Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
guinea pigs
well here I am, haven't posted a pic of the first guinea pig cage I built, and now I've just moved the rest of the family into another new cage, and sometime soon I'll build cage no 3 and seperate all males and female for now anyway.
I'm refining my design, but a bit limited by using recycled wood. My next design I'll design from scratch. It will be lighter and even easier to move than the last one, with a smaller indoor area, and again with 6 wheels. (4 under the hutch, and 2 at the far end) I'll keep some of the design features of the last hutch, and improve on it. When I've come up with a prototype that I'm really happy with, I'll start selling them. (or trying to).
The guinea pigs seem to love their new cage. The new one has quite a large indoor area, probably larger than they needed, but I was using half a pallet to make it, and that became the base. But because the family is quite big (7 guinea pigs, 3 adults, 1 "teenager" and 3 little ones) they seem to be enjoying the extra space.
The indoor area is raised, so I built a wide ramp for the guinea pigs to use to access it , but there is just a little entrance to the hutch at the top of the ramp. I made the ramp wide in case some of the guineas are afraind of heights lol.Its made out of rough wood so they don't slip on it. At first they were reluctant to use it because I think they felt exposed, so I made a cover for it out of an old feed bag, which they seem to really love. So its more like a tunnel now.
I've noticed that guinea pigs seem to really like having somewhere to hide, and good cover. They like taking their food under the ramp to eat it as well. The little ones race up and down the ramp and seem to be enjoying the variety of spaces the new cage offers them.
I hope its warmer for them too, been really cold at night lately. they are really safe from dogs and cats now which is good.
Speaking of cats, had to take one to the vet after she turned up with a badly cut leg, just above the paw. it's healing well which is good, and doesnt appear to have damaged any tendons or bones.
I'm refining my design, but a bit limited by using recycled wood. My next design I'll design from scratch. It will be lighter and even easier to move than the last one, with a smaller indoor area, and again with 6 wheels. (4 under the hutch, and 2 at the far end) I'll keep some of the design features of the last hutch, and improve on it. When I've come up with a prototype that I'm really happy with, I'll start selling them. (or trying to).
The guinea pigs seem to love their new cage. The new one has quite a large indoor area, probably larger than they needed, but I was using half a pallet to make it, and that became the base. But because the family is quite big (7 guinea pigs, 3 adults, 1 "teenager" and 3 little ones) they seem to be enjoying the extra space.
The indoor area is raised, so I built a wide ramp for the guinea pigs to use to access it , but there is just a little entrance to the hutch at the top of the ramp. I made the ramp wide in case some of the guineas are afraind of heights lol.Its made out of rough wood so they don't slip on it. At first they were reluctant to use it because I think they felt exposed, so I made a cover for it out of an old feed bag, which they seem to really love. So its more like a tunnel now.
I've noticed that guinea pigs seem to really like having somewhere to hide, and good cover. They like taking their food under the ramp to eat it as well. The little ones race up and down the ramp and seem to be enjoying the variety of spaces the new cage offers them.
I hope its warmer for them too, been really cold at night lately. they are really safe from dogs and cats now which is good.
Speaking of cats, had to take one to the vet after she turned up with a badly cut leg, just above the paw. it's healing well which is good, and doesnt appear to have damaged any tendons or bones.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Cat TV
The cats live for a chance to get the guinea, they don't have a chance now, but they never stop hoping.
The beginnings of a garden
This is the start of my vege patch, the girls helped me plant spinach, silver beet, beetroot, kale, parsley and chives. lots more to come. One row of tyres has flowers, and the inner row has the veges.
Hawera plums
A few weeks ago I planted a couple of Hawera plum trees. I had to put an order in at the local garden center because they go really quickly when theyre in stock, and they only were getting 10 trees in this season. They Hawera plum trees are all taken from a local plum tree that has always done exceptionally well in the cold windy coastal region that I live in. My two are both good sized trees so should be well established in a year or two.
trimming trees.
yesterday I spent an hour or so trimming some of the trees around my boundary. Still a bit more to do, ran out of steam after a while. The trees shade my front garden at some times of the day, so am trimming them to around 5 mtrs to let more sun in. I'm noticing the difference already, and the front of the house has a lighter feel to it. I'd prefer to have mainly fruit trees in the space i have available, (although it's neccessary to have a shelter belt of bushy trees for protection from the strong coastal winds).
Updated Bath with Mischa
I've planted daffodils in the pink tyres, would like to add some sunflowers in spring.
I cover all my tyres with netting until the plants are established because the cats are notorious for destroying young plants!
I cover all my tyres with netting until the plants are established because the cats are notorious for destroying young plants!
awwww so cute :-)
Well the Baby guineas didn't arrive the night I expected them to, instead she had them on one of the coldest nights we've had all winter. Put a couple of "hotwater bottles" (2 ltr milk bottles, filled with hotwater & wrapped in newspaper) in the cage and hoped for the best. A couple of weeks later, all are doing fine.
