Peaches' Triplets

About an hour after being born.

After the death of our beloved Fern, we devoted our time and attention to making sure the same thing didn't happen to our other pet goat Peaches. She missed Fern very badly and looked for her constantly. We tried to make up for her loss by spending more time with her. With her due date coming up fast we knew that Peaches wouldn't be alone for long. And then finally Sunday about 11:00 AM she started to go into labor. We spent the next nine hours sitting with her, waiting for her to give birth.

A contraction.

Wifey had to help get the first one out. She grabbed hold of the tiny little front legs and gently pulled to help get his head out, the rest came easy. A beautiful little brown buck with a blaze on his forehead  While she was busy cleaning him off, the second one popped out. I hurriedly broke the sack and started cleaning him up. Another buck, this one totally dark brown. We got them cleaned off and placed in front of their mother so she could lick them dry. As we sat there admiring her two babies, we debated whether she was going to have any more. 20 minutes later she popped the last one out. A little girl this time, and beautifully multicolored.

When Peaches finally started to deliver the afterbirth, we could sit back and relax for a while. Now it was time to call friends and family, and take photos. Then we tried to get the babies to nurse. This was a problem. Peaches was not too keen on the idea. The babies were ready and willing, but mom wasn't. When we finally got her to lay down and accepting nursing, the first and last born were more interested in sleeping than nursing. After finally getting at least a little milk into each one, we decided it was time for us to finally go get a well deserved rest.

Before.

After.

A few short hours later, we were back to trying to get the little ones to nurse and to get mom to eat. We didn't get a whole lot of luck with either endeavor. So all day Monday was spent trying to coax somebody to eat. The second born buck seems to be doing the best, he is the biggest and strongest of them all. We finally got our first six hours sleep in weeks. We've been making do with naps and maybe four hours of sleep at a time.

Tuesday things seem to go a little better, even mom ate a little bit. However she has me worried as she is just nibbling at her "Goat Chow" but not eating any hay. The baby goats were out and about a little bit more, and they are developing their own personalities. Wifey is talking about keeping the boys and sending the girls to live with our eldest daughter so she can start her milk herd.We will probably have one of them neutered and keep the other as a stud.

Peaches and daughter.

We got our first full night sleep, it was wonderful and much-needed.

Wednesday morning and the goat babies were doing well. I got Peaches to go outside to eat a little browse and some grass. This was a big step, but we still need her to eat some hay. She also ate about a quarter of her normal ration of food. Hopefully things are going to get better in the days to come. Things are looking up, finally.

Goat Pregnancy Toximia

Three dreadful words I hope never to hear again.

The main problem was, I had never heard of them before. And wish I never had. Ignorance IS bliss...well not really. As a first time goat owner I still have lots to learn. However experience is a brutal teacher.


Before we brought the goatie girls home two years ago, we thought that we did plenty of the research we would need to successfully raise goats. Ha ha very funny.

After purchasing the girls we found out just a little we knew. At four and six weeks old they were both a joy and a handful. The bottle feeding of course bonded us, and all of our attention turned them from livestock into pets (read : family). The morning and evening walks around our property and the rides on the golf cart did even more to cement the bonds of love. We didn't endure the destructiveness that most encounter when raising goats. Maybe it's because we got them so young and showered them with attention or maybe were just lucky. However Fern showed us just how closely goats are related to mules with her stubbornness at times. That and her meanness towards Peaches earned her the nickname "Fern-instein", because at times she was a real monster
.
When it was time for their first breeding season we were torn over the decision we had to make. It was either breed them then or wait until next year when they would be fully mature. We decided to wait. Last November when we had the girls bred by the neighbors Billy we were hoping that only Fern would get pregnant. However such was not the case. Peaches fell immediately in love, while Fern wanted nothing to do with this new goat. In fact we figured the Billy was going to be too short to even reach Fern. After about 10 days Fern no longer wanted the Billy anywhere near her, Peaches or our farm. She was constantly butting him with her head or chasing him. So we sent him back home. By the end of December it was apparent that Peaches was pregnant and took another month before Fern started to show. By the size difference in the two goats, I figured that Peaches would probably have three or four kids and Fern probably just one
.

