Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[fuzzi]

Then I went to Snyder's.... Lo and behold.... The jersey heifer was transported to planet pluto....and a new one was in the barn. She went right in the head catch when I put the grain in there, never moved a muscle when I pulled the wood upright bar lever, against her neck....she let me milk her a bit, put the cannulas in her 2 back tests as I was a little scared of sitting next to her to try to milk her out.

Good news about the Jersey!

 

[Mini Horses]

Im hoping she keeps doing well for you! Possibly the first couple of days after catch, transport, dropped at strange place -- maybe just super upset

 

[SageHill]

Bull Riding! Love that.

 

[farmerjan]

Yeah, @Mini Horses , I think the move and new calf and everything just sent her over the edge... I was really questioning my purchase... but she was really totally sensible and easy to work with yesterday. Hope she will take another calf if we have one .... might have to buy one... her calf is a nice one...

Was going to let Maggie out yesterday but did not want to keep new one in there by herself with just the calves... Weather supposed to be pretty nasty Mon night and Tues morning... then nicer and WARM for several days... Think that I will let them out then... when I don't have any farms at night to have to "hurry up" and try to get them back in... gotta teach them to come in for the calves... because never know when I might need them to take on a new one...

43 to start, it was real sunny, now is partly clouds and sun... hit 70, and it staying around 68 so far..

Got the clothes hung, chicken feeders filled and waterers all filled... Got 5 eggs yesterday, Langshan laid one this morning already...

Can't believe that the time will change next weekend....

Hard boiled another dozen eggs... Ate scrambled eggs this morning... break from the sunny side up and I don't have any bread for sopping up the yolk anyway.

Also filled the bird feeders while it was so nice out... might not be much more of that. But we will get some more colder temps... and the next 2 days will be crappy... I am resisting raking the leaves and such away from the areas that are "mulched" with them for the winter protection... Wish my back didn't hurt so that I could do more "yard work" stuff.
I did see a couple of crocus flowers... protected spot that gets early day sun...

Spring is coming...

DS texted there is another new calf today...

Going to decide what to make for some lunch... stomach is saying the scrambled eggs were not enough and it's hungry again... Well, I guess it is 1 p.m. so that is reasonable...

 

[GLENMAR]

Yes. Spring IS coming. Warmer days are not too far away. I think my beehive survived, with no help from me.

 

[farmerjan]

Winter reminder today... Temps started at 29... up to 38... Cloudy and it started snowing at about 10... came down fast and furious... settled on trees and car... but not the road... changed to some sleety rain... off and on... more due tonight then passing through and starting to warm up... Possible slick spots on bridges and such in the morning... forecast is 30 ish.....
Then the sun coming out... temps in the low 50's... Wed temps in the 60+ and 80's by Thursday, with nights in the 50's....that for a week or so???? NUTS... WAY TOO WARM for this time of year...

Saw a couple of crocus flowers out, on the side of the tree that is protected from the winds and faces the sun for a fair amount of the day ... before the tree leaves shade it.. SO, a nice cheery little pick me up...

Had FANTASTIC news this afternoon... Red, 12-112, BROKEN PELVIS cow.... was showing a bit of discharge... DS said she was laying down and then got up, acted uncomfortable and kept biting/licking her leg... I said she might have laid on the nerve wrong and it was bothering her.. but naturally ate her grain, with no big deal... he went and fed and came back... and she had had a calf in the 45 min he was gone... and it was up and already sucking her... He thinks she might have had it standing up... god bless it if it fell out on it's head !!!!... but she was talking to it and was doing GREAT with it... she has always been a good mother... So we got very lucky with her... it is a bull calf, would've liked a heifer for her last calf... BUT.... have 2 of her daughters already... one with a calf and one ready to breed in June... going to leave the calf as a bull and let her raise it and see how it turns out when weaning time gets here... So we hit the odds right... 40-50% chance she could have it vet said... She will stay around the barn/farm where it is not too hard on her to get around... and let her raise it... then she will be hamburger in the fall/winter... Can NOT let a bull near her... or another cow that will ride her, if someone comes in heat......maybe some young heifers or something... to keep her company... and her calf someone to play with.....

