them all to live but if they do there is an auction in March if they run out of bugs to eat here . They are already hunting live bugs themselves! So tiny yet so active.

 

[SwanSong]

Yep, shes abandoned 6 eggs. I knew I shouldn't have touched the nest! I collected them this arvo after she refused to go near the nest and made a new nest for the hatchlings. There is one tiny baby that fell out of the cage bars and I picked it up to put it back and now shes not letting it sit under her. It snuck up behind her and made its way in under her bum so I hope it blends and goes ok overnight. It was the tiniest one.

I dont know if any of these eggs I took are still viable, they are stone cold. The torch wont shine through them so I float tested and 3 passed but I am still not sure if they could survive now with such a disturbance. I'll keep reading and message my bird friends. Poor things. There is one other that looks like it would have been SO close to hatching. Float test said dead. 10 live chicks is a good haul though. Now to get them through the heat ahead...

Grr just went out and shes still sitting in the new nest. The old one was a much better position. I will leave my window open to hear if anything approaches her. I hope they all get through the night ok

 

[SwanSong]

Jenshen the hen is on her highway to heaven. I knew Crowly chook would out live them all! She is the last chicken of the original 4 left. She is standing with Jenshen crying by her side because she knows she's stuck with the ducks now. All 10 ducklings survived the summer. I have 6 boys and 4 girls. I've split them to have 6 out the back and 6 out the front, the girls are with their parents and one is still a loud little duck, but they are so beautiful wandering the garden. And all legal! 12 is the duck limit and I have exactly 12

My friend got a new young horse she wants me to give her lessons on, so another pony to pat.

The bunnies are loving the fire place in winter. It is almost time to get some more wood.

 

[SwanSong]

I'm always ahead of the curve The tv talk panel shows are going on about people making a tree change to regional Australia since covid 19 showed them how shit the cities can be when ya got no money or activities. I doubt there will be a boom in my town, but in saying that, for the first time since I moved here we have 3(!) cafes AND the general store just got an ATM! Almost like a real town. I noticed that the roadhouses along the highway are getting their own "town" signs as well. One of the big things that the overseas travellers used to mention in the pub, is how far apart the towns are here. So these new signs make everything look a bit closer since they are set a few kms out from the "centre" (roadhouse) and look like actual townsites instead of shanty shacks crumbling by the highway.

The internet here is brilliant, probably because 70% of the population dont know how to use it. The tv says more people can work from home, but I've been trying to find a job like that for 5 years and it seems ya need a foot in the door before the option to take it home. Its like they all forgot about the threat of bushfire and flood though. I think some would be in for a rude shock, depending on the area. Others will thrive. I had hoped to escape the urban sprawl and crowding of perth, but some structural change is necessary here. As much as I hate construction, seeing it means the town wont dry up and die as predicted. (One report a few years back noted this was the fastest dying region and town in the state), now it has more options.

The boy ducks just had a growth spurt. I thought they were close to fully grown, but now they are bigger than their dad. I do need to get rid of a few or they will be expensive to feed over summer, I am just terrible at selling things on Gumtree. If only I could sell produce and ducks via an online ordering system with little human interaction and a delivery option, I'd be set hahaha. I am ready to put in a peach tree and I am deciding if I go for nectarine or cherries. I do have room for both but want to expand at a rate I can keep up with. I ripped down most of the fruit netting as it was damaged in the remnants of the last cyclone. I have to stabilise the frame and get some new netting. I thought I would use shade cloth, but I need the bees to be able to get in there so have to rethink that idea. Might look into it tomorrow. Some things are hard to source unless you have the connections. That is my biggest hurdle here, managing the connections. People are VERY social and even though I have interacted more with some than I have with my own mother this year, I still get the "haven't seen ya in a while" comment from people passing by my garden who I literally saw less than a month ago.

My neighbour dropped off some lettuce for me and the buns yesterday. I haven't got much to swap right now and the crows keep stealing the duck eggs (which is ok by me cos the coop is super muddy and poopy and I know I will fall on my ass if I try and get in there). One of the racehorse trainers wives had another stroke so that seems to be a real common issue in the people here. I am so glad for the cool weather and the fire is just a wonderful luxury. Winter time is beautiful. Now that I have enough clothes and firewood, life is positively easy and lazy over winter. I am sad the days are already getting longer again. I love the night drives and the stars are just like nothing you have ever seen. No one can convince me that God doesn't exist when I see that night sky.

