Ridgetop - our place and how we muddle along

[farmerjan]

I have a battery cut off on the older ranger. Can't find the "electric drain" and not going to rewire the whole truck.

 

[SageHill]

Oh man sorry about the ewe. Though I totally identified with the story of trying to move her. You had me smiling and laughing. What is it with yesterday? I lost a ewe as well - though she was very old my best guess 14+ so it wasn't a surprise. At least my DH was here to help drag her out.

 

[fuzzi]

You only have to remove the positive - RED - cable... battery can't drain if there is no "circuit" ... Negative side will not drain battery.

We had a car that would drain the battery if not started frequently. I had our mechanic put a knife switch on it. After we got home and parked the car we'd pop the hood and flip the switch. Easy peasy.

 

[farmerjan]

We had a car that would drain the battery if not started frequently. I had our mechanic put a knife switch on it. After we got home and parked the car we'd pop the hood and flip the switch. Easy peasy.

My battery cut off is inside the truck, under the dash on the passenger side... girl mechanic that did it said it was easier to put it over there, and no one would know what it was for except me, and could do it without popping the hood... Loved her for that. Yep.... simple to flip a switch to save a battery...

 

[Ridgetop]

I will let DH know about installing the cut off switch. We have one in our 5th wheel to save battery life and prevent overcharging by the solar panels.

Monday - Lamb bonanza!
Three ewes with lambs this morning, P13 twin rams, GR42 single ram, and 7088 a single ewe lamb. 7088 is one of my best ewes and is getting older so I will be grateful for single ewes. Opened the gate and let the flock out onto the pasture. Have to do this before moving the lambs and ewes into the jugs or the entire flock will stampede after me and it will be a !#@***! Shut the pasture gate and moved all three ewes and their lambs into jugs. Moved the first with no trouble. Second was more problematic. 7088 had gone outside to get a drink taking a lamb with her. Before I could get her and her lamb she ran back in the barn taking the lamb with her. Unfortunately before I could scoop him/her up all 3 lambs were comingled. I could identify one easily since its cord was still wet. I figured P13 has singled, however when I moved 7088 with the other two into a jug, P13 kept stickingher head through the bars and calling to 7088's lambs. I picked up one and stuck it in with P13 but she still kept calling to the other one and now 7088 was bawling for a lamb. I switched them arund and it seemed like we were ok. I would rather have left the twins on 7088 because she has lots of milk and P13 has a FF udder but I won't fight them over it. 7088 had a ewe lamb that was a good size and the twins were slightly smaller. Later i found a large afterbirth in the ppen and gave it to Ozel. She ate most of it but left a large blob the sie of a grapefruit. I gave it to Angel who was not interested in it either so I pulled it apart and found a tiny bunch of fur covered bones in it. Obviously a mummified lamb that did not develop. I have seen them before but never this small with hair. Another first for Ridgetop.

I then had to replenish the water and hay for the 4 already in jugs. Then I had to fill the empty outside water troughs for the rest of the flock. While doing that I filled more 5 gallon buckets to carry into the jugs for the new group of ewes. Filled all the hay feeders for the new group and decided to fill the hay feeders in the empty jugs in preparation for the next group of lambing ewes. I filled water buckets too so they would be ready for the next group to lamb. Then I had to grain the mamas. I am now out of hanging grain buckets. Need to get some more. Already tired, but not done yet.

I finished with the grain feeders and noticed that 8192's ewe lamb was laying stretched out in an odd position and hadn't moved in an hour. 8192 's ewe lamb was active and lively last night and eating this am. I was shocked that her mouth and legs were cold and she was dying. I brought her to the house to revive but she died on the way in. Another bad lambing year?

Fed the horses. Then went to grain the rams and Moyboy did not come to the grain. He was not moving in his shelter. Dead. No way I can get him out of that low shelter. He is much bigger than that ewe and he is back in the middle of it. DSIL2 is on his way to Tennessee with a load so no help there. Moyboy was my older ram, threw excellent lambs, and I hoped to use him one more season but not to be. He may have to wait until DH gets back. Colder temps next week will help.

