Update on Emmy's Ear Mites

We have applied baby oil to Emmy's ears.  We did it for two straight and then a week later and I will do it in a another week but so far that has worked well.  Even after the first application, she looked much better and after the second day there was no sign except at the very inner ear.  Now, her ear looks perfectly normal.  Yay! 

Ear Mites

Poor Emmy.  It was discovered that she has a severe case of ear mites, not by me, of course, I have been too busy with my paying job-another item to add to my CON list of having that second income.  My son found that Emmy's ear was drooping.  So you know how much crust and infection she has to weight it down. 

So I hit the web and other informational venues to figure out what I needed to do.  Once again, my beliefs about chemicals has me starting off with the least offensive treatment and we shall move up from there.  I did find a blog Rise and Shine Rabbitry with some very good natural tips that I will definitely be putting in my "vet" cabinet.

I am starting with what I have on hand-baby oil.  By the time I got home last night it was almost dark so I am not sure how well I coated her ear by flashlight, but I will be running out there this morning for another dose.  There was also mention of honey-water.  I am not sure that this will work at this stage of infection, but good to know for future (although I hope not) cases or even preventatively. 

Emmy's was not this bad, but this is what it can turn into.

 

 



 

One of Those Mornings

I admit I think of myself as a fairly fearless farm girl.  Things don't bother me too much.  Butchering animals, worms of all sorts in the garden, on dead things, snakes, spiders, mosquitoes, even 'possums on the back porch.  But there are days...It could have been the fact that I was just tired after long hours of working at my full-time job and I was just not in the mood to get up at 4:30 that day.  Maybe it was PMS.  Maybe it was just too much...

I knew there was a black snake living in the cabinets in the tool shed.  We had still been getting eggs and there were no mice or anything around, so it was not really a big deal at this point in time.  Yet, on this fateful morning, the snake skin that draped from the cabinet door down the shelves played havoc with my nerves.  It was almost like one of those badly made horror movies where you scream 'don't do it you idiot!'  I positioned just right and opened all the cabinet doors one by one.  Nope, nothing, well, except that 4ft long skin.  Instead of relief I felt tension and found myself trying to tiptoe in my boots.  I took a few breaths and decided to go ahead and continue to get the goats to the kennel for their grass and also so the chickens could eat in peace.

Infamous snake skin

Let's continue the bad horror flick...
I am not normally an arachnophobia-sufferer, but something happened in the wee hours of the morning when I flipped on the light to move the goats to the kennel.   I saw one pretty little round black spider with the undeniable red markings.  I grabbed a 1x2 piece of lumber that was leaning against the wall and began twirling that freakily fuzzy web hanging above me and where I (or the kids or hubby) gather eggs everyday.  Then she dropped, not gracefully down a single silk thread, no, just dropped...to the floor...AND then dozens of little black spots began to move and drop to the floor.  My blood pressure raised, along with goose bumps and plain old shivers.  I think I beat the goats out of the barn.  I had hoped the goats followed, but didn't really check until I rounded the corner. 

I stopped and started crying or yelling or both in the middle of the yard.  Something to the effect of nope, I am done, can't do this, and I am selling the animals, blah, blah, blah.  Apparently, I continued this rant as I put the girls in the kennel and made it into the house, started the laundry, took a shower, dressed,  and then found Bruce to let him hear about it too.  I don't think he understood as he remained calm and confused at my state of frenzy.

I was fine once I got to work-nice and sterile work environment.  After a few hours of normal breathing I decided I would do a thorough cleaning of the barn.  It was due anyway.  So the weekend is planned.

Farmgirl Sisterhood Project 1-Beginner Level

I love magazines.  I could name a few HUNDRED that I like to read, but I won't go there.  There is one that has a "sisterhood."  Check out their website at MaryJanesFarm.org.   It is like a grown up Girl Scout Troop.  There are badges to obtain in all areas of life.  From cooking and cleaning, community, crafts and Christmas.  There are something things I do, some things I would like to and some things that scare me to death to even think about doing.  But I want to do it! Although I may not go as far as "joining" the troop at this point in time, and obtaining the official badges, I think it would be fun for my daughter and me to step out of the box and try them on our own.  Maybe pick out stickers or "badges" that we like and display them somehow.  I let my daughter pick the first project. 

 

Sarah chose Going Green.

Beginner Level includes:

Get rid of all cleaners in your home that are not "green." 

