The signs and dehorning

We had been waiting for all "the signs" to be right to dehorn Weir and it looked like Friday was the day. The signs are something I want to try and explain if I can. Older people believe in performing many farming tasks according to the signs. Raymond's Calendar is an "old timey" calendar that list the signs during each month. According to the signs Friday was a day that blood would be in the knee and foot. Since dehorning is such a bloody procedure, blood being lower in the body meant less bleeding and a quicker recovery. After Friday I am a believer in the signs.
This county is full of wonderful people and we had three of them offer to come and do the dehorning for us. Weir was so brave and trotted right through the path of temporary fencing that took him behind the barn. Finally we got to use the head gate and it was not a day too soon. His horns were really getting big and it would have been so much easier for him if we had done it sooner. The clippers look like pruning clippers for a small tree limb but they have a circular end with a blade. The horn goes through circle, the handles are pulled apart and the blade cuts the horn away from the cow's head. Weir just stood there with his head in the head gate and never made a sound. Once the horns were gone an antiseptic spray was applied which we continued to do for a few days afterwards. Blood spurted everywhere but soon the blood flow slowed and he was released from the gate. He seemed a little dazed but immediately started to eat grass. The cows in the adjoining pasture  observed the entire process and came over to "talk to him" and that was so interesting to watch.  There was a lot of mooing and stomping at the ground by one of the Dexter steers and then they moved on. Wished I could have know what was said, I tend to think it was just a few words of encouragement from a fellow cow that had been through the same thing. Weir trotted right back over to the pasture with Jerry who was so happy to have his buddy back with him. Now Weir looks like he has a purple mohawk (because of the spray) but seems absolutely back to his old self.
Honestly, dehorning is very unpleasant to watch but for a middle aged woman trying to find her way in the world of cattle farming, I was right there with Weir, I watched it, I rinsed the blood off of the barn and I spray medicine on his head. I am learning that if animals are involved there are going to be yucky moments and you must be respectful of the situation and move on.

Babies Babies Everywhere!

It's been a busy time at Chilly Water Farm.  Last week my daughter was finally able to find two Nubian kids and for me it was certainly "love at first sight". The first two are brother and sister, three week old twins named Hannah and Hanes. A few days after getting them, she was able to buy one more. His name is Macon and he is four weeks old. Since he was a single birth he is much larger and already has horns about two inches long. He was taken from his mother just before we got him, so he is going to require a little taming and he was not so sure about the bottle at first. All three now love the bottle and fight to see who can drink the most. The Nubian breed is known for being very sweet and gentle, good for milking and meat.  If you have never been around baby goats you have missed a treat, their eyes almost look human and they love to be cuddled.  I can not imagine eating these cute little things but someone will I am sure. I keep telling myself they are not pets.
Today brought another new baby to the farm. Rose is now the mama of a beautiful, little, black calf. Since we have not touch it, we can only speculate about the sex but from a distance it certainly does appear to be a girl. The birth was just amazing! First there was one little hoof popping out and then you could see the tongue and face. I photographed the entire process and still can not believe how smoothly everything went.  She entered this world at 9 am and was walking around by 9:15. Rose is an excellent mother and it looks like Boyer is going to be a great playmate. He was right there in the way watching but Rose never appeared to be bother by his presence. We are so lucky to have two healthy calves and cross our fingers for Kelly's baby due in April. There is something about having new babies on the farm that makes it seem like spring. I hope I am not being too hopeful but with the time changing this weekend let's just pretend it is here.

Valentine's Day is not just for humans at Chilly Water Farm

There was certainly "love in the air" for Hanover yesterday. I think the hens would agree he has got to go. Hanover wanted everyone of them to be his Valentine and the hens had other plans. It really is quite fascinating to watch the interaction between them during the day. The roosters do a little dance around the hens, puffing out their feathers and high stepping it. The poor hens just stand there and watch, looking like they would like to run but there is no where to go. So throw in a couple of extra men and there is never any rest for the ladies.  Our mission now is to find Hanover a new flock to be king of and Craven can get back to being king of the ladies here at Chilly Water Farm. Peace and contention, that's what we strive for.

