rachels.haven's Journal

[rachels.haven]

Yes, I think alfalfa needs a different soil pH, and probably fewer rocks than are in our dust.
I'm not sure what they do with it. I just know they sell out of the hay they make over the winter. It gets that "local" stamp and it typically goes for $12-14/bale. It might be organic. Horses need stemmier hay, right? Because that's what they tend to have. It's not goat quality so I don't watch it too closely. It, um, makes me "long for home" (or in other words, it makes me think "get me out of here"). I prefer a place with dirt with more loam and organic matter.

Ooo. Before this goat disaster started I wanted to put up pictures of "my" alfalfa that I've been "growing" in the strawberry garden-now complete with an in ground wasp nest. Apparently in the hay or pellets I've been feeding the goats there were alfalfa seeds. It's kind of anemic alfalfa with tiny leaves, but it bloomed purple flowers and is just chugging along. Alfalfa makes me sneeze, and it's only two plants, but it's SOOO pretty. Maybe I'll do that if I don't keep losing goats, but if I forget, let it be known that it was documented here and at least I can grow alfalfa, lol.

 

[Bruce]

Horses need stemmier hay? I assume there is a with that because I thought horses were pickier than goats, sheep and cattle. Or is it their owners who are pickier?

All I know is MY alpacas are picky, they don't like the more straw like parts of the bales I got from Al last year. They'll pick out the grass blade stuff and leave the rest. LOTS of bedding in those bales (as far as my alpacas are concerned). Hopefully he is going to do some second cut squares this year so there will be less "stem". I suspect the pair of them wouldn't even go through 15 small squares in a year if they ate it all.

 

[rachels.haven]

Alpacas sound similar to goats. I bet the second cut will serve you better, and I hope you get some. The goats will literally spend all day picking all the mature stems out from the green if fed first and you will be left with a big pile of mature stems under the feeder with NO green. Now if you feed them all green and soft they'll still waste some "undesirable" green parts, but it will be less than if fed hay with the yellow.

Horse owners around here, on the other hand...the lady behind the register at one of my feed stores gave me the rundown on them. I think a nice way to put it would be that they are "eccentric". It might also be true that around here they waste more than their horses do.

 

[Bruce]

And I thought goats preferred stemmy weedy stuff to grass? So confusing!

 

[rachels.haven]

Weeds, yes. Stems no. More non toxic weeds the better.

 

[Bruce]

Yet they will strip bark off trees!

 

[rachels.haven]

I know, right?
...Fed one part of a payday bar the other day and they've been known to grab plastic bags from people at treat time and down them. I do not entirely understand their "picky". Not sure anyone does.

For instance, I was petting poor sickish Avalon just a few minutes ago and she decided to bite and try to rip off my finger while I wasn't paying attention Clearly she's not picky (and probably feeling better, the snot). That "sweetie" is not picky.

 

[rachels.haven]

So I may have gotten fed up with Ms Bailey's back end and called in professional help. The groomer had her melted all over the floor before I even left, so I figured it would be fine. Now I have a glow in the dark dog that smells like a girl, but no just wants to matt back end. Here's clean Bailey, for the first time in her life. The groomer says a spring grooming to remove the undercoat in preparation for summer and a fall grooming should do it for her, and I think that's fair. She recommends against shaving for outdoor farm dogs. Sunburn and flies. FIVE HOURS for $200, twice a year...I feel like the groomer's getting the raw end of the stick. This groomer does other big outdoor "farm dogs" and she does a good job. The worst Bailey did was sit on her.

Bailey really enjoys eating treats, being pampered, getting a bath, meeting new dogs and humans off property, and sitting on people, so she came back tired yet energized and very, very happy.

 

[rachels.haven]

Other pics from today

Ducks

Broody.

Fluffy bums stuck in the halfway house with half grown ducklings. The duck house is half built.

Bucks.

No mats on the bum.

 

[rachels.haven]

And I should mention, it's started raining in the last few days and the temp is dropping hard. It was 45 this morning at 7 am-a big difference from the 90 degree days and 80 degree nights. I guess summer is over.
School and apple time.


(Also want the adult ducks house finished so they quit pooping up the coop run at night when I pen them there-yuck)