Homesteaders

[duluthralphie]

Lucky you! I look at all the stuff I want to do around here, and just dream of the time when I can get up and say, I don't have to go to work this week. Thankfully, I work per-diem, so it's not like I'm tied to an every day thing. But both my job and my at home activities are physically demanding. That's why I have only 2 speeds: Stop and Go.

I can understand that.

But being retired is not all it is cracked up to be. First it means the finish line is getting closer.

2nd and I never understood this before, a person is so busy when retired they do not have time to do everything, or you are sick.

I have been cleaning house all day, preparing tomatoes for canning. I have the 2 baby PC's and their mother out free ranging and the Teenage Turkeys out free ranging, so I have to check on them all the time. I have a meeting tonight, and I have to get to the hospital and see my wife.

I have breeding pens to build, fences and ones to complete, remodeling of the layers coop, eggplants and cabbage I need to figure out what to do with. Squash, beans, cukes and peppers in the garden that need tending. A couple roosters sitting in a pen waiting to ride in the new merry go round like plucker. In addition to feeding and watering the birds an collecting and cleaning eggs.


I need two of me, but the world is not that blessed.

 

[Molpet]

Lucky you! I look at all the stuff I want to do around here, and just dream of the time when I can get up and say, I don't have to go to work this week. Thankfully, I work per-diem, so it's not like I'm tied to an every day thing. But both my job and my at home activities are physically demanding. That's why I have only 2 speeds: Stop and Go.

HA.. I am retired also... motivation and time management skill seem to go out the window.. the garden was good so then I had to get poultry (to motivate me out of the house in the winter).. I am more busy than I was working. still haven't gotten those things done I said I would when I retired...

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I'm not retired, I am a house mom, a hobby poultry farmer, a hobby gardener, a part time equestrian attendant a full time cook and house keeper. Oh and 24/7 child care. All the great things my mom and aunt talk about doing after retirement I started early so by the time I'm at retirement age I can just hang out all day and bake. Lol, I wish.

 

[Beekissed]

I was Joking about the deadly weapon!!!

I did not think I would have to say that. I am guessing I am the only one old enough to remember the old movies (mainly black and white") where the wife would bean the errant husband with the cast iron frying pan...



I love cast iron frying pans. I would only have them if I could. My wife hates them. I have no idea why.


I have and use them at the cabin. I might get some for home here, but she would not like it.....I can tell..

I got it and thought it was hilarious!

Funnier to me because I used to tell Mom if Dad were MY husband I would have picked up an iron skillet and gonged it off his big ol' head a long time ago! It's the perfect size and heft for just such a job....adjusting attitudes.

 

[GardenNut]

I

I was Joking about the deadly weapon!!!    I did not think I would have to say that.  I am guessing I am the only one old enough to remember the old movies (mainly black and white")   where the wife would bean the errant husband with the cast iron frying pan...



I love cast iron frying pans.  I would only have them if I could. My wife hates them.    I have no idea why.


I have and use them at the cabin.  I might get some for home here, but she would not like it.....I can tell..

I knew exactly what you meant!

my mother used to threaten my dad with a cast iron skillet or a butcher knife!

 

[Beekissed]

Farm dogs doing their job....hugely overfed farm dogs, who might have gave this coyote more sport if they weren't so over indulged but still giving it a good shot. I love Labs for farm dogs!

http://www.komar.org/faq/dog-versus-coyote/

 

[duluthralphie]

Farm dogs doing their job....hugely overfed farm dogs, who might have gave this coyote more sport if they weren't so over indulged but still giving it a good shot. I love Labs for farm dogs!

http://www.komar.org/faq/dog-versus-coyote/

I love Labs! they are friendly easily controlled and want to please their "masters". They will defend against anything. I have a lab that looks almost like the one in the scenario. She is friendly as can be, but I would not want to be a trespasser in her home, truck or barns. A friend of mine reached into my truck when she was in the back seat and I was not close and nearly lost the hand. Luckily he had quick reflexes!

I have baby birds free ranging right now, which is why the dogs are forced to be outside as I am canning.

Great article!!

 

[Beekissed]

I have experienced the same thing with Labs and I find them to be some of the most perfect farm dogs....ferociously brave, loyal to a fault, intelligent, happy go lucky, nurturing, gentle and obedient. Few health issues, if any at all, and wonderful with kids and other animals. My first Lab even could drive cattle...not the way cattle dogs do it, but quietly and with just intimidation and stance, he'd move them along. He was rather like Ol' Yeller in the movie in how versatile he was and in the amount of personality he had.

My current Lab/BC mix is 10 yrs old now and has spent every year giving faithful, loyal service to the job and family, humble but strong and afraid of nothing. He has been guarding the flock now for the past several years on his own against black bear, coyote packs, stray dogs, coon, fox, etc. and doing a wonderful job of it, though a little too friendly to the stray dogs at times.

 

[lcertuche]

I have a lab/border collie and I just love her. I can't trust with the chickens unless I am outside with her. She will only listen to me and not my sons. I tried getting them to watch her but she started chasing them and wouldn't listen to him so I had to go out an order her to stop, which she did. She is a good watch dog but we have to keep her tied up so she won't run and jump in the pond or go over to the neighbors and chase his livestock. If I had the time to stay out with her she probably could be taught because she is really smart. she will be two-years old come Christmas so I'm hoping she will settle down some. I have her fixed so no puppies. I wished we had a big fenced in place for her to run.

 

[Beekissed]

I have a lab/border collie and I just love her. I can't trust with the chickens unless I am outside with her. She will only listen to me and not my sons. I tried getting them to watch her but she started chasing them and wouldn't listen to him so I had to go out an order her to stop, which she did. She is a good watch dog but we have to keep her tied up so she won't run and jump in the pond or go over to the neighbors and chase his livestock. If I had the time to stay out with her she probably could be taught because she is really smart. she will be two-years old come Christmas so I'm hoping she will settle down some. I have her fixed so no puppies. I wished we had a big fenced in place for her to run.

I have my two on a wireless containment system that lets them roam almost an acre of land...I've got that transmitter just a little ways from the coop so they have that area around the chicken coop and where the birds mainly forage. The birds forage WAY out past that most of the time but the presence of the dogs seems to protect them from four legged preds even that far.

Been using a wireless containment system for my dogs since 2003 and can't say enough good things about it and how much freedom it gives the dogs while also giving me peace of mind about them staying at home. It might be something you'd want to look into for your dog to keep her on the property.