Ridgetop - our place and how we muddle along

[Ridgetop]

Copper is too high. I checked at TSC yesterday. I think I can make some of my own using the oats, corn, and All Stock sweet feed pellet I have. I will spray it with molasses water or add the molasses to the lye water when mixing. I will have to experiment. I was hoping the old sweet feed stickiness would have prevented the pellet from melting, but if I feed it immediately I hope it won't melt too badly. I will only have to mix it once a month so I will continue feeding the pellet feed the rest of the time.

Rams supposed to arrive Thursday and we decided to put them in the barn jugs (one in each side by side) to make it easier for us in the expected bad weather. Also for them to adjust to us. They are coming from northwest Missouri (cold) but have been living in a huge barn with access to an outside yard. I have to call the breeder to make sure the transport will be shipping tomorrow. Our jugs are 5'x5'x42"h so they should not be able to jump out easily. Their pens were hog panels (about 24" tall) but there were no ewes around them. Without any pen space to get up a run to go over, I hope they will stay in the jugs till Monday or Tuesday when we will move them out to their pasture. They are used to LGDs so no problem there. Also pretty friendly so hopefully will be calm in a barn arund other sheep. I don't have any rams to pen them near so the lactating ewes and lambs will have to do for company.

DS1 has gone to town to get the exterior electrical boxes he needs to put in more outlets in the barn for the trough de-icers. Last year we used one in the side barn for the ewes and lambs. This year we moved the crep to the big side of the barn and since ony a portion of the ewes lambed we are spread out further. We need outlets in dfferent locations for more de-icers in those troughs. Even if the weather warms up, having the de-icers will be a help for the ranch sitter in February. DS1 is running an extension cord from the pump shed to the ram pen water trough as well. He also wants more outlets for heat lamps. This cold spell has brought those plans forward from March/April. Luckily we have the large pallet pen for the 20 ewes in the other pasture. They have a huge tree with branches to the ground that they like, but at this season there is no foliage. With hard sleety rain they will brave the goblins in the pallet shelter.

Oddly we have been running out of water in the trough that waters 2 ewes and 3 small late lambs. It was situated under the heat lamps so DS1 moved it to see if the heat lamps were causing it to evaporate. No leak in the trough and no water around the trough to show any leaks. They don't use that much water when the heat lamps are not on so it's a possibility.

The sick ewe that was perky yesterday is depressed again. I might have to worm her with Ivermectin along with another dose of Pepto and Pennicilin today. I suppose I could try the lye worming today while DS1 is working in the barn. I need another feed can to store the oats.

 

[Mini Horses]

Appreciate more copper than everyday use would allow....but, one feeding I wouldn't think to be an issue. .Biu you mix should work

 

[Ridgetop]

I might try it. If too much copper can give to the horses during the winter.

 

[Ridgetop]

Big work day today for all 3 of us. No rams delivered, the transporter decided not to chance it since he has to come down through Missouri, Oklahoma and north Texas where the main storm path is. Fine with us, we don't want to be trying to handle new rams in freezing weather, and would hate to hear that he had an accident or was stuck somewhere with a trailer full of livestock.

Yesterday DS1 went to town to get all the supplies he needed for doing more electrical in the barn and for more de-icers for the water troughs. He also picked up a bag of barley from the Co-op for the lye treatment, DH's prescriptions, and some milk. 4 hours doing errands.

Today he ran more electrcal in the barn to install another circuit and outdoor plug for the de-icers. Then he put three more heat lamps up in the barn. DH helped with the wiring and heat lamp installation, then dragged the new hay cradle parts over to the ram pasture while DS1 put another supplement tub out. They set another hay bale in for the horses (on the ground - no cradle), then assembled the new ram hay cradle and set a bale in that pasture ready for the rams when they arrive. Finally, they moved water troughs into the end of the barn, ran an extension cord to the bred ewes in the far pasture, and installed the heat lamp bulbs and tested them.

