Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[CLSranch]

I'm glad the calves took to the bottle so well and are still doing it.

 

[farmerjan]

Sun up and only down to 36 last night. Supposed to be decent but getting windy later and temps dropping. Need to head up to feed calves in a minute... Then will get the long hoses out of the car and put in the shorter of the medium lengths... have the farm over an hour north scheduled for Tuesday aft... and of course it is supposed to be colder Tuesday. Will get the flannel lined jeans out since I will get there about 5 and won't get home until after 11 at night. Hate setting up there... oh well....

Need to run by Deb's and recheck the heater in the tack/feed room to make sure it is still running okay so that when temps drop Tues and Wed, I don't have to worry about it.

DS asked if I could help with running some calves through the chute and treating a couple... we have some ringworm on them now... it happens and since it is a fungus, can spread... but it is something that some "benign neglect" will solve in the spring... except that he is thinking of selling some of these sooner rather than later and they will look better if they are not covered with the "rings" of missing hair and crusty/dandruff looking places. I guess we treated about 6-8 for ringworm out of nearly 30.... Had one with an almost totally white eye like pinkeye... treated it for it but don't know if it can be saved... gave a bunch of A&D shots as that helps with eyes and some skin problems. Have to get more before we do the next bunch. Calves are in good flesh and are eating the silage pretty good. I think he has been feeding it for about 10 days-2 weeks now. This group weighs in the 550 range I'd say... the medium sized bunch. The bigger "WV" steers will weigh over 6-650 and the smaller ones will come in 450-500. There are heifers and steers in the 2 groups but the WV steers are all steers.
Got done and it was dark... ran home got the bottles and went up and fed calves... they were a little hesitant to come out for bottles... headlights and all... but finally did and drank good. Then I came home and DS said he was going to feed hay at the barn when I left... so then I texted him and said I was warming over chicken and mashed pot leftovers if he wanted some supper. So he came a little bit later and we ate and it was pleasant and civil...
He was saying that there are a few older calves at a couple of places that need to get weaned... a few on cows that had been open that we put back with the bulls and left their calves on them on pasture... got 2 at the nurse cow pasture that will come off also.. the white longhorn x steer and a heifer on a cow that calved in Jan so was out of "sync" and didn't get bred back until the bull went in with them in June... so she will get a bit of a rest anyway... Need to get about 8 at the nurse cow pasture caught up to preg check whenever we get the vet coming to do others. Have several at different places that need to get preg checked anyway. So, on one of the scheduled preg checks I will have the ones from the nurse cow pasture caught and brought to the barn.
DS said we lost 2 calves out to the one place where we have 30+ cows... said it looks like coyote kills where they were cornered against fences... eaten down to nothing... within a week of each other... the coyotes are bad there... and that is the owner that doesn't allow hunting... but DS is going to talk to him about the coyotes... We may start looking for a few more bigger donkeys/mules to put out with the cows.... He moved them out of that section up to the more open fields and no "corners" where they can get trapped like that. He had left them down in that field because there was a creek running through the one section and it was a hedge against any water problems with the well.... These were not baby calves either... 300 lbs or more...
This wildlife predation has been bad this year. And no, dogs are not an option out at these rented pastures. Maybe need to start running 2 mules out there.... Said he didn't think it was bears although that is where the bears are being a major problem with tearing up the round bales.

Wind is getting up out there, so time to go get the calves fed.

 

[Baymule]

That’s too bad about losing the two calves. Dogs wouldn’t work for y’all because of fencing. Plus they need interaction and feeding daily for best results. Why won’t that owner let y’all shoot coyotes?

 

[SageHill]

Damnnnn two more calves down. YIKES. Those are some ballsy coyotes.

 

[farmerjan]

Don't know if owner will allow shooting the coyotes.... DS is going to talk to him about it. He allows no hunting on either of the 2 places we rent from him... I wish the bears would tear up some stuff at his house at the one place so he might actually have to acknowledge they can be destructive... like maybe mess up the solar panels he has at the one house... or break into the building and tear things up or something???? Or maybe the coyotes get threatening when the females are out teaching the pups to hunt... or attack his dog???? Or threaten them when they go out to their vehicle at night......

Anyway. I am in for a sandwich... Went and fed calves, came home and let chickens out and the wind gusts were getting fierce... I hadn't taken the last 5 ft of the shelter cover, off the sides and the far end panel off and the wind had it lifting off the ground on one side. So, rather than have it bend the pipes... I "helped it" to lift it and lay it over on the side.... got the rest of the old cover off, and it allowed me to start putting the foam on the top pipes.... I got them all on... lifting it to lay it over to the other side of the "roofline"... , got the "ridgepole" pipe done; and all 10 of the support pipes for the roof part of the new cover, 5 on each side. Used plenty of zip ties. So, now it can get moved around and set back up. I was "lifting" the 2x6 boards up out of the hay/straw/dirt to get them loose but needed a shovel to clean them off more. I will take that out in a bit.

