Baymule
Herd Master
Freezing weather is inconvenient but chores can still be done. It’s a whole lot easier when you have help!
Ridgetop - our place and how we muddle along
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Ridgetop
Herd Master
Starting to get a rythm to the wintertime chores and freezing weather. DS1 pulls hay off the roll, loads it in the wheelbarrow, and brings it over to the side barn for me to feed. I feed the jugs, let the sheep out (sometimes we have to drive the sheep out of the pen in this cold), and close the gate. I feed the horses and rams their grain measure. DH runs buckets of hot water back and forth from the kitchen while DS1 breaks the ice in the buckets in the different animal pens and dumps the hot water in the ewes' buckets. This morning DS1 and I drove the sheep out into the cold, cold world. We ignored the sad exressions on their faces. An hour later DA1 was callig to e fro the pasture shere 3033 had just delivered a lamb. I went to check and it had just been born. She was cleaning it off and talking to it. DS1 wanted me to move it into a jug but she still had a big water bag hanging it abd I had just put the corn cobs stuff in the remaining jug so I left her out there to deliver the afterbirth instead of getting the nice dry stll all wet again. Half an hour later I went to get her and her lamb and she was cleaning off a second one! She hadn't even looked very pregnant - only the udder gve it away - it was a nice surprise. Another pair of ram lambs. She is out of an Australian import ram and these lambs are out of my embryo South African ram so should be good ones. 
If they are nice I will keep them for sale as breeding rams.
The hoses are still frozen and DH and DS1 have decided that drinking the icy water is not as good for the ewes. They will drink more if the water is warm. We have discarded the idea of putting a hot water heater in the barn. DS1 pointed out that if it froze, it would rupture the tank. He suggested an Instant On HWH, then changed his mind and instead suggested getting a propane base burner for a turkey fryer. He found one that is large enough for my huge black enamel canning kettle to fit. He said that we could use it to melt the ice from the buckets instead of wasting the water by tosing the ice to the ground. It sits up about 30" off the ground so won't catch the grass on fire. It aso has baffles around the flame burner so the wind won't put it out. The wind comes in strong here. After discussing this we decided it was a better idea than a hot water heater. DS1 is a clever fellow. We might even be able to use it for canning in the summer in the carport!
Yesterday DH and I couldn't get any DriStall for the jugs. Sold out. However when I went back to see what type of bedding they had at Atwoods, I found 40 lb bales of corn cob bedding. I bought 3 to try then looked it up this morning on the computer. Although most of the reviews were for horse stalls, they have a good reputation for soaking up moisture - up to 99% of their weight in water! DS1 and I went back today and bought another dozen bales. One bale only does one stall, but they only had 12 bales left so I will make them stretch. I will check around and see if I can find any somewhere else. They also had small bales (about 30 lbs.) of straw for $17.99!!!
I like straw bedding but not at that price! These should work fine, and I have decided to go with deep bedding - layering dry bedding on top of the old. I will just toss the old discarded grass hay out of the feeders onto the stall floow when I feed. Come spring we will remove everything and till it into the garden. I also found some bridle clips (clips with rectangular attachment areas on the base for the leather straps) to use with webbing to make bucket holders for the jugs. Dumping buckets over in jugs is a problem. I currently have the handles tied to the stak railings with bits of hay rope. The pieces of rope are small and difficult to untie when I want to change or clean the buckets. My original bucket clips were actually short Boer leads for showing. You can't show Boers by holding their collars because of their horns. They look like traffic leashes for dogs which is actually a 12-14" handle with a clip that attaches to the collar. I had quite a few of these when the chidren were showing Boers but gave a lot of them tp a friend whose kids were till showing Boers. I fund the last 4 I had and toried using them as bucket clips and they worked perfectly. I am sure I have them somewhere but can only find one that was still attached to one of the jug panels when we moved them. I will make more by buying the clips and attaching them to a webbing loop. I found 6 of them for $3.50 each at Fix and Feed. DS1 found thm on Amazon in bulk - box of 10 for $12.98! I have plenty of webbing so Bucket Clips here I come. I could buy them already made for $18.95+ EACH plus shipping but no need. A quick stitching with my sewing machine and done!