Have to go up to Walgreens to pick up my meds. Haven't had time to do it so far but am out of prescription stuff. When I got back I decided to move some of the feed sacks still in the pickup bed over to the barn since I was almost out. I had been ok moving 90 lbs of grain in the wheebarrow but I got cocky and decided to go for 130 lbs. I barely made it since I got stuck on a tree root trying to go out the yard gate to the barn yard. Finally I removed one of the 40 lb bags and set it next to the shed, got over the tree root and reloaded it. Never again! I may be in my Prime but I decided I don't need to prove it when no one is here to be impressed. LOL

DS1 called and said that DH has decided to come back tomorrow or Thursday instead of waiting till next week. He is worried abut me doig everythig alone. I am really glad they are coming back early although I won't admit I can't keep going by myself. I am a capable woman in my Prime. I am just sort of tired.

Today no new lambs! An easy day!
All I had to do was let out the sheep, shut pasture gate and lock it, feed the horses, check water tanks which are in 4 locations, chase a ewe and yearling back into the field (daily occurrence since there are 2-4 that have discovered a hole somewhere and get out every day), pull hay off the rolls to stuff jug feeders, carry five 5 gallon buckets of water to replenish jug buckets, fill 3 new jug hay feeders in anticipation for tomorrow, move the bags of feed from the wheel barrow, grain the ewes with lambs (7 hookover feeder buckets back and forth filling them in the feed room), and grain the rams. It was a light day. I also removed all the lamb coats since it is supposed to be almost 60 tomorrow and no nights below 35 degrees. Time for them to harden up and get used to cold temps. One lamb must have grown in 2 days since I had to cut the coat off him/her. LOL Total lambs 4 ewes, 8 rams. lost 1 ram lamb, 1 ewe lamb, adult ewe 2 weeks from due date, 7 year old ram. Luckily I bought a young embryo ram from Wes before we came out to Texas. He seems to be giving me mainly ram lambs but since I take all the ram lambs to auction at weaning that is not a problem. Fewer ewe lambs to decide among for replacements too. Any late born lambs (after February 23) will be Junior's get.

Can't wait for DH and DS1 to get here so I can start working on the bathroom. I wanted to strip the wallpaper and paint it but have been spending all my time in the barn. Taking care of the lambing ewes won't be so much work if DH and DS1 are here to deal with the rest. Having the ewes be less conditioned (aka thinner LOL) has meant that I did have to pull any lambs. Even the FF ewe with the large single ewe lamb would have probably eventually gotten her out. But she was screaming so loudly that I had to help her. I actually didn't really have to pull as hard as some of the large lambs we have pulled. I did make a mistake by immediately moving the lamb to a jug and having DSIL2 drag the ewe along to the jug. I should have just eft the lamb in front of the ewe and let her bond but she wasn't getting up and was not intereted when we showed her the lamb. Later after I draped the newly passed placenta over the lamb (who was by now wearing a lamb sock) the ewe stopped nudging the lamb away and started talking to it and accepted it. Thank heaven. I don't want any bottle lambs even though they are adorable.

Once DH and DS1 arrive we will move the rest of the alfalfa into the side barn along with the barrels of grain I am feeding to the lactating ewes. That will make it easier to feed the jugs. I can supplement the grass hay with the alfalfa. Some of the grass hay rolls seem to have a lt of honey locust in them. Some of the branches have 3-4" thorns. I worried at first but the sheep seem to eat the round bales around them. I do have to pull them out of the hay I unpeel for the ewes in the jugs. I have a pile of these sticks and thorny branches that will have to go on the burn pile. We will also have to tag, vaccinate lambs, and worm ewes. A couple of the ewes are very thin so I am keeping track which ones they are. Others are in excellent condition. Those will be the ones to keep when I sell some adult ewes after weaning.

