Weekend Update for March 13-14, 2010

Harlan and I finally got the rest of the fence "goat-proofed" this weekend. We were able to move our two Nubian does into the newly fenced paddock. That leaves our soon-to-be mother Boer doe with the quadruplets as they are being weaned. It is hard to believe they are two months old today! Gosh,they are big already!
Mother Goose finally hatched a gosling--one--and it is a boy! His name is Hans Solo. Pilgrim geese are sex-linked in color, so that we can tell their gender at birth. Ganders become white, and geese become gray with some white tips on their wings. They are quite interesting to watch during this exciting time! Daddy gander is so protective. Two other geese are nesting right now, so more goslings will be arriving within a few weeks.
Our meat chicks are now three weeks old and quite grotesque looking, in my opinion. They are already quite meaty and heavy. These are Cornish X and Cornish Roasters that will mature as scantily feathered white-skinned birds. Definitely not raised for their looks! Talk about cankles!! Due to their unattractiveness, my husband and I have decided to choose another variety for the next time. However, they will take 11 weeks to reach slaughter weight versus 48 days with the current variety.
That's all for now....