 

[SwanSong]

Summer time, and I am enjoying it more now that some of the hard work in the garden has paid off. I wander around at dawn nibbling pickings while watering the garden. Its a great way to start the day. My strawberries are delish. I did put a baby peach tree in, but its a few years off fruiting. I don't like my lettuce much, so I planted some more kale today. My capsicums are small but taste better than from the store. The herbs are going great guns.

Moose the duck died a few weeks ago I was very sad. He was my fave and such a good natured duck. Squirrel is looking like an old lady now but is getting broody again, so lucky for me this time she has decided to nest in an easy to reach spot and I get fresh duck eggs each day. Only 5 babies left, which does make it an easy number. They are a bit dumb but much easier to contain than chickens. And SO cute splashing in the ponds.

Anya and Xander rabbits are going well, cheeky and fluffy as ever. Can't believe they will be 6 and 7 years old this year! Anya is currently playing under the curtains, and Xander is stuffing his mouth. It was stinking hot the last few days so we're all enjoying the cool change.

 

[Death]

Assisi is sorta fandom! Named after both the town, as it was a lovely place to visit and the Saints, middle name is Severus, from Harry Potter, Severus Snape being my favourite HP character.

He's currently watching the washing machine so I should get on and do some housework. He needs to stop thinking 6am is playtime though, as I'm not that much of a morning person!

 

[Death]

Assisi is going to vet on Monday for his neutering op, having a microchip then too. Not looking forward to that bill.

 

[SwanSong]

Assisi is going to vet on Monday for his neutering op, having a microchip then too. Not looking forward to that bill.

Yay! Always so lovely to hear about responsible cat ownership Boys are cheaper to get done, easier recovery too. Microchip is no worries, ranger joe up the road can do that here for about $30. Its nice he will be under to get it done. Take advantage of the drugged kitten time!

I have seen many horses gelded and that is fun, they pretty much just use a drill to twist their bits off (under sedation of course!). I have seen it done with scalpel too but there were more complications and bleeding that way it seemed. The twisting technique sealed the deal when horses are straight off the ground in into their paddocks. Unlike our super spoiled house mates!



I did a sad thing yesterday. Squirrel the duck had made a nest under the wisteria. It was a clever place to have it, behind long and thick grass, next to a patch of weeds, so she had snacks while she was sitting on the eggs. But they were out of my reach and the grass is so thick and long there I was worried I would not see a snake hiding. So I took my brand new hoe and smashed those eggs up. Poor old girl was mortified. She stood looking at her smashed eggs with the saddest look of mourning. I felt a bit sad for her but she couldnt have a nest there because they get locked up at night away from it. They were not anywhere near cooked into chicks yet anyway. She is quite desperate for more babies! I dont want to risk having anymore boys - 2 boys and 3 girls is working for the moment. 10 minutes later she had joined the flock in escaping and was happily hunting for snails.

This morning I disturbed my poor bobtail. They have been super active lately, I see them everyday, usually a few times a day. I think that the red one is the boy and the blue one is the girl, because the red one has a much bigger boof head, and the blue one has a longer body and wide hips. I think she is pregnant. I saw their "teenager" up the back the other day when I was watering and it is a nice size now, I remember it being a tiny tiny baby and I was worried because I had never seen one so small! So going by its age they are due for another. I have plenty of bugs for them to feast on.

It is super cute when the birds see the bobtails moving around the garden. I have a "puppy poo" corner that I have been trying to seed with grass in preparation for a dog. I have it fenced off but with gaps so the bobtails can still get through. The other day the blue girl was sunbaking there and a female blue wren (so, not blue) saw it and sat on the fence chirping urgently, like she was saying "LOOK A MONSTER LOOK OUT A MONSTER IS COMING, ITS RIGHT HERE! SEE! SEE! LOOK!!" and she was dancing up and down the fence line screeching and then looking directly at the bobtail. Such a hilarious display. I know she has babies around the front hedge, and her boyfriend has grown up here after the trees were destroyed across the road, they moved in, and he poops on my car side mirrors while catching bugs to eat.

The new holland honeyeaters have gotten used to me going near their nest. They are near the washing line. I often move the pots under it so the bugs are exposed and the birds get an easy feed. They know this now and brought their baby to sit up and wait while I moved the pots, then I watched it beg for bugs from its parents, while its parents were sitting on the line like "Look, the bugs are RIGHT THERE! Get them yourself". I love my little bird families. Endless entertainment.