Laffing Goat Farm and Wetland Preserve

11/26/2024

I THINK the chickens (at least the Marans) are back in business, loving their new digs and laying. 8 eggs from 16 Marans today -- only one from the Whitings but they are feast and famine these days, I might get 6-8 from those ones tomorrow, or none.

11/26/2024

testing 123 is this working now?

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11/24/2024

Finally got the chickens sorted. The smaller flock Whitings which are also smaller birds are in the 15 x 20-ish "coop 2" which is actually a giant secured covered run with a warm nesting area separated by solid walls and curtain. The larger flock of Marans (which are also much bigger birds by far) is now in the largest area roughly 15 x 30 with also a walled off nesting area we call "coop 1". It's much less windy and dryer in those two sections for winter. The former inhabitants of coop 2 are now in a 6 x 12 covered run that is covered on all 3 sides plus the door to keep out any wind, also with a warm hard-walled nesting area draped off in one end. The space we had the Marans before today has been getting damp and needs a new cover (we have just havent had time to install) and won't be used again until at least spring anyway. It seemed small for these big birds and wasn't fair that the wee tiny Whitings had that huge space to themselves :)
It is also useful to have this buffer zone between the ducks, which free range during the day, and the chickens which are effectively sheltered from ANY other kind of bird, wild or otherwise from above or below. Biosecurity.

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11/20/2024

Before and after pics, we got the hoop house righted w minimal damage. Going to anchor it into the ground before the next bomb cyclone hits (we built it to resist SNOW not freaking hurricanes!).

11/20/2024

Well we have some work to do after this storm. I thought I left all that behind 30 years ago when I left Florida. First thing I noticed was a vertical pole we had supporting camera cables between house and barn was wobbling like a gyroscope -- turned out it had broken off near the base which was secured to a concrete block designed just for that. So it is now securedly if temporarily zip-tied to a deeply anchored T post that is part of my bean garden. Lots of downed limbs, one whole tree uprooted by rootball fortunately didn't hit anything, lost part of the tarp (one layer) over duck enclosure, and half the shelter behind the garage where George parks his tractor (it was not under it at the time) and worst of all, my 12 x 14 uber-heavy hoop house blew clean over at 10:27pm. It is 100% intact, just upside down (and crushed my little arbor vitaes sadly), and it will be a challenge to turn it back over even with machinery. It is a testament to my building and designing skills though, it ain't broke. We also lost an old rickety portable greenhouse/shelfy thing that was pretty well past its best-by life anyway. It is in pieces inside the other hoop house where I dragged the pieces till I can finish dismantling it in daylight. Chicken and goat enclosures are miraculously intact and all animals accounted for warm and safe.

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11/14/2024

Yep, Cayuga ducks lay black eggs! They are mostly white or green in winter (we have a couple mixed with Rouen ducks) with gray smudges as they run out of ink along the way, but they are not dirty, it is the color this kind of duck lays. You could scrub it off along with all the bloom with a kitchen scrubber but that would destroy the bloom and make it susceptible to bacteria. We don't scrub eggs here. In spring when their ink is refilled they will be mostly black like these ones.

11/13/2024

We had to extend the height of our field fence in a couple sections where the 2 younger more athletic goats were taking a running leap and jumping out. It was never a problem with Bo and Sparky or any of the four Cartwright boys or even little Maryanne, but Patches and Pippin get the devil in them now and then. We added taller posts to the existing ones and stretched more fence between them. Been a couple months and the 6 foot barrier seems to work -- except when someone leaves a gate open :/

11/10/2024

No we are not organic. Our ducks eat commercial dog kibble (they will not touch "duck food") and the chickens eat a 5-grain scratch which is corn and soy and 3 other grains, all very likely GMO, as well as CHS brand poultry pellets and table scraps, which could be anything that isn't specifically bad for chickens (including they get leftover chicken and meaty bones). They get double portions of the scratch feed from November through April as they need the corn to survive our PNW winters. They also get fresh (not organic) salad greens at least twice a week since they can not free range here (too many eagles, hawks and coyotes). If you find an organic farmer be prepared to spend at least $15 per dozen, probably more.

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11/05/2024

The ones I saw this week were the second one, so hopefully moderate.

Winter lore...

11/04/2024

Free while they last, limit one per person. Already posted on Snohomish Sharing Network:
In lieu of our usual annual gifting of half a spatchcocked fully cooked turkey with sides to just one person, we decided this year instead to make a triple batch of fresh cranberry sauces to share with the community for Thanksgiving.
Choose from smooth strained cranberry jelly, whole cranberry sauce and whole cranberries with mandarin oranges. Home canned according to USDA canning standards and shelf stable at room temps (under 80F and above freezing) up to 2 years as long as seals are not broken. Made only with fresh whole cranberries, pure cane sugar, home squeezed locally sourced white grape juice (I don't use water), and natural fruit pectin -- oh and a dash of lemon juice. The cran-orange one also has Mandarin orange sections. No chemicals or preservatives ever.
PM to be on the list.

