Fresh Pasture

Since I started using the solar electric charger this year I slowly moved the fence to the side yard, out behind the house into the backyard, along the second driveway beside the garden, between the garden and the raspberry patch, and to the far side of the garden.  We've only had one escape- right down the road to Mom's place- when they were in the second driveway section.  There were some awkward corners in there, and somebody knocked out a post. 

They're averaging 4-7 days per section, based partly on the condition of the grass, and partly on the weather.  I've left them an extra day, or moved them a day or two early because rain was forecast.

I haven't gotten brave enough to cut them off from the pasture yet.  They have a walkway back at all times, and then we close the gate overnight to lock them in- except once.  One night #4 forgot to close the gate when he put them away, but still shut off the electric fence.  They were out grazing in the morning, and may have been out all night.  Amazingly, no escapes!

We still haven't got the second solar charger repaired, so the pasture is still not divided.  It's obviously not as stressed as it usually is though.  The grass is growing slowly, about 3" high.  Normally it's cropped off just above the roots in the open sections by this time of year.

Friday I moved the fence to the first clearing behind the house.  It's a bigger section than they've had to date, and the grass is longer, though thinner.  The cows are all looking lovely.

The calves like to duck under the fence and munch ahead of everyone else, or just stop to nap.  I've kept the fence well back from the trees, keeping a cleaner fence line.  The cows will duck their heads under the fence to get most of the edges, and there's less risk of the fence grounding out.

This is the trampoline section.  The trampoline doesn't get used much because the bugs get kind of wild in the long grass.  #4 is happy to have company out back, and soon the cows will have the grass eaten and trampled down, reducing the bug population.

The cows like to be let out of the pasture early in the mornings to graze, then return to the barn to chew their cud, hide from the sun, and nap in the afternoon.  Around supper time they head out again, and graze until nearly dusk.  They usually put themselves to bed then, but occasionally need some prompting.

I have one more section that I can fence off and maintain the pathway to the pasture without buying more supplies. 

The horses come out to graze from time to time, though they're a bit skittish through the pathways where the fence is narrower, and seem to prefer the openness of the pasture.  They're also adverse to change.  They tend to leap before they look, and skid to a stop when they see the fence line has been moved. 

The last time we tried using electric fence out back was just for horses, and it was a total fail.  They always wanted the grass on the other side of the fence, would knock it down or ground it out, and escaped regularly.  Now that I see the behavior differences I'd really like to separate the pasture to keep them in at all times.

Sharlotte and Shiloh

Last year's babies are growing up.

Sharlotte is much friendlier than we expected she'd be.  She's friendlier than her mothers.

That could be due in part to her best friend here, Shiloh- the trouble maker.  The two of them (and Smitty) like to race around the pasture, kicking and jumping, driving all of their mothers crazy.

But she's still a big baby, too. Still nursing.

I'm pretty sure Sharlotte's still nursing, too.  I just haven't caught her in the act lately.

What's in a Name?

Some critters, you just know, the minute you see them.  Like Mildred, Mama, and Dorie.

Some critters take a bit more time, requiring names of great significance, like Mabel Victoria Anne.

'Tori'

Some critters need to grow into their names a bit, changing them to suit themselves- like my children.

And some critters go nameless for a bit, because nothing seems to quite fit.

Montana?  Major?  Monty?

Muffin?  Monkey?  Mozart?

Mischief?  Meathead?  Marley?

Several days passed with many attempts at an "m" name.  Since I named Mildred on sight, that makes 2013 an "m" year.  Which is going to be confusing later, since Mama and Mindy both came along before I decided to stick with a letter for the year.

He perked an ear the first time I called him Monster.  No response on the second time.  Still, it was better than the complete lack of response I had been getting from him.  Another two days, more names, no response.  And then, just jokingly, at the end of a long list, "Monsoon!"

He spun his head around and stared at me, as if to say, "What did you call me?"

I repeated, "Monsoon?"

He bobbed his little head up and down.  "Yup, I like it."

It's not my fault my critters have strange names.  Honestly.

Then, to add insult to injury, he hasn't been drinking much, seems listless, and has a touch of the runs.  

