Huddled In

22 Jan

We did manage a bit of a warm up yesterday, but we’re preparing for another even colder weekend beginning tomorrow.  That means it will be time to huddle in and just try to survive again.

no warmth with that sun

My dog still thinks he should come out with me every time I open the door.  But I try not to keep him out too long, and when I’m at work, he can go in on the back porch where he has a nice bed.

Sky outside

You know it’s cold when the water vapor starts freezing.

Everyone else is staying in their shelter.

Basking (Daisy, Maybeline, Pluto)

Miss Goose

Shelby snacking

The sunshine is popular! (Daisy, Maisy, Pluto, and Ava and Popcorn)

Moonshine

Pretzel

It would be nice if we could stop the up and down and just have some historical average temperatures.

The State of the Hay

21 Jan

The up and down weather and selling the farm means I no longer have unlimited hay resources here.  This winter, I’m finishing off last year’s hay that was still up in the loft.

it’s a precarious climb up the ladder

I usually go up the ladder and throw down two or three days worth of hay.  It’s definitely getting emptied.  I’m glad my nephew has plenty of hay that I can buy from him to finish out the winter.

I should make it into February before I run out of hay.

That means I can be sure to give them plenty of hay on these really cold days.

Antigone and the boys

Moonshine

Kong and Greg spread their hay all over

the geese enjoy the hay too (Popcorn behind)

Skittles

Dee

Donkey has been doing some interior decorating

Pretzel has claimed the manger

Wanda

Melba

They do appreciate it.

A Switch

20 Jan

Like I said, we’re cold again.

It’s cold out there.

Gabe was struggling.  The high winds were enough to drop the temperatures in the buck room, and he really was struggling.

Joy and my poor Gabe

I decided I couldn’t wait.  I had to do something to help him.  So I caught him and haltered him and drug him to the Morton building.  I added a heat lamp in there for him as well.

Gabe looked less hunched and cold almost immediately

You can tell how much better he looks.  He still needs to have a lot of extra care, but hopefully, this will be a better place for him.

He likes the heat lamp

And he’s got Greg and Kong for company.

Kong and Greg

I was going to kick Joy out with the rest of the herd even though I hate to do that while it’s cold, but it was cold enough in the buck room I felt she would be okay.  But Joy is a chicken.  After the chaos of catching Gabe and removing him, there’s no way Joy was going to let me get close to her or come into the milk room even though I had food for her.  So I gave up on that.

Joy

I did keep checking to make sure Gabe was okay with the boys.

Greg, Kong, and Gabe

During one of these checks, I noticed how much better Wanda was feeling.

Wanda

She was feeling so much better that she was hopping up on the tub of hay and chasing Antigone and trying to smash her into the wall.  That is not acceptable.

Wanda looks pleased that she now has that big space to herself.

So I caught Antigone and took her over to the garage and put her in with Joy.

Antigone and Joy

Joy was still kind of picking on her, but I’m hoping they settle down.  Because I’m over the fighting and cold and special needs.  Sheesh.

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