Happy to hear about the rain! We're supposed to get some today.I don't trust the forecast, so I watered my seedlings last night.
Farmerjan's journal - Weather
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Baymule
Herd Master
Rain! And got the corn done and covered!
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farmerjan
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Ridgetop
Herd Master
Feels so good knowing you have feed. Makes you realize why a good harvest was such a big thing for early farmers. Oddly I get a thrill when I see my full pantry and freezer - some sort of primitive genetic memory?
SageHill
Herd Master
LOL -- I get that feeling when I look at a stall stacked full of alfalfa, and cringe at every bale I use when it gets about half full.
Mini Horses
Herd Master
AND....you posted pictures!! 
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farmerjan
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- Shenandoah Valley Virginia
Laughing....
... because I stopped at the Verizon store next door to the UPS store when I dropped the samples... and had the guy walk me through posting the pictures... and then wrote it down step by step... Younger guy... VERY PATIENT.... he kept saying no problem, and come back anytime... I told him by the time I am 80 I might be proficient at it... we all laughed and I left. After the poultry swap... I couldn't figure it out again... some things just do not stick with me...
I will try to post a few more things... keep practicing... but right now I am home on the computer... I do not like typing that stuff on the phone... but that is where the pictures are.
Hard to get a good depth perception... but the top of the blocks is the top of the pile.... in the back... so it is about 10 ft high, in the back and along the left side looking at it... and it is about 75 ft from the back wall to where it tapers down in the front; there are 4 blocks high on the right 3 blocks worth, towards the front... then tapered down to 3 high to the end where there are 2 high and then 1 high for the last blocks... just to give you an idea... the first pic has 3 loads in it, just getting pushed to the back wall and started... the 2nd pic had all but maybe the last load in there... the 3rd is the all covered, sealed up, pic... it will sit and "ensile".... ferment... for at least 4-6 weeks probably... You like to give it a minimum of 4 weeks in most cases; some farms that do not have enough extra feed will give it 2-3 weeks... Hopefully we aren't going to need to feed much until end of Nov... at least. Won't have many of the calves there at the barn to wean until then..... and the ones there now will get hay and a little feed in the bunk....
So. Today naturally did not go as planned... Guess things are "better"...again... so what else is new.... but DS decided to get in the cows and a couple of bigger/older calves from the farm down near her house... so they caught them up this morning... he came and got the truck/trailer... loaded what he needed... got the bull out also... called me and was I available to come to the barn... one calf looked like it had pinkeye starting... and he wanted to make sure he had the right calves to wean off and the right cows that needed to go in the calving field... I had texted him a list over a week ago... he said he thought maybe he had it but would have to look... He does not pay attention.... half the time...he will ask me about something, and I will say, I sent you a text, so you would have it in front of you.... 'oh, I guess I need to check'....
sometimes it makes you wonder why even bother...
So he did get them right...plus, brought one calf that he said was looking like pinkeye and I couldn't see any runny eye or anything... but it got a shot of Vit A & D and oxytet 200 just as a precaution... Then he brought an extra cow with her calf... because he was not sure if she was a bred one... and she is not checked yet... but her calf is older and it was supposed to get weaned... BUT.... he said he wasn't going to wean the calf... they could go back out together until the cows all get brought in and preg checked and he weans the other calves off... Whatever... I thought he was wanting to sell these calves but he said no, they will be part of the weaned ones he puts together, in the group(s) for the guy to look over. I guess now that is going to be after the first of the year. So, there are only 3 calves and 1 cow together... she is getting sold... she had a real tiny calf then lost it after 3 months... and it never really grew much....... last year her calf bloated and it died also... not going to deal with her again... she was out of a bought cow I think... some genetic problem maybe... doesn't matter...
There were 4 that were short bred when we put them there; 2 with their big calves 2 that did not have calves. So those 4 are here to calve now... probably be mid-late Nov... but that's okay. They are with the rest of the "due", and currently calving cows. So he took the cow/and bigger calf, as well as the calf we treated, back to the pasture. They will stay there for another month or 2 at most... then come back to the barn to preg check.