Things went well and we were expecting births take place sometime around April 9. However this was all the change, for the worse. Here are my notes on the following event:



Friday, March 15 - Noticed hesitancy to go outside this evening. Laid down while chewing bark from pine tree by picnic table and had a very hard time getting up.

Saturday, March 16 - Would not stand unaided. Front legs shook when standing. Not inclined to walk. She gets around by standing on her hind legs and crawling on her front knees. From the looks of the bedding she has been getting to her food and water okay. We assumed that the problem was with her feet because her hooves needed to be trimmed badly, something I've been putting off because I was worried about the trauma to her and her babies. She absolutely hates having her hooves trimmed and it's a real battle both physically and mentally to get the job done. However this time she didn't put up much of a fight at all. But after the best trim job ever she still wouldn't stand on her own.

Sunday, March 17 -  No change other than appetite loss, she just nibbles at her food and hay. Doesn't seem too interested in water and will sip a little if the bucket is brought to her. Wifey checked internet for help and feared it might be "Pregnancy Toximia" . Some advice as to what to do was given. Our local TSC didn't have the NUTRI-DRENCH to help give more energy and restore appetite. So we had to make a two hour drive to get it. Started giving three times a day. After yesterday's surprise with easy hoof trimming, today it was the usual knock down drag out fight to try and get the medicine in her. I bought a special syringe with the long metal and nozzle and bulb tip, to administer the liquid between her cheek and back teeth. I had to put her into a headlock so that Wifey could attempt to get some of the liquid in her mouth. About half of what she got in was spit back out. One fluid ounce doesn't sound like much but it sure looks like a lot when it covered Wifey, me and Fern's face.  Also purchased a pro-biotic paste that we had to force down her once daily to aid digestion.

Monday, March 18 - this morning I called all of our local vets looking for someone who dealt with goats, of course none did, but they recommended the  "Mayville Vet Clinic" . I called and spoke with Dr. Nicole who confirmed our diagnosis, given the symtoms over the phone. She couldn't come until Thursday afternoon to check Fern out. There was no way we could get the 150+ pounds very pregnant goat to her office to be seen earlier. She told us to continue treatments and make Fern stand as often as possible. Oh my aching back. You should try lifting an unwilling goat and try to keep her standing. It's a job for much younger man than I.

Thursday,March 21 - Continued decline, harder to get Fern up and standing, and her continued fighting at medicine times is wearing us all out. Hard to say just how much she is actually ingesting. We never see her eating or drinking any more.
Dr. Nicole came and confirmed diagnosis of Pregnancy Toxemia but without Ketosis as is normal. Our hopes rose until she confirmed that she would still have to start labor to save Fern's life. The kids would not survive this. Fern got an injection of Lutalyse and one of Dexamethasone. We were told labor would begin in 2 to 80 hours and to watch her close and continue as we have been doing, She also gave us her emergency phone number and told to keep her updated daily to Fern's condition. She also showed me an easier way to lift her.

Friday, March 22 - Called Maville Vet Clinic because Fern started a vaginal prolapse. Sent photos via the Internet. Dr. Nicole called back to say all is ok. Lynn has been spending most of the day and night with Fern since the injections. I relieve her as often as I can and we sleep in shifts. Fern seems to enjoy the music Lynn plays for her via her laptop. We have added an electric heater to the heat lamp to keep everybody warm in these freezing temps. Also a blanket for Fern.

Saturday, March 23 - Called Dr. Nicole because the prolapse is getting bigger and Fern is having contractions but also seems to be weakening fast. She decided to come check Fern out. Fern was just barely begining to dialate but she forced dialation manually and started pulling kids out. They were very floppy and none lived very long. I tried my hardest on the only doeling as she seemed like the strongest but to no avail. It was very sad. Peaches got very upset when one of the three kids bleated and almost trampled Fern and the Dr. to get to the door.
Fern recieved an injection of Oxytetracycline and one of Oxytocin to ward off infection and help her deliver the placentas.
All of the anxiety and worrying for the last week was nothing compared to watching those three baby goats attempt to live. Even knowing before hand what the outcome would be, it was still heart wrenching.