The fact that they have three mothers instead of one may be helping :-). All three females, which are all in milk, take turns feeding the babies, so cooperative.
Lots of new pics and more.
I took a whole lot of pics which I'm going to post today...we even made a movie! My neighbours granddaughter Brooke and her friend Kristal came over and we made a movie for Brooke to take home after the holidays. I'll post the movie here a bit later, it's quite a large file, so might be easier to post it on you tube and have a link here.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
New life on the farm
I'm expecting to find more baby guinea pigs in the morning, tried to look in the hutch but the guinea pigs were all huddled together protectively, and I didnt want to disturb them. The females seem to work together to look after the young, and all mother any new ones. was sad to lose 2 of the other three babies, the cage is now more secure so the little ones can't escape. Anyway after this lot, I'll try to avoid any more pregnancies for a while. The males have finally settled in well together and share their sleeping box, and the females will stay together, and the babies will be seperated into sexes when they are older.
After from that, I've been preparing to plant veges, planted a few more daffodils, and will start some seed trays next. Bought some chia seed, a highly nutricious seed that can be used in bread. same plant and similar nutrients to salba.
going to plant them so I can harvest my own seeds to use in bread. My friend Suzanna makes the best bread ever, so i'll get her to make some for me.
Definitely due for some more photo's soon.
After from that, I've been preparing to plant veges, planted a few more daffodils, and will start some seed trays next. Bought some chia seed, a highly nutricious seed that can be used in bread. same plant and similar nutrients to salba.
going to plant them so I can harvest my own seeds to use in bread. My friend Suzanna makes the best bread ever, so i'll get her to make some for me.
Definitely due for some more photo's soon.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
abundance gardening...
I'm starting to plan the vege garden now, with the aim of creating an abundance of supply, with the surplus available to sell at local markets or from home.I don't have a huge piece of land, and one of my objectives is to demonstrate how a small piece of land can produce an abundance of food.
In fact a lot of my garden could be recreated in a courtyard or in containers. When I lived in the far north I had a friend who had a commercial organic garden, he planted all his broccoli in used yoghurt pottles, and sold it at the market with the roots intact. That way it was as fresh as possible, but also could be taken home again if it didnt sell that day. I've been collecting 1000's of pots, discarded by other gardeners, and I plan to do the same for all my fresh veges - grow each cabbage or broccolli or lettuce in an individual pot.
I'll offer a discount on the sale of the next vege, for the return of a pot, or in exchange for a pot.
I'm often put off buying veges from the supermarket, because the nutrient content goes down evey hour they picking. I'd like to also sell little vege gardens, & premade herb and salad gardens.
A way to go until then though :-) taking just one step at a time......
In fact a lot of my garden could be recreated in a courtyard or in containers. When I lived in the far north I had a friend who had a commercial organic garden, he planted all his broccoli in used yoghurt pottles, and sold it at the market with the roots intact. That way it was as fresh as possible, but also could be taken home again if it didnt sell that day. I've been collecting 1000's of pots, discarded by other gardeners, and I plan to do the same for all my fresh veges - grow each cabbage or broccolli or lettuce in an individual pot.
I'll offer a discount on the sale of the next vege, for the return of a pot, or in exchange for a pot.
I'm often put off buying veges from the supermarket, because the nutrient content goes down evey hour they picking. I'd like to also sell little vege gardens, & premade herb and salad gardens.
A way to go until then though :-) taking just one step at a time......
Ups and downs
Today was a mixed day in the garden. I finally started planting daffodils again, and preparing for the vege garden. I was really pleased with the progress, and was admiring the two Hawera plum trees I had planted a few days ago, when tragedy struck - as I turned toward some loud squeaks coming from one of the hutches, I saw one of the cats running across the lawn with one of the babies in his mouth. I managed to get it off him, but unfortunately it was too late. It's injuries were too severe to be fixed, and I could only make him as comfortable as possible for his last moments.
I've secure the hutch so that there won't be any more escapees. but it was pretty sad at the time.
In some ways that whole story sums up nature pretty well. Nature always produces an abundance, and already another mother to be is getting fatter every day, and soon the little one we lost will be replaced, but not forgotten.... The cats are only following their nature as predators, but as there caretaker, I try to prevent this kind of thing happening. I have the plan for next cage, to house the mothers and babies, in my head, with improvements on the last attempt. The last cage, was designed around the materials I on hand, but the next one will be custom built with function and comfort priorities.
The original cage is not very well designed, and the sooner there is a new cage the better.
I've secure the hutch so that there won't be any more escapees. but it was pretty sad at the time.
In some ways that whole story sums up nature pretty well. Nature always produces an abundance, and already another mother to be is getting fatter every day, and soon the little one we lost will be replaced, but not forgotten.... The cats are only following their nature as predators, but as there caretaker, I try to prevent this kind of thing happening. I have the plan for next cage, to house the mothers and babies, in my head, with improvements on the last attempt. The last cage, was designed around the materials I on hand, but the next one will be custom built with function and comfort priorities.
The original cage is not very well designed, and the sooner there is a new cage the better.
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