Harry horse & Charlie adventures! Horse chat & much more! Everyone welcome!

[Yorkshire Coop]

I’m sure these animals are trying to kill me with stress!!

Keeper has a grass seed abscess between his toes and he’s not keen on getting it cleaned. Thankfully our retired vet friend called in and he managed to get it out so now it’s bathing to keep it clean otherwise it will be a trip to get some antibiotics and possible lancing.

Harry has gone lame with a swollen & hot

fetlock/tendon Got him on some Bute and I’m ice packing again. It’s the same leg he’s done twice before which is worrisome. I’ve left him turned out as he’s quieter when out but I’m hoping it’s just a tweak and nothing major but if no improvement I’m going to have to get the vet out.

Just when things seem ok something comes round to bite you on the bum again!

 

[TwoCrows]

I’m sure these animals are trying to kill me with stress!!

Keeper has a grass seed abscess between his toes and he’s not keen on getting it cleaned. Thankfully our retired vet friend called in and he managed to get it out so now it’s bathing to keep it clean otherwise it will be a trip to get some antibiotics and possible lancing.
View attachment 1418136

Harry has gone lame with a swollen & hot

fetlock/tendon Got him on some Bute and I’m ice packing again. It’s the same leg he’s done twice before which is worrisome. I’ve left him turned out as he’s quieter when out but I’m hoping it’s just a tweak and nothing major but if no improvement I’m going to have to get the vet out.
View attachment 1418138

View attachment 1418139

Just when things seem ok something comes round to bite you on the bum again!

You know Kim, it seems that way. Just when you think everything is straightened out, something goes south on you. Happens to me ALL the time! I am so sorry about Harry and Keeper! Hopefully you don't need a vet out for Harry, the ice should really help! And tell Keeper to stop getting into so much trouble! Hang in there Kim, it will get better again soon. Hugs to all of you.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Kim

So sorry to hear about Harry and Keeper. You really are struggling to have a decent spell of "ticking over nicely"! Hope they both respond to your wonderful care and management and a vet is not necessary for either. I'm sure they are trying to bankrupt you!
I think you are doing the right thing with Peeper too but I can imagine it will be really hard to part with him. He is unbelievably cute! How fortunate that you have an old pair of boots that you can transfer his affections to and send with him.

So far my 4 chicks are doing well..... there are 3 exchequer leghorns and a Buff Orp. They are now integrated into the flock through the day with their broody of course and I fasten them in a double nest box at night with her, so that they get plenty to eat before I let them out in the morning. I'm a bit worried about the broody as she doesn't seem to be eating or pooping much but she is mothering the chicks well and standing her ground to protect them much better than I expected considering she is low in the pecking order. The chicks are surprisingly independent even at just a few days old and happily stray to the other side of the pen without her. I hope that doesn't mean I have a bunch of cocky little boys in the making. It will be just my luck if the leghorns that have no meat on them, turn out to be cockerels and the Orp which is not known to be a good laying breed, will be a pullet.

As regards me being broody for a foal, it is just tough because Cora is too old and has had mastitis so many times now that at last she can no longer produce milk and MeMe never comes into season. I think it may be to do with living with her brothers and not having contact with other horses. Her mother was a total tart so it is quite surprising that she is so "unmareish" but I am not complaining!! Probably just as well, because I am struggling to keep my head above water anyway as regards land and animal management and garden and housework.
Talking of which I have a whole pile of all of the above waiting for my attention, so must head out. Hope to read that Harry and Keeps have responded to treatment soon.

Best wishes

Barbara

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hope everyone has had a good weekend?

Pleased to report both Keeper & Harry are doing well Bathing Keepers foot & ice packing Harry’s leg seem to have done the trick and on a plus I have no vet bills to pay!! I also whacked oodles of leg ice gel on H’s leg to bring the swelling and or any bruising out. Touch the biggest piece of wood I can find all is now good! I’m even going to get 2 flags out for the weekend

As he looked much better on the leg we had 2 nice, steady & calm walks round the village both Saturday and Sunday.


On a not so happier note young Peeper went back to the farm on Friday Not sure what it was about that little bird but I was nearly in tears when I left. James was over the moon though with how well Peeper looked and I know he will take good care of Peeper. Even though it was the right thing to do my heart was still trying to rule my head! He’s only in the next village and a 5 minutes drive away so I can pop up to see Peeper anytime


Hope your chicks are still doing well @rebrascora crossed their straying away does not mean boys!! I have been trying to rehome some of my Male quail as the females are taking a bit of a beating from them. So far no takers so I’m going to have make a decision on them soon. Either knock them on the head or make a separate enclosure for them.

