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 Stacey 4H
2005		 Stacey
4H
2004
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This is Update 2005
with Spike

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2005 NH Farm Update

 
Spike - the house pet duck
Spike sitting on Robert's lap
Spike enjoys the rocking chair with Robert

Spike - shown sitting on Robert's lap is an Ancona duck house pet. Spike loves to be rocked and most amusing of all - Spike really enjoys talking on the telephone! Some of Robert's friends actually ask to talk to Spike- Spike quacks when he hears voices on the telephone.
Spike was the lone survivor in one of the spring duck hatchings. The poor little fuzz ball wouldn't eat or drink without companionship. Carrie carried Spike in her shirt pocket during the day and Stacey slept next to Spike at night. He imprinted on his human family. When Spike grew older and was put with some other nice Ancona hens, he attacked them and chased them away. Spike now lives in a dog kennel in the family room with the TV and big fireplace. For a few hours a day he wears a diaper and follows the family around the house. Yes- you can actually buy diaper harnesses for ducks online! Sometimes he cuddles beside the family dog Mitsey. Unlike normal ducks, Spike HATES to have a bath.

Stacey's chickens
Ming - Black Tailed Bantam with blue ribbon
Ming - Best bird in 2 shows!
Stacey's 4-H chicken project is thriving and growing. Ming, Stacey's black-tailed white Japanese Bantam Chicken, won best bird of all 75 at the Cheshire Country Fair and then best bird of all 150 at the New Hampshire Poultry Fanciers show. Her Dutch was reserve champion. Some of the breeders were asking Stacey what she does to get her birds in such great condition. With about 50 chickens over-wintering in the basement, there are always plenty of fresh eggs.

Other 2005 Farm News
Hay Fields

Robert seeded an additional 16 acres of fields for hay. Getting rid of any rocks that could damage the haying equipment was far harder than Robert expected, taking most of the spring. Robert harvested about 200 bales of hay- some only good for mulch. Hopefully 2006 will be the first really good hay year.

 
Beavers Beavers moved back to the lodge on the property and started a new dam upstream of the farm boundary. They are making a nice pond that may be good for skating during the winter.  
Pippy the Horse Pippy was gentle, but undernourished when Stacey got her. Unfortunately, the better she felt in her new home, the worse she behaved despite professional training. Pippy had to leave for another home.  
Interesting Berries Robert got a few honey berries - a blue, edible honeysuckle berry from Russia and red, sweet-tart goumi berries that HE describes as "tasty".  
Vegetable Gardens Carrie grew a half acre vegetable garden that supplies the family with vegetables for most of the year.  
The Farmhouse Renovating the shed and re-attaching it to the house is on hold. The sunroom is yet to rise from the foundation built last year, but the windows and greenhouse panels are ready should the contractors show up- hopefully in early 2006.