@Yorkshire Coop
Hi Kim
Most concerned to hear about Harry. I'm pleased you got the vet sooner rather than later and they are investigating. Cushings is a worry. I had Cora tested for it a few years ago and whilst she didn't test positive, she has indications that it may be early stages. At the time her problem was that she wouldn't stop lactating even though it was years since she had a foal and she kept getting mastitis. Apparently a side effect of the Cushings (and Parkinson's in people) drug Pergolide, is to stop lactation. In view of her age(20yrs) and the test result being borderline, the vet was more comfortable about prescribing it, but unfortunately she continued to lactate even with the medication...Arggh..Broody mares and broody hens.... they are frustrating sometimes!
I wasn't aware that Harry has a heart murmur. That must be a real worry to start with without his current unwell condition. I hope they are able to pinpoint the problem and treat it effectively and it's not the dreaded Cushings. I always worry about Rascal having it because he has such a woolly coat but it's probably just because he has woolly mammoth somewhere in his distant bloodline.
My sister came over yesterday and we got all 3 out for a ride. I had groomed all 3 and trimmed Reb and MeMe's back feet before she got here and then we tacked up MeMe and I walked whilst Jo rode her and I walked. She would trot off ahead of me and then come back past me and go well out of sight the other way and then come back again. MeMe must have done 10x the distance I did and she was good as gold apart from being a little too keen.... think steam train with a full head of steam! Not sure if I told you but she was lame last weekend and I found an old shoe nail stuck in her sole/frog that took quite some pulling out. I've been monitoring for heat/lameness ever since but it looks like I've got away with it as she was totally sound yesterday.
When we got back to the yard, Rascal had rolled in the filth in the yard and was dripping mud.... it was obviously a "dirty protest" at having been left behind...Arrgh! We managed to get enough of it off to get a saddle on and Jo rode him in her western saddle and I rode Reb.....I cannot say they were equally well behaved! This was more rocket fuelled with a faulty turbo boost than steady steam power. Not very controllable and very unpredictable. Thankfully we didn't crash land but there were a few hairy moments. We have a routine now of stopping on the way home for a bite of grass on a playing field at the back of the village as a treat, because they are not getting any turnout now that the ground is wet. Both happily started munching and then Rascal suddenly crumpled for a roll with Jo still on his back. She didn't have a whip to make him get back up so she just had to jump out of the saddle and try to drag him back up. It's laughable now but I fully expected him to trash her beautiful saddle at the time. Thankfully he didn't try to go right over and she managed to get him back up quite quickly, so it wasn't damaged. Treat time ended at that point though and we headed back to the yard.
As regards my hatch, it was a disaster. Only 3 out of the 9 were viable. They were pipped on Sunday afternoon but surprisingly Tasha got off the nest for a short broody break. I was worried about humidity and I actually poured some warm water into the nest....I use sawdust and straw, so it happily absorbs and retains moisture.... just before she got back on. At 9pm one was zipped but not making any progress and, heart in mouth, I decided to intervene. I peeled back enough shell and membrane that it could break out without completely removing it, but left the other two. Next morning it was out and dry but the other two had failed to break out of the membrane and were dead. I'm not sure if it was down to Tasha leaving the nest at that vital time or that they were quite young pullet eggs and the chicks were just not strong enough. The one that has hatched is very small, but then they were small pullet eggs. Anyway I have a single blue copper marans chick but I'm not sure that it will make it. It's running around with her and seems strong enough at the moment but doesn't seem to eat much when she offers it food. Time will tell. I'm just a bit gutted I didn't peel the other two when I intervened with hatching that one.
Egg production is still almost non-existent and I have a huge number of cockerels to process!
Sorry to hear that your part time job is proving challenging. I must confess that I am one of those people who has a very poor house name sign, so I have put it on my list of things to do.... it's an extremely long list unfortunately and well behind cockerel processing. Talking of parcel delivery, I've just taken delivery of a pair of Caldene Bramham Wellies and really happy with them. Cost a ridiculous amount of money for a "welly" or "country boot" as they are titled but they are very comfortable, warm and very stylish and since it's not even winter and I'm already sick of having cold wet feet, I decided to treat myself. It's nice to have something smart for a change rather than just practical, but the main reason I got these was that they are neoprene tops and zipped but with a fully integrated tongue so still completely waterproof but much easier to get on and off than normal Hunter wellies which are really tight on my legs. These look like posh riding boots because they have leather trim and buckles but all the benefits of a completely waterproof welly. Lets just hope I don't stand on a thorn and puncture them!
Think that is all my news. Keeping fingers and toes crossed that Harry is quickly and easily fixed and tests for Cushings come back negative.
Sending lots of love to you both
Barbara
