Something that really boils my blood

I really try to make my posts informative, but sometimes you've just got to get a good rant out.

First, let me say that I love the Internet.  I love being able to read other blogs and learn from what others have done and are doing.  I think we all have the ability to be great teachers as well as great students.

With that said, if you are going to write blogs or articles online, please know what you are talking about!

The first blog I read this morning was talking about how to choose poultry on the homestead.  Within the first paragraph the author recommends Rhode Island Reds and Bard Rocks. 

Wait a sec.... what's a Bard Rock?  

I would have dismissed this as a typo except that it's mentioned three times and captioned under a photo of a DOMINIQUE!  

Hmmm... so here we have an author who doesn't know that it's a Barred Plymouth Rock, not a bard rock, and can't tell the difference in body style or, most telling, comb?  Maybe you shouldn't be writing about chickens.

Next they went on to waterfowl.  The only duck the author recommends are the Muscovi (which should be Muscovy), as they don't have the high water requirements and are the friendliest amongst ducks.  

Not sure I would agree with that.  Even experienced Muscovy owners will tell you that drakes can be aggressive.  And as for water requirements, ducks are pretty much ducks.  All ducks have to have water deep enough to submerge there heads in to keep their eyes and nose holes clean and clear.  Your bigger ducks like the Rouen and Pekin must have water to breed in due to the size of their bodies, but smaller ducks can be raised without, though in my personal opinion it's cruel to raise waterfowl without water!

The author also talks about how you should avoid geese because of how dangerous and aggressive they are.  

While I will agree that some geese are aggressive, there are lots of geese that aren't.  Pilgrims, Chinese, Africans, and Buffs are just a few off the top of my head that can be pretty friendly.  To me, if you have aggressive geese it is because of an aggressive breed line or not imprinting on your geese as goslings.  That said, any goose will be somewhat aggressive when defending offspring, a nest, or a nesting mate.  Really though, that's being protective and not truly aggression.

Lastly, the author went on to turkeys.  And this is where I nearly lost my mind!

Though the author has admitted to never raising turkeys themselves, they point out the the birds are stupid, disease prone and flighty.  To illustrate their um... point... they tell you that the birds are so dumb they will stand outside in a rainstorm and look up into the rain and drown!  Wowsers!  It's hard to believe that they've survived so long!  The author then points out that they are also very aggressive, and terrible mothers.  Hmm... again... no.

As someone who raises turkeys, and has periodically over the last twenty years I found the whole thing to be utterly insulting.  Turkeys are great mothers, and the birds are much hardier than given credit for.  I have not one but THREE 30lb breeding toms that have never attacked me, not even during the mating season.  They are friendly birds, who will "talk" to you any time you are near their pens and will call out when they hear your voice over distances.  They are not flighty, and they certainly aren't stupid.

This is not the first time I've read a blog or article by someone that was utterly lacking in intelligence and filled with lies, myths and misconceptions.  I worry that people out there read this nonsense and continue to perpetuate this outright garbage.

Really, it's all a shame.

The Last of My Big Rabbits Has Kindled

Godiva, my checkered giant, finally had her babies today.

Of the three of my big rabbits, Godiva is the one that I've worried about the least.  She's had babies before, and is a very laid back rabbit.  Not terribly friendly, but not aggressive or anything like that.  

She's been trying to nest since day 26, and so she got her nest box a bit early on day 27.  After two days of taking out hay, putting it back in and generally rearranging things to her liking, she just ignored it.

Day 32 arrived today, and I went out this morning to check on things as always.  She seemed fine, but I noticed that she was shifting around more than usual and looking uncomfortable.  Around noon when I went back out, she had plucked her hair and already delivered.  

Like Symphony a few days ago, I did find a dead kit at one end of the box, which I removed.  Under the hair was five healthy sized kits, and looking just as they should.  

A check this evening showed that all is well.  Momma is attentive when I'm inspecting the nest, but not nervous and is quite content to munch on her hay and treats while I take a peak.

