The Hens

Our happy hens munch on corn while Mr. Fig stands guard and gives a mighty shout to the world to stay away!

Alternative medicine for worming our goats

We've read that one of the most serious problems facing goat producers around the world today is the increasing resistance of parasites (worms) to drugs. Here at Full of Life Farm, we have chosen to use herbal based wormers instead of drugs. It is our belief that since goats managed to live healthy lives for thousands of years prior to the invention of worming drugs, they can do so again still today. Also, we're not really being mavericks here. Others have tested the effect of herbal wormers against modern drugs and have documented favorable results.

Another benefit of using herbal wormers is that there are no dangerous needles for giving shots and no toxic chemicals. As a result, our children can participate in the process. In the pictures here, Ryan is measuring out doses into each of our goat's feed bins and "Snowball" is enjoying her dose of herbal wormer.

Mara in the snow

We had a typical Western Oregon snow storm on Tuesday 1/27/09. It snowed for about an hour then turned to rain. I'm not sure what Mara thinks about this.

Daisey

This is Daisey. She figured out that if she didn't want her eggs collected every day, she had to hop out of the fence. One day she came out of the bushes with her brood of twelve chicks!!

Moving the chickens

We move our chickens at least once every day to fresh grass (and bugs). These pens have no floors. The chickens just walk along the ground while the pen is being moved. Half the pen (sides and top) is covered with poultry netting (aka chicken wire) and the other half with aluminum siding. The pen protects them from predators and adverse weather while allowing them to be out in the field on pasture.

In this batch we had a mix of the Cornish Cross breed and heritage Red Pacs.

Joey

How could you not

love that face? Joey

wants to know

why he can't go out

to graze with the girls.

First litter

The bunnies were born 12/16/08. They are about two weeks and as cute as can be!

Marakesh

Our guard llama arrived in the back of the pickup just after the goats (11/11/08). Her name is Marakesh ("Mara").

The beginnings of a herd...

5 new Boer goats (4 does and 1 buck) arrived on 11/11/08. Their names are KupKake, Lily, Kridder, Snowball and Joe Buck.