Teresa & Mike CHS - Our journal

[Mike CHS]

Sorry Bruce - It was a bit sad that on every time I opened my journal Max was everywhere it seemed.

I think it is the movement more than anything else plus I only put enough water in the barrels to last them part of the day. In the 4 years we have owned our place it got like this every January and that was the coldest. Hopefully it will be the same this year.

Last winter we had lambs on the ground in 9 degree temps and decided not to go through that again.

 

[Bruce]

Wise choice! Why put yourself or the animals through that misery!

 

[farmerjan]

The very same reasoning that I don't want calves starting before the first of March. And I want them done by the first of Dec. Of course that is totally NOT what we have this year. With a major problem with cows last year not gaining/losing condition, calves slow growing, sick cows, not breeding...we are totally out of synch.
Have had 6-8 calves born this past week. Just had a 3rd calf cow prolapse her uterus overnight. Doc got it back in but it has some frostbite damage. She is doing okay and the calf is about a week-10 days and sucking and all. If she does okay she will raise this calf and then be sold at the end of the summer or whenever. Had a heifer have a rectal prolapse about a month ago. Saw her at pasture. So loaded her up brought her back, doc fixed that and she is doing good. Don't know if she is pregnant as he obviously couldn't palpate her. If she continues to do okay, then she will raise her calf and get sold. She also has been one to not stay where she is put, but until this we figured she mature and get over that. Well, this is her second problem.....sooooo that's it.
Just some freak stuff, and not wanting calves this time of year has been strongly reinforced with this COLD weather. Luckily, these are experienced cows so they know to get the calf licked off and dry. Still if I was a calf I would be protesting loud and long..!!

 

[greybeard]

I put a 16 ounce water bottle filled with salt water in one of the tanks that is out in full sun. All of the other tanks froze in a few hours as did the one with the water bottle partially but it got enough solar heat to keep part of the water thawed. I'll try it again tomorrow since it's going to be colder yet.

The salt water bottle won't keep the tank water from freezing, except right under the bottle. The brine solution works as an insulator and the rest of the tank surface freezes but not under the jug are around the bottom 2/3 of it's periphery. The premise of it's operation is the livestock push the bottle down some, which displaces liquid water on to the top skim of ice and they can drink.
Balls work the same way.
Neither will work if the temps are near and below 0°F and stay that way for many hrs on end.

 

[Mike CHS]

The bottles kept a small area open in both of the tubs today which is all I was hoping for. My number of sheep lets me just take out a few gallons at a time without much effort. What little that is left in the morning will be froze solid but 4 or 5 gallons of hot water solves that.

 

[farmerjan]

Yeah, the balls don't work in 5* weather. And all these Professionally installed water troughs aren't worth @#$# in this weather cuz the lines are freezing down in the ground and now we have no water at 3 different places. So today all I did was haul water to cows that were out for the last 2 days. At least everyone went away from the troughs tonight fully satisfied and I will just start over in the morning. Can't move cows to other places because most have these water troughs. All this BS with fencing them out of the creeks and all this, but then when we get weather that is not normal, BUT NOT UNHEARD OF in this area, we are the ones that are doing everything we can to see they are taken care of. The free running creeks have ice, but are not completely iced over and we turned the 8 bulls out of the bull lot into this "crep" area so they can go to the creek and get water.
AND it is supposed to get worse in the next 3 days with MINUS 20 with the wind chills and daytime highs not to hit 20*.

 

[Baymule]

I am sorry that you are having such a hard time. I will shut up and not complain any more about the iced over water we have here. I can at least carry buckets from the house, I don't have to "drive" water to another place. I hope this weather breaks soon and the sun comes out and melts the ice.

 

[Latestarter]

So sorry Jan, that's some pretty remarkable cold for your area. Hope you and your animals all make it through to warmer days.

 

[Mike CHS]

Jan - we are having similar temps but i'm glad we don't have more sheep than we do. Our numbers are small enough that I only have to haul water cans in the morning and again in the afternoon to make sure they bed down hydrated.

It's supposed to be warmer for the next week or so and I may get out of semi-hybernation mode.

Not much going on but here's a picture of my babies. I haven't been getting much done outside so I have spent quite a bit of time with both dogs. Thor would make a great farm dog and doesn't even mind going in the house. Maisy is doing great now that she sees what Thor is doing and will even get into the truck now.

 

[Latestarter]

Really gotta love those dogs Mike. So well behaved and good looking. Has to be a joy to just walk up on 'em and see them. Really glad they've become the team you wanted/needed. Must be awesome when they teach each other and can learn from each other. Another 6 months and I believe you're going to have a new top dog. Though he may not be bigger than her right now, just yet, his head appears to be bigger than hers already and with these dogs, IMHO, size matters.