While they were doing that I took out the bottom threading in about 20+ feed sacks (the plastic coated ones) and rolled them up ready for the next pallet shelter we build. I dragged our new Behrens trash cans (and the third one that we discovered we had but were using in the carport for trash!) and put the barley and oats in the first two. The third one I emptied the open bag of All Stock feed we were using for the horses now that is is getting cold. Then summoned up my courage to do the lye water worming treatment. This meant running back to the house for the 1/2 tsp measure. Another trip back to the house for a larger grain measure to be exact. Not to self go to dollar store and buy plastic measuring spoons and plastic quart measuring cup. Having finally assembled my tools, I measured out the appropriate amount of grain. This meant using a cup measure and lots of arithmetic to figure out how much grain mixture I needed for 17 ewes. Finally I added the required amount of lye water to the grain, and set it out for the ewes. I added some molasses to the water to encourage them to eat it but they were not sure about it. DS1 said it was because I poured it out on the ground instead of putting it in the empty plastic supplement tubs. I had to measure out a smaller portion for the 3 ewes in different pens in the barn. I was rather disappointed that they were not interested in rushing to eat it although they had swarmed me like locusts when i went in with the bucket!

Next measuring of grain, more arithmetic for more ewes in the other pasture. More measuring of lye water and mixing together. This time I did not add any molasses, instead I put a scoop of their regular feed on top of the moistened grain and nixed it in. DS1 said we should use 5 tubs to feed them so DH pushed them over in the wheelbarrow, DS1 carried the 2 large buckets, and I followed the little procession. DH went in and spaced out the tubs. I lifted the first bucket over the fence and he started pouring it into the tubs. The ewes ran to the tubs, ran away from the tubs, ran back to the tubs, and got under DH's feet as he tried to make sure that each tub got the right amount of treated feed. These ewes liked the feed but couldn't make up their minds which tub to eat out of so it was rather wild for a bit. When we went back to the barn I noticed that the first group of ewes were not eating the feed off the ground.
Hopefully they will all be alive in the morning.
One associated posting I watched on U-tube was a woman who had done some investigation on use of lye for worming. She said that the base ingredient that makes lye was being added to various animal feeds by the companies. Apparently studies had shown that treatig feed with that ingredient increased rumen efficiency in breakdown of roughage in sheep and other livestock.

On another note - either happy or not depending on how we read it - it looks ike at least 4 of the "ope" young ewes are making udders. Will they lamb in february as soon as we leave for our trip guaranteeing the ranch sitter will never be available to sit for us again? Or will they play nice and lamb before we leave - probably in the middle of the snow and ice? Hard to say which would be best. Waiting for our return from California is probably not in their plans.


Anyway, we staggered back into the house mere husks of ourselves. All three of us were in pain and realized that we were no longer youngsters. Being in my Prime did not prepare me for DS1 saying that he was getting old. What!? He drove the knife in further by reminding me that DD1 will be 49 this summer!

DH got fried chicken for supper and we all took showers and ate. I gave DH my heating pad for his sore limbs, took Alleve, and we collapsed on the sofa. After an hour or two I went in and took a pain pill. (Two actually) which accounts for the fact that while my pains are very subdued now, I can't sleep. Pain pills put me into a semi-awake state. Even making mental lists of what to store in a rental unit in California and what to bring back on this trip didn't put me to sleep.

Oh well, I guess I will go back and float in a half sleep till morning. At least I will be laying down and not hurting. LOL

 

[Baymule]

I tried the lye treatment but the ewes that needed it most got the least. I used it several times. I used cracked corn because the pellets melted when moist. I hope you have better luck with the lye.

Preparing for the winter storm! We are all gonna DIE!! the news on TV says so. I really do have some serious barn envy now! Sheep have dry snug places to be but I'll be out there in whatever is falling out of the sky.

I hope you don't lose power, but at least you have a fireplace.

 

[Ridgetop]

We do have a fireplace, most of a cord of wood, and also our generator. Survival in the house will be no problem. However today as we were congratulating ourselves on being prepared for the storm with having put up the heat lamps, installing the de-icers, and disconnecting the hoses from the well spigots - we remembered that the barn and well are not connected to the Generac. They are all connected to the secondary electric hook up that is for the farm. If the electricity goes off we will have the generator for the house BUT no power for the barn and well pump, so no heat lamps or water in the barn.