So when it started to snow so much... I texted farm and asked what they thought. I had already dropped off the meters... I was/am concerned about the ice as that is a cold "spot" over at their farm.. usually 5-10 degrees colder than surrounding areas... they are real close to the farm where I get my milk... and get his couple of samples from his registered cows, to run through with another farm....and he is/was ALWAYS colder there than anywhere around...
Said that driving in the snow was not that big a deal, but that I was concerned if it kept up and changed to ice... said that I could do it Tues night/Wed morning... I have another farm for Wed eve... so they talked it over and said that we could put if off to Tues/Wed instead... I think it will be safer... it is right at 31-32 now... so iffy.... and it is a cold misty rain now... didn't want to be out in it if I didn't have to... so that is better...

The cow with the calf that doesn't have much milk... got the gate open and got out in the bigger lot with the steers... he couldn't get near her or the calf... but got her back in the smaller area lot by the silo with the red cow this morning... calf drank a 1/2 bottle right down... then went right over on the cow... he said that she looks like she has a little more milk but not alot.... It's only been barely a week... maybe she won't come into her milk as much as she should... but she was a little early according to my calculations...1-2 weeks.... so might just need some more time... she is doing fine with the calf... just not alot of milk...

I left this morning, and went and got the meters from the farm down the road, that borrows them... then dropped them at the farm that I test... then went and dropped reports at the one farm and got the info I needed; most all the cows that I was missing, were sold at the dairy sale like I thought... got the calving dates on the other 2....... paid for Maggie... I paid him what I got for my culled beef cow, and he kept asking was I sure ... and I said yes, she is a sweetheart in the barn and I am very happy with her... I think he was thinking 1,000 and I paid him 1400... so he said he had a jersey due in a week or so, and if it was a bull calf it was mine... so that is good... I think that the next jersey bull calf born, even if it is not this one due but another somewhere along, I will get it... and then I can put it on Maggie and take the other jersey calf off,,,, or maybe it will co nurse the new jersey heifer... Still thinking up a name for her... Maggie's ear tag is #454.... and the new one is #425.... but I want to call her a name...It'll come to me one of these days... like Betsy did...
Then went to pick up some parts for DS and deliver reports to the farm I did on Friday right up the road from there...
Hoping to let the jerseys out after Wed, for the day, and bring them back in to the barn to feed the calves in the evenings...stay in for the night... when I am going to be there for a few days to deal with them..... plus this might help if I need to graft another calf on them as they will have lots of milk to stick a calf on the udder while they are eating grain... pay more attention to the grain than who is sucking....

Got 3 eggs total today... 5 yesterday... they will get more regular as the weather gets more settled and the daylight gets longer...

I also went to Walmart to get some bread and while reading the labels... their in house Garlic bread.. is made with MARGARINE... so I should be able to eat it... I got a loaf... $2.75 .... and tried a piece this evening... have to broil it to melt the topping.... no immediate reactions... That is wonderful.... not a fan of margarine, but at least I can eat some of the things I like, if I use it... instead of butter... tastes a little different and I never would eat it... BUT... you learn to "like" something like that if it gives you more options... Got some lettuce and "salad tomatoes" so I can make a salad to break up the monotony,

Might try that "I can't believe it's not butter" for taste... never had it... less like "glorified penzoil" that I always referred to margarine as...