DH got the truck gasket fixed today and it was $500 less than the original quote so that was good. Then he and DS1 went out to the barn and started work on the lights for the jugs. DS1 wanted to get at least one heat lamb operating for a ewe that has been poorly. Her hooves were terrible, all twisted under and over. She was walking on her pasterns and had that look that signifies pain. DS1 and I trimmed them day before yesterday and she was sore yesterday. Today she was shivering and didn't want to get up. We gave her a large dose of Pennicillin and Vitamin B. DS1 felt that she would feel better if she had a heat lamp since she was in the end jug that is open to the barnyard and the north wind blows in. Yesterday I put cardboard boxes along the side of the pen - big thank you to whoever posted that idea on BYH - I knew those large Chewy boxes and picture moving boxes would be good for something. I did the same in the big barn on the west side since I have 4 jugs there that were exposed to the wind. LOL Today I also put more of the large boxes in front of a hole in the wall of the side barn The hole was probably cut to allow access to a dog while another hole was almost directly opposite resulting from damaged tin that I had to cut away to put up the jugs.
The dog hole is on the north side where the freezing wind blows in and since there was a hole directly across from it there was a bad cross wind blowing through the jugs. DS1 and DH finished the wiring to allow one heat light over her pen. When D1 came in after putting away the supplies he said she was standing under the lamp. Hopefully she will feel better in the morning. Tomorrow afternoon DH has to go to Bonham to pick up his hearig aids.
< DS1 and me dancing for joy!
DS1 wants to try to get more of the electric installed in the morning. They also want to jump the tractor with the truck and remove Moyboy while he is still frozen. Another full day in sub-freezing temperatures. LOL
If they are nice I will keep them for sale as breeding rams. The hoses are still frozen and DH and DS1 have decided that drinking the icy water is not as good for the ewes. They will drink more if the water is warm. We have discarded the idea of putting a hot water heater in the barn. DS1 pointed out that if it froze, it would rupture the tank. He suggested an Instant On HWH, then changed his mind and instead suggested getting a propane base burner for a turkey fryer. He found one that is large enough for my huge black enamel canning kettle to fit. He said that we could use it to melt the ice from the buckets instead of wasting the water by tosing the ice to the ground. It sits up about 30" off the ground so won't catch the grass on fire. It aso has baffles around the flame burner so the wind won't put it out. The wind comes in strong here. After discussing this we decided it was a better idea than a hot water heater. DS1 is a clever fellow. We might even be able to use it for canning in the summer in the carport!
Yesterday DH and I couldn't get any DriStall for the jugs. Sold out. However when I went back to see what type of bedding they had at Atwoods, I found 40 lb bales of corn cob bedding. I bought 3 to try then looked it up this morning on the computer. Although most of the reviews were for horse stalls, they have a good reputation for soaking up moisture - up to 99% of their weight in water! DS1 and I went back today and bought another dozen bales. One bale only does one stall, but they only had 12 bales left so I will make them stretch. I will check around and see if I can find any somewhere else. They also had small bales (about 30 lbs.) of straw for $17.99!!!