It seems he has found his own food source. One that never empties and doesn't seem to be aware that he needs to be cut off.

I noticed the milk production had gone down over the past few days.  I just assumed it was the excitement of being outside, meeting everyone, and wandering around in the snow.  Nope- we have a thief.  Or a relief milker.

Hay for Mildred

Husband cleared a bit of snow so he could drop a round bale into the chicken pen this weekend.  Now Mildred gets to go outside and munch, and chat over the fence with the rest of the critters.  Well, after she stopped trying to swim through the snow to explore the entire pen. 

Toothless and Mindy were quick to come and say hello.  Or maybe to ask who the heck the 'royalty' was who got her own bale of hay!  Sharlotte tried to visit, but Mindy chased her off.

Toothless was very friendly.  They rubbed noses through the fence.

Shiloh came to visit, bringing Tori and Knightmare along with her.  Shiloh is the self appointed welcoming committee around here.  They shared some hay with their long necks reaching over the fence.

Mildred mooed and mooed, calling to Dorie, we think.  Our herd matron will NOT EVEN LOOK AT MILDRED!  #1 thinks she's jealous.  I think she's stuck up.

After Mildred went to bed the first day, as we were getting ready to milk, Mindy decided she just had to have some of that hay.  You know the old adage, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence...  Well, miss Mindy got herself STUCK on the fence.  The snow is deep enough that she could balance halfway with her back legs on one side and her front legs on the other.  On the pasture side where they've got it all packed down good- no problem.  But then she sank through on the chicken pen side, leaving herself in a bit of a predicament.  Luckily for her she was able to roll off onto the pasture side.

#3 got to help #1 with the milking while Husband and I cut some small poplars and put up a new top rail.  The fence is still sagging under the poplars, but there's not much we can do about that until spring.

Hopefully everyone will stay where they belong until then.

Shiloh in Training

Despite the cold weather, #2 has been out almost daily working with our little filly.  He's gotten her used to the blanket and saddle, although the belly strap remains loose.

He walks her up and down the road, so she's doing well leading.  She's also getting used to cars going by, and being away from her mother.  I'm quite impressed with his accomplishments so far!

Hay on the Way!

Tin is on the lean to.  I still need to climb up and tar over the holes (recycled tin that Husband and the Bigs got) to stop any leaks, but hay is on the way.  There's still some old hay to be moved as well.  We ended up just scraping it out onto the ground to get it done quicker.

Picking up hay.

We put fence wire up around the hay lean-to this year.  Mama and the kids had been sleeping in the old hay, along with the horses when they're on mowing duty.  Now they've moved into the old turkey shack (previous owner's).  You can see Shaq (at the back) is just as tall as Mama now.

Shiloh is coming along great. Still cute as a button, happily munching grass these days.  Still nursing as well.  #2 has taken Knightmare out for a couple of short rides, and Shiloh has accepted being on her own fairly well.  She doesn't like to be tied, but otherwise is doing well with the lead.

The Littles and I went out to trim chicken wings yesterday morning.  We've had a couple hop the fence and not make it back to the coop over night, which isn't safe for them.  I caught a hen, and just as I was picking her up, the rooster attacked me.  Spur to the back of my right hand, right across the vein.  That left me pretty useless for hay yesterday.  It's still swollen today, but doesn't hurt nearly as bad.  Rooster's name is now Asshole.  I couldn't even trim their wings afterward, couldn't work the scissors.  The Bigs had to take over for me, while Husband poured a gallon of peroxide on my hand and bandaged me up.

More hay today, then off to the park.  Happy Canada Day!

Happenings

Beans in the hugelkultur bed

The garden is coming along nicely now.  Still lots of weeds to pull, but we're making headway.  #3 is assisting with weed pulling for the first time.  #1 & #2 pulled just as many plants as weeds at his age, and with some things, still do.  I'm impressed with his efforts.

The beans in the hugelkultur bed are bigger and healthier looking than their counterparts in the garden.  Not that the garden beans look bad, it's just that obvious that they like the huggie.  Definitely more to come in the future.

The back field is growing weeds nicely.  I've only found one pumpkin so far, and no beans.  I'm going to try a little bag gardening experiment on it.