I also combined a couple of boxes of potatoes; fingerlings with a "regular" variety so not hard to distinguish which is which... so they can get moved inside into the entry since the forecast is mid-low 20's, and I really don't want them to freeze... been wanting to get them into some smaller boxes that they "fill" rather than the bigger 1/2 full boxes some were in. At the time those were the boxes I could find and use... and they served me good. Just trying to compact them down now.
So have been moving some stuff in the entryway to make room for the potato boxes. They will get moved in here shortly.
I have been looking at the stairway and realizing that I need to make a list again of some of what I want to do... like the shelves/storage under the stairs to get to things easier, from the entry hallway, so that the space is much better utilized...
I put the medium hoses in the car instead of taking everything out to get the long hoses out... I need the meters tomorrow so after that can take everything out.... Will get the bottle in the rack tonight.

It is going to be even colder and windier tomorrow... so I will leave early to go test, and do some errands/shopping on the way through town. It will be too cold and windy to do much here outside. Then temps are supposed to moderate a bit, and winds drop off... possible rain coming in this weekend. But it doesn't seem like there is much of it coming in at this point. That is of course, subject to change...

Not going to try to set up the shelter/new cover until after this windy spell... then I can hopefully get it set and tied down and all... Don't want to try to do it in a hurry with this windy spell now. Want to get the "frame" on the ground moved around so that I can put some nails into it through the holes in the "feet" on the bottom of the pipes like it was before... to hold frame down...

Well time to get back out and get some more done before it gets too cold and is time to go feed bottles... I will be glad to get in the house later and stay in...

 

[farmerjan]

BRRRRRRRRRR

As in colder than a witch's tit.... The wind is rough... and it is already down to 29.... The wind is supposed to lessen overnight, then pick up and be more gusty and colder tomorrow.... and I am going to test cows... This is when I REALLY REALLY want to be done with this...... at least @Mini Horses works inside... we have discussed "retiring" several times... and this type of work makes me want to really retire for good. The barn tomorrow does not have heat, although the cows do help to heat it, but they come and go... and I HATE setting up meters in the cold (and miserable rain etc.).......they are talking about selling out in a year or 2... actually wish they would sell out sooner rather than later...

Got the potatoes all moved into the hallway/entryway. Found another smaller box for the red Pontiacs that they mostly fit in. Put a piece of cardboard on the top to block the light and will take a few out next time to cook so the top will close down flat. There is one variety that is trying to sprout so it will be one of the first to get "used".....

Went and fed the calves and they were in the barn when I drove up but came right out to the gate... Bet they went right back in after a few minutes of being done. There is hay and grain in the bunk... I will start trying to get them interested in the grain next week. Locked the chickens in and was VERY GLAD to come in the house.

Need to get out the flannel lined jeans for tomorrow.
Actually had to open up the zippered door on the greenhouse on the deck for a bit as it got way up in temp with the sun on it... but closed it back up before 4 and plugged the heater in. It is holding pretty good...

I am excited to soon get the shelter cover on and get it moved around and all... I did not get the shovel out to clean off the 2x6 board so maybe I will do that Wed... not planning to do anything tomorrow except calves and whatever HAS to be done... I am going to give them a second smaller feeding around noon or so, so I can leave and go to do errands and some shopping, on the way to work. I will not go to the barn at 11 or 12 pm after getting home from testing. They will be hungry Wed morning... but they are big enough that it will not "hurt them" to miss the later bottle feeding if they get extra earlier... At least the wind is supposed to die down and be gone after Tues night... Warmer on Wed too...

Ate some more leftover chicken and stuffing.... I will stop and get something to eat before I get to the farm to test tomorrow eve... because it is too late to get anything on the way home. And take some hot cocoa pkgs and make a mug of it before I leave the barn... dairies have real hot water for washing the pipelines and all that.. so can at least have something hot to drink coming home...
I need to look for the pkgs of the hot apple cider at the groc store too...

Went out to start my father's truck and unplugging that under hood light must have been most of the problem because it started right up and I have not tried it since I took it down to have the battery checked out last week...that was quite a draw on the battery it seems... I need to take it in and get all the fluids checked and the oil and all changed on it now that it will run without putting the battery charger on it everytime and now that the hood latch is fixed... Plus I was looking and the oil in the outback is due to be changed again... forgot about that 1100+ miles to TN to meet @Baymule and @Mike CHS .... so after I get tomorrow's testing done, and am caught up with farms "farther away", I will see about getting it done in a few days......better add that to the TO DO list....and stop to see about the explorer again....

I'm going in to get a nice hot shower...

 

[Ridgetop]

but next week is talking down in the low 20's....

said they will not be able to keep it all up forever... so buying another acre or 2 might be very possible down the road... shame to stop it.... I'd try to find someone to work into it... even just work for them ,

How many acres total? How much work is involved in Christmas tree farming? If DS was closer to retiring, and was working with you better, it might be something for you to both take over. But if you don't continually replant eventually, you will just have fields of stumps to be removed. Much better to just buy a couple acres even if some of them have Christmas trees on them. They will give you lots of privacy and eventually a cash timber crop. If there is any $$ in that variety of tree.