Angel disciplined Ozel on Sunday when Ozel was being silly aroud thejugs. She wanted a piece of placenta and the ewe did not want her near the jug. Ozel made the mistake of thinking she could take on Angel. Angel is pretty easy going but weighs about 140 lbs. while Ozel is smaller, slightly built and probably maxes out at 100. Angel did the same thing Rika did with Bubba when she disciplined him years ago. Angel got Ozel's muzzle in her jaws and shook her around until Ozel stood down. Then both of them walked away. Ozel did come out of it with a bite to her front leg but no other wounds. Lots of ugly snarling and large Anatolian bodies thrashing around in a confined area. I just let them get on with it. No joy in getting between two snarling Anatolians! Ozel did show soe hesitation about coming onto the porch for her supper next to Angel. I had to move her dish to the other side of Hazine. LOL Can anyone say R - E - S - P - E - C - T ?

 

[fuzzi]

I will let DH know about installing the cut off switch. We have one in our 5th wheel to save battery life and prevent overcharging by the solar panels.

Monday - Lamb bonanza!
Three ewes with lambs this morning, P13 twin rams, GR42 single ram, and 7088 a single ewe lamb. 7088 is one of my best ewes and is getting older so I will be grateful for single ewes. Opened the gate and let the flock out onto the pasture. Have to do this before moving the lambs and ewes into the jugs or the entire flock will stampede after me and it will be a !#@***! Shut the pasture gate and moved all three ewes and their lambs into jugs. Moved the first with no trouble. Second was more problematic. 7088 had gone outside to get a drink taking a lamb with her. Before I could get her and her lamb she ran back in the barn taking the lamb with her. Unfortunately before I could scoop him/her up all 3 lambs were comingled. I could identify one easily since its cord was still wet. I figured P13 has singled, however when I moved 7088 with the other two into a jug, P13 kept stickingher head through the bars and calling to 7088's lambs. I picked up one and stuck it in with P13 but she still kept calling to the other one and now 7088 was bawling for a lamb. I switched them arund and it seemed like we were ok. I would rather have left the twins on 7088 because she has lots of milk and P13 has a FF udder but I won't fight them over it. 7088 had a ewe lamb that was a good size and the twins were slightly smaller. Later i found a large afterbirth in the ppen and gave it to Ozel. She ate most of it but left a large blob the sie of a grapefruit. I gave it to Angel who was not interested in it either so I pulled it apart and found a tiny bunch of fur covered bones in it. Obviously a mummified lamb that did not develop. I have seen them before but never this small with hair. Another first for Ridgetop.

I then had to replenish the water and hay for the 4 already in jugs. Then I had to fill the empty outside water troughs for the rest of the flock. While doing that I filled more 5 gallon buckets to carry into the jugs for the new group of ewes. Filled all the hay feeders for the new group and decided to fill the hay feeders in the empty jugs in preparation for the next group of lambing ewes. I filled water buckets too so they would be ready for the next group to lamb. Then I had to grain the mamas. I am now out of hanging grain buckets. Need to get some more. Already tired, but not done yet.

I finished with the grain feeders and noticed that 8192's ewe lamb was laying stretched out in an odd position and hadn't moved in an hour. 8192 's ewe lamb was active and lively last night and eating this am. I was shocked that her mouth and legs were cold and she was dying. I brought her to the house to revive but she died on the way in. Another bad lambing year?

Fed the horses. Then went to grain the rams and Moyboy did not come to the grain. He was not moving in his shelter. Dead. No way I can get him out of that low shelter. He is much bigger than that ewe and he is back in the middle of it. DSIL2 is on his way to Tennessee with a load so no help there. Moyboy was my older ram, threw excellent lambs, and I hoped to use him one more season but not to be. He may have to wait until DH gets back. Colder temps next week will help.

Have to go up to Walgreens to pick up my meds. Haven't had time to do it so far but am out of prescription stuff. When I got back I decided to move some of the feed sacks still in the pickup bed over to the barn since I was almost out. I had been ok moving 90 lbs of grain in the wheebarrow but I got cocky and decided to go for 130 lbs. I barely made it since I got stuck on a tree root trying to go out the yard gate to the barn yard. Finally I removed one of the 40 lb bags and set it next to the shed, got over the tree root and reloaded it. Never again! I may be in my Prime but I decided I don't need to prove it when no one is here to be impressed. LOL

DS1 called and said that DH has decided to come back tomorrow or Thursday instead of waiting till next week. He is worried abut me doig everythig alone. I am really glad they are coming back early although I won't admit I can't keep going by myself. I am a capable woman in my Prime. I am just sort of tired.