Sunday, March 24a - Fern has delivered only one placenta and seems to e getting weaker as the day progresses. The vet called to see how she was doing and prescribbed 2 regular asprin every 12 hours for pain, Also to try force feeding her ground up goat food mixed with water.  We could only get an ounce or two in at time and we continued her medications.  During our last check at 4 am. I told Lynn she wouldn't make it till morning.  We decided to call the vet and have her put down if she did.

Monday, March 25 - Fern died sometime before I checked on her this morning. Probably shortly after our last visit with her judging from the rigormortis.
Goodbye Goaty Girl.


We're still getting over this tragic ordeal. I have watched my parents die and this was no less stressful or painful.

Forcing a sick creature to do something it doesn't want to do is not easy. Even when you think it is best for them. All of our blood, sweat, tears and prayers didn't seem to help in this case. And we still wonder if there isn't something could've done to prevent this in the first place. The vet told us in her 15 years of practice, that this was by far the worst year ever for pregnancy toxemia in all livestock. Her belief was that last year's drought caused a deficiency in the feed supply due to improper nutrients.

Again we found out that whatever you search for on the Internet always has two sides. It was no different in this case. Pros and cons of what to do all sound plausible and is up to you to decide the best course for yourself. Luckily we found a very caring and concerned veterinarian who was willing to go the extra distance for us. Thank you Dr. Nicole.

Disposing of the bodies was another ordeal. The ground was frozen and we had to wait a few days for it thaw enough to bury Fern and her babies in the orchard. It takes a long time for a couple of crippled old farts dig a 5' x 4' hole 4 foot deep even in sandy soil. After we buried the bodies we covered the grave with fieldstone to try to keep dogs and other creatures from digging there. RIP Fern and family.

We are awaiting Peaches birthing any day now.Needless to say we of been watching her extra careful for any signs of toxemia. She misses Fern something fierce and we have been trying to make up for the loss by showering her with extra attention during the day and checking on her often during the night. Hopefully her births will be uncomplicated and provide her with the much-needed companionship of her own kind.

Hershey Squirts

A little over a week ago we sent Hershey on to her new home just down the road. She was healthy enough to make it on her own (Thanks to Kelly at http://mainelyewesfarm.blogspot.com/ for all of her advise, without her help I may never have cured Hershey's diarrhea problem.) and we knew that we couldn't keep her here with our limited space.

I visited Hershey the other day at her new home and she was doing great. Shawn's kids just love her and she gets so much more attention than we could provide. They are keeping her in the house and she acts just like a puppy. Last night Shawn brought her here for a visit and she was happy to be back. She went running up the stairs and into the house to see Wifey. (it's hard to believe that just 3 weeks ago she couldn't even stand) She was very excited to see her, but showed no remorse at leaving. She is growing and doing so much better.

Shawn & Hershey

Nursing Hershey back to health was a bittter/sweet experience. But seeing the results warms my heart. All of the work and worry were well worth it. She is healthy and happy, and in a good home with people who will care for her and love her. And we can see her whenever we want. And they are thinking about getting one of her brothers for company for her also. He would have to be neutered of course.

 We miss her, but not all of the extra work it involved. Especially now that we have chicks hatching and really need the room for them on the back porch. I am also hatching eggs for my neighbor Tony and his friend. The incubator is FULL and I have more eggs waiting to go in as soon as others hatch. We are selling our chicks on-line, and have orders waiting to hatch.  I have even had to build a new brooder box to keep up with all of our hatchlings.

Recently I have also joined an online group promoting the raising of rabbits for food. http://www.facebook.com/theurbanrabbitproject
It is an interesting site for anyone who wants to raise rabbits for meat, with much advice and helpful people.
Last week the founder of the site visited me to pick up one of my rabbits for future breeding purposes.