Can Male quail live together ok @TwoCrows without females or is that a recipe for disaster?

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Sooo... Charlie finishes school on Friday! These years sure have flown by! Pleased to say though he has work lined up for Monday and until he heads off to college in September!

He has his prom in a couple of weeks and he’s going in a tweed suit! What colour tie do you think would go best with it? He doesn’t like the red and it’s caused some debate in the house so I’m coming here to settle it!
Here is the said suit ~

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, thank you

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Kim

So pleased to hear Keeper and Harry both responding to your loving care without veterinary help. Sorry to here Peeper has gone but I'm sure it is for the best. Hopefully he is not still tugging at your heart strings or at least not so strongly.

Pleased to report that my 4 chicks are doing well despite a couple of the older hens being a bit crabby with them. There have been at least a couple of incidents of them getting picked up by the scruff of the neck and thrown out of the way, that I know of, but they are learning to avoid those hens. They are very independent though and only really use the broody for warmth but happily feed themselves in their little cage that I have rigged up with chick crumb and water that they can duck under to get in. They don't even all stay together as a foursome but do their own thing. 2 of the leghorns are usually together and the buff Orp is probably more broody tied than the others but one of the leghorns is often on it's own quite happily scratching and investigating..... I know that will most likely be a cockerel but no sign of any significant comb development yet.... they will be 2 weeks on Sunday so plenty time for it to happen.

The suit is very dapper. The red looks nice but I would go with blue or gold for the tie.

Hope you are not getting battered about too much with this storm. We had a tiny smattering of rain..... we could really do with more as the ground is very dry.... but the wind has been gusting and done a bit of damage. It brought down a huge branch from a horse chestnut tree at the farm right across the road and others on the tree are looking vulnerable. I drove under it faster than normal to get out from under it asap. My poly tunnel is straining at it's tie downs and my blueberry got tipped over but so far that has been the only real damage in the garden, although hanging baskets and troughs are looking the worse for wear. I don't like the wind so I will be happy when it passes.

Hope all is good with you. Well done with riding again. I am so letting the side down here as regards that! Ian and I did a charity drive last night to raise money for the Air Ambulance. We took my 4 wheeler and it was a so much smoother ride that the exercise cart and probably slightly easier to load onto the trailer. I was worried that Zak would struggle with it being a bit heavier but has the advantage of brakes so he doesn't have to hold it going down the hill, but he pulled like stink the whole way round..... even against the break going down the hills! Ian and I had to keep swapping the reins over to each other because we were getting pins and needles in our hands. He is so light in the mouth when we drive at home but once we get to these drives he really takes a hold and they go at such a pace, he kept breaking into canter (so much for him being a Hackney x Trotter) and you really don't want them cantering on the road. I think we will be taking Ernie (AKA the Northern Power House) next time if he is sound (he has had minor lameness the past couple of months which I think is a shin splint) so he has been turned away.
Anyway, that is all my news. Hope you have a great weekend and my tie suggestions appeal to Charlie..... maybe combine the two and wear a blue shirt and gold or gold and green tie. You will have to post a photo of him in it before he heads off to prom so we can see how smart he looks.

 

[rebrascora]

Pick of three of the chicks with Blanche their broody mother

 

[TwoCrows]

Kim, great to hear Keeper and Harry are both doing well! Always nice when you can treat and heal them yourself without a vet intervening.

I am so sorry about Peeper though. You put a lot of love and work into him, it is totally understandable you would be sad to see him go. SO easy to bond with single birds, especially babies. I am sure he is doing just fine right now!

 

[TwoCrows]

Oh and about the quail, yes you can usually keep all males together as long as they were raised together and are out of sight and ear shot of females. If there is no competition for hens, they can live together in harmony. But keep an eye on them, once in a while you get one with a couple loose screws.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Sooo... Charlie finishes school on Friday! These years sure have flown by! Pleased to say though he has work lined up for Monday and until he heads off to college in September!

He has his prom in a couple of weeks and he’s going in a tweed suit! What colour tie do you think would go best with it? He doesn’t like the red and it’s caused some debate in the house so I’m coming here to settle it!
Here is the said suit ~
View attachment 1429684

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, thank you

Your baby is growing up!!!!
Tie to match prom date's dress?