Kids, kids and more kids

This year's crop of kids is growing by leaps and bounds. They're 3 weeks old this weekend and they're about 3 times as big. Cuteness, cuteness and more cuteness. We had 6 kids from 3 does, and another 2 does due sometime in June. The secret in life is to find something that brings you joy. When I look out the window in the morning and see them all jumping, bouncing around, and climbing on everything, it starts my day with a chuckle. They run and run and run, just because they're happy to be alive.

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Talon

"Look everyone - it's the lunch wagon!"

I tried in vain to get a decent picture of Talon for his "for sale" ad. He was standing by the fence and every attempt at getting him to look up failed. I clucked, chucked, kissed, and whistled. Nothing. Nada. Then, just as I was about to give up my husband drove down the driveway with a trailer full of hay. Now that got the attention of "glutton gut"! So now he's listed on several horse sale sites with a video as well. Anyone want to buy a horse? Click here to see Talon's ad.

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Weird Egg

Occasionally the chickens will lay an egg without a shell, just a membrane. Feels really weird, sort of like old jello that's dried out a bit on the surface. But what I found in a nest box was 2 shell-less eggs connected with a hollow tube/cord. If you lightly squeeze one egg you can see fluid passing back and forth through the cord to the other. Have any of you ever seen anything like this?

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Skunked... The Sequel

My Great Pyrenees are livestock guardians. Which means they live with the goats and chickens and have free run of the fenced pastures and woods where the goats graze. Which also means they're usually very dirty. After Remi got skunked last week she rolled in the grass and dirt trying desperately to get rid of the stench. I used a skunk deodorizer which took care of most of the smell but I couldn't get all the dirt out of her thick undercoat. So I sent her to the groomers for a good bath. $60 later and we need sunglasses to look at her. She just shines! A Great Pyrenees, at least a clean one, is a beautiful sight to behold! I wonder what she'll choose to roll in to get rid of the fresh-clean-dog-just-back-from-the-groomers smell.

"Mom says I smell good but I've got to find a manure pile to roll in so I can get rid of the shampoo smell."

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Skunked

"I STINK!"

In the wee hours of this morning I was awakened by the distinct odor of Pepe Le Pew who obviously decided our broiler chickens were worth braving barking dogs. The tally for the night went thus: 2 dogs (1 Great Pyrenees, 1 English Shepherd) skunked, all chickens safe, yard very stinky as they apparently had their standoff right outside my back door. Remi, the Pyr, got the worst of it, as I think she got a direct hit right on her chest. Of course, I couldn't find my big bottle of Nature's Miracle Skunk Deodorizer that I've had on hand for years in anticipation of just this scenario. So I had to wait for the feed store to open, and by that time I had 2 clients this morning so everything had to wait till a bit later. Meanwhile I put the dogs in a fenced area by themselves so the smell would be somewhat contained. I got the English Shepherd pretty de-smelled, but I think the Great Pyrenees is going to need professional help. Waiting for a call back from the dog groomer and praying she has an opening soon.

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Happy Birthday Toes

In honor of our birthdays my 17 year old granddaughter, whose birthday was last month, and  I had a pedicure. So nice to be pampered and get pretty toes. Then I came home and put on my muck boots to work in the barn. Ahhhhhh.... such is the life!

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Goat Fashion Accessories

Babydoll models the latest in goat fashion accessories. I'm not sure who the designer is but I am sure that all the goats will want one this season. And I'm also sure that by carrying her lunch pail she'll always be ready for dinner no matter what time of day.

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Supervisors

The work crew showed up this week to begin digging the new well which is part of the geothermal heating system we're having installed. Not complaining, but what they did to my lawn!!!! My grandson asked me this morning how long it took me to grow the grass that beautiful. Oh well, replanting is well worth having plenty of heat this winter that doesn't involve hauling in wood.

And of course every work crew needs supervisors, who double as dairy goats in their other lives. Every project on this farm is well supervised by them, and sometimes they even insist on helping.

"Hey, you're destroying the lawn? MOM! Is that allowed?"

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Best Laid Plans

Plan for Friday - give Talon, the horse, a bath and grooming to get him all prettied up for the 2 day riding clinic in VT Saturday and Sunday, also do some more trailer loading practice. Actual day - trailer him 1 1/2 hours away so vet can stitch up his face after he impaled himself on the horse trailer and slashed open the side of his jaw. He loaded beautifully earlier this week so I wanted to do more practice yesterday. He freaked! I remained relatively calm till I saw his face gushing blood, then I freaked! A very good friend came over with her big stock trailer (picture barn on wheels), assured me it wasn't that bad and he wasn't going to bleed to death, drove us to the vets and waited several hours with me till the vet could fit him in for emergency surgery to sedate him and stitch him up. I'm sure my friend had plans of her own on a beautiful Friday afternoon.

Now to estimate the cost - The weekend clinic was $150, then figure the cost of a 4 hour round trip both days, snacks on the road and lunch at a restaurant. The vet bill was $252.68 to be exact and a 3 hour round trip, no snacks. According to my calculations the clinic plan would have been more expensive, but also more fun. Talon won't be able to wear a halter or bridle for at least a month until his face heals as the gash is right where the bridle sits just above his mouth. But when it does heal we need more trailer practice! 

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Are You My Mother?

Remi, our female Great Pyrenees LGD (livestock guardian dog) has really taken a protective role with Babydoll, our goat kid with the broken leg (click here if you've forgotten that story). She began by protecting her from the other goats who go into a feeding frenzy at milking time (cue theme song from Jaws). Remi would sit in the corner of the barn with Baby behind her and growl if any of the others got too close to "her" injured kid. Since Baby's cast can't get wet she stays in the barn and doesn't go out to graze with the others. Remi stayed behind to keep her company. As the days have passed Remi and Baby have formed a friendship and a close bond. I often see Baby curled up, nesting in Remi's soft white fur. Last night it was a little chilly here in northern New Hampshire. But Baby was quite warm and cozy curled up with her new best friend.

These Pyrs never cease to amaze me. Whether they're protecting eggs (see story here), or keeping kids warm, or treeing bears (yes, they do that too) they're ever watchful, vigilant and protective. It's nice to know my farm is in capable hands 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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