So we gathered back up the corral panels, so that he can take them up to the pasture where I am feeding the "14"... which was 12, 2 days ago.... but today it is 13... the idiot one is back.... told DS she is getting SOLD... because she will not stay where we put her and I am not going to deal with it... In the next day or 2 he will get the panels set up, and we will get them penned and brought to the barn... decide who is getting sold... and the 10 bigger heifers we have at the other "free grazing" place, that the guy wants off... will go to this pasture and can go in the partial hayfield section that the "14" were in.... or can go in the back section... plus we will add a couple from the "14" that are bigger, that will also get bred in Nov/Dec.... for fall calves next year. Lots of moving around... but we are rotating some on the grass too...
I am hoping that my feeding them some grain will make them not balk at the pen... he needs to take those panels to set up to get the 10 in at the other place... PITA to move them around so much... but can't very well build catch pens on places we don't own....
So, I had gotten the samples packed and we were going to drop them off at UPS but DS came back a different way, and neither one of us thought of it until we got almost back to the barn.... he had insisted on taking them with us... but does not remember to do things he says he is going to......
After getting back to the barn with the panels in the cattle trailer... he was going to do some welding to get the bent part on the drill fixed so he can plant the winter wheat or whatever he is going to put in for a cover crop... and I wound up going to drop off the samples at UPS... hence the post picture lesson.... The only good thing is that I did get ahold of the lady who had the bigger coop and run... so combined that with going and getting my milk at the farm... and looking at the coop. It is decent... and they had dropped the price as they want to get it sold... to clean up and take down some fences there... because they are getting a big shop/garage building delivered and built on a concrete slab they just poured.... in the next month...Can't get it for at least 2 weeks since they have a big ditch there for the water and electric lines to get buried out to this shop... that is fine...
I bought it... and DS said he will go get it for me... and it WILL get moved in a timely fashion... it is 8x8x8 tall... taller than needed to be... but with these prebuilt sheds and barns and things costing in the 2-5,000 range... it was a good deal. On skids.. and the outside run is 8x16... and in pretty good shape... it is 5 sections... and screws together ... and the wire looks to be something like 2x2" squares... it might be best for young birds to raise up next year... we'll see.... so I will be able to unscrew it to move it flat... plus she has a little pen she used as a brooder/chick pen, for the chicks... on legs... maybe 2x3 or 3x3... said she would give it to me if I could use it and a couple feeders and stuff. She also said that they would try to get the run unscrewed and all to make it easier to get it loaded...
This in addition to the one I went and looked at here local, and am going to get also... it will help to get some places for the birds in the winter...
I was going to get that one tomorrow, Friday, aft... but now I am testing a farm that does not test every month...texted the guy as we had said tenatively Friday aft... but had said Sat would work... so I said I had to work, could we do it Sat and he said Sat aft would be fine... So I will go get it on Sat aft...
The 2 did not cost half of what just one of those "prefab" type chicken houses cost... Spent less than $1400 for both... granted it will take a little bit to move the bigger one... but with the cost of lumber... I think I did okay...
I also found a company that makes "marine" grade clear vinyl... getting samples from them...supposed to be flexible, not rigid.... would be much better to use for closing in the pens out there now... partially or fully. They also say that it is used for closing in screen porches for winter use, or making greenhouses etc.... so we will see... Don't know what sizes etc it can come in... want to see the differences in some of the thicknesses...Might be good to permanently close in one side and then use some for the other sides for winter... I want to have enough places to put birds if I come home with any more/new ones , in the next month...You know, be prepared and ready BEFORE getting stuff.... one of those unheard of concepts.....
So tomorrow morning I am going to get the burn barrels.... since it did not work this morning... then I will go to test in the afternoon...
Did another sinkfull of dishes...
It was chilly last night... 42 overnight. Up to 66 for a high... Somewhat breezy... sweatshirt felt pretty good.
Going to take a shower and go to bed.... got to get sample bottles in a rack for work... put the extra long hoses I need for this farm in the car... put the ratchet strap in the truck to take to keep the barrels on the back of the flat bed.... lots to do in the morning...
