77Herford Farm Zoo Journal Moving

[kstaven]

What you call distracted is really multi-tasking.

 

[77Herford]

On the advice of my vet, I'll be getting some Purina Goat Mineral to help supplement their diets.

 

[Ms. Research]

Don't think I will be going anywhere tomorrow as I through out my back. Just getting up is a problem. Glad I trained my wife to milk with the milking machine. Amazing how you can bale hay all day and the simplest thing as picking up a moving bundle of joy with the biggest smile will hurt you...life.

Hope you are feeling better. Understand the back thing. And it is the simplest things that does it to you.

 

[77Herford]

Woke up from a nice nap to hear what, you may ask....the sound of cows being unloading. I thought now why would someone be unloading cows on my property unless maybe they were stealing them so I got up quickly to let out my Shepherds as pain shot through me, only to see out the side window my wife and her friend helping shuffle said cows into one of our many pens.
Now I was just annoyed a grimacing in pain as my Shepherds barked and I for a brief moment considered unleashing them on the unsuspecting folks "We need a devil smile". What had my wife done but go out with her farmer GF and buy us some more cows....
I walked out not even saying a word and the wife coming up to me all euthusiastic about her purchase of four Jerseys cow's from the same place I bought mine from. Of course she paid a bit more for them and paid for the farmers son to haul them over,....I about lost it and the wife could tell I was boiling inside. She tried to charm me up but I just went back inside the house and will be giving her the cold shoulder for awhile.

 

[jodief100]

Sorry about the back. I threw mine out coughing last winter. Yup, unloaded 300 bales of hay, a week later hauled and stacked two cords of wood, and 2 weeks after that, throw my back out coughing. Those thermacare wraps do wonders.

I am sure you will enjoy your new cows. She was trying to help. At least she is getting enthusiastic about the project!

As for goats, mine do not grow all that fast because I do not give them a lot of grain. If you want fast growth, pour the grain into them. They need mineral no matter what. Loose mineral is best.

 

[elevan]

All mineral is not created equal. If your goats are all does then Purina might be considered acceptable...but if you intend to get any bucks / wethers you should probably look for a better option for loose minerals. Purina goat mineral doesn't have the correct 2:1 Cah ratio.

 

[77Herford]

Yes, this is loose and they LOVE it, so they must be lacking in something. I suppose I could do a soil test but my cows have always done well and my horses are in great condition so it must be a goat thing. I also put in a salt lick, which the Llama's apreciate as I had just plain forgotten to put in bad me. Oh, the two remaining boer bucks in the " forest/weed" pen and getting more fiesty and head butting more, lol. I'm keeping the Llama's in with the Bucks and the rest are whethers now and in with the little girls with Patches in charge.

The Pygmy pen is closer to the house and Coyotes have come that close before. Brownie the little brown Pygmy is pretty sweet and is quickly becoming my favorite of the two Pygmies. I think she is younger than what I was told because I see horns coming in but I'm not an expert on Goats. Maybe a bad dehorning job or who knows.
I got my 20 straight purebred Hereford cows up by the house for the rest of the year in the front 40 acres, which goes along the gravel road. The front 40 acres is what made me fall for this place. I've always been interested in pastures and their management and found it just about perfect. Just enough shade trees with a variety of long lush grasses and a tiny but constant creek running through it. Only during the driest of years does that creek dry up.
All the dogs went out with my wife and her friend for a long walk and then the two went for a horse back ride. They must of worked the dogs with fetch or something cause Chief and Raven are crashed on the rug. Jack and Jill on the other hand never seem to be out of energy and are playing tug a war with a rope toy.

 

[marlowmanor]

I hope your back gets to feeling better. Don't be too mad at your wife for buying more cows without your knowledge. Obviously she has fallen for the Jerseys and has been helping with the milking of them too. She seems to have helped a lot today, she wore the dogs out so they don't bother you too much. Glad to hear the goats and cows are doing well. Are you getting any cooler weather in Iowa?

 

[77Herford]

I hope your back gets to feeling better. Don't be too mad at your wife for buying more cows without your knowledge. Obviously she has fallen for the Jerseys and has been helping with the milking of them too. She seems to have helped a lot today, she wore the dogs out so they don't bother you too much. Glad to hear the goats and cows are doing well. Are you getting any cooler weather in Iowa?

Yes, we got a cold snap but its suppose to warm up a bit later in the week. Back still down but I think my wife is enjoying the early morning milkings, which I can't wrap my head around. I agreed to do the afternoon milkings today as at least I can move like a 90 year old man now.

 

[Ms. Research]

I hope your back gets to feeling better. Don't be too mad at your wife for buying more cows without your knowledge. Obviously she has fallen for the Jerseys and has been helping with the milking of them too. She seems to have helped a lot today, she wore the dogs out so they don't bother you too much. Glad to hear the goats and cows are doing well. Are you getting any cooler weather in Iowa?

Yes, we got a cold snap but its suppose to warm up a bit later in the week. Back still down but I think my wife is enjoying the early morning milkings, which I can't wrap my head around. I agreed to do the afternoon milkings today as at least I can move like a 90 year old man now.

So the Mrs. bought more cows. Looks like she's really into milking. Good for her. Having a nice taste of that cool weather too. But you can bet it will give us one more blast of hot weather before it leaves us for Fall Weather. Unfortunately fall doesn't last long because it goes from Summer, short short Fall right into winter weather. Could use Fall weather a little longer. Strange to see people in jackets and sweatshirts because just last week it was 94. Go figure. But not complaining. Just find cool weather more comfortable and workable.

90 year old man? Sounds like you are on the mend. Know all too well about someone with back problems. Hoping you mend quickly.