Okay, that is great if you are made of green.  Unfortunately, I am not going to throw away every cleaner in the house and go out and buy all eco-friendly products or make ALL of them from homemade ingredients.  Unfortunately, my dabbling in couponing at the drug store chains has provided us with non-green cleaners for a while.  *head bent in shame*  That being said, as I run out of what I have, I will definitely be looking into replacing with "green" cleaners or more than likely making my own. (Not off to a good start, am I?)

 

Write a mission statement for your house pledging to use only green cleaners in the future.

"I pledge to bring in and use only green cleaners into my home in the future."...check!

 



Keep a green journal of recycle and green living ideas, recipes, plans and projects and share it with someone.

I could be mean and steal one of my daughters green notebooks and call it my green journal...but I won't.  This can be used for all of those homemade cleaner recipes I intend to look up and use in the near future...check!

 

If your house is already "green", make a gift basket full of green products for a friend or to give away as a housewarming gift. 

Well, I hope that you are further along than I am and this is your step; feel free to drop the basket off to me at work or here at home-just kidding.  That is one of the reasons this Sisterhood Scout Project appealed to me.  It takes us outside of ourselves and gives joy to others, and isn't that where our real joy lies anyway.

 

Won't you join us on these challenges and tell us your journey? 

Crackpot

No, not a typo.  The dreaded crack of the ceramic bowl of the crockpot appeared the last time I washed it and noticed that some roast beef broth adhered to the bottom.  *sigh*

Being on the road to frugality, I hate to just toss it, even if it was a cheap one; and it has been a good friend the last couple + years.  So, let's put those crackpot brain cells to use. 

The ceramic bowl is fairly easily-a planter OR on a stress-filled day grab a sledge hammer and make pebbles for the bees' water bowl or drainage for a larger planter. 

Now, what to do with the heated part?  Is it possible to melt things?  Bees wax, other wax, soaps for repurposing.  Can I put water in a different glass bowl it and use it for a ginormous potpourri warmer?  Could I make some fruit leather on a rack? Use as a dehydrator? Jerky maker?  I am not sure what temperature low, high and warm range, but this might be the opportune time to find out, huh? 

Any other suggestions?? 



This one probably still works!

Abject Apple Trees

On one's quest for a fully functioning homestead, fruit trees are a must.  Having been raised in the Midwest, apples, cherries and pears were a standard; moving to the South I have tried to adjust to peaches, figs and pomegranates. 

I know I can have apple trees but I have to choose wisely with trees with low chill hours.  There are many chill hour charts out there to assist me.  However, my trees have not done well...at all. Since I am strongly against any -cides, including pesti, fungi, herbi (even homi and sui) with their systemic poisoning of the environment, and also because I am just frustrated, I considered just digging all the trees up and getting rid of them for a fresh start on another area on the property and planting garlic beds there instead.  I am trying not to overreact and I have decided to read up on "natural" control methods for our diseases. 


The first problem we have encountered is cedar apple rust (CAR).  We have a lot of cedar trees on the property and a few have those freaky orange fingery things-galls.  So, it really should be no surprise that my trees have developed CAR.   It is even on the crabapple trees. 
So what are my options.  According to an organic gardening author, garlic spray may help, as well as catching the leaves and disposing of them properly.  Another option is to do a little research and find varieties that are both lower chill hours and resistant to CAR.  So before I waste a few dollars and many months, I will attempt to treat my four little trees.  Below either the Winesap or Stayman that exhibits the CAR. 

 

 

My Red Delicious tree does not show signs of bad CAR, only a leaf or two.  It is a resistant variety...well, to CAR.   Unfortunately, the Red Delicious that I have for a pollinator is not resistant to woolly aphids.  I have not been out to the orchard, and I use that term very loosely, for several weeks.  And that is what I found...woolly aphids.  I wanted to get mom's hand cards out and make a rolag (that would be as far as I could go.  I have tried to use a spindle to spin roving into yarn...not too pretty).

 

Luckily, I just need to spray the branches off  and keep better watch on them. 

 

I feel so negligent.  I hope nobody calls the ATPS (apple tree protective services).   Nonetheless, I am going to continue my research and attempts at treating my fruit trees with only natural methods.  It may or may not work.  If it doesn't, figs it is...sigh.