... because I stopped at the Verizon store next door to the UPS store when I dropped the samples... and had the guy walk me through posting the pictures... and then wrote it down step by step... Younger guy... VERY PATIENT.... he kept saying no problem, and come back anytime... I told him by the time I am 80 I might be proficient at it... we all laughed and I left. After the poultry swap... I couldn't figure it out again... some things just do not stick with me...I will try to post a few more things... keep practicing... but right now I am home on the computer... I do not like typing that stuff on the phone... but that is where the pictures are.
Hard to get a good depth perception... but the top of the blocks is the top of the pile.... in the back... so it is about 10 ft high, in the back and along the left side looking at it... and it is about 75 ft from the back wall to where it tapers down in the front; there are 4 blocks high on the right 3 blocks worth, towards the front... then tapered down to 3 high to the end where there are 2 high and then 1 high for the last blocks... just to give you an idea... the first pic has 3 loads in it, just getting pushed to the back wall and started... the 2nd pic had all but maybe the last load in there... the 3rd is the all covered, sealed up, pic... it will sit and "ensile".... ferment... for at least 4-6 weeks probably... You like to give it a minimum of 4 weeks in most cases; some farms that do not have enough extra feed will give it 2-3 weeks... Hopefully we aren't going to need to feed much until end of Nov... at least. Won't have many of the calves there at the barn to wean until then..... and the ones there now will get hay and a little feed in the bunk....
So. Today naturally did not go as planned... Guess things are "better"...again... so what else is new.... but DS decided to get in the cows and a couple of bigger/older calves from the farm down near her house... so they caught them up this morning... he came and got the truck/trailer... loaded what he needed... got the bull out also... called me and was I available to come to the barn... one calf looked like it had pinkeye starting... and he wanted to make sure he had the right calves to wean off and the right cows that needed to go in the calving field... I had texted him a list over a week ago... he said he thought maybe he had it but would have to look... He does not pay attention.... half the time...he will ask me about something, and I will say, I sent you a text, so you would have it in front of you.... 'oh, I guess I need to check'....
sometimes it makes you wonder why even bother...So he did get them right...plus, brought one calf that he said was looking like pinkeye and I couldn't see any runny eye or anything... but it got a shot of Vit A & D and oxytet 200 just as a precaution... Then he brought an extra cow with her calf... because he was not sure if she was a bred one... and she is not checked yet... but her calf is older and it was supposed to get weaned... BUT.... he said he wasn't going to wean the calf... they could go back out together until the cows all get brought in and preg checked and he weans the other calves off... Whatever... I thought he was wanting to sell these calves but he said no, they will be part of the weaned ones he puts together, in the group(s) for the guy to look over. I guess now that is going to be after the first of the year. So, there are only 3 calves and 1 cow together... she is getting sold... she had a real tiny calf then lost it after 3 months... and it never really grew much....... last year her calf bloated and it died also... not going to deal with her again... she was out of a bought cow I think... some genetic problem maybe... doesn't matter...
There were 4 that were short bred when we put them there; 2 with their big calves 2 that did not have calves. So those 4 are here to calve now... probably be mid-late Nov... but that's okay. They are with the rest of the "due", and currently calving cows. So he took the cow/and bigger calf, as well as the calf we treated, back to the pasture. They will stay there for another month or 2 at most... then come back to the barn to preg check.
So we gathered back up the corral panels, so that he can take them up to the pasture where I am feeding the "14"... which was 12, 2 days ago.... but today it is 13... the idiot one is back.... told DS she is getting SOLD... because she will not stay where we put her and I am not going to deal with it... In the next day or 2 he will get the panels set up, and we will get them penned and brought to the barn... decide who is getting sold... and the 10 bigger heifers we have at the other "free grazing" place, that the guy wants off... will go to this pasture and can go in the partial hayfield section that the "14" were in.... or can go in the back section... plus we will add a couple from the "14" that are bigger, that will also get bred in Nov/Dec.... for fall calves next year. Lots of moving around... but we are rotating some on the grass too...