This little guy he has named Mufasa after the Lion King character.  He is fast becoming a household pet instead of just a buck for breeding.  And his 80 year old mother enjoys holding and petting him as do the neighborhood children. So I don't see him ever making it to the dinner table. As a matter of fact I don't see any of his litter mates getting there either.  Two of his sisters are my niece's children's 4H project.  Two more are going to a friend as breeding stock and I am keeping one for the same purpose.

Too Tired To Post

Just like these bunnies born a few weeks ago, all I want to do is sleep.
The too cold to too warm and back temperatures of this spring have got me as messed up as our animals.
On the nice days Wifey and I have been outside doing the necessary tasks around the place.  Cleaning out pens and moving the ducks to the outside goat pen.

Yes that IS snow falling.  At the start of a blizzard with thunder and lightening.

After digging a mini-pond and lining it, filing it and clipping flight feathers we have no more luck keeping the ducks inside than we did with the goats or dogs.  I think this pen is jinxed and we will have to tear it down and rebuild it in another spot.  Closer to the other animals is my thought. Right now it is off all by itself, but in a wonderful shaded to sunny spot, protected from the prevailing winds.

We also became the proud parents of a mini-goat.

Her name is Hershey.

She was born last of a litter of four to our neighbor's Dwarf/Pygmy mix goat.  She was the runt of the litter and was weak and couldn't stand or nurse and it's siblings were trampling all over it.  She was half the size of the rest of them and he just didn't have time to care for her as he had 10 other kids to care for.  So he gave her to Wifey to try to save.  We have been bottle feeding her and caring for her just like a baby.

Grandson Owen likes her.

Granddaughter Aden & Owen enjoyed making sure
she gets her exercise, and big old Bear supervising.

She has steadily improved and is now getting around like any goat-ling. She enjoys her romps with our other goats on the nice days and is showing interest in eating what they do.

We also got some new chicks last week and house them in the old indoor duck pen.

We bought 25 Cornish Cross meat birds, 6 Barred Rock pullets and 6 Buff Orphington pullets.

I also have the incubator loaded up with chicken, duck, guinea, goose and quail eggs.  When I woke up this morning and went to feed Hershey, I heard peeping from the incubator.  Lo and behold, 7 baby quail hatched during the night.  So now I have to set up a brooder for them too.

Well as my Mother-in Law used to say, "No rest for the wicked or the weary."
I think I am S.O.L. because I seem to be both........

It Just Ain't Right

(Pardon my dirty windows)
Yes this IS Michigan and the thermometer is right,

38 degrees yesterday with a light breeze and 54 the day before, but with a strong cold wind.  Today it was cooler, about 36 and the wind chill factor brought it down to 25 degrees.  Tomorrow and the next day are supposed to be mid-40's.  And this isn't our normal January thaw which we always look forward to.
This winter has been exceedingly mild so far and far from the norm.  We've had very little snow and any accumulations only last a couple of days.  We normally have measured snow by the foot at this time instead of just a couple of inches.  What the heck is going on???

The poor rose bush hasn't even lost all of it's leaves yet.
They are still growing.

I am beginning to wonder now if there is something to that Aztec Calendar thing.  Oh, I have known about it for the past 40 years......but when you are a kid you never think you will ever get THAT old.   And believe me, with some of the stupid things I've done and survived, it was amazing that I ever reached my 20's !!!
But those are for another time, if ever.  Anyhow at my advanced age and condition I am not so sure I want to know.  I mean, sure, IF I knew that the Aztecs were right and the world was going to end by Dec.22 or whatever,  I would borrow tons of money and max out all of the credit cards I could get my hands on and do everything on my bucket list before then.  But then you would be counting down the days and minutes.
The stress would be horrifying.
No I think I will just stay away from the TV and News shows for this year and live out my simple life on the farm.  Even though it's not really a farm or so simple either.

