Mini Horses
Sustainability Master
Well, costs less than after flood repairs! 
Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey
- Thread starter frustratedearthmother
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frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
Truth!Well, costs less than after flood repairs!
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frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
Been stuck in a cold weather rut lately. Finally, temps are back to my level of tolerable, so I'll be back outside for projects today. Will probably start gathering materials for closing in the last portion of the goat shelter that I've been working on. I'm sure the two goats in that area will appreciate having a cozier home.
Getting close to baby time! Did some CDT shots for the heavy bred does a couple days ago. They get a booster in their last 4 - 6 weeks of pregnancy. Doing that 'supercharges' the antibodies in the colostrum and gives the newborns protection. Should have the first deliveries at the end of the month. It's always an exciting (and a little anxiety producing) time.
DH is doing pretty well. He's still sore from falling against the livestock trailer a couple weeks ago. Gotta keep on him to get some exercise though. He has a tendency to want to sit most of the day. Guess we need to start back on our daily regimen instead of expecting him to self-exercise, lol. Just not going to happen. It won't hurt me a bit either - I don't do as much in the colder temps. Much easier to hide inside.
Need a second cup and then gotta get started on my day.
Getting close to baby time! Did some CDT shots for the heavy bred does a couple days ago. They get a booster in their last 4 - 6 weeks of pregnancy. Doing that 'supercharges' the antibodies in the colostrum and gives the newborns protection. Should have the first deliveries at the end of the month. It's always an exciting (and a little anxiety producing) time.
DH is doing pretty well. He's still sore from falling against the livestock trailer a couple weeks ago. Gotta keep on him to get some exercise though. He has a tendency to want to sit most of the day. Guess we need to start back on our daily regimen instead of expecting him to self-exercise, lol. Just not going to happen. It won't hurt me a bit either - I don't do as much in the colder temps. Much easier to hide inside.
Need a second cup and then gotta get started on my day.
flowerbug
Sustainability Master
i certainly understand just wanting to take a break at times, but then i also know that by spring i'll be kicking myself for not getting enough exercise. i hate exercising just for the sake of it... MWF i should be going at least a half hour of some Tai Chi warmups and other exercises to keep the blood moving and some muscle tone if i'm not getting out for shovelling snow. today i'll have to do a little bit of shovelling - nothing major coming down and now the sun is coming out so it will melt off if i can get out there and get it done. so that is what i'll be doing soon as better early than late...
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frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
Holy Cow! Best game ever! Houston Texans just SLAYED the Kansas City Chiefs! They played in the Chiefs open air stadium with temps in the 20's and it just fired 'em up!!
flowerbug
Sustainability Master
yay! congrats to them and to you. 
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frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
Still riding the high of victory, lol!
Been out this morning and took care of a couple little projects. Missy, one of the LGD's, has been a bad dog lately. She keeps jumping the fence and coming to stay on the back porch. I love the girl and feel very safe with her guarding the door - but I need her guarding the goats! Her daughter, Belle, has finally come into her own. She's learning to work solo since mom has turned into a slacker. I am casually looking for another LGD to pair with Belle if I can't convince Missy to stay in the pasture. (youngish neutered male at least 1/2 Anatolian -or at least not 100% Pyr) I noticed that when Missy comes on the porch she likes to invade Karma's crate. Now - I've never, ever, ever put this dog in a crate and thought she'd be claustrophobic, but it seems that she feels very relaxed in there. So, she now has her very own, opendoor crate in the barn stuffed with nice cozy hay. Will that convince her to stay there - who knows?
Finally getting tons of eggs from chickens (and quail). I boiled a bunch of older quail eggs and doled them out to pigs and dogs yesterday. They love 'em of course and I predict more in their future. Might make some deviled eggs today. Hope I can find some older ones that are easier to peel - or I can make egg salad which at my house is basically deviled eggs chopped up.
Still shopping....does it ever end? It's exciting but it would be easier if I had a crystal ball.
Grands will be here at some point before Christmas. YaY!!!
Been out this morning and took care of a couple little projects. Missy, one of the LGD's, has been a bad dog lately. She keeps jumping the fence and coming to stay on the back porch. I love the girl and feel very safe with her guarding the door - but I need her guarding the goats! Her daughter, Belle, has finally come into her own. She's learning to work solo since mom has turned into a slacker. I am casually looking for another LGD to pair with Belle if I can't convince Missy to stay in the pasture. (youngish neutered male at least 1/2 Anatolian -or at least not 100% Pyr) I noticed that when Missy comes on the porch she likes to invade Karma's crate. Now - I've never, ever, ever put this dog in a crate and thought she'd be claustrophobic, but it seems that she feels very relaxed in there. So, she now has her very own, opendoor crate in the barn stuffed with nice cozy hay. Will that convince her to stay there - who knows?
Finally getting tons of eggs from chickens (and quail). I boiled a bunch of older quail eggs and doled them out to pigs and dogs yesterday. They love 'em of course and I predict more in their future. Might make some deviled eggs today. Hope I can find some older ones that are easier to peel - or I can make egg salad which at my house is basically deviled eggs chopped up.
Still shopping....does it ever end? It's exciting but it would be easier if I had a crystal ball.
Grands will be here at some point before Christmas. YaY!!!
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frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
Woke up to heavy fog and coolness. Our temps are really moderate compared to what a lot of ya'll are dealing with. We're up to 51 at 8am. Likely headed for mid 70's. Can't really complain about that.