His name is Hanover but it should be Boomerang

Once all of our chicks reached adulthood we realized we had five roosters which in the chicken world is four too many. So a couple of months ago we started finding homes for three beautiful Silver-laced Wyandotte roosters. It was really quite easy once we contacted a man in town that we heard needed a rooster. He helped place one, he took one and we bought five hens and traded the last  rooster for a laying hen from someone we knew.  The two remaining roosters were Carteret , the little Barred Plymouth Rock we bought in April and Craven, the last of the Wyandottes.  The ladies were happy and things seemed to be going great  between the men  Was it a hawk or coyote, a fight with Craven? I  guess we will never know the answer but one day Carteret was GONE.

Hanover

Craven

Carteret

So with Carteret out of the way, Craven was the Man! He was happy and loved strutting his stuff.. Earlier this week we decided to purchase more laying hens from the same man but he wants us to take the rooster back. Seems things had not be going so well with the rooster he got from us and his old rooster, we agreed. My daughter picks up three new hens and the rooster Wednesday morning and brings them home. They stayed in the transport container until dark so she could put them in the coop.(You do this so the other chickens do not realize new chickens have arrived and there is no fighting). Well the hens knew the rooster was back because they talked to him all day. Back and forth different hens would come up to the container and look and talk, it was fascinating to watch. I do believe they remembered him. The next morning he's out with ten hens down behind him and Craven has a look of "what just happened here". We decided early on to name the roosters after the counties we have lived in, so his  name is Hanover since we had not named him before. I read, it is the kiss of death to name your farm animals but it certainly does make it more interesting and fun. So Hanover  the boomerang rooster is back at Chilly Water Farm and all seems well in the barnyard...well at this moment it does.

A little education about chewing lice

This is my first winter with the "Girls of Chilly Water Farm" so every experience is new to me. I thought long and hard about posting this topic because when I first discovered it, I was very embarrassed. After searching the internet, talking with the Vet and our county extension agent I have learned my girls are NOT alone when it comes to chewing lice. Just the thought makes my skin crawl but apparently in the colder months it is very common in donkeys. So that being said here's how I discovered the nasty little creatures.  For about two weeks I noticed that Bridget's face was looking a little strange, strange as in her hair was shorter in different areas all over her face. I thought because we are having such a mild winter that she was just starting to shed her heavy winter coat. Then her hind end began looking the same way and Sapphire was starting to have the same patterns  in her hair.  Got the Vet right on over here and she confirmed what my daughter had told me and what the internet had suggested.  Chewing Lice! Oh my gosh, just the thought of lice on the girls was just about too much. Did not buy just one bottle of spray, no way, I came back home with four bottles and all out war has been declared. Using the spray bottle did not work with them because they were so scared by the sound so I had to start spraying a brush and applying that way. At least they calmed down and stopped kicking and running, it did look like the rodeo for a few minutes.  Spraying once a day for one week and then twice a week for three weeks, seems a little excessive but that is what the Vet prescribed not sure if it was for them or for my peace of mind. But the battle is on. Oh by the way you don't spray the girls I had to spray inside both the shelters, all the brushes,lead lines and halters..everything they may have had contact with. I am learning with animals there is always something  going on and something new to learn each new day. This to will pass and The Girls of Chilly Water Farm will return to their happy carefree ways of bringing me nothing but sheer peace and joy.

Farm Mascots Weir and Jerry

Weir

Jerry

These two guys were never meant to be mascots but when it came time to sell them, our hearts got too heavy with the thought of them leaving. So here at the farm they will live and  bring lots of joy to those they meet.

The Girls of Chilly Water Farm

Little Mama and Bridget

Annabelle

Taylor

Victoria

Sapphire - the baby of the group

Mckenzie

Sunshine

This blog just would not be complete without  pictures of the girls.  Eight of the sweetest miniature donkeys you have ever seen:  Bridget, Victoria, McKenzie, Taylor, Little Mama, Annabelle, Sunshine and Sapphire.  Their stories will be an ongoing part of the happenings on the farm.