I am hoping that my feeding them some grain will make them not balk at the pen... he needs to take those panels to set up to get the 10 in at the other place... PITA to move them around so much... but can't very well build catch pens on places we don't own....
So, I had gotten the samples packed and we were going to drop them off at UPS but DS came back a different way, and neither one of us thought of it until we got almost back to the barn.... he had insisted on taking them with us... but does not remember to do things he says he is going to......
After getting back to the barn with the panels in the cattle trailer... he was going to do some welding to get the bent part on the drill fixed so he can plant the winter wheat or whatever he is going to put in for a cover crop... and I wound up going to drop off the samples at UPS... hence the post picture lesson.... The only good thing is that I did get ahold of the lady who had the bigger coop and run... so combined that with going and getting my milk at the farm... and looking at the coop. It is decent... and they had dropped the price as they want to get it sold... to clean up and take down some fences there... because they are getting a big shop/garage building delivered and built on a concrete slab they just poured.... in the next month...Can't get it for at least 2 weeks since they have a big ditch there for the water and electric lines to get buried out to this shop... that is fine...
I bought it... and DS said he will go get it for me... and it WILL get moved in a timely fashion... it is 8x8x8 tall... taller than needed to be... but with these prebuilt sheds and barns and things costing in the 2-5,000 range... it was a good deal. On skids.. and the outside run is 8x16... and in pretty good shape... it is 5 sections... and screws together ... and the wire looks to be something like 2x2" squares... it might be best for young birds to raise up next year... we'll see.... so I will be able to unscrew it to move it flat... plus she has a little pen she used as a brooder/chick pen, for the chicks... on legs... maybe 2x3 or 3x3... said she would give it to me if I could use it and a couple feeders and stuff. She also said that they would try to get the run unscrewed and all to make it easier to get it loaded...
This in addition to the one I went and looked at here local, and am going to get also... it will help to get some places for the birds in the winter...
I was going to get that one tomorrow, Friday, aft... but now I am testing a farm that does not test every month...texted the guy as we had said tenatively Friday aft... but had said Sat would work... so I said I had to work, could we do it Sat and he said Sat aft would be fine... So I will go get it on Sat aft...
The 2 did not cost half of what just one of those "prefab" type chicken houses cost... Spent less than $1400 for both... granted it will take a little bit to move the bigger one... but with the cost of lumber... I think I did okay...
I also found a company that makes "marine" grade clear vinyl... getting samples from them...supposed to be flexible, not rigid.... would be much better to use for closing in the pens out there now... partially or fully. They also say that it is used for closing in screen porches for winter use, or making greenhouses etc.... so we will see... Don't know what sizes etc it can come in... want to see the differences in some of the thicknesses...Might be good to permanently close in one side and then use some for the other sides for winter... I want to have enough places to put birds if I come home with any more/new ones , in the next month...You know, be prepared and ready BEFORE getting stuff.... one of those unheard of concepts.....
So tomorrow morning I am going to get the burn barrels.... since it did not work this morning... then I will go to test in the afternoon...
Did another sinkfull of dishes...
It was chilly last night... 42 overnight. Up to 66 for a high... Somewhat breezy... sweatshirt felt pretty good.
Going to take a shower and go to bed.... got to get sample bottles in a rack for work... put the extra long hoses I need for this farm in the car... put the ratchet strap in the truck to take to keep the barrels on the back of the flat bed.... lots to do in the morning...
Baymule
Herd Master
Congrats on the chicken coops! I love a good deal!
You will be a pro in no time on posting pictures! You did good. It's nice to see what you are talking about. Moving cows! It's like fruit basket turn over, madness and mayhem. LOL
You will be a pro in no time on posting pictures! You did good. It's nice to see what you are talking about. Moving cows! It's like fruit basket turn over, madness and mayhem. LOL
Ridgetop
Herd Master
Mini Horses
Herd Master
That's almost rebel homesteading -- ready ahead?!?!?!