For instance, Wifey and I are still coughing and hacking.  We have good days and bad, with the body aches and other flu symptoms, but the animals still have to be cared for.  Yesterday we both were having a "good" day and decided that we had better clean out the rabbit pens and.....(horrifying).....the ducks pen !!!    You know, I had completely forgotten just how nasty smelling ducks are, and how messy.  The last time we had ducks I also had cheap slave labor ( yes Angie, I am referring to you ?)  and children can be bribed or coerced into doing the nasty jobs.
Since I couldn't afford the first, it was usually the latter.  And a strong teenage girl has nothing better to do anyway....right?  Since my children have all grown and run away from I mean left home, I got stuck doing the job myself.
Wifey decided that the rabbit pens were a lot less smelly than she normally thinks they are, and snuck (or properly sneaked) off to do them after we got all set up to do the ducks pen.  But before all of that we let the whole zoo out to enjoy a great winters day.....

First it was the goaty girls.

Then the ducks.  They were so happy to get outside to flap around.

Then the guineas....

and the chickens, herded over by Peaches.  She LOVES her chickens.

Until she just couldn't help herself from running through them.

And finally the turkeys, this is Pretty Boy Floyd.
One of the hens is sitting on 12 eggs at the moment
and the other is off running with her chicken friends.
Yes Warren, turkey sex.

What Makes YOU Smile ?

Happy New Year from Fern-enstien.  She has been pretty miserable for the last week because Wifey and I have been sick with the flu and she hasn't been getting her minimum daily requirement of human companionship or outdoor play-time.

Since I have been forced to stay indoors, I have had some free time to play on the computer, and happened to come across the "Jose Cuervo" page that let you design your own personal bottle label.  I couldn't help but paste this photo on it.  Now seriously, wouldn't you buy a bottle of Tequila with a label like that?
What a happy face.

And with the cold weather we have been having, Fern gets the shivers when she goes outside.  She would probably enjoy a little shot anti-freeze before stepping outside in the snow and rain and wind.  She has such  a light coat compared to Peaches, who just loves this weather, so far.

Wifey and I both got sick a week ago last Friday, and today seems to be the turning point.  We both feel like we just might survive this thing now.  The coughing and sneezing have abated somewhat and the wheezing has lessened.  Our sinuses aren't dripping as much and our throats and airways don't feel like they are on fire anymore.  And the headaches are GONE.  I guess the medicinal alcohol did it's job.  Nothing like Old Dr. Dillon's Cure-all in the little brown jug.  A hot tattie before bedtime really helps.  For those of you not quite sure of what I am saying:  1 double shot of whiskey  poured into a cup of steaming water.  Sip that as hot as you can stand it, as fast as you can.  Then jump into bed and cover up well.  You will probably have to get up during the night to change your bedclothes because of all of the sweating you will be doing.

Neither one of us felt up to going to the doctor's office and sitting for hours waiting to be seen so we treated ourselves at home instead.  If things continue to go well, maybe we will be able to celebrate Christmas next weekend.  That is if our kids and grand-kids are over this stuff too.  Oh Yeah, EVERYONE has it.

Well wishing you a very Happy New Year,  stay well.

From a Different Perspective

Life is full of ups and downs.  And I seem to getting down a lot lately.
The other day my chiropractor said that I really need to spend a lot less time on the ground.
I told him, "But you miss so much with your eyes almost six feet above the ground."
I don't need the Discovery channel to see the grass growing or bugs moving around.  My left leg has that all covered with it's keen ability to just not be there for me at times, which provides me with a close up viewing of sights I haven't noticed since I was a child.  And when was the last time you looked straight up at the sky?

Being tall has it's disadvantages too, it's a lot farther to fall.  And a lot of things just don't fit right.  Clothes, chairs and sofas are too low, beds and blankets are too short, that bottom shelf at the store is impossible to reach, yes life is tough on the above average height group.  Have you ever gotten into a short person's car to drive and forgot to move the seat back first?  And speaking of cars, OMG !!!  Are all car designers 4.5 ft. tall or what.  Recently I went on a trip to Florida with friends and their car had molded head rests that may have been comfortable for a shorter person, but the tops hit me in the back of head forcing my head down at an un-natural angle when I sat back comfortably.  Try that for 12 hrs. a day for 2 days straight.