Bulbils

As you know, I love my garlic.  I have it drying as we speak.  I learned something today about the neat the little flowers on the scapes.  I am not a Master Gardener but I have had my share of gardens, growing things in a greenhouse and assisting my mother who is a Master Gardener.  Yet, I did not realize that the flowers were actually made of bulbils or garlic seeds if you will.  One of those a-ha moments that is a bit embarrassing to admit.  I read a few articles on it and discovered that these seeds will produce a good sized garlic bulb in three years, they are often more prolific than the parent plant, and because they have not touched the soil they are disease-free and healthier. Luckily, I am a procrastinator / hoarder and did not throw away the two flowers from my garlic harvest.  I have bagged up 90 bulbils to plant for a huge harvest in three years.  Aren't plants fascinating?

O Ye of Little Faith

Fear, intimidation, inadequacy.  All of those things you feel when you compare yourself to someone else's ability instead of focusing on your strengths...what strengths?  I haven't found them yet.  Oh dear...

What brought on this angst?  The local Tuesday night Farmer's Market.  Saturday the tables were good and plentiful, but I could see many things I could improve on.  That sounds snobby doesn't it, especially from someone who has only assisted a parent in setting up a table once!  Improve is not the word; many things I would like to do differently.  Tuesday, however, a different story.  There were all the ideas I had in my idea notebook.  There were most of the items I was hoping to have on my table that would set us apart.  And they were BEAUTIFUL! *sigh*

 

I am so glad I went and got a good dose of reality.  I had been so focused on the market table that I lost sight of actually doing the work to put something on that table.  There is that "both feet" mentality rearing its ugly head. 

What is the main objective of my homestead?  Is it to make money at the market?  That would be a wonderful side effect, no doubt.  Or, is it to provide my family with healthy food, hard work that heals a soul and a sense of accomplishment whether it be finishing a fence, enjoying frozen strawberries in January or preparing breakfast with the eggs gathered just moments before in the freshly cleaned and straw-ed coop?  Yes, it is the latter. 

Whew!  Thank you Lord for that reality check before I upped and quit my job without having had a successful tray of soap or a bucket of tomatoes to put on that fabulous table that resides in my imagination.  Nonetheless, I am still keeping that table somewhere between file 13 and the trophy case.

 

Chick Cliques

Pecking order.  A curious thing.  Chickens, horses, and of course, humans. 

 

We have watched the speckled chicken fall from the top of the order and she now stays outside the coop under the steps.  I even clipped her wings but she still escaped (of course when you free range throughout the day that will happen). 

 

 

 

According to the squatting, we have a new ruler, the floppy comb.  Of course, I am the one with the food bucket and thus will always be alpha.  I hope to be a kind and fair queen...sorry, I digress. 

 

One of the chickens on the low end of the pecking order has decided it is much more fun hanging around with the goats, even to eat with. 

Wait for me!

 

I am sure this is just a phase and she will get tired of their frolicking and food and return to her kind soon enough.  After all, we are all intrigued by the new and different in the beginning. 

Is she riding Brie??

The End(s)

Goat Bloat

Unable to be at home in the day and watch Brie and Molly as closely as I would like did give me an advantage to see that they, especially Brie, was developing goat bloat.  It scared me.  I wracked my brain trying to figure out what was going on.  We all knew that no chicken food was to be available because of the calcium content and that fact that goats love it, so the chickens were let out to free range and their food was out in the yard with them.  Maybe I was just giving them too much grain too soon.  They are being weaned off the bottle.  I sat out a bowl of baking soda overnight to see if that would help them.  They were active, playful and hungry so I didn't feel it was an urgent matter.  But, what was causing it?  I had to figure this out. 

It just happened the following afternoon that I walked out to find Brie eating the rabbit food that Rocky would dump from his bowl as he jumped around in his cage.

We fenced the rabbit shelter off and the issue seems to be resolved.  Whew!

Puddin'

I have an affliction.  When I walk through the produce section and see those bags stuffed with ripe/overripe bananas for $.99, I HAVE to get one!  I will even go so far as $1.49.  Oh, the joy that floods my heart. 

Let's move ahead 30 minutes.  I sit at the kitchen table, staring at the bag of bananas.  I probably already have a gallon bag of peeled bananas in freezer.  Since my oven is still on the blink and I can't bake muffins, what am I to do to cover my tracks of being the Banana-Bag Bandit??  Banana pudding would be pretty good.  But I don't have any pudding. 