Along with a hay barn we have now added putting in a small generator to the "To Do" list for next year. The second generator will be much smaller since it will only have to run the well, barn, shed, and the new hay barn electric. I thnk we will also set up some of the corral panels in the new hay barn for Skittles and Josie the Mule. We are graining them am and pm because of the cold weather, but DS1 said they looked very cold and he wnts me to order water proof winter blankets for them. I don't know if Josie would even keep one on. And both of them are masters at fly mask removal and destruction. On the other hand they have lots of trees and shrubs around the pond to shelter in so I am hoping that they will go in there and be out of the wind and sleet. If we can set up a corral under one corner of the hay barn roof, I have plenty of horse blankets to put on them - they are just not the water proof waxed kind. Hope they are ok in this weather. At least we don't have it for months on end like so many of our BYH friends do. Hope you guys are holding up in this storm.

We are just getting ice and sleet - no snow yet. I would rather have snow since is sort of insulates the ground and the temps seem to actually raise. This sleet and ice rain is really bad. The trucks from Hopkins County were out yesterday spraying salt slurry on the roads. We are just over the line into Wood County so they sprayed as far as the county line then turned around and went back. LOL But like DH and I agreed, we only have to get to the county line from our driveway - maybe 1000' - and then we might be able to make it into Sulphur Springs in the truck with 4WD. LOL

 

[Baymule]

Even if you lose power in the barn, the sheep are dry. That goes a long way, not being wet.

 

[Mini Horses]

1000' can be cleared with your tractor & blade....
Around here, IF WE GET much snow, the locals do the back roads.

 

[Baymule]

1000' can be cleared with your tractor & blade....
Around here, IF WE GET much snow, the locals do the back roads.

Road cowboys in jacked up one ton duallys with 4” welder made pipe bumpers would obliterate a slow moving tractor trying to blade the ice and snow. They are invincible, don’t slow down for ice, snow, rain, flooded roads or mud.

Just stay home!

 

[farmerjan]

Many of the contractors here are the guys that do construction stuff... dump trucks and such... fitted with snow plows and they have the sanders in the back... many smaller 1 ton p.u.'s also do the smaller back roads... they CANNOT spread salt on the dirt roads only the sand/grit....
Saw at least 4-5 going down the road yesterday aft before 4... to get their trucks loaded up and stuff... it started here a little, about 5-6 pm.... real light snow by 7.
Many of these are guys that are "road Jockeys" though; don't know the roads real well, do a crappy job or too fast or whatever... but sometimes just getting them opened up will help the guys from VDOT get out there to do cleanups after they get done with the primary's... but they have gotten bad the last year or 2... too many young guys that do not know the roads, the problem places, or anything else... and it shows in the way things are getting done here... VERY SAD the way so much has gone to he// in a hand basket...

Many of my farmers have contracts with VDOT also with their tractors... plows fitted on them... to open up all the back roads that are winding and hilly.... with milk prices the way they are, it is an extra source of income for the ones that can spare a person or 2 to run the tractors off the farm... we don't have the stupid road jockeys here in the winter that will "run overtop" a slower tractor or smaller truck on the road because it is often one of their friends doing that extra plowing for the money... plus, we get so much more "bad weather" than y'all in TX and places, that there is a little more respect of the ones out on the roads because so many of them out here in the rural areas also farm part time or have family or friends that do and understand the nuances of this winter type weather... or work for guys who have tow services and such... sooo many of the guys that work a 5 day work week,,, and are WILLING to actually work.... will get part-time jobs doing stuff like that because it pays good... and it satisfies the "macho man" thing to get out in the elements and battle it.... bragging rights and all that... plus get paid... in this area, there are still enough that have to pay their own bills, and need the money, that they have a little more respect for the equipment... only 1 generation removed from the farm/mechanic shop/ family grease monkey business...
It is the fancy toy guys that don't have the respect for hard work.... get things handed to them, or have too much time on their hands... that get in trouble here... and they are laughed at behind their backs in the circles of the working guys...
Mostly it is the "newcomers" that have all the money and all the answers... and all the toys, and are the jerks... and the locals that are the jerks are well known to all the rest of the locals...