77Herford Farm Zoo Journal Moving

[77Herford]

Eh, I might hold off on the Doctor for now. I think I have a fix on the problem.

It is a WINDY day. Gusts of around 50 mph. The Goats are in their shelter sleeping the day away or chewing cud. The young calves and their mothers are using one of the buildings as a wind breaker.

Oh, the well is done and all my animals are home...except the Bulls. The Bulls are still bulking up for breeding season. I did check in on them and they are looking nice. Tank is a tank once again, Trouble is a well muscled and lean machine and Harry my first Galloway Bull could be the biggest of the lot. I bet he's pushing a ton. Except for the hump Harry looks like a Black Buffalo. Harry shoulder hump isn't as impressive as those huge Buffalo bulls.

Now its snowing! Coming down kinda fast. I swear the weather man said forties and the rain was over.....COUGH "Points and Snow"

 

[77Herford]

Ended up with about an inche of snow. Cows broke down and went to the hay bin after the snow. The Goats have it a little better with a few hay bales to sleep and eat on.

Chickens have decided its cold again so egg production is down for the non heated coops. My Turkey's will be going outside soon as right now they are chilling out most of the night and day in an old corn crib with some Mourning Dove's.

 

[77Herford]

Well my two Mallards were happily swimming in the pond today, while the Geese cuddled up in the hay barn.

Got two litters of Rabbits now but I'm not very into it. They are all cute and stuff but maybe I'm just not a bunny person. Maybe its the small profit margin. I like feathers better in the small package and their eggs will make me more money in the end. I guess I'm convincing myself to sell my Wabbits.

Don't worry Twinkles won't be going anywhere she already has a new hutch on the porch....

I can already think of several people that will take these critters off my hands. I'll stick to shooting my rabbit.

List of Farming books I own and have helped:
Storey's Guide to Raising Sheep: Breeds, Care, Facilities (Storey's Guides)
Storey's Illustrated Breed Guide to Sheep, Goats, Cattle and Pigs: 163 Breeds from Common to Rare
Small-Scale Livestock Farming: A Grass-Based Approach for Health, Sustainability, and Profit
Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds

 

[77Herford]

Challenging times at the home front. Haven't mentioned it but its been a rough couple of months with the wife. The cow kicking her seems to of flared the issue. Were working on things.

So off that subject.

All the Charolais have had their calves now. 22 calves with 18 bull calves and 4 heifer calves.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Challenging times at the home front. Haven't mentioned it but its been a rough couple of months with the wife. The cow kicking her seems to of flared the issue. Were working on things.

So off that subject.

All the Charolais have had their calves now. 22 calves with 18 bull calves and 4 heifer calves.

Praying for you and the wife.

18 bulls and 4 heifers, those are not good odds? Do you raise them, mostly for meat? If you do, than 18 bull calfs woudl be a good thing.

 

[77Herford]

Yes, alot more bulls this year. This is my first batch from these Charolais cows. I'm hoping my Bull "Trouble" makes some better odds. I do raise them up to 6 months or older and then sell them off to feedlots. This year I may raise some up to adulthood and see how well I do but probably not the Char's as my Herefords are great grazers and would do better on just grass.

For my next two litters of pigs which should be with in days of each other, I'm planning an intensive sectional feeding program based off another Iowa farmers.
http://newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/depts/pig_page/new_farm_archives/ideal_grazers/index.shtml

 

[77Herford]

http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G2360

Good info on pig pasture foods.

 

[that's*satyrical]

Hope you and your wife can work everything out.

 

[TTs Chicks]

Hope you and your wife can work everything out.

X2

 

[77Herford]

Well my mother left this morning for home. Now that my wife is up and moving about. I'm on my best behavior trying to keep her happy.

Wife has an interview for a job over an hour away from here. That would be alot of miles on her ailing car that she won't get rid of. Its not in the Vet field but it is with animals. She would be a lab tech for animal semen... At first she didn't even consider it but after more investigating found out she was just going to test the fertility of the product.