JUSTUSNAK...Summer coming to an end!?

[Denim Deb]

I've heard of people waiting for a horse to have a foal. They'll spend all night in the barn, then they'll go in the house to get a cup of coffee, come back out to the barn, and the horses will have had it.

 

[justusnak]

I've heard of people waiting for a horse to have a foal. They'll spend all night in the barn, then they'll go in the house to get a cup of coffee, come back out to the barn, and the horses will have had it.

Oh, Im not "barn sitting" She has kidded before with no problems, and that time she was bred to another Alpine. This time she is bred to a pygmy...so I doubt there will be any issues....other than the babies might not be able to reach to nurse. I just want to be there, and see those babies nurse, then im good! LOL

 

[Avalon1984]

I've heard of people waiting for a horse to have a foal. They'll spend all night in the barn, then they'll go in the house to get a cup of coffee, come back out to the barn, and the horses will have had it.

I can attest to that!

 

[justusnak]

Well, I put Suzie back in the outer stall. She has access to a small yard...and better air flow. I just couldn't keep her in the barn where it is so hot! Still nothing....maybe she was waiting to get back in her regular stall? I don't know....so far, nothing! I was able to get another row hilled up today.... 30 ft long, I will fill it with green, yellow and red peppers. The callouses on my hands are forming and hurt. It's a good hurt tho, I can look out there and see my hard work is paying off! I already have green beans coming up! 5 days after we planted! Looks like I will have to get out there soon and get the twine up between the T posts.
I have another project I am going to try to keep up with this summer. We mow about 2 acres of grass....most times it gets pretty tall before we can get to it...so I let it dry, then rake it, and put it in the barn for the animals. If I can keep it from the sun, it stays green for MONTHS! My problem is....I have limited space for loose grass....so...I decided I was going to "bale" it...so I can stack it.
Start with DRY grass clippings..

I used a smallish feed bin....and laid 2 scrap pieces of baling twine in and over the sides. I put a small loop in one end to make it easier to tie tight.

Pack the grass in tight...really tight! and tie it up.
Makes really small bales, easy to store, east to use....one per feeding if you pack it up tight enough. These are great for the rabbits too!

I was able to make 6 of them in about 20 minutes.
Now, If I can keep up with this project, I will have grass hay for winter....It wont feed all the animals, but will help!

 

[snapshot]

I really like that idea for baling in your wheelbarrow! Sounds totally doable to me!!! Suzy still holding back?

 

[Denim Deb]

That's great! Wish I had the grass to do that with. If you wanted bigger bales, you could probably use a Rubbermaid tote.

 

[justusnak]

I was thinking of the tote....but I am looking for ease of storage...smaller bales are easier to carry...and for the rabbits...one bale is just the right size. I can easily store 3 to 4 hundred this size, in different areas of the barn or chicken coop. Still nothing on Suzie....holding tight as a tick. However, we are getting severe weather right now, so I bet she is out there kidding, knowing I can't get out there....lightening is too bad to run that far!

 

[justusnak]

So, last night....was the "super moon" We all know how that can affect farm animals....right!? So, about 10:30 pm, I decided to go out and do one last check on Suzie...My pregnant doe. She was in labor!!! Her fluid sack was hanging...and it wasn't long before we had...
A Doeling...

And a buckling.

Here they are just a few minutes old. Suzie did wonderful! No help from me...the worried, pacing back and forth "grandma" Now I need names for them..special names...

 

[Denim Deb]

 

[snapshot]

They're darling!!!!!!!!