No chicken pictures, it was a Rough day today… nipping Jimmy’s an-and didn’t go well. His stuff wouldn’t fit through the elastic bander. We Had to use burdizzos and DH missed, so he just got a really bad pinch. It turns out holding a 80lb goat down while his boy bits are rendered inoperable isn’t easy. Cows twice his size are easier. We have lost a lot of trust and will need to rebuild this with lots of treats and snuggles. I have ordered the California style bander, hopefully by the time it arrives we will be able to get near that area again.
Speaking of cows, we have our first calves and BIL “missed” finding one. The bigger or the two twins, (yeah such an awful bull… he was siring twin calves pretty unusual for cattle) was trapped in the wrong side of a fence so I had to pick her up and carry her to mom. The female will be barren as her twin was male, making her a “free Martin”. Good job Rowena! I’m a little worried the smaller boy calf might not make it, because BIL really, really sucks at caring for cattle, and mamas will often pick the stronger twin and just let the other die in the wild. I saw Rowena shoving the boy away while the girl was nursing, and he’s trying to bum off of other cows. I did voice my concerns to him. Fingers crossed he doesn’t do as well as last year in providing extra care and attention to special calves.
Why was I down there? because last night our truck was loaded with giant alfalfa bales at the barn on the other side of the island at midnight… because getting hay here is fun. So I finally get back to the trailer with skittish goats in the Jeep, and the chickens are acting a little odd, and I’m trying to unload the goats when all of a sudden the alarm goes up and a mink runs out from the chicken trailer (same furry little bugger as last time) I’m chasing it with a shovel and it takes probably about the same route as last time. I didn’t get it. I took the goats for their walk DH got home, everything seemed settled as best as could be, we were getting ready to put the chickens up, putting on boots, when there came another alarm. I rush out but was too late, one of my nicer young cockerels was lying in the middle of the entryway with his neck snapped. I’ve checked them twice since and believe the trailer is secure and it got in the open door. I have put the fresh kill in the trap. I pray I can catch this little monster and end it. I will make several more checks throughout the night and early morning. I literally can’t deal with another massacre. I am very worried about running meat birds with this new mustelid problem
Speaking of cows, we have our first calves and BIL “missed” finding one. The bigger or the two twins, (yeah such an awful bull… he was siring twin calves pretty unusual for cattle) was trapped in the wrong side of a fence so I had to pick her up and carry her to mom. The female will be barren as her twin was male, making her a “free Martin”. Good job Rowena! I’m a little worried the smaller boy calf might not make it, because BIL really, really sucks at caring for cattle, and mamas will often pick the stronger twin and just let the other die in the wild. I saw Rowena shoving the boy away while the girl was nursing, and he’s trying to bum off of other cows. I did voice my concerns to him. Fingers crossed he doesn’t do as well as last year in providing extra care and attention to special calves.
Why was I down there? because last night our truck was loaded with giant alfalfa bales at the barn on the other side of the island at midnight… because getting hay here is fun. So I finally get back to the trailer with skittish goats in the Jeep, and the chickens are acting a little odd, and I’m trying to unload the goats when all of a sudden the alarm goes up and a mink runs out from the chicken trailer (same furry little bugger as last time) I’m chasing it with a shovel and it takes probably about the same route as last time. I didn’t get it. I took the goats for their walk DH got home, everything seemed settled as best as could be, we were getting ready to put the chickens up, putting on boots, when there came another alarm. I rush out but was too late, one of my nicer young cockerels was lying in the middle of the entryway with his neck snapped. I’ve checked them twice since and believe the trailer is secure and it got in the open door. I have put the fresh kill in the trap. I pray I can catch this little monster and end it. I will make several more checks throughout the night and early morning. I literally can’t deal with another massacre. I am very worried about running meat birds with this new mustelid problem
but a little gentle encouragement might be in order to get the rest of the family helping… or that might make it harder. Hopefully you don’t have to move again for a really long time!
hard to get Chickie to stand still long enough haha!
