Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

[CntryBoy777]

Looks like some nice work there Joe..........the CPs don't look bad either.....I had a couple that I used around the garden and used a hand held sledge....guess it is 3-5#....and leaned the panel against a tree and tapped it back in shape...it didn't take very much to get it fairly straight, but didn't have to wrestle with the whole 16' in doing so....with all the deer passing thru the ticks will certainly be there...seen or not....ya know some birds would be glad to give ya some assistance with them.....tho, I guess ya really aren't wanting to add any just yet.....

 

[Bruce]

So I moved one wall of the pen and have finished his new house

I was a bit concerned when I saw the 2x4s on the flat for rafters ... then remembered you are in "no snow here" Texas.

Who says the cattle panel has to be even close to perfectly flat? The goats clearly don't care. I figure it is like chicken coops. The birds don't care if it is the Taj Mahal or a shack as long as they are comfortable. I bet goats are the same. Hoop it back up, stick a few 2 bys crossways at whatever height is appropriate for structural rigidity.

I see progress there Joe!

 

[Mike CHS]

You didn't waste any time getting that shelter put up.

Our tick problem seems to fluctuate but I don't go many places before putting on bug spray.

 

[Mini Horses]

You got a lot done! Looks good. He should love it.

Lute -- I've used it on my mini horses in the past. It works. Now, the mares would break into a heavy sweat within a couple hours after injection & that lasted a short time - maybe an hr. (Been several years, close questimate on time) No one seemed to get excited about it but me -- however, I just wanted to mention this as it may/may not be same with goats. Just in case this happens, it goes away, so you know.

If he's on fenceline, I'd keep a paper handy and note anyone who was obviously showing heat, then no need to med that one. Less hassle, less RX, etc. Once in a blue moon one will show and still be pg but seldom. Most sniff, laugh and walk away if not cycling

 

[Latestarter]

Thanks guys. Yup Bruce, no heavy snow down here and the span is only 8'. If I wall up 1/3 of it as I think I'm going to, the span will only be like 5', so those 2 x 4s should do the trick just fine. The roofing is polycarbonate, so very light weight. I used PT landscaping timbers for the base. I should be able to screw in some eye bolts and tow/move it if need be. Everything is screwed together but I doubt it would stand up to a tornado. As for the bent cattle panels, I'm not using those for another hoop structure. I need them relatively straight as they're destined to be used for what they are designed primarily for... fencing. Gonna really try to get back to it tomorrow but may need a day of rest as my feet and knees are really swollen (all the bending and lifting) and my hands are sore. The vibration and slamming of the T-post pounder really hurts. Also, the possibility of rain in the near future has me hoping for softer ground.

Mini, I remember how rambunctious he (RJ) was last fall when I brought him here as a 6 month old buckling. He was like a beagle on a rabbit's trail chasing Dot around the pen as soon as I intro'd him. I'm hoping at his present size and weight that he won't (try to/successfully) clear the 50" CP's I'm using to contain him. I may have to pound rebar for ground and hook up hot wire up top to be sure. I hadn't planned to put up the hot wire until all/most of the fencing was in place. Guess I'll know soon enough, right? For right now, the shed is open to the whole pen. Supposed to have a possibility of some rain over the coming days, so it will be interesting to see 13 goats all try to pile inside to avoid getting wet Thanks for the heads up on the "sweating" after the shot. Since a 30ml bottle only costs like 20 bucks, and the shot is 2ml per, and I have 10 does total, 1 bottle shouldn't "break" me, and there will be enough left to do a couple (5) more if I need to, so little waste.

I still haven't decided if I'll put one or both of the wethers in with RJ. There's room in the shed for all three. He'll still be able to see and interact with all the others, just not able to chase or mount them. Once I get RJ's place finished, I'll start on a similar but much larger structure for the rest. I don't think I'll use PT plywood for flooring or walls in that one though. I'm leaning toward using PT deck boards for flooring (& OSB for the walls) so I can leave space between each. It will be too big a structure to build it with a sloped floor (like I did with RJ's). I'm hoping (probably wishful thinking) that RJ won't pee inside his shelter, but if he does, it should run "down hill" toward the opening and out. In the doe's shelter, I know they're gonna pee inside... Having "slatted" pressure treated flooring will make that a no biggie. The pellets I can sweep out over time.

