When I tell people that I am up before 6.30am they think I am mad, and to be honest so do I most mornings. As my alarm goes off, it is often still dark outside, you can tell the temperature is cold as the tip of my nose tells me to stay in the bed. The reason I get up so early, is because it is "me" time, the only time it is quiet in Casa Chaos. This is the time when I can drink coffee uninterrupted and when I can do the things I want to do, including sitting quietly.
Getting up at this time can be a struggle as I know that I will have to put my feet on the cold floors, and remove myself from the warm bed, but it has to be done. I will need to find the quickest route to the kitchen, where the kettle is waiting for me. It is quite sad that the only time I can find "me" time is in the dark and cold, and before anyone else notices that I am out of bed.
Every day is becoming like Groundhog Day, and I can feel my exhaustion levels rising and my love for Casa Chaos diminishing. I want more "me" time than 20 minutes in the morning whilst huddled around a cup of coffee to keep warm, the problem is where do I start and how do I achieve that goal. Don't worry I am not leaving Casa Chaos, I do sit sometimes and think how it has totally absorbed my life, and sometimes there has to be more then this.
I need to recharge my batteries, and spend some time doing the things I want, easier said than done, but there has to be a way! Anyway my 20 minutes are up, the children have risen, the dogs and cats have discovered I am awake, let the day begin.
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Sunday, 7 April 2013
Chicken Math Which Will Make you Cringe
A lady in the village yesterday was informing me that I should be really rich as I am selling my eggs, and doing really well. People like this make me chuckle, and often have no idea what goes into raising animals, or running a business. You will be amazed how much you spend out, and the return is typically so little that any sane business person would walk away.
Chicken math is madness, and makes no sense at all, unless they are your chickens, then it all becomes clear, well as a muddy puddle. Over a year ago we started this journey, we inherited the coop, and some of the chickens, so that was a bonus. We repaired what was here, therefore, spending very little on materials, but do you count the labour?
We fed the chickens for months with no real egg production, so that cost us at least 200€ in feed, and using the eggs as there were not enough to sell. Therefore, we were running at a loss immediately and had to get back the money that we were investing without any profit. I was determined to make a profit, and ultimately chickens are capable of doing this.
I bought the batteries, which cost 200€, we were now 400€ in the red! The feed bills continued to grow and slowly the egg production increased, but as we sell them at 2€ for 10 and have to buy the cartons, this was an incredibly small profit, and a long road ahead. By the time we pay for the water, spare feeders, bedding, replace fencing, and give some roosters to the food project we are back deep in the red!
So, at this point are you sitting there wondering how on earth chickens make a profit the honest answer is they don't, well not a huge one. However, they do provide my family with fresh, free range eggs, and hours of amusement. My goal is always to make money, but I also think that providing a healthier, happier life for my family is also vital. Maybe one day we will break even on the chicken thing, and if we are lucky we will make a profit!
Chicken math is madness, and makes no sense at all, unless they are your chickens, then it all becomes clear, well as a muddy puddle. Over a year ago we started this journey, we inherited the coop, and some of the chickens, so that was a bonus. We repaired what was here, therefore, spending very little on materials, but do you count the labour?
We fed the chickens for months with no real egg production, so that cost us at least 200€ in feed, and using the eggs as there were not enough to sell. Therefore, we were running at a loss immediately and had to get back the money that we were investing without any profit. I was determined to make a profit, and ultimately chickens are capable of doing this.
I bought the batteries, which cost 200€, we were now 400€ in the red! The feed bills continued to grow and slowly the egg production increased, but as we sell them at 2€ for 10 and have to buy the cartons, this was an incredibly small profit, and a long road ahead. By the time we pay for the water, spare feeders, bedding, replace fencing, and give some roosters to the food project we are back deep in the red!
So, at this point are you sitting there wondering how on earth chickens make a profit the honest answer is they don't, well not a huge one. However, they do provide my family with fresh, free range eggs, and hours of amusement. My goal is always to make money, but I also think that providing a healthier, happier life for my family is also vital. Maybe one day we will break even on the chicken thing, and if we are lucky we will make a profit!
Braxton Hicks?
Do goats have Braxton Hicks is the debate at the moment, as I was so sure that Jill was ready to have her kids, but it seems not. She is back up running around without a care in the world, which is more annoying. Who knows when she will give birth, but thank you all for the messages, and offers of help.
One woman was telling me yesterday that assisting with the birth is all to do with the size of your hands, thank god I have big hands! I did point out that she however, had very small hands and that she was more than welcome to pop over to help!
