Organizing the Barn

We go through phases of organizing, and reworking layouts in the barn.  We knew we needed to get it cleaned up as it is spring and that is when we usually get a bunch of baby animals.  One stall in the barn contains most of our storage containers with clothes etc in them, and it was just cumbersome to find the right container.  So one rainy day we pulled everything out and started from scratch, trying to reuse some of the materials.  The shelving that was torn out was too deep, so we built the shelving that worked better with our containers.

This was the end result on one side of the stall.  It makes finding the correct container a lot easier.  We don't have a garage, so the barn is it for storage outside the house.  The containers keep the mice out and help prevent things from molding as the barn is slightly moist with the dirt floor, and random drips.

This is the other side of the stall where we built a couple of shelves to hold some  beekeeping equipment, and my two helpers.  Mia also helped out and learned how to use my new impact driver, which I love.

We also built a frame for the Sheetmetal feed bin that Craig had built for us.  The bin is probably large enough to hold 700-1000lbs of feed, I probably should have given him smaller dimensions, but we have it now.  Our frame might collapse if we ever put that much feed in it.

Finished organized corner.  Mia and Lily worked to clean out the chick nursery in the right side of the picture.  We are still looking at trying to pour a concrete slab at the far end of the barn, but the biggest obstacle is finding a home for everything while we work on it.  It would make things a lot cleaner down there, and provide a place for the kids to rid scooters in the winter and allow me to work on the cars easier etc.

Cows

Typically. . . . .  or the last two years, I don't want you to think we have been doing this for 15 years or something, we purchase two bottle calves usually a week or two old.  Then we raise them for 1 1/2 years and then butcher them.  Or at least that was the original plan.  However this year it has been difficult to find a dairy/beef cross like we got last year.  Prices on calves are about double what they were last year, even when you look at the auctions they are showing twice what they were a year ago.  Here are some recent pics of last years calves, Oreo (black one), and Burger (Brown one):

Oreo is pretty friendly and does not mind a neck scratch, but Burger always keeps his distance unless you have something that really looks yummy.

A couple of people have asked why we don't just get a heifer and breed her so we don't have to buy baby calves or do the bottle feedings.  And with the prices of cows being really high right now, we might consider looking into that option.  I have been looking into Dexter cows which are a smaller breed and are a good dual purpose cow.

Note the cows out the window.  During the winter we ran a electric wire up closer to the house and let them eat the grass down, however it is kind of startling to see them right outside the window.
I have found a farm nearby that raises Dexter's and they have invited us over to talk Cows and see what Dexters are like and if they are a good fit for our Homestead.  Hopefully we will be able to take them up on the soon.