I also worked for 30 years as a grain elevator employee.  They are designed by double jointed midgets with a sick sense of humor, who are bound and determined to make tall people suffer for their shortness.  I actually met a few of them. Oh, they are nice enough to your face, but don't turn your back on them.  I really felt sorry for our maintenance crew, anybody who wasn't built like a dwarf didn't last long.

Anyway, last week we were watching our grandson Owen and he wanted to go outside and play with the goats. I happened to remember the camera so the following photos are the result of our adventure.

At 2.4 years of age he has mastered driving.

Fern anxiously awaiting her playmate.

Ugh Oh, this is a bad idea.

Ok, backing up on uneven ground wasn't smart either.

Another one bites the dust.

Okay, I'll go check on Dad.

A little HELP here please...

I ain't picking him up.....

Maybe he just need's a kiss.

So see, it ain't all bad, just takes a little different perspective.

DANG GOATS

My goats must be entering puberty.
How else can I explain the sudden change from docile loving Fern, into the goat from Hell?


Monday morning while Wifey took care of the poultry, I took the goaty girls out for their usual golf cart ride and morning feeding. When they finished I put them in their day pen. Then I left to cut some tree branches for them and filled their water bucket. Done with the morning chores, I went back to the house to take my morning pills and get some breakfast.

I got as far as my pill container when suddenly I heard a commotion outside and the goaty girls calling for me. I rushed to the kitchen window and sure enough they were standing on the golf cart, looking at me.....and laughing !!! I swear to God, if goats could laugh, that was what they were doing !!!

So I went back outside to put them back in the pen and look for their escape route. While I walked the perimiter of the pen they stared out at me cooly and continued their laughter. I found only one possible weak spot at the bottom of the fence between two pine trees where they had made a dust bath and there was a tiny gap between the fence and ground. So I went to get a stake and hammer to secure it with. Before I got halfway to the work shed, Fern was on the back of the cart with me.!! I made a U turn and put her back in the pen, broke a couple of forked sticks, and pounded them into the ground, securing the bottom of the fence. I went back to the workshed, grabbed my large hammer, some stakes and wire, then turned around to see both goats watching me from the doorway!!

Now I was getting pisssed off...I grabbed a cheap fence post for an old flowerbed we had and some wire too...Dang goats aren't getting out again !!!! I got the goat girls back on the cart and headed for the pen. As I got close I could see that my previous idea of where they were getting out was dead wrong.

The fence from a tree to the gate was in ruin. The fencepost in between was bent to the ground and the staples holding the fence to the tree had pulled out. Some of the welds between the wires of the stock fence had broken. It looked like a bull ran through it, not something my little goats did. I was devistated....at first. Then I got MAD.

I went back to she tool shed for more supplies, a posthole digger, 8 ft. cedar post, cement and LONGER fence staples. (I should have added a chain-saw to the list.) Hours later, after chopping though uncountable tree roots, saying many choice words and cussing my goats out under my breath, I finally got the post in the ground and cemented in. Now it was time to tackle the fence, which had shrunk since getting pulled away from the tree. When I had originally put up the fence just a few weeks ago, it was loose and a little floppy, now I needed to stretch it 2 inches to reach the tree. I am sure somewhere there is an engineer who can explain the reason for this phenominon, but not me. So I grabbed a cheap ratcheting tie down strap, passed it through the fence and around the tree and started tightening it....the 1 inch strap broke. Okay, that one had sat in the back of my truck for a while, but I had a new one. Find it and try again. The thin metal ratchet stop bent and it released the pressure. (Have I ever told you about my great-great-great Uncle Murphy? He's the guy they named all of those Laws after, and the proginator of our Black Irish Luck.) Anyway I tied the two straps together to make one and finally got the fence stapled to the tree and then the new post. Now to track down them dang goats.