I have also been sent many videos showing goat births, thanks for those, nothing better to put you off your breakfast! I think it is one of those things that you cannot prepare for, and if I need to delve in I will, or I will phone a friend with small hands, and a calm manner. I have a few of those on speed dial thankfully.
So, we all wait with baited breath and hope that Jill remains in the pen, we have evicted the chicken and her chicks, so that is a start. I will of course let everyone know the moment we have babies, and if you are really lucky you will have photos of a small hand delving around assisting!
One woman was telling me yesterday that assisting with the birth is all to do with the size of your hands, thank god I have big hands! I did point out that she however, had very small hands and that she was more than welcome to pop over to help!
I have also been sent many videos showing goat births, thanks for those, nothing better to put you off your breakfast! I think it is one of those things that you cannot prepare for, and if I need to delve in I will, or I will phone a friend with small hands, and a calm manner. I have a few of those on speed dial thankfully.
So, we all wait with baited breath and hope that Jill remains in the pen, we have evicted the chicken and her chicks, so that is a start. I will of course let everyone know the moment we have babies, and if you are really lucky you will have photos of a small hand delving around assisting!
Friday, 5 April 2013
Green Duck
The duck pond is one of those things that is a necessity, the ducks love it, but it is disgusting most of the time. If I had a huge bucket of money I would have a filtration system fitted, to remove the endless task of cleaning the pond. It is one of those jobs that I think if I ignore the pond fairies will appear, and clean for me....Yeah right! back in the real world.
The pond was disgusting yesterday, I knew that it was but thought I could walk past quickly and not notice. Unfortunately, Billy appeared from the pond just at that moment, and you know you have a dirty pond when your duck is green. How embarrassing to have a green duck due to non cleaning of the pond. Thankfully Billy didn't care, he stood there waiting to be fed, a strange shade of green, but I was mortified!
Operation clean duck pond had to be done, and this meant now, so late last night the duck pond was emptied. Some plants got watered, the ground got a soaking and when we all got bored of walking, the water just got thrown around. Some was thrown at jack who was trying to help by head butting everyone into the murky water, and some was thrown at the annoying rooster that keeps escaping. So, all in all a productive evening, the ducks have clean water, the plants are well fed, and the goat got yet another bucket of water over his head!
The pond was disgusting yesterday, I knew that it was but thought I could walk past quickly and not notice. Unfortunately, Billy appeared from the pond just at that moment, and you know you have a dirty pond when your duck is green. How embarrassing to have a green duck due to non cleaning of the pond. Thankfully Billy didn't care, he stood there waiting to be fed, a strange shade of green, but I was mortified!
Operation clean duck pond had to be done, and this meant now, so late last night the duck pond was emptied. Some plants got watered, the ground got a soaking and when we all got bored of walking, the water just got thrown around. Some was thrown at jack who was trying to help by head butting everyone into the murky water, and some was thrown at the annoying rooster that keeps escaping. So, all in all a productive evening, the ducks have clean water, the plants are well fed, and the goat got yet another bucket of water over his head!
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
We are in Labour...I think?
Well after posting fat pictures of Jill, it appears to have prompted her into having her kids, and I do believe that she is in labour. Now I am no expert, and I was referred to as the crazy goat lady yesterday, but a quick scan of Google revealed some facts about goats and labour. However, even without Google, there was no doubt that Jill was showing signs, as she reminded me of many a pregnant lady that I have known.
Jill was pacing up and down, then she would lay, sit, get up, lay sit get up, she was also very ratty with Jack, and fretful. The way she walks and sighs as she lays down reminds me of a heavily pregnant lady, but all of these was not the clear indicator. When she turned yesterday to display her lala, or lady canal as Mrs S calls it, there was a huge amount of water and discharge.
Panic set in, oh my god what if she has it through the night, or up a mountain, or if it gets stuck, or if no one is around. With all of these questions racing through my head, I turned to my husband in sympathy, for him to state, "oh well I'm off to work" Thanks for the support there, thankfully he was slightly more supportive about his own children when they were born.
I went to prepare a nice big bed of straw for Jill in the goat house to discover a chicken sat on eggs, fantastic, not what! In all honestly Jill doesn't go in the goat house much, which is obviously why the chicken moved in! I kept checking on her every 20 minutes, until it got dark, as you know I'm not good in the dark, so then she was on her own!
As of this morning no babies, but there again I don't appear to have any goats either, she better not be up that bloody mountain in the cave!