Why not make it from scratch? I am sure Caroline Ingall's did not go to the Olsen's for pudding mix, so I need not either.  So I stand in front of the bookshelf in the kitchen that holds my 100s of cookbooks.  Hmmm?  Then I grab my daughter's iPad and hit the web...the shame of it.  Nonetheless that is what I did. 

I assembled the ingredients and made some vanilla pudding, added a couple of bananas and voila! 

 

 

Now, what to do with the other 15 bananas??



Molly

My 19-year-old son decided to buy Brie's sister and keep the family together.  I have to admit Brie has been much happier having her sister around.  I do wonder if my son is going to be around next year about the time we have to milk the girls...hmmm?

Brie

Well, much to my family's chagrin and maybe even a little trepidation on my part, we have a new addition to the farm family. Meet Brie (yes, as the in the cheese).

She lived only a few minutes from us and when I saw her picture on craigslist, I had to get her.  I would love to have her sister too, but anyone who knows anything about goats knows that prices can be up there, and it will take a while to get a herd together.  I do want at least two fairly soon though to keep them happy and healthy.

She is very young, 6-weeks old and we are bottle feeding her twice a day...well, Sarah is, since I am at work in the day.  Right now, she lives in the empty coop across from the chickens.  It will keep her safe at night and when we are not at home. 

We let her in the fenced area to get some fresh air, even though there is no grass yet.  We have the goat fence laid out and will be finishing it sooner than expected.  Yay!  We do have the dog kennel did not contain the dog, but is perfect for Brie to get out in some grass.  The beginning of our goat herd has begun!

She is to quick for me to get a good picture, err!

Overgrown...or Organic

Yes, I am trying to put a good spin on the fact that my garden is out of control.  With the rain except for when I am at work, no lawn mower, no weed eater, and a bum elbow, this is the result. 

At least we are getting tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, peppers and green beans.

Cucumbers on the fence

The peppers

Asparagus to go to seed

Where the garlic was

Strawberries gone wild

Remember the game Where's Waldo...where's the green bean

Now, don't you feel better about your garden and yard!!

My First Garlic Harvest

Garlic.  To roast, to stir-fry, to ward off vampires or spouses. 

 

I love the smell...on my hands for days.  I love the feel of the papery skin.  I really love smashing it with my knife and going all ninja on it.  No wonder they say it is good for stress.  Kiai (or hi-ya)!

Seriously, the health benefits of garlic are pretty amazing.  Most people have heard that it is good for your heart by helping to reduce blood pressure, blood thinning properties, as well as reduce cholesterol.  We use it for the antiviral and antibacterial effects.  It is suggested that it helps diabetes and insulin control, as well as cancer prevention, and just general detoxification.  Why aren't I eating garlic everyday?  Oh yes, the bad breath, tummy troubles, including gas or nausea, and as mentioned the juice can seep into your skin and can be irritating or just odoriferous.  I think it is worth it anyway.  After years of hearing about the benefits and learning to love garlic, I decided to add it to my garden.

I recently noticed with all the rain and/or lack of care other than some straw mulch on top, they were either drowning or were ready to harvest as they were turning yellows and browns and there were some already flowering.  Why not, I decided to go ahead and dig them up.  Worse comes to worst I will plant more next year with a little more TLC. 

Donning my boots, folding up my yoga pants above my knees and grabbing my shovel, I headed to the garlic bed somewhere between the 6-foot asparagus plants that are in full fern and the strawberries that are "running" rampant.  (I am so embarrassed and ashamed at the state of my garden that I HAVE to post pictures so everyone can feel better about themselves in the very near future.)

 It is a small harvest, but it is mine and I love it...

Getting ready to dry

 

 

Will We Ever Reach Our Goals?

I have wasted paper, time, markers, and even napkins writing down goals and plans and aspirations.  Most of them were duplicates, but sometimes the order was different, depending on my mood, money and how detail-oriented I wanted to be.   There are books, seminars, classes and psychics to help us figure out "our path."  Well, what if I don't want to buy books, go to seminars, take classes or be scrutinized by psychics?  As a God-fearing woman, prayer has worked to show me the goal, but still I have been left to follow my own path to get there.  As Joyce Meyer puts it 'You must do what you can do, and then trust God to do what you can't.'

