Archive for February, 2010

February 27th, 2010

Who Wants to Play?

I am often asked whether my animals like to play with toys.  The answer is that they all love to play, but there aren’t too many toys they enjoy.  Sheep, goats, alpacas, and chickens don’t have any formal toys.  Sometimes I hang some fruit from a string and the chickens seem to enjoy pecking at [...]

February 23rd, 2010

A Lesson For Us All

Brie is a good goat.  She is sweet and calm.  She isn’t pushy and respects the other animals in her herd, namely Kit, Kaboodle, and Eliza.  Brie wasn’t always like this.  When she was younger, she was the herd leader.  She bossed everyone around as if she were queen of Piscataway Acres.  She was a [...]

February 22nd, 2010

Icelandic Sheep

There aren’t many breeders of Icelandic Sheep around.  This surprises me because they are terrific animals.  Icelandic sheep are classified as triple purpose.  They produce milk, meat, and wool.  They also have fantastic personalities.  I have shared some of the fun experiences I have had with the two girls, Kit and Kaboodle, as well as [...]

February 21st, 2010

Please Sir, Can I Have Some More?

I have mentioned before that my animals are spoiled.  Although I enjoy spoiling them, there is one major disadvantage to having spoiled animals (similar to having spoiled children), they constantly want more!  Even when they are full, they are begging for something.  More hay, better tasting hay, more grain pellets, more sweet feed, more oats, [...]

February 17th, 2010

Update on the Rooster

The new rooster has been given a name, Ezekiel.  It seems to suit him well.  He is no Jorge by any means; he crows a lot and loudly, he is mean to me and the pigs, and he has brought the hens under his dominance.  In my experience, when I introduce a new rooster, it [...]

February 16th, 2010

Ms. Eliza Doolittle

Eliza is one of the two Nigerian Dwarf Goats at Piscataway Acres.  She was purchased from Hearts-N-Hooves dairy goat farm on the Eastern Shore of Maryland when she was just over a month old.  She is a character and a handful.  Her favorite activities include jumping over fences, breaking into feed containers, knocking over feed [...]

February 11th, 2010

Tagine Cooking

A tagine is a Moroccan cooking dish that has a unique cone shaped lid that locks in moisture and flavor.  I have just started using this ceramic dish and have found that meats are much more tender and moist than cooking with traditional pots.  I have cooked several meals with this North African pot and [...]

February 10th, 2010

Blizzard of 2010, Round 2

Another day and another foot of snow.  My sentiments echo that of the animals; this is getting old.  But other than the limited mobility, I and the animals are doing very well.  I opened up the pens in the barn to give the animals a little more space to move around in.  I figure if [...]

February 9th, 2010

Eggs

Although the snow is falling here once again, I thought that people were getting sick of snow pictures and articles.  But not to worry, I am sure plenty more will come given how this winter has gone!
Here at Piscataway Acres we have had a number of eggs laid and hatched.  Although I raise about 100 [...]

February 7th, 2010

Visions of Spring

After the DC area got hit with another massive snow storm, my mind turned to the upcoming spring and summer.  Despite what the groundhog says, spring is fast approaching.  Soon the crocus will bloom, then the daffodils and hyacinths, the garden will be planted, chicks will hatch, and the warmth will return.
It is hard to [...]