Today no new lambs! An easy day!
All I had to do was let out the sheep, shut pasture gate and lock it, feed the horses, check water tanks which are in 4 locations, chase a ewe and yearling back into the field (daily occurrence since there are 2-4 that have discovered a hole somewhere and get out every day), pull hay off the rolls to stuff jug feeders, carry five 5 gallon buckets of water to replenish jug buckets, fill 3 new jug hay feeders in anticipation for tomorrow, move the bags of feed from the wheel barrow, grain the ewes with lambs (7 hookover feeder buckets back and forth filling them in the feed room), and grain the rams. It was a light day. I also removed all the lamb coats since it is supposed to be almost 60 tomorrow and no nights below 35 degrees. Time for them to harden up and get used to cold temps. One lamb must have grown in 2 days since I had to cut the coat off him/her. LOL Total lambs 4 ewes, 8 rams. lost 1 ram lamb, 1 ewe lamb, adult ewe 2 weeks from due date, 7 year old ram. Luckily I bought a young embryo ram from Wes before we came out to Texas. He seems to be giving me mainly ram lambs but since I take all the ram lambs to auction at weaning that is not a problem. Fewer ewe lambs to decide among for replacements too. Any late born lambs (after February 23) will be Junior's get.

Can't wait for DH and DS1 to get here so I can start working on the bathroom. I wanted to strip the wallpaper and paint it but have been spending all my time in the barn. Taking care of the lambing ewes won't be so much work if DH and DS1 are here to deal with the rest. Having the ewes be less conditioned (aka thinner LOL) has meant that I did have to pull any lambs. Even the FF ewe with the large single ewe lamb would have probably eventually gotten her out. But she was screaming so loudly that I had to help her. I actually didn't really have to pull as hard as some of the large lambs we have pulled. I did make a mistake by immediately moving the lamb to a jug and having DSIL2 drag the ewe along to the jug. I should have just eft the lamb in front of the ewe and let her bond but she wasn't getting up and was not intereted when we showed her the lamb. Later after I draped the newly passed placenta over the lamb (who was by now wearing a lamb sock) the ewe stopped nudging the lamb away and started talking to it and accepted it. Thank heaven. I don't want any bottle lambs even though they are adorable.

Once DH and DS1 arrive we will move the rest of the alfalfa into the side barn along with the barrels of grain I am feeding to the lactating ewes. That will make it easier to feed the jugs. I can supplement the grass hay with the alfalfa. Some of the grass hay rolls seem to have a lt of honey locust in them. Some of the branches have 3-4" thorns. I worried at first but the sheep seem to eat the round bales around them. I do have to pull them out of the hay I unpeel for the ewes in the jugs. I have a pile of these sticks and thorny branches that will have to go on the burn pile. We will also have to tag, vaccinate lambs, and worm ewes. A couple of the ewes are very thin so I am keeping track which ones they are. Others are in excellent condition. Those will be the ones to keep when I sell some adult ewes after weaning.

Angel disciplined Ozel on Sunday when Ozel was being silly aroud thejugs. She wanted a piece of placenta and the ewe did not want her near the jug. Ozel made the mistake of thinking she could take on Angel. Angel is pretty easy going but weighs about 140 lbs. while Ozel is smaller, slightly built and probably maxes out at 100. Angel did the same thing Rika did with Bubba when she disciplined him years ago. Angel got Ozel's muzzle in her jaws and shook her around until Ozel stood down. Then both of them walked away. Ozel did come out of it with a bite to her front leg but no other wounds. Lots of ugly snarling and large Anatolian bodies thrashing around in a confined area. I just let them get on with it. No joy in getting between two snarling Anatolians! Ozel did show soe hesitation about coming onto the porch for her supper next to Angel. I had to move her dish to the other side of Hazine. LOL Can anyone say R - E - S - P - E - C - T ?

Sorry for your losses.