Margali's Griffin Wood Ranch

[Ridgetop]

I never pluck or trim. Half the flock is perfectly clean shed, most of the rest have just a mohawk strip, several are too wooly to suit me. I will be culling some of these this year. Although they seem to shed differently each year. I am keeping a ournal of who sheds clean to double check next year.

 

[Margali]

I had a blast this weekend. Friday we picked up Mocha, ewe 2238 from Bluestem Farm. And another tote cage to elevate the water tote.

Saturday I managed to check on bees. Then dyed the boys hair blue and green. Cassandra picked 4 chickens at local farm and we popped them in coop at sundown.

Sunday we got my squeeze chute situated and picked up a tank scrap section to use as a fire circle. We also got my storage tent moved. I found this cute little Dekay's snake, non-venomous.

 

[Margali]

This evening I tested out the calf squeeze. It's almost too big! Snip was able to pull his head back thru headgate on all the way closed setting. Board thru back frame kept him in while I trimmed his coat. He put up with it for the grain bribe.

 

[farmerjan]

Okay, I have to ask.... Dyed the boys hair blue and green??????

 

[farmerjan]

Be careful of the water tote on top of the other cage. A full 300 gallon tote weighs over 1 TON.... 2400 lbs if it is 300 gal and is full... I don't think the cage below will handle that much weight on top of it. You don't want it to collapse with someone/something under it. It is different for it to hold the weight IN, as it is evenly distributed all around... but you are putting all the weight directly on top and it just might not be able to hold it. To only fill it say 1/3 full - 100 gallons - would be 800 lbs more or less...

 

[Baymule]

Good advice @farmerjan i would have never thought of that.
Snip has made a beautiful ram! Cinnamon is a lovely young ewe, I know you are proud of her!
Never heard of a Dekay’s snake, what is their native range?

 

[Margali]

Be careful of the water tote on top of the other cage. A full 300 gallon tote weighs over 1 TON.... 2400 lbs if it is 300 gal and is full...

These are IBC Intermodal Bulk Containers that I use everyday at work. They are designed to be stacked 2-3 high with liquids much heavier that water. You can stack 4 high empty. The thing to make sure of is the footing. I leveled it and had single high compacting ground for about a month.

IBC Tote Specifications: Understanding Costs, Sizes and Dimensions

IBC tote sizes range from 110 to 550 gallons, with 275 and 330 being the most common. Dimensions are internationally standardized to roughly 45"L x 45"W. Costs range from $180 to $2,000. Learn more IBC specifications, shipping logistics, and compare to other common containers.

www.ibctanks.com

 

[Margali]

The kids begged for colored hair. It'a summer break and demipermanent dye. Cassandra will go hot pink if she earns it back.

 

[farmerjan]

Hey, kudos to you for knowing what stacking can be done or not. Around here the ones available I would be concerned about stacking. I have one that is a 330 and know the weight it puts on the springs of my little truck when I fill it half full.... so just wanted to make sure you did not stack it and not know the weight. Didn't realize that it was something you were well versed in... and learned something from you about them. Several of my dairies get them with iodine teat dip in them, and others get them with different chemicals like pipeline chlorinated cleaner and acid rinse.... they have them on the concrete so level and "safe" base; that is usually on a higher level. Always single, so that they can get to the spigots on the bottom. Had not seen them stacked.

 

[farmerjan]

Have to just laugh at the kids.......It used to be a big thing to dye your hair green for ST. Patrick's day when I was a kid..... Oh well, it sure isn't going to hurt them.....