Missing The Little Things

We have left the farm, but the farm has not left us. We cannot have a day where a conversation won't end with, "Too bad we don't have some goats for that,", or "The chickens would clean this up".

FIL Francis feeding fries to the hens last summer

Yep - throwing perfectly good scraps into the compost seems such a shame. Watching the chickens waddle over to tear the latest contributions apart was part of the fun, but knowing we were recycling and feeding them at the same time felt good. You've seen the chickens. Healthiest bunch for miles, or at least fattest. Best eggs ever! I miss those too.


Weeding and Weaning - 2011 -Sweet Pants babysitting

We hate having to mow this little lawn. A couple of goats could take perfect care of it, and then knock back some of the brush. Sigh!

We also really miss the bats in the barn (really cool!) AND...AND - the barn swallows.

Now a year ago, I don't think I would have included the barn swallows. By now the barn is full of their mud nests and they are dropping nesting scraps and their droppings everywhere. We had to be careful where water buckets and food sat. Anything of value was covered with feed bags or plastic. But the one thing the barn swallows and bats were good for - BUGS! They ate lots of them.

Mosquitoes. They love me. I can honestly say that in a mere week, maybe even a day (its been wet lately), I get more bites on my body then I did in ten YEARS at the farm. True. True. True.

Never EVER complain about bats, no matter how much guano is in your attic. Luckily for us, it was all in the barn, and yes, I hated them when I first got the spanking new John Deere. Covered it with plastic for months. Then I just finally figured out where there were the least bat homes, and flipped my seat forward and parked there. It is a tractor!

Boots and Brianna May 2012

One of the things I can luckily do, is follow the farm with the help of the new owners, and you can too. Here is the link to Rush Around Farm. They have already expanded and are having new adventures. I'm jealous, but...I'm glad they have taken on the farm as they have. I think you will appreciate what they are doing also.

http://www.rusharoundfarm.com/blog/

Weaning And Getting Ready To Say Goodbye

Day one of weaning was a bit rough with a lot of baaing and screeching. By morning two though, the boys were bonding more than before, which will be good for their move on Sunday. Today they cried a little and then realized that they had the best grazing in days - all for themselves. They were too busy eating to complain till night time when they missed their moms again.

Lets just say we leave the barn quickly in the evening before the mayhem begins again.Aidan and Andouille are going to be missed.

Shots,Tags, and Weaning

Today was a bit of an ugly one here. After separating Ella and Tisa from their Mom at night this past week, today they did not get to join Vinegar at all.
The carrying on all day gave them laryngitis. Then it was past due for the April kids' CDT shots, so that got checked off the list. All the kids then needed to visit Mom for a bit of comfort, but not before watching the other two get their shot.

Zuri and Zahra nursed away their pain. Then the older twins needed to get tagged to leave the farm.
These are the required scrapie tags.While they were yelling, might as well give them one more thing to yell about, but the pain was quick, and they are all set to move to their new home.

Ella and Tisa have one more day to get all grown up.

CUTE VIDEO OF ELLA AND TISA IN THE BARN

I think Tisa is too mad to talk!

Yep! Its Snowing

We only has two or so inches on the ground when I saw this, and I knew we were in trouble.All the hens were roosting together. They just don't do that any other night. I figured this storm really was going to be a doozy.

Just after 11PM, we were in awe of the accumulation.

Even more so at 9AM

And for those that notice, that is not a bush behind the table. Those are the two tall trees that embellish our chimney. We'll see if they get back up.

11 PM

9AM

Last night...

This morning.

All we have been able to do so far is tunnel our way to the barn. The machines will come out when the snow quits.
The county has declared a state of emergency, so we can't get on the roads anyway.
VIDEO OF MAGGIE THE DOG IN THE SNOW

We've had snow in the barn, but this was incredible.Snickers has a new friend in Coco, who actually lets her snuggle.The kids tried to get out and milled around where we shovelled to open the barn door, but they gave up and eventually wandered back into their stall to browse on the hay in their rack.

Jake is glad to be out, for now.

VIDEO (fuzzy) OF THE THREE GOATS HEADING OUT TO THE FIELD.

Weaning Week Continued

Every day this week, we made certain to get the kids out first and fast. Yesterday was a bit of a balk for a few of them, and I had to go back and get everyone into the group. Then we just got going - fast.

We also make sure that we move the electronet enough so there are new fresh tips for them to enjoy. The kids are not doing as complete a job of clearing the stems and knocking things down as low as when the whole crew was here, so we don't give them as big a space as before. We would be done with this half of the pasture if everyone was still together. I think its lasted a week more than I expected.The little ones try to get as high up as they can. They all do really. Its their browsing style.

To tone down the yelling back and forth from the babies to the moms, we started with a couple coffee cans of grain, but that quickly was down to one can. I lead them to the newest browse, and get them used to being in the field themselves.

Now they all seem to recognize the big rubber feeding pan that I carry up with the can of grain. When I get desperate, I drop it on the ground and its gets their attention. They come looking for food. If they can't be with mom, the black pan is good enough.

Its actually the big goats that hang around the trough the longest. I'm not sure if its because of the head butting and the little one's give up, or they just are greedy.These gates are great scratching areas for the goats. You have to make sure they can take the abuse.

For certain, one of the things I notice more is the consumption of water. Usually after the walk to the end of the alley, there are one or two that go straight for the water. I can't say I even noticed them drinking much water before. Without Mamma's milk, the water is in demand.

Shhhhh!

I just don't dare go out to see how things are going. Its been pretty quiet. If the goats see me or hear me, the yelling begins. The kids all followed out to the far paddock this morning without much crying. A little grain and then they were happy in the field.

Yesterday was awful and Vinegar's twins ended up outside the fence by the nannies, crying till they lost their voices. More goat laryngitis. Pretty pitiful sounding.

Today I got my ducks in a row. I threw a little hay in for the moms to quiet them and then took the kids all out. The moms were too busy munching to call after the babies. No kids turning and bolting back to the barn like yesterday.

It took three trips to get all but two kids up yesterday, and I carried one of them. Dave thinks I'm slacking at the gym. Right. Carry a wriggling 40 pounds of goat 400 feet or more, open a gate with one hand while holding back seven other goats. Try just imagining it and tell me how tired you are.

Weaning Week

Oh! Its been a rough time here on the farm.

The nannies on their own.

We're trying to wean all seven kids from the four nannies all at once. The crying, wailing and gnashing of teeth. Its enough to make you want to - well, I don't know, but its not been fun.

Mom checking the goats in the barn.

Perhaps a mistake, but I started by separating them overnight. Then, the next day, I took all the kids and non lactating goats up to the regular field and kept the mothers near the barn. Do you know how their wailing carries?

So the next day, they were in the barn till mid afternoon, and by the time they got out , they were so happy to graze, the wailing was short lived. Everyday I lengthened the time indoors until they only got to milk off a bit when the kids came to the barn.

Did it help working up to it like that. I don't think much, but we'll see. What I really want to do is avoid udder problems.

The bawling babies heading out to the paddock.

Tonight the kids were given sweet feed and goat mix till they wandered off. Then they were all "tucked in". The nannies got a little dry grass to quiet them for the night. Tomorrow could be a very uncomfortable day for the udder girls. I may start drinking.