11 Pumpkins around the apple trees in the forest garden are doing well. I can't find any in the trees. Guess I should have marked a couple for curiosity's sake.

New apple trees are planted. I had eleven bags sprout this year, with several seeds in each. I didn't pinch off any yet. I figure I'll do that in a couple of weeks after they're settled in from the transplant.

Wild roses should be blooming in another day or two.

While the blossoms on the rose bush beside the house opened yesterday.

Puppies are growing in leaps and bounds, losing their hamster like appearance. They're still sleeping most of the time, but also starting to get up on their feet, and wrestling with each other.

Wonder is back to her old self mostly. She's still thin, but she's eating and drinking lots, and once the pups are asleep, she leaves them to join the family.

The chicks have adjusted to their move into the hen house. The turkeys are aching to get outside, but I don't trust them to stay on their side of the fence just yet.

Sharlotte and Shiloh have become best friends. It is so cute to watch them running through the pasture together, although I have to say, neither one of their moms looks impressed by it. Dorie is still huge, and still no new calf. Casper is finally staying on his side of the fence- although I'm not sure if that's because the grass has finally thickened in the pasture so he doesn't care, or if it's because he can't leave. 

And that's pretty much the news here in the north.  Hope all is well with you.

Shiloh's in Training

Every morning #2 goes out, catches Knightmare, and ties her up. Shiloh follows her mother.

#2 catches Tori, and ties her up, so she won't interfere.

Then he gets our rope halter and goes about catching Shiloh and putting it on her.

Shiloh is not very cooperative, but doesn't know which way to run yet.

Once haltered, #2 spends about 20 minutes playing tug of war with Shiloh.

The first day it was an almost constant battle. The second day, she was beginning to understand that as long as she didn't struggle, the rope didn't pull.

Today was day three. She stood most of the time without struggling. She's a quick study!

Husband found a halter that will fit her tiny head today, and he and #1 wrestled to get it on her. Tomorrow's lesson will be the first with a lead.

More importantly though, she will have numerous lessons throughout the day whenever any of us go to give her some loving. Just a gentle hand on the halter, a tilt of the head, and let her go. She'll soon understand that the halter won't hurt her.

Sidetracked...

Too cute not to take a picture. Knightmare in the hay lean-to. Shiloh lieing beside her. Tori in front. Sheila in the hay. And chickens out foraging.

I guess Knightmare's done worrying about the company Shiloh keeps!

Shiloh

Yes, he named this sweet baby after a dog.  The runner up was Shikoaka, so it may not be a bad choice.  Sweet dog, rather than big evil dog.  The little filly perked her ears up at Shiloh, so it's sticking.

Knightmare is very protective.  She's fine with us loving on her little one, but no other critter is allowed near her, not even Tori.

Shiloh is very friendly and curious.  She introduced herself to Nelly.  Knightmare went after Nelly.  Nelly ran away.  She went to meet the kids.  Knightmare chased off all the goats.

Now how could she think that these two little ones were going to hurt her baby?  I'm hoping she settles down in the next couple of days.

Because Shiloh really wants to make friends, but her mother wants to keep her all to herself.

We spent the day cleaning up the yard and repairing the barbed wire fence around it.  If Knightmare doesn't settle down, she and Shiloh can move in there for awhile.  They'll be closer to us for lots of loving, and the rest of the critters will be safe from Knightmare.

Shiloh has four white socks, some white on her chest, most of her belly, the goofy blaze, and just a touch in her mane.  Which leads us to a theory of her origins.

There are a few livestock haulers who frequent our auction, as well as several other auctions.  Sometimes they pick up critters cheap at one auction, and haul them to another auction for a quick resale and profit.  Sometimes they keep those critters at their farms for a couple of weeks.  The guy who hauls my critters home for me does this a lot.  It was one of those guys who brought Knightmare in to the sale.

The day we bought Knightmare, there was a little paint stallion up for sale as well.  I remember him, because #2 had this crazy idea that I should buy him.

May 18th would have been exactly full term to the day we bought her.  Shiloh was born just 8 days shy of that.

So our theory is, that the little paint stallion spent some time in a pasture somewhere with Knightmare just before the sale.