11/04/2024

Brief Bio
Laffing Goat Farm and Wetland Preserve
http://facebook.com/laffinggoatfarm

We purchased this property in February 2011, and expanded it to include the wetland to the east a year later so we are just under 5 acres total. We are devoted to protecting this fragile wetland from "development" and keep that space distinct from our adjacent small hobby farm where we raise goats, chickens, ducks and geese, and grow some fruits and veggies for consumption. While it is not really self-supporting, we do sell chicken eggs, duck eggs (for eating), and fertile eggs (for hatching) to the public, as well as canned goods made from fruits grown on our tiny farm and share extra produce when we have it with anyone in need. We believe in supporting local farmers and producers whenever we can.

George Mells
Kathleen Lent (co-owners of Laffing Goat Farm)

from our page "about":
Sweet little hobby farm outside of city limits with 5 (4 men and a little lady) goats, 34 chickens (more or less), 17 ducks, 3 African geese and a bunch of cats. Numbers vary, especially with the ducks and chickens -- as ducklings and chicks are always being hatched through spring and summer. George is a city boy, but this was always my dream, to have a little farm with animals and subsistence gardening, do my own canning and preserving. Both of our parents would be amazed at what we have done. When I have extra I share with my community, and we sell eggs at the front door -- these critters eat a lot! Half our property is protected wetland, which we have and are restoring as it was badly abused before, and the adjoining wetland west of us was “developed” by a local car dealership, so we are doing our best to protect what we can of this beautiful space. It’s work, but it feels good, and the animals are restful to watch when we aren’t doubled over laughing with them.

Our animals are strictly spoiled PETS. We never eat them. Our page is to share the fun at the Farm.

11/04/2024

Mister Zed is still under the weather. He had been losing weight and acting painful when he tried to eat so we had him to the vet and then some dental extractions last Monday, after which he seemed to be doing so much better, until the scheduled pain meds ran out then he declined again over the weekend, so luckily the vet saw him again this morning and gave him some subQ hydration and antibiotics and more pain meds, and appetite stimulator. Here's hoping he starts feeling better very soon. He was a semi-feral we adopted with Benny a few years back, both very timid and shy but will sleep with George. Benny ran away a couple months ago :( so just his brother Zed now (Mister Zed, Z for Zorro owing to his mask face). He has finally eaten a little bit since we got home from the vet this morning so fingers crossed!

11/02/2024

Bright Blessings to you as well. It is nice to be seen. :)

10/29/2024

I think I have seen larger grapes :) Mostly the new BCM pullets are starting to lay bigger eggs but there are 11 of them (with 4 adults from last year) and a couple are still just starting to imitate their sisters. Quarter for comparison to the wee one from this morning.
The blue ones are from my Whitings who haven't given up entirely for the winter. Not a dozen here, probably tomorrow.

10/26/2024

OMG they are delicious! If no one buys the wee tiny baby chicken eggs I'll eat them. Just fried up 4 in a scrambled egg sandwich and it was awesome (too much for 1 sandwich so I made 1 1/2, works for me). They'll only be laying these tiny first offerings for a few weeks, a couple of them are already laying more normal size ones. I often don't eat my chicken eggs just because ppl buy them out so quickly I don't get a shot at them. :) Duck eggs are awesome too fortunately and I eat plenty of those.

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10/18/2024

Battening down the hatches for expected wind storm this afternoon through tomorrow evening (50 mph gusts expected). Already had one (long dead) tree down in the western wetland that thankfully missed the power line (so rotten it broke up before it hit anything at all). Others would fall in another direction judging how they currently lean. Nothing bad is near the house. We get these storms maybe twice a year in fall/winter. Trees down in the 2 wetlands don't bother us, it's nature. I laid down and covered or brought in the furniture in my hoop house out front and we'll see how wind proof my construction is :) At the moment it's still an open tunnel as I haven't got the ends on yet, but those wouldn't provide much protection in any case against wind. Stay safe my friends!

10/18/2024

Ramping up for another night of fun. Revised the ratinators to make it harder for them to open the rocker door from inside. Enjoy pics of some of last night's guests: this one we named Donald. :)

10/17/2024

Another 25 jars of Limited Ingredient homemade cat food in the freezer. They also get Merrick's limited ingredient food (wet and dry) as well so they are getting everything they need. This just costs a tiny bit less and they enjoy it and I know exactly what is in it. Teddy is doing very well now that we have him off the cheap commercial food, and our Mr. Zed with his dental issues (pending surgery) is getting at least 6 meals a day to fatten him up, so it's all good.