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More Baby Bunnies!

After such an easy, great first kindling process, our second has been less stellar.  

Symphony, a New Zealand, delivered today on day 32.  This was her first time, and when I checked on her this morning she was still showing absolutely no interest in her nest box.  All I'd seen her do with it since day 28 when I put it in was drag it around, and pull the hay out.  (Which I replaced.  Twice.)

At noon she was looking antsy.  Hopping around from corner to corner, but still not hair plucking or even getting into the nest box.  

An hour later, she was frantically pulling hair, which was all over the cage.  Figuring that birth was imminent, I left her alone.

A couple of hours later I returned to find a dead kit on the cage floor, two dead kits at one end of the box uncovered, and a writhing mass of fur at the other.  Sym is pretty friendly generally, so I reached in and pet her, then removed the dead kits.  Under the fluff I found five live little kits and I covered them back up and let them be.

We are sad to have lost a couple of kits, but it's obvious that as a first timer she wasn't really sure what she was doing.  When the kits are about a month or so we'll rebreed her and see how the next pregnancy goes.  My general rule with most livestock is three births, then evaluate.  

Update 2/7/13:  Mom and kits are still doing fine.  Sym appears to be settling in to motherhood.  She does keep moving her nest box around though.  Otherwise, she is her usual, friendly self and is enjoying her treats and such.

Update 2/14/13:  The kits have their eyes open and are happily hopping around in their nest box.  Turns out there are 6 in all.

Our First Rabbit Kits Have Arrived!

After putting the next box in two days ago and watching one of my beloved New Zealand do all of the correct nesting behaviours, this morning I went out and found the nest box full of moving bunny fur! 

I gave the momma a handful of timothy hay, and rubbed her down really well before pulling some of the hair back to get a quick peak.  More than anything I was checking to make sure there were at least three young uns and no dead ones as our weather is a little cool today.

Everything looks alive and healthy, and there appears to be at least five.  This is the first litter for our doe Cadbury, so I'm going to (try) and limit myself to looking in on them just once a day.  I'm fortunate that she's a very friendly (and a bit spoiled) doe.

UPDATE:  The babies have all emerged as of today (2/4/13) and there are 9 of them!  All alive, all happy and all healthy little bundles of bunny fur!

Want to learn more about raising rabbits?

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Ugh... Treating Earmites in Rabbits

Yesterday afternoon I finally figured out why Symphony, one of our two New Zealand does, has been so standoffish and cranky. 

I bred her a couple weeks ago, and so I had been attributing her attitude change to pregnancy.  However, while standing beside her cage petting our buck Cacao, she flicked and ear up and it was full of nasty scabs. 

Having read it in one of my rabbit books, I knew instantly it was ear mites.  I checked the other rabbits and everyone appears to be in fine shape, but I didn't have anything to treat it with.
 

A quick Internet search yielded several results, including buying an ear mite medication.  Second choice was mineral oil. 

So we made a trip out to Petsmart, who sells several different ear mite medications, NONE of which are listed as safe for pregnant animals. (Although they do sell several that can be used on non-pregnant animals. FYI)

On to plan B!

Target had mineral oil, and this morning I gloved up and grabbed a slip tip syringe.  A cc of mineral oil lightly rubbed over the scabbing and dripped into the ear canal was handled in just a matter of moments.  She got a few drops in the other ear as well.  A repeat will be done in 10 days to make sure we've got them all.

I'm not one to blindly treat, so I didn't do the other rabbits.  Some folks recommend it and some don't.  I'll be watching the others closely from here on out and if it looks like we are having an outbreak I may treat them all then.

**UPDATE 1/27/13 - All the crusts are gone and just a few scabbed areas remain but are healing.  A second dose will be administered in a few days, but already Symphony is back to her old happy, friendly self.  No one else is showing any signs, though we continue to check them.

Next time we'll be more prepared for the little things life throws our rabbits,

because we've invested in the Raising Rabbits Essentials e-books.  A must have!

