The Old Folks Home

[superchemicalgirl]

I really just want Augustina back.

The fencing isn't appropriate for turkeys... it's only 4 feet tall and it's 4x4 squares. There will be lots of escapees.

 

[dsqard]

I really just want Augustina back.

I really am sorry you lost her.

 

[Wisher1000]

SCG - Did you ever find out what happened? Maybe you could find another adult doe (not in milk) to keep Amos company. The man that gave them to you probably knows some other people locally that have goats. He would surely understand that you can't milk everyday and need a barren doe.

 

[gryeyes]

SCG, I am so sorry to read of your Augustina's death. I have enough trouble with poultry, dog and cat deaths I don't think I could handle raising and loving a goat then losing him/her. Haven't lost a bunny (other than the geese letting them loose and the rabbits taking off). I was so pleased Dusky (AKA Escapee Bunny) actually stayed right here.

Another one of my four "Milkie" (BCM/Silkie) hens just hatched 8 chicks yesterday. That's 2 with chicks; there's another on a nest inside my second "grow out" mini coop. So three of those four hens are seriously into being moms. Wonder what's "wrong" with the fourth?

I put four flock eggs under Sparkle yesterday, removing her two infertile eggs. Daily, Alice the Silver Sebright flies up onto the deck, sneaks into the house to lay in that nest, and is currently bitching about Sparkle being in it. Sparkle's four Hooligans are napping in Punkin's dog bed nest - Punkin is outside showing HER three chicks the world.

Then there are the nine broody hens in the coop, monopolizing the best nest boxes.

I have three female Toulouse goslings on order from Ideal, intended to be Angus and Kate's sister-wives someday. (Kate is a gander, but I thought he was a girly goose for nearly two years..)

 

[superchemicalgirl]

SCG - Did you ever find out what happened? Maybe you could find another adult doe (not in milk) to keep Amos company. The man that gave them to you probably knows some other people locally that have goats. He would surely understand that you can't milk everyday and need a barren doe.

No. We suspect frothy bloat or poisoning (either something or someone) or a strange injury. Nothing really fits the symptoms/timing/likeliness.

I was offered a baby goat, but it isn't disbudded. After watching Augustina seize and smack BF and myself in the face, arms, legs, abdomen (etc) with her head (and legs - we are bruised and sore) during her death I am terrified of getting something with horns. The guy's going to take Amos back tomorrow to his farm. This is a temporary fix - I'm supposed to either get another goat eventually or find a forever home for Amos.

 

[Arielle]

Augustina is on her way to the disposal place. Something you never really think about until you need it --- where does the carcass go? The transfer station has all kinds of fees for tires, refrigerators, shingles, etc... but not one for goats.

One of my coworkers friends runs a butcher shop about 30 minutes south of here. She called him this morning and he offered to take her for disposal for free. BF is on his way, I couldn't go. I don't want to see it.

Amos is surprisingly calm this afternoon. When I got home from work a few minutes ago I thought maybe he was dead, too, but he was just napping. He never naps when I come home... he's always at the fence screaming at the top of his lungs with Augustina.

The guy I got my goats from is willing to take Amos back but he can't do it until Sunday. He can otherwise give me a doe in milk or give me a kid to be Amos' companion here. Unfortunately I wouldn't get a baby with the doe, and I was planning on milking Augustina only occasionally and keeping her with her kid, otherwise. I don't need a gallon of milk daily. I'm fat enough on all the eggs I eat. And honestly I don't have time right now. The kids weren't disbudded so I don't want to go that route, either. Looks like I'll be goatless. Which is okay. I guess. I loved the little stinkers but they were loud and obnoxious. But they were lovable and fun, too.

So then what to do with the goat house/fenced in area? It isn't appropriate for a chicken coop and we all know that I have more than enough chickens. Yes, there is such a thing.

SCG-- if I might offer my opionion. Take the doe in milk-- it is a good place for you to start. Find out what her current schedule is and then Decrease the amount of milking you do and her body will produce less milk. I know of a woman that only milks her goat once a day becuase that works for her schedule. In the milking cattle industry some have gone to 3x a day because the overall out put is higher. It is a demand thing. Can you at least manage to milk at the same time every day once a day?

Yes it stinks to take care of the final resting p lace for a large animal. I walk out and see Sunny's plot every day. THe man with the backhoe comes. He's very nice and we have even visited at the bus stop as his dtr missed the bus and caught it at our stop. Funny, I didn't know who he was initially!! Totally out of context and I was such a wreck that fateful day. Sorry SCG for the loss of the doe-- well worth having miling goats. THey are on my list.

 

[gryeyes]

Watershed evening: Beth the BR who lays her egg in the (once) clean linen bin before she goes outside all day, then comes back inside the house to sleep at night did NOT come inside tonight. I found her in the dark roosting ON the mini-coop housing the Easter Hatch chicks. Hmmm, I thought, let's try something. I carried her into the main coop and put her on a roost bar. She settled back down, even though Carl the dominant roo woke up to crow at the disturbance.

Now I have to develop a plan to get Sparkle's four Hooligans to move outside at night, too. All four of them are currently sleeping on the "foot" of the open recliner. Yes, my Enchanted Recliner, where I stretch out my legs. One of the cockerels has become really snuggly towards me. Darn it. He's turning into a good looking "Delawegger" roo. Love his puffy cheeks.

Earlier in the day, the neighbor's cat was in the yard hunting ducklings. The ducks and geese sounded the alarm. I ran outside to scare him off, but fell in the process. Scraped my leg, earned some bruises, but the cat skedaddled, so all is good.

 

[drumstick diva]

Linda don't go running after cats and falling, it isn't funny after the first flop. Take a slingshot with you and let that do the talking

 

[stonykill]

Earlier in the day, the neighbor's cat was in the yard hunting ducklings. The ducks and geese sounded the alarm. I ran outside to scare him off, but fell in the process. Scraped my leg, earned some bruises, but the cat skedaddled, so all is good.

2 words................. Super Soaker !!!!!!

 

[gryeyes]

Linda don't go running after cats and falling, it isn't funny after the first flop.  Take a slingshot with you and let that do the talking

Good idea. I'll have to find one... The cat's owners have told me to throw rocks at him but I just don't like throwing rocks at cats; it reminds me of cruel kids or something.

I bet I can find a slingshot at Placerville Hardware - that place is a treasure trove! It's the oldest continuously operated hardware store East of the Mississippi and is amazing. I was impressed when an employee found a butter bell for me (although she didn't know what a butter bell was; I had to describe it). The place even carries bamboo back scratchers! Hard to find a good back scratcher nowadays, unless you're into catalog or on-line searching for 'em. I kept seeing telescoping metal ones. Nah, not the same.

I'm a little tender where my lower leg and forearm hit the ground. Used it for my excuse not to do any yard work today. Just watched the poultry, in between filling feeders and waterers.

The ducklings have realized the gander is part of their entourage and don't panic any more when he gets into the pond with them.

Beth was no worse for wear after her night in the coop, although she told me ALL about it this morning. I hope to reinforce the issue tonight. One less chicken in the house was kinda nice. I hope to get the House Flock down to just Sparkle the House Silkie before TOO long.