Dropped the samples at UPS also.....and went to Walmart, and TSC while I was out. Then went to Lowes to see about a sheet of the clear fiberglass "roof panel" that they use to let light in on roof's... well I lucked out... They had 4x8 sheets of 6ml poly carbonate type panels, double walled ... like for a greenhouse... on closeout... $65 regular... for $25.99...but none on the shelf so I figured they were all sold... but I asked... and the guy said they had 20, went outside and found them.... so I bought them all... PLUS... when going to ring them up... the cash register computer would not take 20... said they were out of stock... so the dept mgr or whatever he was, who went up to the register with me so I could pay for them... told her to put in 19 and see if it would take it... it did... so he said, good, we will kick in the 20th one... there is probably at least one that has some "damage".... and with my Lowes card, I get the 5% off instead of free financing most times... They were like $24 each... I will use them for some roofing projects for the coops I want to repair... and maybe even build a greenhouse now.. The thing of it was... the 3x8 ones were originally $59.99 ... marked down to $39.99 .... so not near as good a deal.... I have been talking about maybe closing in the deck, making it into a "sun room/greenhouse"... this may be the ticket to doing that... I intend to check the other Lowes to see if they have any too... might be able to make a stand alone greenhouse also... need to get the lumber... but I had been pricing those sheets and they are very expensive if you get them from a greenhouse supplier... 4 ft is harder to work with for a greenhouse for strength... but I could use extra 2x2's for extra support, between the normal 2x4's or whatever....might be better for the sides, and then use the narrower panels for the roof/top.... without compromising the amount of light hardly at all....It was too good a bargain to pass up... gives me a reason to get the deck closed in before winter... And all I was looking for was a fiberglass type panel, for the little moveable coop... these will be so much stronger with the winds we get all the time...
Have to take the flat bed ford to get them in the morning...

Since I did not have to rush home to test it was nice... considering the crappy weather...

So, that is the day pretty much. I am going to get the rest of the bottles in the trays for tomorrow and the ones for Wed....then go to bed....

 

[drstratton]

Winter reminder today... Temps started at 29... up to 38... Cloudy and it started snowing at about 10... came down fast and furious... settled on trees and car... but not the road... changed to some sleety rain... off and on... more due tonight then passing through and starting to warm up... Possible slick spots on bridges and such in the morning... forecast is 30 ish.....
Then the sun coming out... temps in the low 50's... Wed temps in the 60+ and 80's by Thursday, with nights in the 50's....that for a week or so???? NUTS... WAY TOO WARM for this time of year...

Saw a couple of crocus flowers out, on the side of the tree that is protected from the winds and faces the sun for a fair amount of the day ... before the tree leaves shade it.. SO, a nice cheery little pick me up...

Had FANTASTIC news this afternoon... Red, 12-112, BROKEN PELVIS cow.... was showing a bit of discharge... DS said she was laying down and then got up, acted uncomfortable and kept biting/licking her leg... I said she might have laid on the nerve wrong and it was bothering her.. but naturally ate her grain, with no big deal... he went and fed and came back... and she had had a calf in the 45 min he was gone... and it was up and already sucking her... He thinks she might have had it standing up... god bless it if it fell out on it's head !!!!... but she was talking to it and was doing GREAT with it... she has always been a good mother... So we got very lucky with her... it is a bull calf, would've liked a heifer for her last calf... BUT.... have 2 of her daughters already... one with a calf and one ready to breed in June... going to leave the calf as a bull and let her raise it and see how it turns out when weaning time gets here... So we hit the odds right... 40-50% chance she could have it vet said... She will stay around the barn/farm where it is not too hard on her to get around... and let her raise it... then she will be hamburger in the fall/winter... Can NOT let a bull near her... or another cow that will ride her, if someone comes in heat......maybe some young heifers or something... to keep her company... and her calf someone to play with.....

So when it started to snow so much... I texted farm and asked what they thought. I had already dropped off the meters... I was/am concerned about the ice as that is a cold "spot" over at their farm.. usually 5-10 degrees colder than surrounding areas... they are real close to the farm where I get my milk... and get his couple of samples from his registered cows, to run through with another farm....and he is/was ALWAYS colder there than anywhere around...
Said that driving in the snow was not that big a deal, but that I was concerned if it kept up and changed to ice... said that I could do it Tues night/Wed morning... I have another farm for Wed eve... so they talked it over and said that we could put if off to Tues/Wed instead... I think it will be safer... it is right at 31-32 now... so iffy.... and it is a cold misty rain now... didn't want to be out in it if I didn't have to... so that is better...

The cow with the calf that doesn't have much milk... got the gate open and got out in the bigger lot with the steers... he couldn't get near her or the calf... but got her back in the smaller area lot by the silo with the red cow this morning... calf drank a 1/2 bottle right down... then went right over on the cow... he said that she looks like she has a little more milk but not alot.... It's only been barely a week... maybe she won't come into her milk as much as she should... but she was a little early according to my calculations...1-2 weeks.... so might just need some more time... she is doing fine with the calf... just not alot of milk...

