Spring has Sprung

It is the May long weekend and I cann't believe a month has flew by since my last post. It is a busy time on the farm and the nice weather keeps me outside most days.

My garden is mostly planted with exception of the more delicate plants but those will be going in this week. The lettuce is ready to harvest with radishes and brocolli not far behind. The potatoes, peas, carrots, chard, beans,and sunflowers are up. The cauliflower, pepper, squash, garlic and some flowers are thriving. Tomatoes are transplanted to big pots and will stay on the deck to force the tomatoes to bloom and ripen faster; I hope. The apple tree is in full bloom. I am so pleased to see it swarming with orchard bees and the odd honey bee. The bumble bees have not yet appeared. A few ladybugs have also appeared! A 'thrush' has build her nest in the ivy in the carport and a pair of starlings have squacking babies in the nest in the eves of the house. The barred owls have returned and wake me in the night with their eerie cries. They will keep the wild rabbit population in control.
The elk have moved higher up the mountain but the odd white tail deer has wondered by and pruned some of my shrubbery and flower buds. The first sign of black bear is in the area but no visitors to the farm yet. Thank goodness.

The barns are full of baby rabbits. I had several very successful litters with litters of five, six and ten. Sales have been brisk so I still have some empty cages for upcoming litters. Firstly Mitchell's Mumbo my blue tort Mini lop has a litter of six torts. Mitchell's Daunte is the sire. Mitchell's Taylor had her first litter bred to Rah's Huffle; she has a litter of five. There is one chinchilla, two sable silver steels, one silver steel and one seal in the litter. They have awsome heads already. Mitchell's Peanut has her first litter bred to Posey's Austin. There are four chestnut agouti kits and three broken chestnut kits. JT's Godiva had one kit only bred to Mitchell's Geronimo. It is a very fat solid lynx. I fostered Mitchell's Jasmine litter of five to Godiva and she is successfully raising all six kits. Jasmine was bred to Posey's Bennett. Milkhouse Summer is raising four kits; the sire was Hillside's Paddy. The two old girls, Velotta's Cattabrie and Mitchell's Jewels didn't come through with live litters. They will be retired.

The demand for Californians have been high. I could of sold three times the youngsters I produced this spring. I purchased a forth doe from S&K Rabbitry. She will be of breeding age in about three months. Mitchell's Hosta raised three beautiful bucks. I sold two as herd bucks and I have held back one as Carter's replacement. Mitchell's Eclipse has a nice litter of six kits bred to Carter. I have bred Lupin to Chester and hope for a nice replacement buck for Chester in that litter.

The Silver Martens have amazed me with their productivity. Moonstruck's Promise raised six kits bred to Cedar Hill's Finnegan. Five blue does and a buck. Only one black doe in the litter. Moonstruck Tori raised two beautiful kits bred to Moonstruck's Twin. Cedar Hill's Sage had ten kits and is raising nine. She was bred to the new buck from Maryanne Preston - Preston's Jericho. All ten kits are black.

I have a few does due. Mitchell's Lupin bred to Mitchell's Chester; Posey's Portia bred to S&K Stanley; Mitchell's Dizzy bred to Mitchell's Jerry; Silver Streak's Fiona bred to Preston's Jericho. I will hold off breeding any more rabbits now until I free up some cages. I now need to sort and select stock from the upcoming litters for my fall show string. There is a show in Victoria in June so I can show the juniors in the barn and a few seniors that are not raising babies.

I will post again soon.