I am not going to lie, no matter how cliché it sounds.  The weeks before turning 40, a small portion of my mind was slowly tweaking.  It was reminding me over and over, life is short and anything you really want to do-DO, not plan.  Yes, there are things that need to be planned and steps to be taken, but as I 'mature', I find that it is more about do.  Some people learn this early in life-even my son seems to have a grasp on that concept.  I am getting there...slowly.

I think it is safe to say that anyone who has read anything I have written knows making my homestead not only sustainable, but beautiful is my ultimate goal.  You know that I have a full-time job and are in the beginning stages of weaning off my paycheck and living off of my husband's.  I know in my head that this homestead will not prosper while I work, and this does break my heart.  I cannot work full-time and run a greenhouse and raise goats and all of the many things I want to do. 


photo by Sauli Hirvi

I am a "jump in with both feet" kind of girl, but then I jump right back out if the water is too cold.  So, with this new found maturity *cough, cough*, I am wading in slowly, yes, feeling that stinging cold working its way from my toes to my ankles to my shins.  But you know what?  As the shins are feeling it, the toes are more comfortable and getting used to the coldness.  Hmmm?  So maybe it is best that ease into this "sustainable" part of my homestead dream. 
There are many women who work AND make soap or knit/sew or garden (still not sure about the commercial-size greenhouse) or raise chickens.  Just because I can't do it to the extent I want right now...

My goal list is now more about do, such as learning to perfect soaps, jelly and homemade laundry detergent, integrated with to have, such as an auger and wood chipper and good kitchen knives.  I can do these simultaneously.  I can buy an auger the same week I make homemade jelly, can't I?

That being said, I am going to make sacrifices over the next few weeks to months to get the transition in full swing.   I am starting to think there is a fine art to making a budget work with one income while allocating the other to cover savings, homestead improvements and investments, as well as covering those short months, all the while not slipping back into "work mode" where I can stop at the downstairs Starbucks when I feel that 2:30 lull or not brown bag it because I can swipe my badge and have it taken out automatically and of course pick up "fast food" whether at a restaurant or the deli or freezer section at the supermarket on the way home because I am too tired to cook.  I had better learn that sacrifice will be needed even when I am home full time.  I may be too tired or sick to milk the goats one morning, but guess what?  It has to be done.  Therefore, let's get used to it NOW!

(You can check out the Christmas Penny for some low points of the weeks budget!)

New Layout

With my vast interests and little knowledge or skill, I have decided to divide and conquer.  That is to divide my posts into categories, although I am sure they will intermingle most times.  With some upcoming life changes, there may be more tabs to come.  Thanks for stopping by and visiting a spell!  I really want to say 'Y'all come back now, ya hear', but I won't...

Vacation Day 5, 6, 7 and 8

Day 5
We decided to hit the town today.  We did an early celebration of our 20th anniversary by eating out at a steak house and going to the movies.  A few years ago we had thought about doing something fantabulous for our 20th-a tour of Europe or a week in the Bahamas, something a bit more flamboyant, but as I am transitioning, ever so slowly into this "simple" way of living, I am wanting what used to be common and mundane to be special.  As a child, how awesome was a trip to McDonald's?  I could count on my phalanges how many times our family went.  Of course, a TV dinner was awesome because mom cooked every meal from scratch, including garden fresh veggies or at least canned in the winter (except for the winter a "friend" and I busted over 100 jars of green beans and tomatoes on a brick wall-I was only 5 but I shall never forget the consequence), meat from our chicken and rabbits-so boring...oh, how I wish I had paid more attention!  Closer to the present time, yes, eating out was something the kids, hubby and I did often, going to the movies was not as often because Bruce is not a movie watcher, but it was not a great occasion either. We are paring down our entertainment from Hollywood and moving toward Home Depot.  I am much further along than hubby is, however.  It is still work versus accomplishment to him.  But he will get there, he will get there.  He is turning to the dark side :)  

Day 6
Rain...lots of rain...lots of laundry in the dryer...*sigh*


Day 7
Happy Independence Day.
Rain...lots of rain...laundry is done...*sigh*
Fireworks on television (not quite the same)

Day 8
Yes, rain, lots of rain...But one exciting thing was we clipped the wings of the little red hen, whom I now to believe to be an Easter egger.  She had been living solo in the front part of the storage buildings/garage (we assume) and would eventually end up in the chicken fence with the others near feeding time, but would fly out and rarely be seen.  Well, we caught her yesterday and I clipped her wings.  She is not happy about this.  She spends much of her time in the coop.  We still have one more to clip-the speckled Sussex.  But then again, will this really do any good when I let them out daily to free-range??  Oh well.

