Ragdollcatlady's Just a Little Patch of Weeds Farm journal

[ragdollcatlady]

From a cursory search of the area, it doesn't look like Alaska has any goats that I would be interested in. I am searching for transport options and prices now, but feel like i should hold on to as many of the quality animals I already have, since it does not appear that I will have easy access to this quality there. I would hate to let go of some of these animals, only to be unable to afford what i want later on. Not to mention that my heart is already invested in these babies. For now, MartiniTiny and Manny are staying, but since we were doing pics, I got them too. I really love Armanis style and temperament so if he doesnt sell, i wont be sad.
But yeah, having to cut into my main herd is really painful.
I think Alaska was having way too much fun on that tractor.... he made me get on it with him, Starbucks and all, almost spilled my coffee.... but I managed to hold on to him and my coffee.... then I got back to helping grandma dig out rocks. They are way more my speed!

 

[CntryBoy777]

There are 2 words for Alaska.....Aloe Vera....apply liberally and often....I don't have that problem....too much Native American blood, but have fair skinned daughters and grandkids. Sure glad things are going well for ya and I don't think I could part with those "Boys" either....they are beautiful and sure produce some really nice offspring.....

 

[ragdollcatlady]

Thanks @CntryBoy777 , he was asking for Aloe Vera, but I don't have any.

Happy Fathers Day!!! To all my guy friends out there, thanks for doing the dad thing for your own kids as well as all the rest of us! Sometimes we forget to thank you, but we need you and we do appreciate all the sacrifice and advice y'all give us.

 

[Bruce]

I don't think I was aware of that, but it wouldn't matter anyways. I would have to check them at the gas station and since I don't live there, I would be driving there. I could check them at home, but then again, I have no way to fill them here so I would be driving to the gas station to fill them and how do I know how much to fill once I'm there if it reads differently at that point?

If you know what they are cold and you know what they should be and you know what they are at the station, you can do the simple math If they are 5 PSI low when cold, add 5 PSI to the reading at the station. If one happens to notice they have a low tire while on the road, get to the air station, check the pressure in one that you think is good and set the low one to that.

Can't hurt to have a small air compressor at home and a separate dial pressure gauge with release. Something like this: https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/victor-suv-and-rv-dial-tire-gauge-22-5-00874-8-tg/1920154-P
You can over fill a bit then release down to the desired PSI. You can use the compressor on vehicle and bicycle tires, tractor tires , the inflatable pool things (stop early and finish the old fashioned way), balls, etc. BTW, some people test their bike tires by pushing on them. No good, they can be 40 PSI low and feel "hard" to your finger.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

Thanks for the advice!

Now I need some really cold weather housing advice for my goats. It gets down to -50 to-70 where my Alaska lives. I need to know how to safely house my goats in that kind of weather. I don't know how to live in that kind of weather, so I have no idea how much room we will need inside a barn for my goats. He is trying to figure out a barn but I am struggling with trying to suggest even a simple plan. I am overwhelmed with not knowing how much spaced I need or the practicalities of particular layouts for freezing weather. I will start an actual thread for this, so if anyone has advice... PLEASE let me know all you can!!!

Thanks!

 

[TAH]

Thanks for the advice!

Now I need some really cold weather housing advice for my goats. It gets down to -50 to-70 where my Alaska lives. I need to know how to safely house my goats in that kind of weather. I don't know how to live in that kind of weather, so I have no idea how much room we will need inside a barn for my goats. He is trying to figure out a barn but I am struggling with trying to suggest even a simple plan. I am overwhelmed with not knowing how much spaced I need or the practicalities of particular layouts for freezing weather. I will start an actual thread for this, so if anyone has advice... PLEASE let me know all you can!!!

Thanks!

Where I live up here it rarely dipped down past 10degrees... But When you go to visit in july maybe visit a couple farms and see what they do???

 

[Latestarter]

@Alaskan might be able to provide some guidance. He complains regularly (except for one week in August) about how cold it is and how deep the snow (& ice) is... Oh, and about darkness... Come to think about it, Al does a LOT of complaining Just kidding of course, but he has goats and lives in a colder part of Alaska.

 

[Bruce]

Where I live up here it rarely dipped down past 10degrees... But When you go to visit in july maybe visit a couple farms and see what they do???

Good advice TAH!

I can't add any knowledge but would THINK that at those temps insulation is major important (but like with chicken coops so is winter ventilation), smaller is better so they don't waste any body heat heating the space and you might even need to have a heater of some sort in there. I can't imaging -50°F let alone -70°F. Maybe he would like to move a WEE bit south!!

 

[ragdollcatlady]

My Alaska is trying to get ahold of someone that has goats there to ask, he is thinking insulation, above ground floor, not sure if a central sleeping shelf would be good too or if they should huddle together on the floor to sleep....

I did send @Alaskan another request for info.

 

[Bruce]

I would think a raised floor would let cold air blow under the shelter and make it colder. The ground only gets to frozen, doesn't get colder than that.