Total cost for that shed was right at $325.00. I expect the doe's shed to be around a grand or more. Some of that cost was for excess material like screws and such that I'll still have to use on the next project. I built most of this in the bed of the pickup and under the carport then brought it down there with the wheelbarrow. The next one I'm not going to be able to do that so I'm going to need to run a long extension cord down to the pen and bring my power tools (primarily saws) down there. Also going to make it taller so I can stand inside. RJ's is 4' inside at the back and ~4' 8" at the front. Plenty high enough for him to stand inside, but not me.

 

[Mini Horses]

That's a good size for the goats, height wise, since only a couple and not a lot of "need" for you to go inside often. Does, yeah, different. You need easy walk in. OF COURSE, you know to frame and build for size of panels for less cutting.

My girls have a big shelter but they ARE learning that wet grass is survivable! I mean, it is not cost effective to buy more hay when they are living bales of it out there I do keep a couple for those downpour all day needs. The doelings, like most kids, sometimes play in the rain, well sprinkles. My older buck will even take a shower, now and then.

Younger Saanen I bought this Spring has THE cutest head of curls! That breed tends to grow a topknot of hair. His look like a curling iron was used. Romeo will be a couple hundred pounds when grown but he is tame, like the other one (Nubian). Still, they can push you down if they lean into ya. One black, one white....easy to distinguish in a field.

Goats have such personality!

 

[RollingAcres]

Nice job with the shed LS!

 

[Rammy]

Very nice. Now I Need to get you to come build me one of those!

 

[Latestarter]

Well Rammy, it only took me 2 days (in 95°+ temps) in the hot sun Even though it left me stiff and sore, I'll take building something over running fence just about every time!

Jeeze Mini... now you want "Polish" goats to go with the Polish chickens? (Isn't the Polish the ones with the funny head dress? ) Yes indeed, I always plan building around convenient sizes to avoid extra work as well as waste. I'll be able to do so with the next one also, but not so much with the walls. Gonna be 6' at back and probably 7' at the front. 8' would be too much slope.

The rain has come!

Got that shelter done just in time (actually planned - just in case rain did happen as forecast). Got woken up to torrential rain about an hour ago. Yes indeed, 13 goats DO fit inside it! There was no thunder lead up... all quiet then boom, pouring rain. I got some pants on and got out to let Mel in as quick as I could. Elf was up sleeping on the back porch. Of course he was dry... until I ran out in the rain to let Mel in and he just had to come along. I let them both inside after a bit of toweling but Elf wanted back out. So, he's back snoozing on the porch. Down to off and on sprinkles right now, but radar shows more coming. There was some lightning after it started. And now there's distant thunder.

Now I have a legit excuse to not pound posts today <whew> Not looking forward to milking Dot however. She's not completely filling after 24 hours anymore so I can put it off for a while. Gotta find a rain break to feed them their morning pellets as well. Not for fear of the goats getting wet, but the pellets are like little sponges and get ruined so quick in the rain, and the goats won't eat soggy pellets.

 

[Latestarter]

Mel woke me up barking around 6am. Heard a strange bark so jumped out of bed, threw some shorts & slip ons on and headed out the back door with the .22 to see what was going on. Turned out the neighbor up front (OTR trucker) decided to come home. He shows up every other weekend most times. Sky looks gray so decided I'd check the radar. Lots of rain to the south, moving north so went and did animal chores early. Now it seems the storms are drying out and dying right at the southern county line. Hope they have enough "oomph" to push a little rain up this way. Looks like @Devonviolet & @Baymule probably got or are getting some decent moisture.