Bruce's Journal

Latestarter

Novice; "Practicing" Animal Husbandry
Golden Herd Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
11,384
Reaction score
17,481
Points
623
Location
NE Texas
I have hoses stretched across my pasture and back yard to fill the water where the pig pen was going to be and once it's been filled/pressurized the weight carries it down to ground level and the grass and weeds grow up around it. I run the mower right over it with no issues whatever. Of course it has to be a straight run with no loops or kinks that would lift it up into harms way... and I can't mow close at either end where it lifts to the spigot and to the end hanger. Though I agree, a buried pipe would be very beneficial in the long run including being able to use it in the winter months (buried below frost line and with a no freeze riser in the barn area).
 

Bruce

Herd Master
Joined
Feb 4, 2016
Messages
17,435
Reaction score
45,775
Points
783
Location
NW Vermont
The inside of the barn is the same temp as the outside air in the winter. Plenty of fresh air flowing through that old barn! Though I suppose if I put the stock tank heater in a barrel it would keep it from freezing. Of course there wouldn't be any way to fill the barrel after it was emptied unless we got a timely thaw other than bringing 20 jerry jugs from the kitchen.

Zorra seems to be shifting to "sorta of taking care of babies" mode. Today she parked near where the littles were, kind of puffed up in the "I'm here if you get cold" mode. Not that they would even think of going under her since they didn't grow up doing that and hardly go under their MHP anymore anyway, at least not during the day, I don't know about night. When they went around the corner into "Alpaca Alley" she followed. It was raining today so they didn't go out. She got kind of frazzled when some were in the "AA" and some were in the alley in front of the alpacas' stall. Seems she wants them all close together in a pack she can keep an eye on all of them at the same time. And she went in the brooder area to eat and drink with them. Still pecked now and then but in general they seem to accept that she is hanging around and generally safe. Hopefully she will take to herding them around and showing them the ins and outs of living here.
 

CntryBoy777

Herd Master
Joined
Sep 14, 2016
Messages
8,088
Reaction score
18,453
Points
603
Location
Wstrn Cent Florida
If ya have an inside hose hook-up ya could run water thru the hose to fill it, then unhook the hose a drain it...roll it up until next time. It would be much easier than toting water everyday in that nasty weather ya have there. Just watch the weather reports and choose the warmer days to fill. Water does weigh 7lbs/gal, so I'd roll 3 100'ers 1-2 times a wk as apposed to hauling it everyday.....:)
 

Mike CHS

Herd Master
Joined
Mar 18, 2013
Messages
10,407
Reaction score
37,366
Points
793
Location
Southern Middle TN
We all whine some but it is to an understanding audience. :)

We had to go back and put 24" chicken wire on the G&S fence that the smaller birds could walk right through. Fortunately for them they did it on the side opposite from Maisy.
 

Bruce

Herd Master
Joined
Feb 4, 2016
Messages
17,435
Reaction score
45,775
Points
783
Location
NW Vermont
If ya have an inside hose hook-up ya could run water thru the hose to fill it, then unhook the hose a drain it...roll it up until next time. It would be much easier than toting water everyday in that nasty weather ya have there. Just watch the weather reports and choose the warmer days to fill. Water does weigh 7lbs/gal, so I'd roll 3 100'ers 1-2 times a wk as apposed to hauling it everyday.....:)
When was the last time you lived where it got real cold for a long time? ;) We have an old galvanized well pressure tank. Have to drain and refill with air every year or so or it gets "waterlogged". I made the mistake of doing that in Dec a couple of years ago. Hose out the basement door, open the valve, watch the water drain for a bit until ... it froze in the hose. And I had to finish by carrying 5 gallon buckets.

I do have a frost free faucet coming out of the crawl space in the rebuilt part of the house. Can't use it in the winter, any water in the pipe outside of the seated valve freezes and blocks the pipe. But it did go up to 47° on 12/18 and 37° on 12/27. Managed 41° on 1/12 and 13 (Annual January thaw). Above freezing 8 times near the end of Feb. Unheard of, the normal highs are in the low 20°s. 46°on 3/1 & 2, then didn't go above freezing until 3/28.

So yeah, if I had a 50 gallon drum with spigot (how does one keep THAT from freezing) I could probably save quite a few "jerry jug" trips from the kitchen in the winter.
 

Bruce

Herd Master
Joined
Feb 4, 2016
Messages
17,435
Reaction score
45,775
Points
783
Location
NW Vermont
Things seem to be settling into "normal" with Zorra and the chicks. She let Anais (Faverolles) hang around with them some today so I ASSUME Anais was the Fav that played "auntie" last time around.

New for the littles:
Scratch last night, BOSS this morning, raw egg this afternoon. Yue (Ancona) has been laying really thin shelled eggs this year, guess her shell gland is giving out. She must have broken her egg getting out of the box today. As usual when such a thing happens I toss it on the ground (with whatever shavings are attached) and the girls dig in. Won't be long before the littles are running to greet me morning and evening just like the older girls when they get "snacks". They LOVE their snacks.
 

Bruce

Herd Master
Joined
Feb 4, 2016
Messages
17,435
Reaction score
45,775
Points
783
Location
NW Vermont
Yep, poor Teddy has a HUGE glob of matted fiber in front of his right eye, has for a couple of months. Must have a "Before" picture of that!

I decided to bite the bullet and not wait to see if the (one apparently) local shearer is going to come by this year. Their prior owners said they could not get ahold of him in the spring and by the time they did in late summer it was too late to shear, they wouldn't have winter coats when the time came. The boys are suffering for it, that was obvious even early last Sept when we snacked them and changed their water for 2 weeks at their old home. Can't imagine how bad it will be this summer if they don't get sheared soon.

For better or worse, I ordered the Premier 1 4000S plus a camelid comb. I'm pondering making a low (12" to 18") shearing platform and try shearing them standing. They would have to have their bridles on, tied up on both sides plus probably have their legs tied at 4 corners so they can't kick and squirm around. I know the "stretched on the floor" method is most common but I just can't see how that is anything but uncomfortable and scary for them. Probably not too bad with an excellent, experienced shearer that can get the job done in < 10 minutes but I'm betting no matter how many YouTube videos I watch, I'll be taking a LOT longer.

2 years ago the shearer was charging $35/animal, I suspect it will be higher now, everything goes up in price. So if I CAN manage it myself the payback with 2 animals is about 5 years. And if he doesn't come by, and I'm not TOO bad at it, maybe my neighbor would let me do her 2 for maybe $20/head. Cut the ROI down some more.

I'm sure when you all see what the boys look like when they are done, you will be laughing WITH me, not AT me :)

Any suggestions before I embark on this foolishness will be gladly received.
 

Mike CHS

Herd Master
Joined
Mar 18, 2013
Messages
10,407
Reaction score
37,366
Points
793
Location
Southern Middle TN
Wear football pads? Good luck!

I was thinking a cup might be appropriate. :)

Seriously though we are looking at getting some shears. Some of our Dorper dominate ewes are looking like they will be all summer shedding and they need it off before the heat gets here.
 
Top