I like straw bedding but not at that price! These should work fine, and I have decided to go with deep bedding - layering dry bedding on top of the old. I will just toss the old discarded grass hay out of the feeders onto the stall floow when I feed. Come spring we will remove everything and till it into the garden. I also found some bridle clips (clips with rectangular attachment areas on the base for the leather straps) to use with webbing to make bucket holders for the jugs. Dumping buckets over in jugs is a problem. I currently have the handles tied to the stak railings with bits of hay rope. The pieces of rope are small and difficult to untie when I want to change or clean the buckets. My original bucket clips were actually short Boer leads for showing. You can't show Boers by holding their collars because of their horns. They look like traffic leashes for dogs which is actually a 12-14" handle with a clip that attaches to the collar. I had quite a few of these when the chidren were showing Boers but gave a lot of them tp a friend whose kids were till showing Boers. I fund the last 4 I had and toried using them as bucket clips and they worked perfectly. I am sure I have them somewhere but can only find one that was still attached to one of the jug panels when we moved them. I will make more by buying the clips and attaching them to a webbing loop. I found 6 of them for $3.50 each at Fix and Feed. DS1 found thm on Amazon in bulk - box of 10 for $12.98! I have plenty of webbing so Bucket Clips here I come. I could buy them already made for $18.95+ EACH plus shipping but no need. A quick stitching with my sewing machine and done! DH got the truck gasket fixed today and it was $500 less than the original quote so that was good. Then he and DS1 went out to the barn and started work on the lights for the jugs. DS1 wanted to get at least one heat lamb operating for a ewe that has been poorly. Her hooves were terrible, all twisted under and over. She was walking on her pasterns and had that look that signifies pain. DS1 and I trimmed them day before yesterday and she was sore yesterday. Today she was shivering and didn't want to get up. We gave her a large dose of Pennicillin and Vitamin B. DS1 felt that she would feel better if she had a heat lamp since she was in the end jug that is open to the barnyard and the north wind blows in. Yesterday I put cardboard boxes along the side of the pen - big thank you to whoever posted that idea on BYH - I knew those large Chewy boxes and picture moving boxes would be good for something. I did the same in the big barn on the west side since I have 4 jugs there that were exposed to the wind. LOL Today I also put more of the large boxes in front of a hole in the wall of the side barn The hole was probably cut to allow access to a dog while another hole was almost directly opposite resulting from damaged tin that I had to cut away to put up the jugs.
The dog hole is on the north side where the freezing wind blows in and since there was a hole directly across from it there was a bad cross wind blowing through the jugs. DS1 and DH finished the wiring to allow one heat light over her pen. When D1 came in after putting away the supplies he said she was standing under the lamp. Hopefully she will feel better in the morning. Tomorrow afternoon DH has to go to Bonham to pick up his hearig aids.
< DS1 and me dancing for joy! DS1 wants to try to get more of the electric installed in the morning. They also want to jump the tractor with the truck and remove Moyboy while he is still frozen. Another full day in sub-freezing temperatures. LOL
Baymule
Herd Master
Welcome to Texas! We threw you a party! Plenty of ice, chip some out of those buckets and fix yourself a stiff drink!
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- #4,454
Ridgetop
Herd Master
After a break from the chilling wind yesterday, this morning the wind had picked up and was very cold - about 20. The wind had also changed direction and was blowing up from that cold front in the south. Two ewes ha lambd - P19 with a tiny ram lamb, and P20 with 2 nice little split twins. P20's ewe lamb wil be a keeper - P20 is the only daughter I have of 8040 who had excellent bloodlines. The arrival of these lambs meant I had to scurry to build 2 new jugs. I was able to use a 12' Priefert gate, a piece of stock panel and one of the 5' panels I scavenged from another jug. I put the 12' gate paralell to another 12' panel that formed one side of the sheep pen. There was a gate in the10' pane crosswise that had been the entry to the old creep. I used it as a gate to one half of the 12'x5' pen then put the 5' panel at the other end and the stock panel piece in the middle. Presto - two 5' x 6' jugs. It only entailed removing the tractor auger, sprayer, 2 heavy metal horse feeders, a pallet, several 50-75 gallon Rubbermaid tubs, etc. that were stored in that area. I have enough of the short 36" black garden panels to make one more jug then we are out of panels. DH looked at the jugs and said we need to buy more jug panels. We do but I am hoping to avoid spending the money just now.
I think we can take the small solar charger (that was not strng for the many feet f fencing A1 put up last summer, and the unused 160' electric fence and use it to make a fence for the older lambs and their mamas. D1 said he didnt think it would be enough fence so I sai we woud take the 160' off the fence in the pasture and move that fence smaller. I have to wait for Cody to come and move a few hay bales first. He is coming either Thursday night or Friday. So far 20 ewes have lambed, we have another 21 to go. A couple don't look pregnant but a couple that have twinned didn't look pregnant either . . . . LOL Once everyone has lambed and weaned their lambs we will sort the ewes out to see who will be sold. I need to cut down at least 10-15 since I will be keeping several of the ewe lambs that already are looking really nice. I would like to keep the flock to about 30-35 with 3 rams. I won't be able to do the rotational grazing program with more than that. I still will need more jugs though.