It's just a theory, and we could be off our rockers.  They could have come from the same farm.  Or Shiloh's daddy could be a whole different horse.  But it's fun to imagine how she came to be.

Thanks for all of the name suggestions!  My favourite was Sharlotte (Charlotte's Web is STILL one of my favourite books!)  And I think it would make a very fine name for a little heifer calf.  Fingers crossed!

Our New Baby

You gotta love it when they do all the work themselves with no interference from us!

Mom and baby are both doing well.

Up and about, clean, dry, nursing well.

Welcome to the world little one!  #1 is claiming she's a filly.  I haven't checked.  (I'd probably get it wrong anyway, lol).

We're tossing around some Shhhh names, to match Shaq and Sheila.  Any suggestions?

Pregnant Ladies

Dorie and Mindy were out bathing each other in the pasture.   This is a side view of their bulging bellies.

And here is Dorie's very bulging rear view.  I no longer have any doubts.

Because just a month ago, didn't she look like this?  This is Mindy's rear view.

Nelly was enjoying the sunshine too much to bother getting up. 

Knightmare's bulge is decidedly lopsided.

I am getting excited!  We're getting closer every day.  Soon we will have green fields full of fresh new life, with calves and a foal to romp in them!

Snow is melting, again, with none in the forecast for this week.  6°F.

A little of this, a little of that...

Yeah, I'm still here.  Blogger did the switch on me.  I'm finding the page layout very harsh on the eyes now.  I'll have to fiddle with the monitor settings I guess.  Otherwise, I it's not too bad.


The weather has been up and down.    Last snowfall was April 17th, though there's still some in the forecast.  Some days have been very sunny and warm, while others have been cold and wet.  Almost spring like weather I guess.  Still, very odd for these parts.  Heavy frost every night, and still no sap running in the birch trees.  But also, no bugs!

I've been moving a little bit of wood from the crap firewood pile to the flowerbed, as things I recognize start to make their appearance.

Daffodils on the way!

The greenhouses are running around 75°F on the sunnier days.  The wind is whipping through like crazy.  Daily repairs to the plastic, it seems.  I hung some old snow fence in greenhouse #2, for the cucumbers to climb.

The woodshed has been tidied up somewhat.  We split all of the big logs and tossed them in the basement.  It's pretty empty right now.  :(

Between the big logs and the "stick ups", we have two full rows in the basement already.   (10.5' X 8' X 20")  A little over two bush chords.

"Stick ups" are what we call the trees that lose their tops through the winter.  The poplars get really tall, and then snap in half in the wind, leaving a tall pole stuck up.




Proof of Life:

At least one of our apple trees survived the winter!  Two of the others look promising as well.  The fourth looks dead.







 And I have come to the conclusion that the little red hen just might be crazy.

 She didn't sit on the plastic eggs at all.  No fooling her, I guess.  But she did build herself a little nest in the corner of the brooder and sat there for about a week without ever seeming to move.  I snuck in, in the dark, lifted her up, and tucked eight eggs underneath her.  She sat on them off and on for about three days.  Then she went on a rampage, digging through all the bedding and burying those eggs.  Now she has one egg that she sits BESIDE all the time.

I'm not sure what to do with her at this point.  She's not laying any eggs of her own.  The rampage was right after a couple of very cold nights, so maybe that has something to do with it?  For now I'm going to leave her be, and maybe try another batch of real eggs in a couple of weeks.

We lost our last tom.  We now have one lonely turkey hen.  No hatching turkeys this year.  We're really not sure what happened to him.  Just laying in the shed dead one morning.  No signs of wildlife, no mess of feathers, plenty of food and water.  My best guess is that he was fighting with the drakes.

In other news...    #2 has a girlfriend!  Boomer's girl!  Lol.  It's very cute!  They ride their horses back and forth to each other's houses (about 5 miles), so they can go riding together.  Our horses have never worked so hard in their lives!  lol.  And my farrier bills will probably be next to nothing for the summer.  They're wearing their hooves down rather nicely!

Busy doing firewood, yard clean up, painting the bathroom, cleaning the basement, starting seedlings...  Spring!