Vacation Day 3 and 4

Day 3
This one is easy...NOTHING.  It was the Sabbath and I kept it holy.  Okay, that may be pushing it, as I did not even get out of my PJ pants. 

Day 4
This is my official first day of vacation I guess, it is a Monday.  I can already feel that I am going to lose track of time. 

We didn't do a lot of work on the farm per se.  I cleaned out the chicken coop and lay down new straw.  I gathered three eggs today and there was another softshell on the coop floor.  I know the hens we got from Meyer Hatchery were not healthy; one-third were dead upon arrival, one-third died by the first night, and the 8 hens that did survive are as healthy as I can make them naturally, but we do only get 3, sometimes 4 eggs a day.  That is what I get from straying from McMurray Hatchery...never again.  I keep the freshly gathered eggs in an egg container that came with the refrigerator that I have labeled unwashed.  Once a week or when it becomes piled so high that there is danger in breaking eggs, I wash them and put them in cartons.  The eggs are usually very clean anyway, so I see no point in washing off their protective layer until we have to.  

Sarah and I gathered some plums and blackberries before it got too hot.  I am debating on smoothies for supper or attempting some jelly.  Quite frankly I hate to use jelly jars since that is usually what we sell our honey in.  I am, however, going to attempt to make some jalapeno jelly.  This is probably an odd jelly to be my "first time."  I don't know that for a fact, but strawberry or blackberry would definitely be more Bolin-esque.  I told the family recently, as we make this change into more self-sufficiency and homesteading, our food choices are going to have to change, and for the better.  As we were cleaning the driveway Saturday morning, we enjoyed a few blackberries from the wild bushes at the top of the driveway and even some mulberries from one of the tree branches that had to be trimmed away.  There is just something satisfying from picking it and eating it right there, isn't there.

Well, there it is, jalapeno jelly...or more like a sauce. (Used our plums instead of cranberries, which are not around this time of year.) The good thing is that when I spooned it onto a snack cracker with cream cheese and put it on a plate, Bruce did ask for seconds-a plate of seconds.  He is not one that eats sweet and sour and sauces or fruit with meat so to have him like the jelly was a wonderful surprise.   Next time, there will be more jalapenos added though for a bit more heat and, eh-hem, maybe a little added pectin or longer cooking time.  Nonetheless, I don't think it will be wasted, which is really all that matters, right?

Vacation Pics Day 1 and 2

No, you will not see pictures of my pretty painted toenails with the blue ocean in the background.  No pictures of the shady, green mountain paths with the babbling brook along the side.  Nope, no bright lights of the big city nights and Broadway. 

No, an aspiring homesteader's vacation is very different.

Day 1
We attempted to put up the rabbit shelter.  We are moving from hutches to hanging cages and putting them in the chicken fence for extra protection and ease of feeding and watering.  We got the posts in, but alas, a huge storm came through and cut our progress short.  The power even went out until 2 a.m. leaving us with no air conditioning and no water.  Yes, there was plenty of water in the 5-gallon bucket we put on the deck to catch a little rain in case the toilet needed flushing or something.  It was at this point that the beach sounded like a much better plan.

Day 2
After a breakfast of fresh eggs, biscuits and gravy (that we had to cook in the toaster over because the oven did not come back on along with the rest of power-uh-oh...), we started cleaning up branches and limbs from the driveway.  Chain saws, pruners, wheelbarrows, oh my.  At least we will have some seasoned oak for the fireplace this winter.

 



After that adventure, we finally got back to the rabbit cages.  The posts were not as set as we had hoped, but we proceeded to finish it up and got two wire cages up and filled.  



Yes, sporting sweat pants and cowboy boots

Breaktime

We got the roof as close as we could.  It should be good enough to keep the rain off of them.  We still have the bottom level to finish with the poop slopes (professional term) and also put a back row to hold the remaining three rabbits and an extra cage for an extra buck in the near future.  The cages were our first two, and they are different. We made Thoretta's first and decided it was turned wrong-too tall.  But, it will suffice.

 

 

 

Rocky

 Rocky, the Blue New Zealand buck, is checking out the new residence.  Thoretta is not so sure.

Thoretta

 The chickens seemed to adjust just fine-as long as nobody is in their coop or on the roost at bedtime.