Today DH and I went to Bonham and he got his new hearing aids! He can hear!DS1 and I are so grateful. Tomorrow is a full day. DS1 and DH are removing the frozen body of Moyboy from the ram pen. I told them they better get on to it before a thaw comes and he starts to smell. He is upwind of the house and barn. 
Then they will be installing the rest of the electric in the barn. I will be planning out the new creep pen and mama pen while spreading the corn cob bedding in the jugs. I also have to make a pan of brownies for Cody and his family since he is coming to move the hay. Payton is home with a fever so Cody said he woud do it. Such nice people.
We got bad news on the tractor. It is not finished.
And the parts people that said they had the tractor arms now are saying that they thought we had them and were bringing them "later". WHAT?! They specifically told us they had a pair in stock, chrged us for them, now they are blaming the error on an employee who has been conveniently fired. They are looking for a pair, and DS1 said he will call the other Farmtrac dealer in MO or somewhere. We paid for the both the front loader AND ARMS, and it is noted on our check, so are not pleased. We would not have taken the trctor down to the mechanic near Houston if we had not been told that they had the arms. They said that the mechanic has another Farmtrac they would sell us for $15,000 and take our tractor as part trade, but we have already paid $4000 for all the parts to make ours like new. We were already told by the mechanic that our tractor is a better model that the one they want to sell us. Besides if I were going to pay $15,000 for another tractor I would not buy a used (rebuilt) Farmtrac that has only 3 dealers in the US and is hard to find someone to work on. Anyway, while we wait for them to find some arms, our tractor is in Houston and we are calling Cody to move our hay.
I think we can take the small solar charger (that was not strng for the many feet f fencing A1 put up last summer, and the unused 160' electric fence and use it to make a fence for the older lambs and their mamas. D1 said he didnt think it would be enough fence so I sai we woud take the 160' off the fence in the pasture and move that fence smaller. I have to wait for Cody to come and move a few hay bales first. He is coming either Thursday night or Friday. So far 20 ewes have lambed, we have another 21 to go. A couple don't look pregnant but a couple that have twinned didn't look pregnant either . . . . LOL Once everyone has lambed and weaned their lambs we will sort the ewes out to see who will be sold. I need to cut down at least 10-15 since I will be keeping several of the ewe lambs that already are looking really nice. I would like to keep the flock to about 30-35 with 3 rams. I won't be able to do the rotational grazing program with more than that. I still will need more jugs though.
Today DH and I went to Bonham and he got his new hearing aids! He can hear!
DS1 and I are so grateful. Tomorrow is a full day. DS1 and DH are removing the frozen body of Moyboy from the ram pen. I told them they better get on to it before a thaw comes and he starts to smell. He is upwind of the house and barn. Then they will be installing the rest of the electric in the barn. I will be planning out the new creep pen and mama pen while spreading the corn cob bedding in the jugs. I also have to make a pan of brownies for Cody and his family since he is coming to move the hay. Payton is home with a fever so Cody said he woud do it. Such nice people.We got bad news on the tractor. It is not finished.
And the parts people that said they had the tractor arms now are saying that they thought we had them and were bringing them "later". WHAT?! They specifically told us they had a pair in stock, chrged us for them, now they are blaming the error on an employee who has been conveniently fired. They are looking for a pair, and DS1 said he will call the other Farmtrac dealer in MO or somewhere. We paid for the both the front loader AND ARMS, and it is noted on our check, so are not pleased. We would not have taken the trctor down to the mechanic near Houston if we had not been told that they had the arms. They said that the mechanic has another Farmtrac they would sell us for $15,000 and take our tractor as part trade, but we have already paid $4000 for all the parts to make ours like new. We were already told by the mechanic that our tractor is a better model that the one they want to sell us. Besides if I were going to pay $15,000 for another tractor I would not buy a used (rebuilt) Farmtrac that has only 3 dealers in the US and is hard to find someone to work on. Anyway, while we wait for them to find some arms, our tractor is in Houston and we are calling Cody to move our hay.
