Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[Mini Horses]

I need colostrum for freezer this year!! Totally out. But looks like I'll get lucky soon. First two bagging are 1 dairy & 1 boer. Both have been heavy milk producers. Thinking mid Jan better get a couple stalls ready. Weather we've had is just too strange and colder, earlier. I need a dairy girl to kid so I can milk share. . Looking like I will have more Feb/Mar this year for kids. Last yr we had already started.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I should be set now! Going outside in a few to go ahead and milk another doe - just for grins. She'll be one of my milkers this year so might as well start now. It won't hurt at all to have some milk in the freezer or to add to the pig feed. I'm sure they'll appreciate it.

Weather is sucky so most of today's chores are being accomplished inside. Lotsa laundry - ugh. Washed a bunch of eggs and boiled a batch of quail eggs up for the pigs. Big hens and quail hens are being extra generous - especially considering that this is Dec!

I need to make some more waterers. Ordered a bunch of watering nipples recently and am pleasantly surprised that they work so well! The young Barred Rocks and RIR's figured them out almost instantly. The 5 gallon bucket they are attached to has lasted almost a week now and is nowhere near needing to be filled yet. I think I'm going to make some 1 gallon ones for some quail pens. Maybe a couple extra for silkies too. Love these things - they're inexpensive, and bonus, easy to make.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Two more babies today! Girls this time - bringing the baby count to 6 males 4 females. I should get a gap now before any more little ones. I'm ok with that.

Went to the big freezer in the garage last night and found an issue. I've known the gasket was going for awhile now - been procrastinating about it. As long as I made sure the door was shut very firmly everything held. Yesterday that was no longer true. It wasn't catastrophic, thank goodness! I caught it before anything fully thawed. A few things were soft around the edges but no worse than that. I taped the door shut with some really good duct tape for now. Had to untape it this morning to get the model number. I've ordered a new gasket that will be here in a couple of days. Youtube shows it being a simple procedure to change one out. I sure hope that youtube doesn't lie, lol.

 

[Mini Horses]

Some Youtube videos are quite good!! Mostly the "watch me" repair ones. Good luck. Cheaper than a new unit -- which also may not work as well or last as long.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Some Youtube videos are quite good!! Mostly the "watch me" repair ones. Good luck.

Thanks! I'll sure report on how it goes. I'm adding a bunch of new skills to my resume, lol.

Two doelings delivered this afternoon. Count is now 6 bucklings and 4 doelings. I should get a break for a couple weeks now. I do not object!