Jill was pacing up and down, then she would lay, sit, get up, lay sit get up, she was also very ratty with Jack, and fretful. The way she walks and sighs as she lays down reminds me of a heavily pregnant lady, but all of these was not the clear indicator. When she turned yesterday to display her lala, or lady canal as Mrs S calls it, there was a huge amount of water and discharge.
Panic set in, oh my god what if she has it through the night, or up a mountain, or if it gets stuck, or if no one is around. With all of these questions racing through my head, I turned to my husband in sympathy, for him to state, "oh well I'm off to work" Thanks for the support there, thankfully he was slightly more supportive about his own children when they were born.
I went to prepare a nice big bed of straw for Jill in the goat house to discover a chicken sat on eggs, fantastic, not what! In all honestly Jill doesn't go in the goat house much, which is obviously why the chicken moved in! I kept checking on her every 20 minutes, until it got dark, as you know I'm not good in the dark, so then she was on her own!
As of this morning no babies, but there again I don't appear to have any goats either, she better not be up that bloody mountain in the cave!
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Nude Farming
I am sent many things every day, some are useful, others strange, but many are simply amusing, and make me sit and chuckle. I opened an email from a friend the other day, and laughed from beginning to end, which caused my husband to ask what on earth was causing so much amusement. The source of this chuckling was due to the concept of nude farming.
Yes, you read that correctly, apparently there is a farm which has been founded since 2007, which believes that animals don't wear clothes, therefore, why should the farmers. Errr hello are these people insane! well yes slightly in my opinion, but hey what do I know! As you read through the website, it all seems very nice, tranquil surroundings, content animals, oh yeah and naked people.
There are apparently many different activities that you can join in with every day, to ensure that you are kept busy. The list is vast and includes:
Sow your own oats
Pet rabbits
Collect eggs and a prize is given for the most inventive way to carry an egg!
Soak in the hot tub, as long as there is no cheese being made in it that day
Search for hairy asses
Judge cucumbers
The list goes on and on, and with every event they offer guidance and support, I would imagine some farmer may need slightly more support than others.
Oh, and there are strict rules regarding sleeping with sheep, thank god for that, as I thought there were no rules for a moment! I must confess that collecting eggs, rounding up goats and picking fruit in the nude does not appeal to me. All I can keep thinking about is where the hell you would put 30 eggs, no prize is worth that surely!
Yes, you read that correctly, apparently there is a farm which has been founded since 2007, which believes that animals don't wear clothes, therefore, why should the farmers. Errr hello are these people insane! well yes slightly in my opinion, but hey what do I know! As you read through the website, it all seems very nice, tranquil surroundings, content animals, oh yeah and naked people.
There are apparently many different activities that you can join in with every day, to ensure that you are kept busy. The list is vast and includes:
Sow your own oats
Pet rabbits
Collect eggs and a prize is given for the most inventive way to carry an egg!
Soak in the hot tub, as long as there is no cheese being made in it that day
Search for hairy asses
Judge cucumbers
The list goes on and on, and with every event they offer guidance and support, I would imagine some farmer may need slightly more support than others.
Oh, and there are strict rules regarding sleeping with sheep, thank god for that, as I thought there were no rules for a moment! I must confess that collecting eggs, rounding up goats and picking fruit in the nude does not appeal to me. All I can keep thinking about is where the hell you would put 30 eggs, no prize is worth that surely!
Monday, 1 April 2013
Fattest goat in history
Jill is huge, beyond fat and moving into the world of needing to go on Worlds Biggest Loser! Everyone keeps asking if she has had her kids yet, and the answer is NO. Someone even doubted if she was pregnant the other day, and asked if I was sure that she wasn't just fat. Well unless Jill has eaten all the cake and more, she is either the first obese goat or is heavily pregnant.
I must admit she does seem to have pregnant for ever! but I have no patience and have no idea when the magical moment occurred, so in all honesty she probably hasn't been pregnant for very long. I managed to get close enough to her yesterday to take some photos, and there is defiantly something moving inside her. Lets hope it is a goat, and not something from an Alien movie.
So for the moment we will all have to be patient and wait for the arrival, I do think there is more than one in there, but who knows, I am often very wrong.
I must admit she does seem to have pregnant for ever! but I have no patience and have no idea when the magical moment occurred, so in all honesty she probably hasn't been pregnant for very long. I managed to get close enough to her yesterday to take some photos, and there is defiantly something moving inside her. Lets hope it is a goat, and not something from an Alien movie.
So for the moment we will all have to be patient and wait for the arrival, I do think there is more than one in there, but who knows, I am often very wrong.
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