I found them browsing around the grape trees. What....you have never seen a grape tree??? We have this Concord Grape vine that is impossible to kill. I have tried digging it out, burning it out and even salted the ground. It thrived on a Weed Killer diet one summer years ago. I even built a chicken run around it for a few years until it pulled the fence down.Why kill it you ask? Because we hardly ever get a grape from it. Whatever the beetles don't eat in the spring, the birds eat in the fall. And the vines love to climb trees and completly cover them, when this happens it becomes a grape tree. Once they pulled down a 30-40 ft. maple. Anyhow the goats were feasting on tree, grape and raspberry leaves. Oh yeah, the raspberry plants must have a symbiotic relationship with the grape vines and where one grows so does the other, bigger and better than anywhere else. I just dare anyone to try and plant either one anywhere else on this five acre sand lot and try to get it to grow, ain't gonna happen, I know, I have tried for years. WHAT....oh yeah...the goats !!

Okay, so I get the goats back into the pen, pick up my implements of construction and head for the tool shed and a well deserved rest. I got 40 ft. before Fern ran past me......

Now you can ask anyone who really knows me, I have a great deal of patience. Most of the time, anyway. But thoughts of my shotgun and blood on the ground flashed through my head accompanied, with the sound of goat laughter.....





I shook it off. Returned Miss Fern to her crying sibling in the pen, and BACKED away this time. I wanted to see how she was getting out.... I didn't have to wait long. She went to the back of the pen and ran towards the front and leapt up, got her front feet about 2/3 rd's of the way up the fence, replaced them with her hind feet, and sailed over the five foot tall fence !!!!!!!!

I sat amazed and dumbfounded....



Fern: "Did you see me dad? Huh. Huh. Did you see what I can do?

Me: "Yes Ferny-Fern, you are such a smart goaty girl."

Fern: "Thanks for tightening up the fence, it adds more spring to my jump."

Me: "Yes dear-heart, I noticed how high you flew over the fence. Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"

Fern: (more goat laughter) "Ha, I could do that all day long, it was fun. You really worry to much you know."

Me: "Yes I am sure it was. It's all fun and games until somebody breaks a leg. Let's go get your sister before she cry's herself sick."

Fern: "Peaches is NOT my sister!!"

Me: "I know, but she thinks she is. Let's not tell her any different."

Fern: "This is going to cost you ya know."

Me: "Oh, I sort of figured it would."


I put the girls in the Pallet Palace for the night, went into the house, told Wifey about the situation, finally took my medication and took a nap.


Ever since, the goats have been re-assigned to the dog pen. It's the same height as their pen, but so far neither has escaped it.

Now I have to figure out a way to goat proof their pen. Any ideas?

BUGS

My grandson Owen has a great dislike of insects and his powerful child's eyesight can spot the tiniest of them. His normal response is to holler out "BUG" which is the signal for us grandparents to search it out with our failing aged eyesight. When we can't spot it, we say "where I don't see a bug"  to which he replies, "There it is.!!!"

Fern ate it !!!

Clean-up on isle 9.  "Gramma Fern needs a wipe" !!!!



Shhhh.....They can't see us in here...FERN leave my hat alone!!!

Peaches and the back 40.

The girls new pen. Made from mostly recycled materials including a very large doghouse and some fencing from my son's old dog pen. 

........Fern sees a bug....

,,,,,,it's Owen.!!  Checking out the lavish space inside the dog er... GOAT house.  Plenty of room for both girls to sleep in.

Bugs.  That was Owen's response to his first introduction to newborn quail. And the name has stuck, Wifey and I now commonly refer to them as "the bugs" to quickly identify the difference from the other chicks we are brooding on the back porch.  We have not lost a single "bug" since my last post and the cats have had to resort to eating only cat food.

Silkies.

A mixed batch of chicks from our hen's eggs.  Ten of which have already found a new home when I sold them to a neighbor.  Life on the farm is good.  Lots of fun....especially with Owen's BUG games.

THE END