Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Barn, rabbit hutch, pheasant, and lamb news

The barn roof is basically done!!! We have to get on our long extension ladder to finish both ends is all. The next steps after that will be putting walls and windows in the loft walls and doors on the barn.

I also managed to finish the rabbit hutches finally. They look a little homemade (which they are) but they are colorful. They are also sturdier and should last longer. Hopefully the bunnies are happy with their updated digs.I had an awful day yesterday. It started out OK with gardening, selling Dinah to Eliz, and catching Dixie and Jemima. Then I got tin sheets ready to finish the barn and did the animal chores. I moved the sheep and goats out back where there is plenty of grass. So far, so good and I had time to mow the front pasture that is being taken over by thistles. So I am on the tractor mowing in the sunny warm weather which is one of my funnest things to do- believe it or not. I noticed our loose pheasant hen hanging out where I was mowing but did not think much of it- just assumed she was eating the bugs that were being disturbed with the mower. Then she ran into the thistles ahead of the mower but again did not think much of it- assumed she was hiding in the tall thistle when I made passes near her. Then I almost ran her over- had to stop the tractor to make sure I did not hit her. I did not notice anything so kept mowing. On the next circle I noticed a dead chick. Then I finally got off the tractor and took a closer look. I had mowed her nest and 5 very young pheasant chicks with it. I was so upset. I had to pick up the dead chicks. There was still one unhatched egg. I tried to make up the nest nice so maybe she would sit on it and get one chick still but she did not. I finally put the egg under one of our broody hens so hopefully there will be one saved. I felt just traumatized the rest of the day. I kept kicking myself for not stopping and looking around more why she was acting so oddly. The thought that she had a nest or chicks never crossed my mind but really should have. I hate being the cause of the deaths of those cute, innocent chicks. It would have been such a pretty sight seeing them walking around after their mother in the pasture. I just feel sick.

Anyway, Tom came home from work and we finished the barn roof then I went for a long drive. Came home, ate dinner and went to bed early with a book. I do not think Tom really appreciated how hard I took this. Today I checked out my two ewe lambs which helped a little to cheer me up. At least I do not kill every young cute animal here.

Dixie's fleece:
Dixie's face:
Jemima's fleece:
Jemima's face:


12 comments:

Nancy K. said...

Oh, Donna ~ I am SO sorry for you! I know how horrible you must feel. Of course it was an accident but that doesn't lesson how awful you are feeling. I hope the egg you saved hatches a cute little phesant hen for you.

Your sheep are lovely!

Donna said...

It is unlikely the egg I saved is viable, but there's a chance. Thanks for the sympathy- it helps.

Michelle said...

I would be just as sick (and Rick would probably fail to understand completely, as well). I'm so sorry. If it would make you feel better, I could take Jemima off your hands. Such a BEAUTIFUL face!

Tammy said...

So sorry this happened. We all make mistakes, especially when we are so busy. It's so terribly painful though when that affects one of the creatures we care for. I would be just as sick, but you do the best you can, and your place and critters show that you care so much.
Tammy

HisTek said...

I am so sorry Donna. I have accidentally killed a chick before (I didn't see it and stepped on it) and it was a sickening feeling. It happened to be my daughter's favorite of the batch. I felt terrible so can sympathize with you. I learned to watch where I step around chicks. You take excellent care of your animals, this was an accident. Dixie and Jemima are gorgeous. i wish my sheep fleeces looked as clean as those!
Jackie Craw

Donna said...

Michelle, Tammy and Jackie,

I really appreciate your sympathies and your experiences. It helps.

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear about the chicks. That would give me a heavy heart too.

Love Jemima's pic, though. She sure is a pretty girl!

Tina T-P said...

Oh, how sad for you to have that happen - sorry.

That Jemimah is a looker :-) T.

Donna said...

Thanks Denise and Tina
I guess that is the thing when you raise critters. Sometimes you screw up and have to deal with the guilt. And sometimes you have pretty lambs to look at.

Anonymous said...

Donna, I would not have known what was happening with the pheasant either. And I would have done exactly what you did. And then I would have felt bad, just as you do. But now that you have shared the story, we can all learn from it. Think of all the pheasants that will be saved in the future?! Also, I love your rabbit hutches and your sheep are gorgeous!

Donna said...

Thanks for the nice comments- if my posting my horrible story saved one pheasant I would be quite happy.

Elizabeth J. Neal said...

This is the rabbit hutch design I use for all my rabbits. It's safe, sturdy, attractive, predator-proof, tornado-proof, and hurricane-proof. Home and Roost

Shaun the Sheep "Off the Baa"

Shaun the Sheep clip "Save the Tree"