In Goes the First Nest Box - Choosing Nest Boxes

Today was day 28 for our first bred doe.  After buying nesting boxes from Bass Equipment, I took one and filled it with about an inch of flaked pine shavings, and stuffed it full of grass hay. 

Since this was our first rabbit to be bred, and I am not really sure about palpitation, we weren't exactly sure she was bred.  The minute I took the nest box out though, she started rearranging it, and when I added a little more loose hay, she immediately picked it up and carried it to the nest.  So far so good!

What we are using for boxes are the wire nest boxes that can be mounted underneath the cage for our big rabbits.  Right now they are being placed in the cages as our cage setup doesn't currently allow for the under mounting.  For the smaller rabbits we've chosen standard metal boxes is a more appropriate size.  The bottom of the metal boxes are plywood and can be changed as needed.

The reason for choosing the subterranean boxes was that I've read so many good things about them.  When not used for nesting, they are just another area of cage and doesn't hurt the overall cage dimensions.  Because they are permanently mounted (or will be) there is nothing but a small box of cardboard liners to store.  They are also easy to clean between litters, which is always a good thing!

The metal boxes were chosen over wood boxes simply because they last nearly forever and can be easily disinfected between litters.  Because we only have a couple of small does we don't have to worry much about storage.

Hopefully in a few days I'll be updating with kit news!

Learn all the ins and outs of breeding rabbits with the Raising Rabbits Essentials e-books.

My Review of the SodaStream Soda Maker

About a month ago we purchased a SodaStream, and after using it I wanted to share my review of this product.

While we try to live as naturally as possible, we still enjoy the occasional soda (okay, so the hubby likes one every day with his lunch too).  The thing that we don't enjoy is the enormous price tag or the waste leftover.  We don't live in a recycling state, so cans and bottles just end up in the trash.

I've had my SodaStream for about a month now, and here's the things I like about it so far:

• The price - Once you get passed the initial investment the maker and bottles, the price per unit works out to be much less than store bought soda.
• REAL SUGAR - in the regular soda versions, the sweetener is honest to goodness sugar.
• NO ASPARTAME - I'm a diet soda drinker, but like most people I'm scared to death of the potential risks of aspartame.  SodaStream's diet products are made with Splenda, and while some argue that it too is dangerous, the National Cancer Center has officially said that Splenda causes no health risks (at least at the time of this writing.  I'll update if I ever see that has changed).
• The flavor - I was really skeptical when it came to taste, but I've found that they really do taste just like the brand named versions.  I also like that you can control the amount of syrup/flavorings you use in your drinks.  Also, you can use your own flavorings to make terrific sparkling waters.
• No electricity required - Since we are planning to make the jump to off grid living in the next year this one was a biggie (I already have WAY too many gadgets and am going to have to downsize).
• Much less to store - In the space it would take to store just one 12pk, we have nearly 10 bottles of different flavorings, and each bottle makes approx 12 liters. 
• Quick & Easy - With this gadget you can literally make a bottle of soda in under a minute.  
• Reusable! - This one is huge for us.  Not only are the bottles reusable but the CO2 cartridge can be recycled and refilled.  One less thing in the landfills.

So what don't I like about the SodaStream?  Well, it's a big investment on the front end (units start around $80 each with the nicer looking units going for about $100). Extra bottles can be a bit pricey, and the bottles of flavoring are roughly $6 each or more.  

I am nervous about the unit's construction as well, being that it's mostly plastic.  So far it is holding up well and we'll just have to see how it does in the long term.

I do think that this is something that Prepper's should consider owning, not just the suburbanite or homesteader.  We read all the time about keeping morale up in a SHTF type scenario and to try to maintain a sense of normalcy while you are attempted to adapt to sudden changes in situation.  It seems like a silly thing maybe, but a bottle of your favorite beverage might just make things a little less stressful.  

Just my two cents really.

UPDATE 4/20/2012:  The SodaStream is still working wonderfully and the plastics seem to be very durable.