Kelpie- Dusty Road

Our kelpie, Dusty is such a delight to have around. I'm not just saying that cos he loves me either. He is so responsive, eager to please, attentive and full of personality. We have been so fortunate with him as he has never dug a hole, chewed anything up, killed any of our ducks or chickens. He follows me where ever i go. He'll come inside and lie at my feet and look like he's asleep. As soon as i make a move, he's up ready to go.

Goats milk soap

one of my latest interest has been making "goats milk soap." I searched the internet and came up with some really interesting recipes. If you're interested in trying my goats milk soap, just drop me a line. My selection so far consists of Lavender and d goats milk, honey oatmeal and goats milk, just plain goats mil for those who don't want any fragrance or colour and strawberry goat milk. Some of the plain soap i've added shea nut butter to and have some mango and cocoa butter that i'd like to try as well.

Bee Keeping

Our last season produced very liitle honey due to very little rain the previous season. The 2008-2009 wet delivered 28 inches of rain. Unfortunately the rain arrived after our peak flowering. The River Red Gums are in heavy bud, so hoping to have good nectar flows soon. The bees seem to be producing resonably well despite the lack of flowers about. They're obviously finding a mix of native flowers and garden plants to satisfy themselves with. I prefer to run the 3 supers on the hives during the warmer months then reduce down to 2 supers during winter. I find that by always leaving the hive with at least 1/2 a box of honey, there's no chance of me stressing the hive by over robbing. Having the 3 supers also gives them that extra room to deter them from swarming. We requeen our hives roughly every 18 months to 2 years or if they are getting a bit too hot headed and particularly aggressive. i have hepled peole who have had very aggressive hives, to requeen and they have noticed a major improvement in the temperament of their hives. They become more productive, less likely to swarm, thus numbers build up making a strong productive hive and they are a pleasure to work with being so much quieter.

Ducks are laying

My ducks are all laying now. I am collecting fertile eggs from most of them now. So far we have hatched Rouen, bantum Saxony , Bantum Appleyards, White Campbell, Muscovy and one Elizabeth. Still incubating under muscovy foster mums are the Aylesbury, Large Silver appleyard and more of the list of hatched. My calls are sitting on both Call and saxony eggs and a little partridge Wyandotte is helping to hatch both as well. Pictured are the first of this seasons saxony progeny.