I left this morning, and went and got the meters from the farm down the road, that borrows them... then dropped them at the farm that I test... then went and dropped reports at the one farm and got the info I needed; most all the cows that I was missing, were sold at the dairy sale like I thought... got the calving dates on the other 2....... paid for Maggie... I paid him what I got for my culled beef cow, and he kept asking was I sure ... and I said yes, she is a sweetheart in the barn and I am very happy with her... I think he was thinking 1,000 and I paid him 1400... so he said he had a jersey due in a week or so, and if it was a bull calf it was mine... so that is good... I think that the next jersey bull calf born, even if it is not this one due but another somewhere along, I will get it... and then I can put it on Maggie and take the other jersey calf off,,,, or maybe it will co nurse the new jersey heifer... Still thinking up a name for her... Maggie's ear tag is #454.... and the new one is #425.... but I want to call her a name...It'll come to me one of these days... like Betsy did...
Then went to pick up some parts for DS and deliver reports to the farm I did on Friday right up the road from there...
Hoping to let the jerseys out after Wed, for the day, and bring them back in to the barn to feed the calves in the evenings...stay in for the night... when I am going to be there for a few days to deal with them..... plus this might help if I need to graft another calf on them as they will have lots of milk to stick a calf on the udder while they are eating grain... pay more attention to the grain than who is sucking....

Got 3 eggs total today... 5 yesterday... they will get more regular as the weather gets more settled and the daylight gets longer...

I also went to Walmart to get some bread and while reading the labels... their in house Garlic bread.. is made with MARGARINE... so I should be able to eat it... I got a loaf... $2.75 .... and tried a piece this evening... have to broil it to melt the topping.... no immediate reactions... That is wonderful.... not a fan of margarine, but at least I can eat some of the things I like, if I use it... instead of butter... tastes a little different and I never would eat it... BUT... you learn to "like" something like that if it gives you more options... Got some lettuce and "salad tomatoes" so I can make a salad to break up the monotony,

Might try that "I can't believe it's not butter" for taste... never had it... less like "glorified penzoil" that I always referred to margarine as...

Dropped the samples at UPS also.....and went to Walmart, and TSC while I was out. Then went to Lowes to see about a sheet of the clear fiberglass "roof panel" that they use to let light in on roof's... well I lucked out... They had 4x8 sheets of 6ml poly carbonate type panels, double walled ... like for a greenhouse... on closeout... $65 regular... for $25.99...but none on the shelf so I figured they were all sold... but I asked... and the guy said they had 20, went outside and found them.... so I bought them all... PLUS... when going to ring them up... the cash register computer would not take 20... said they were out of stock... so the dept mgr or whatever he was, who went up to the register with me so I could pay for them... told her to put in 19 and see if it would take it... it did... so he said, good, we will kick in the 20th one... there is probably at least one that has some "damage".... and with my Lowes card, I get the 5% off instead of free financing most times... They were like $24 each... I will use them for some roofing projects for the coops I want to repair... and maybe even build a greenhouse now.. The thing of it was... the 3x8 ones were originally $59.99 ... marked down to $39.99 .... so not near as good a deal.... I have been talking about maybe closing in the deck, making it into a "sun room/greenhouse"... this may be the ticket to doing that... I intend to check the other Lowes to see if they have any too... might be able to make a stand alone greenhouse also... need to get the lumber... but I had been pricing those sheets and they are very expensive if you get them from a greenhouse supplier... 4 ft is harder to work with for a greenhouse for strength... but I could use extra 2x2's for extra support, between the normal 2x4's or whatever....might be better for the sides, and then use the narrower panels for the roof/top.... without compromising the amount of light hardly at all....It was too good a bargain to pass up... gives me a reason to get the deck closed in before winter... And all I was looking for was a fiberglass type panel, for the little moveable coop... these will be so much stronger with the winds we get all the time...
Have to take the flat bed ford to get them in the morning...