So far, Missy has stayed in the pasture instead of shirking her duties in the back yard. Belle has taken on an 'absolutely no intruders' attitude lately. She's really stepped up her guardian duties. However - the neighbors chickens have become her new target. They think it's ok to come here and clean up the spilled goat feed in the barn. Belle takes exception. Punishment for their trespassing is apparently death. She devoured one recently and had another one down yesterday. She does this while ignoring 'her' chickens. I only have one rooster running free now (the rest are cooped/penned). He apparently has free reign to go anywhere and is completely ignored. Before I got all my birds penned she also ignored them. In fact they would walk right under her nose or hop over her back when the mood struck them to do so and they were completely safe. The trespassers are literally committing suicide. Talked to the neighbors about it yesterday and they weren't terribly concerned. Said they'd try to get their wings clipped and keep them home - maybe on the weekend. These are my wonderful neighbors so I'm not gonna complain.
I've been trying to streamline my chores lately. I'm working on the quail cages. It really slows me down to have to open the cages to take out feeders and waterers to fill them up. I've got most of them fitted with feeders and waterers that hang on the outside of the cage. Hanging waterers that fill from the top, with a spout that goes through the wire are awesome - when they don't leak. Some of the older ones are leaking. I've ordered some new gaskets and hope that does the trick. Also ordered several new ones to replace some that are just not fixable. The new feeders are "J" feeders (think rabbit feeders). I have to cut the wire to get them mounted and I just hope that I've measured correctly. Most of my cages are either made of hardwire cloth or are covered with hardware cloth to limit rodents from being able to get to the feed. I hate rodents! Thankfully, Raine (one of the English Shepherds) is the best ratter/mouser EVER! She likes to give me gifts of rodents - argh! But I'm appreciative!
Finished my cuppa - time to get outside and get busy.
So far, Missy has stayed in the pasture instead of shirking her duties in the back yard. Belle has taken on an 'absolutely no intruders' attitude lately. She's really stepped up her guardian duties. However - the neighbors chickens have become her new target. They think it's ok to come here and clean up the spilled goat feed in the barn. Belle takes exception. Punishment for their trespassing is apparently death. She devoured one recently and had another one down yesterday. She does this while ignoring 'her' chickens. I only have one rooster running free now (the rest are cooped/penned). He apparently has free reign to go anywhere and is completely ignored. Before I got all my birds penned she also ignored them. In fact they would walk right under her nose or hop over her back when the mood struck them to do so and they were completely safe. The trespassers are literally committing suicide. Talked to the neighbors about it yesterday and they weren't terribly concerned. Said they'd try to get their wings clipped and keep them home - maybe on the weekend. These are my wonderful neighbors so I'm not gonna complain.
I've been trying to streamline my chores lately. I'm working on the quail cages. It really slows me down to have to open the cages to take out feeders and waterers to fill them up. I've got most of them fitted with feeders and waterers that hang on the outside of the cage. Hanging waterers that fill from the top, with a spout that goes through the wire are awesome - when they don't leak. Some of the older ones are leaking. I've ordered some new gaskets and hope that does the trick. Also ordered several new ones to replace some that are just not fixable. The new feeders are "J" feeders (think rabbit feeders). I have to cut the wire to get them mounted and I just hope that I've measured correctly. Most of my cages are either made of hardwire cloth or are covered with hardware cloth to limit rodents from being able to get to the feed. I hate rodents! Thankfully, Raine (one of the English Shepherds) is the best ratter/mouser EVER! She likes to give me gifts of rodents - argh! But I'm appreciative!
Finished my cuppa - time to get outside and get busy.
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frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
Weird night of interrupted sleep - but I guess it's better than nothing!
Oh boy - looked at breeding dates this morning and babies can happen before I know it....and if I don't get busy they'll be here before I'm ready. Need to work on kidding pens and stock up on shavings. Guess I can use hay if I don't get the shavings but it's not my preferred bedding. It's an exciting time of year - but anxiety producing until it's all over and things are done.
I guess I lied yesterday when I said Missy had stayed in the pasture. She didn't - she's back in the yard. I guess I give up and she's about to be retired unless I can figure something out. She keeps going over the fence. Not a 48 inch typical yard fence - this is a stock panel. Stock panels are 50 inches and it's not mounted on the ground - it's a couple inches up and has a 2 x 6 topper. She's too dang old to be jumping that high and landing on her old legs. So, for now at least, she's in the yard and I rotated Karma to the pasture to keep Belle company. Karma is fine with the goats and chickens, but she's not a certified LGD. Not sure how she'll do with birthing so I'm probably going to have to do some shuffling again. This is exhausting, lol!
Finished my cuppa and need to get out there.
Oh boy - looked at breeding dates this morning and babies can happen before I know it....and if I don't get busy they'll be here before I'm ready. Need to work on kidding pens and stock up on shavings. Guess I can use hay if I don't get the shavings but it's not my preferred bedding. It's an exciting time of year - but anxiety producing until it's all over and things are done.
I guess I lied yesterday when I said Missy had stayed in the pasture. She didn't - she's back in the yard. I guess I give up and she's about to be retired unless I can figure something out. She keeps going over the fence. Not a 48 inch typical yard fence - this is a stock panel. Stock panels are 50 inches and it's not mounted on the ground - it's a couple inches up and has a 2 x 6 topper. She's too dang old to be jumping that high and landing on her old legs. So, for now at least, she's in the yard and I rotated Karma to the pasture to keep Belle company. Karma is fine with the goats and chickens, but she's not a certified LGD. Not sure how she'll do with birthing so I'm probably going to have to do some shuffling again. This is exhausting, lol!
Finished my cuppa and need to get out there.
flowerbug
Sustainability Master
it's quite a challenge you've got there. i always enjoy reading up on what is going on and how it all works together. also cheer you on through the victories.
i always enjoy reading up on what is going on and how it all works together. also cheer you on through the victories. 
