Wehner Homestead

Mini Horses · Sep 27, 2019

Glad to hear you are getting about and wish you had more time....as I'm sure you do also! Sorry to hear about the not so good happenings but, then, that's a farm life. We have to deal.

We are way down with water around here, also. In fact, new says it's a "light draught". Have crossed a few bridges and see water levels a couple feet below the obvious norm. some areas with that crunchy grass...others, ok but in need.

Nice to hear from you so we know you are still around.

Baymule · Sep 27, 2019

You are an inspiration. You work hard, you care for your family. You care for the animals and work on the farm. With all the things in life that knock you down, you just get back up and keep on keeping on. If nobody has said it lately, I am proud of you. Sending you a great big hug.

CntryBoy777 · Sep 28, 2019

Knowing your daughter is gaining strength is enough to hold onto and brighten any day!!.....it is unfortunate, but "life" happens to all of us and somethings just happen beyond control.....

..

farmerjan · Sep 28, 2019

Very glad for you that your little one got over the fever and complications and could come home and is now doing better. Sad that you have to face another surgery in Oct, but hope it will go well and help to improve her life.

There is always something with the animals, and it is always difficult to make decisions to sell. I liked that Indy calf when she was born, but if the disposition isn't there....then selling is the best way to go.
Prices here are way off ever since the fire at the Tyson plant in KS and the manipulation by the packers on both the fat cattle and boxed beef end. Many farmers here have sold some at much lower prices, but there has been a small increase mostly in the midwest. I am thinking that we will see an increase in early Jan., after the fall glut and the holidays. Still I think that 2020 will only be a mediocre year unless we do get into an agreement with China and sell them more beef when we reach the limit of what we will sell in pork. With the swine fever and the loss of so many hogs, they are hurting for protein, and rumor has it we have just negotiated a huge sale of pork to them. Hopefully, this will help to grease the wheels and that beef sales will follow.
Prices here for cull cows is in the 50's mostly, feeder steers in the 450-600 wts is in the 1.20's to 1.40's, mostly on the lower side. Heifers are .90 to 1.10. SAD..... We sold 10 steers in the 6 wts about 3 weeks ago and got in the 1.20-1.27 range. Haven't shipped any heifers. Trying to sit on them for awhile, but will have some notes to pay down, this fall; fertilizer and operating loans, so will have to sit and make some decisions. Not a good place to be, and with us both still working jobs. The dairy industry is not good, my job is fading slowly away, so may not have to worry about really retiring "from" it because it is slowing to the point of "ceasing" to exist... Luckily I don't need to be full time for insurance purposes anymore with medicare. About the only good thing about getting older, it won't cost so much anymore to start getting all the worn out parts replaced!!!!

We had a good year for hay early, but it has dried up here now, and 2nd cutting of orchard grass is non-existent. I feel for your hay shortage up there. Our area here has recently gone from extremely dry to moderate drought in part because we are continuing to have much higher than normal temps. Last year we had trouble making hay due to the wet....

promiseacres · Sep 28, 2019

prayers for your daughters surgery! & that you get a bit more hay for the goats. We got just enough but still need to get a field planted.... we have had rain last couple of days.

Bruce · Sep 28, 2019

Sad news about Olaf

How are you holding up under all the pressures?? Tough to do when it seems the troubles keep raining down.

Wehner Homestead · Nov 25, 2019

Well I can say that the trials are still raining down. I’m hopeful for things to be on the upswing soon.

Have spent the last few weeks with sick DH and kids. I’m worn down from the chaos and care. Bronchitis has been the main cause with some strep added in.

DD2 had her second surgery for the on both legs the end of Oct. went well. Difficult to limit a 4 yr olds activity for any period of time. Cast is off. Incisions healing well. Some swilling is popping up in that right foot where her circulation and sensation isn’t the best. Managing with elevation. Hard to do with a toddler also. Had an infection scare in one of her incisions that resulted in an ER visit. Fortunately decided it wasn’t infection after bloodwork and was told to monitor closely. Almost completely resolved.

DD1 is having a rough go of school this year. Trying not to make any rash decisions as I’m not sure I’m thinking clearly.