Since I did not have to rush home to test it was nice... considering the crappy weather...

So, that is the day pretty much. I am going to get the rest of the bottles in the trays for tomorrow and the ones for Wed....then go to bed....

So glad she was able to deliver her calf and everything looks good.

What a great deal on those panels. A greenhouse would be awesome for you.

Have a good night Jan!

 

[fuzzi]

Winter reminder today... Temps started at 29... up to 38... Cloudy and it started snowing at about 10... came down fast and furious... settled on trees and car... but not the road... changed to some sleety rain... off and on... more due tonight then passing through and starting to warm up... Possible slick spots on bridges and such in the morning... forecast is 30 ish.....
Then the sun coming out... temps in the low 50's... Wed temps in the 60+ and 80's by Thursday, with nights in the 50's....that for a week or so???? NUTS... WAY TOO WARM for this time of year...

Saw a couple of crocus flowers out, on the side of the tree that is protected from the winds and faces the sun for a fair amount of the day ... before the tree leaves shade it.. SO, a nice cheery little pick me up...

Had FANTASTIC news this afternoon... Red, 12-112, BROKEN PELVIS cow.... was showing a bit of discharge... DS said she was laying down and then got up, acted uncomfortable and kept biting/licking her leg... I said she might have laid on the nerve wrong and it was bothering her.. but naturally ate her grain, with no big deal... he went and fed and came back... and she had had a calf in the 45 min he was gone... and it was up and already sucking her... He thinks she might have had it standing up... god bless it if it fell out on it's head !!!!... but she was talking to it and was doing GREAT with it... she has always been a good mother... So we got very lucky with her... it is a bull calf, would've liked a heifer for her last calf... BUT.... have 2 of her daughters already... one with a calf and one ready to breed in June... going to leave the calf as a bull and let her raise it and see how it turns out when weaning time gets here... So we hit the odds right... 40-50% chance she could have it vet said... She will stay around the barn/farm where it is not too hard on her to get around... and let her raise it... then she will be hamburger in the fall/winter... Can NOT let a bull near her... or another cow that will ride her, if someone comes in heat......maybe some young heifers or something... to keep her company... and her calf someone to play with.....

So when it started to snow so much... I texted farm and asked what they thought. I had already dropped off the meters... I was/am concerned about the ice as that is a cold "spot" over at their farm.. usually 5-10 degrees colder than surrounding areas... they are real close to the farm where I get my milk... and get his couple of samples from his registered cows, to run through with another farm....and he is/was ALWAYS colder there than anywhere around...
Said that driving in the snow was not that big a deal, but that I was concerned if it kept up and changed to ice... said that I could do it Tues night/Wed morning... I have another farm for Wed eve... so they talked it over and said that we could put if off to Tues/Wed instead... I think it will be safer... it is right at 31-32 now... so iffy.... and it is a cold misty rain now... didn't want to be out in it if I didn't have to... so that is better...

The cow with the calf that doesn't have much milk... got the gate open and got out in the bigger lot with the steers... he couldn't get near her or the calf... but got her back in the smaller area lot by the silo with the red cow this morning... calf drank a 1/2 bottle right down... then went right over on the cow... he said that she looks like she has a little more milk but not alot.... It's only been barely a week... maybe she won't come into her milk as much as she should... but she was a little early according to my calculations...1-2 weeks.... so might just need some more time... she is doing fine with the calf... just not alot of milk...