I wish the bears would tear up some stuff at his house at the one place so he might actually have to acknowledge they can be destructive... like maybe mess up the solar panels he has at the one house... or break into the building and tear things up or something????

Gosh, it would be a shame if somehow honey got spilled over some of those solar panels . . . .

I don't suppose you can trap those coyotes either. Sounds like they are hunting in packs if they are able to take down a 300 lb. calf with it's mother around!

 

[CLSranch]

I don't suppose you can trap those coyotes either.

Trapping was my thought. With cattle it can be a PITA when they step through them and when you go to check them they're tripped with nothing in it.

Although I'm all for ya giving it a go @farmerjan, a few traps (foot traps not the large and expensive live trap) and a couple of jars of scent/bait is pretty affordable. Just 1 of them where you normally find scat, or often see them.
https://www.minntrapprod.com/Snares-and-Snaring-Supplies/departments/529/ Snaring is also a good option for the money. It could be as simple as a piece of 9 wire or copper wire like a telephone poles ground wire staked on each side of the snare, bent to barely hold it up and open.
With snaring certain states you can NOT have an entanglement within reach. Other places you must. Depending on your state laws and the fact they are a nuisance, not you just fur trapping you could put a trap or snare on a dog cable with the swivel at the ends around a t-post in a fence line where you know they run. Preferably not an outside fence where someone may shoot the coyote then steal your trap. Drags are also possible inside a large pasture.

 

[Mini Horses]

I know in VA you can hunt & kill coyote all year, any time (day or night) or day. Traps I don't know the rules. Around livestock, doing damage, they should be shot. There is NO relocation in VA...If trapped, animal control uses a bullet.

_______

What Are The Hunting Rules For Coyotes In The State? Due to their overwhelming population numbers, there is currently an open season policy on Coyotes in Virginia. No kill permits are required and the only thing that trappers or hunters have to worry about is safe and legal animal disposal afterward.Oct 30, 2023

 

[farmerjan]

First.... there is NO hunting, trapping, fishing allowed on these 2 farms we lease... no ponds on them so fishing is moot... creek is fairly shallow although it does run all the time... even through this drought this year... Except that the bears get into the big concrete troughs on the one farm and tear the float balls off....we find them in the field with teeth marks in them and the troughs are running over... and the waterers that have the saucer type white pieces that the cows have to push down to get the water underneath... keeps them clean and no waste or evaporation... the bears manage to get some of them out on occasion... don't ask me how....

So snares and traps are not an option... do not want to get caught in there doing anything because this owner could be a total A$$, and on a "bad hair day" he might turn us in.... we never see him until he has something to "discuss".... and it has been some of the best grazing we have... all new fences except the one boundary fence they are finally replacing this year... all new/good cross fencing and the waterers... just seems like this year has been a real trial.....
Snares would mean having to go there every day and that isn't practical.... 2-3 times a week is normal.... even if we could snare/trap them. I am hoping that DS has this discussion with him so we can maybe hunt the coyotes... I always take my .22 when I go to check animals anyway... SELF PROTECTION.....and if I saw one out there bothering the calves I would take the chance and shoot it anyway... problem is we never see them... just hear them and see some tracks.... and now this..... DS was going to tell a couple of the close/bordering landowners so they can keep the pressure up on them....

@Ridgetop ... I had thought of the possibility of it being an income ... retirement... down the road for the Christmas trees. But, don't think DS is that interested... and when talking to them there are 5 Christmas tree lots in the surrounding 40 miles that have closed...this year.....1 owner died, 2 have just retired... and 2 are closed due to no trees of "cutting height"... trees can be hard to get year to year... Can not believe that there aren't others around, that wouldn't want to lease it like my brother used to do in VT for years... and he has his own place now and the leases are expiring and he is not going to renew them as they reach the end... but will stay until the bulk of the trees are cut off through the end of his leases... some places he has had for 30+ years...
The couple acres adjoining me do not have any Christmas trees on them because the ground is low lying and they do not grow is "wet conditions"... So, there wouldn't be any trees except for the couple of huge white pines up along the garden side.... where one came down this past year with all the wind... they need to come down as they were planted close for Christmas trees when they first started out.... so are too close for any decent shape and are getting to the end of their productive life.... About 10 of them left, maybe, up near the road in the drier part of the land. It's not that this is real wet... but just where all the little higher ground will drain to so when it rains it can get muddy this time of year if someone drives on it... although this year it was real dry.... would be fine for some calves or something; if not too many in there to make it muddy...it is lower than my property a little bit... could even put in a small pond to capture the water and then the ground surrounding it would be better drained...

He has motion sensors and camera's at his house and the surrounding ground and solar panels and the pool etc.... so "honey " is out....