DS is a borderline genius and even more of a middle child with all of the attention the other two have been requiring.

I’m still battling depression. DH had me back off of my meds some. He felt like all I did was sleep. I’m back to some odd insomnia. I haven’t cooked but about once a week all year and y’all know that isn’t like me. I’ve gained about 40# since Dec (losing baby Amari.) Lots going on as usual.

I still struggle going to the barn since Olaf passed. It’s just not the same without Olaf, Blossom, Queenie, and Maddie (cow for those that may not recall.) I milked a goat for the first time in several months on Sat night. My carpal tunnel acted up a few weeks after we got Tiny. DH took over the milking (which made it even more difficult for me to make it to the barn.) We had also purchased a milker that he used until recently- Tiny is drying off and the two Nigerians don’t make enough to justify getting it dirty. @Goat Whisperer helped us find it and it was a lifesaver. He looks forward to having it next year when (pretty much all of our does!) milking.

Most of you know Caramel hated being milked and we rarely milked her after she had her twins last Sept. The twins didn’t tame well either and their conformation wasn’t desirable for show. I was able to trade the trio for a donkey. Wasn’t something I planned to do burn DH had mentioned having one and I happened to see a livestock/human kid friendly one. Rose is approximately 5-7. (I need to have the vet out to check her over/teeth/vaccinations/wormed and a farrier to keep her hooves in line.) She’s super sweet and may be in foal for a late April/May baby. She positively adores the kids and brays for them to come see her when she hears them outside. She has horse treats we bought her and I’m forever cutting up apples and carrots for them to take her. She’s a bit underweight but she’s been nursing a colt and I’m sure needs wormed. I think she’s a mini/standard crossed because she isn’t very big but not near as small as our mini horse was.

Pullets from this spring started laying but stopped with the cold snap. We have ZERO eggs. Looks like I’ll be forced to buy some. Definitely pouting about that. I got Mia out the other day (FBCM that went broody and I rescued her from the cold/kept all of her hen offspring.) I carried her around for a bit and the kids all pet her. She seemed to enjoy it. Several are molting and it looks like a chicken massacre has occurred. Kids are “collecting” feathers.

Maizy calved the first part of Nov. A super cute heifer that will be retained. DD2 was home and when I mentioned the name, Madalynn, she quickly agreed. This was the first calf from our new bull, Mack, also. Maizy had no issues with calving and literally walked off to herself and had a calf within 30 minutes. I was technically watching from the window. There’s a ridge so I couldn’t actually visualize but could see enough to tell there weren’t complications.

We have several calves coming in Spring both AI and from Mack. We will also be breeding for some fall calves in Feb. Mack will be used for both rounds of breeding next year then sold. He just doesn’t have my heart like Otis did.

We still have three feeder pigs. They are almost done then no more through the winter.

First goat babies are due Jan 2! It’ll be here before we know it. Several possible and looking to be bred for them. A few random breedings then the Standard group is due in March. I’m most excited to see what we get from our Lamanchas and Bluebelle. There will be more Nigerians due in April then nothing more until fall.

Cupcake (feral cat that showed up in Feb) gifted us with a second litter of kittens. She had approximately 8 but they didn’t all survive. I’ve got three males from the litter in the house as it’s too cold for them to be outside. As much as I don’t really want housecats and DH keeps trying to kick them out, they may end up being permanent residents with the way our weather is behaving. The kids have named them Flash, Simba, and Finn. (Cupcake is also no longer a resident.)

We’ve also lost two of Ella’s kittens and Ella. Dogs were somehow involved but we aren’t sure to what extent. Glitter and Cinderella have both been spayed so no more kittens here!

Cupcake’s kitten, Simon Says, from her first litter here is doing well. He’s a spoiled boy that will be quite large. Need to get him and Ella’s surviving male, Smoky, neutered.

Annie and Bear Bear are HuGe! We knew they would be but they grow each time I see them. I need to work on their manners before they get too large.

Jewel is due to whelp in approximately 9 days. Day 63 is 12/5. I’ll try to post updates. Eli is the sire. Trying to get all their paperwork updated.

Also, a million other things that I’ve forgotten to mention. Pics to come in several posts as usual.