I left this morning, and went and got the meters from the farm down the road, that borrows them... then dropped them at the farm that I test... then went and dropped reports at the one farm and got the info I needed; most all the cows that I was missing, were sold at the dairy sale like I thought... got the calving dates on the other 2....... paid for Maggie... I paid him what I got for my culled beef cow, and he kept asking was I sure ... and I said yes, she is a sweetheart in the barn and I am very happy with her... I think he was thinking 1,000 and I paid him 1400... so he said he had a jersey due in a week or so, and if it was a bull calf it was mine... so that is good... I think that the next jersey bull calf born, even if it is not this one due but another somewhere along, I will get it... and then I can put it on Maggie and take the other jersey calf off,,,, or maybe it will co nurse the new jersey heifer... Still thinking up a name for her... Maggie's ear tag is #454.... and the new one is #425.... but I want to call her a name...It'll come to me one of these days... like Betsy did...
Then went to pick up some parts for DS and deliver reports to the farm I did on Friday right up the road from there...
Hoping to let the jerseys out after Wed, for the day, and bring them back in to the barn to feed the calves in the evenings...stay in for the night... when I am going to be there for a few days to deal with them..... plus this might help if I need to graft another calf on them as they will have lots of milk to stick a calf on the udder while they are eating grain... pay more attention to the grain than who is sucking....

Got 3 eggs total today... 5 yesterday... they will get more regular as the weather gets more settled and the daylight gets longer...

I also went to Walmart to get some bread and while reading the labels... their in house Garlic bread.. is made with MARGARINE... so I should be able to eat it... I got a loaf... $2.75 .... and tried a piece this evening... have to broil it to melt the topping.... no immediate reactions... That is wonderful.... not a fan of margarine, but at least I can eat some of the things I like, if I use it... instead of butter... tastes a little different and I never would eat it... BUT... you learn to "like" something like that if it gives you more options... Got some lettuce and "salad tomatoes" so I can make a salad to break up the monotony,

Might try that "I can't believe it's not butter" for taste... never had it... less like "glorified penzoil" that I always referred to margarine as...

Dropped the samples at UPS also.....and went to Walmart, and TSC while I was out. Then went to Lowes to see about a sheet of the clear fiberglass "roof panel" that they use to let light in on roof's... well I lucked out... They had 4x8 sheets of 6ml poly carbonate type panels, double walled ... like for a greenhouse... on closeout... $65 regular... for $25.99...but none on the shelf so I figured they were all sold... but I asked... and the guy said they had 20, went outside and found them.... so I bought them all... PLUS... when going to ring them up... the cash register computer would not take 20... said they were out of stock... so the dept mgr or whatever he was, who went up to the register with me so I could pay for them... told her to put in 19 and see if it would take it... it did... so he said, good, we will kick in the 20th one... there is probably at least one that has some "damage".... and with my Lowes card, I get the 5% off instead of free financing most times... They were like $24 each... I will use them for some roofing projects for the coops I want to repair... and maybe even build a greenhouse now.. The thing of it was... the 3x8 ones were originally $59.99 ... marked down to $39.99 .... so not near as good a deal.... I have been talking about maybe closing in the deck, making it into a "sun room/greenhouse"... this may be the ticket to doing that... I intend to check the other Lowes to see if they have any too... might be able to make a stand alone greenhouse also... need to get the lumber... but I had been pricing those sheets and they are very expensive if you get them from a greenhouse supplier... 4 ft is harder to work with for a greenhouse for strength... but I could use extra 2x2's for extra support, between the normal 2x4's or whatever....might be better for the sides, and then use the narrower panels for the roof/top.... without compromising the amount of light hardly at all....It was too good a bargain to pass up... gives me a reason to get the deck closed in before winter... And all I was looking for was a fiberglass type panel, for the little moveable coop... these will be so much stronger with the winds we get all the time...
Have to take the flat bed ford to get them in the morning...

Since I did not have to rush home to test it was nice... considering the crappy weather...

So, that is the day pretty much. I am going to get the rest of the bottles in the trays for tomorrow and the ones for Wed....then go to bed....

Happy for you!

Here's hoping the margerine works out.

 

[Baymule]

Name for the cow....... for some reason Cookie pops in my mind.

Fantastic on the broke pelvis cow. Too bad you didn't get a heifer, but at least you have 2 daughters from her. You are keeping the calf as a bull, thinking as a herd sire?

What a find on the greenhouse panels. Maybe you can find some more and wind up with a greenhouse!

Margarine isn't so bad. My mother raised us on it, it was supposed to be better than butter, blah, blah, blah. Then after us kids left the house, she got all "healthy" and bought real butter. It it left you pretend that you have butter, so be it.

 

[Mini Horses]

Been a few days -- you ok?