No picture for this post for obvious reasons…

As I was putting all the animals to bed tonight, I could hear the chicks in one of the rooms of the barn going crazy.  At first I thought that they were just extra hungry, but their ruckus was a lot louder than the normal “I am hungry” peeps.  I opened the door to the chick room and out slithered a big, fat, brown/grey, snake.  It went within inches of my feet!  It took it’s creepy self right across the barn and into Juniper, the out door pig’s room.  Juniper let out a squeal and came running out.  Although Juniper is normally pretty welcoming of a sorts of animals, she didn’t seem to have any warm feelings for the cold blooded reptile.  The snake moved to Juniper’s bed and curled up into a ball.  As I went in to inspect the situation, it hissed at me.  A sound that will haunt my dreams tonight, I am sure.

Not strong willed enough to “handle” the situation alone, in the dark, I called for reinforcements.  We went out to the barn and the snake was still there, enjoying the comforts of Juniper’s soft bed.  Coming in from a window above the bed, one holding the light, the other a shovel, we planned our attack.  I never like killing animals, but I can’t have snakes tormenting the farm animals.  So with a thrust of the shovel, the snake’s head was crushed.  A few twitches later, and the snake was no more.  We had a burial at sea, or, at creek. 

Although it is late, Juniper wasn’t sure if she should reenter her abode.  But with plenty of light and our coaxing, she went in and inspected the room.  She started in the corners, then sniffed around the bed.  I don’t think she is fully confident that all is clear, but she seemed to calm down.

Some days, I wonder if I am cut out for this.

Groundhog in Captivity: "It started out with a taste. How did it end up like this? It was only a taste; it was only a taste."

It is a well-known fact that groundhogs frequent gardens, but as many gardeners will tell you, they are not there to admire your begonias or to comment politely, but needlessly, on “how well the zuchinnis and squash are coming in.”  Aside from the exceptional melancholy artistic-type groundhogs who sit quietly in the corner sketching still lifes, groundhogs typically visit gardens to eat the zuchinnis, to eat the squash, and to eat whatever else invites their fancy. 

A few days ago, we began to discover evidence that the garden had been infiltrated.  Leaves had been nibbled down to their vines and the plants, in general, seemed in disarray.  It was apparent that something or someone had been blazing imprecise, wandering trails through the patch.  Fortunately, none of the actual produce had yet been touched.  As our actual hogs are now much to big to squeeze through the little holes in the fence and the fence is much too secure for them to break in, we had to assume that this was a hog of another variety, most likely the “ground” variety.

As sympathetic folk, our initial reaction wasn’t that we wanted this critter dead, whatever it was.  We just didn’t want him in our vegetable patch.  Accordingly, one evening, we entered the garden and set a Have-a-Heart trap.  The next day we returned home to find it occupied involuntarily by a frightened groundhog.  We drove several miles away from the house and we set him free.  We went home and put the trap back in the garden for good measure.

The next day, there was another groundhog.  We drove several miles away from the house to the same place and set him free too.  We went home and set the trap again.  Surely, there wouldn’t be another, but just to be safe.

The next day, there was another groundhog.  These weren’t minor breaking-and-entering violations, this was an invasion.  What were they going to do?  Set up a colony and put us under imperial rule?   

We haven’t yet driven this third one away yet.  He’s still stuck in the harried state of wondering if he’s on death row for his crimes.  No, he isn’t.  But there better not be a fourth!

Kit and Lambs Cross the Piscataway Creek

I wouldn’t exactly call it a drought that the DC area is experiencing, but one thing is for sure, it has been a while since we last had rain.   Water is funny.  You never have the right amount, or at least, that is how it feels.  But we always seem to complain about either too much, or too little.  When we get too much rain, the creek floods and a host of motions are set off to spare animals, buildings, equipment, and gardens.  But if we don’t have enough, there are just as many chores and a great many more concerns.

With the grass drying up and hay harder to find, most with animals start to worry about the water situation.  Will it rain, will we get enough, what if we don’t?  Thankfully I have the Piscataway Creek where I can pump up large amounts of fresh water to spray onto my gardens and water the grasses the animals love to eat.  But all the watering in the world doesn’t beat a good, hard rain. 

Water is also essential to the animals, not just in the production of food, but also for the obvious, they drink it.  Constant vigilence must be kept to ensure they all have enough in this 100+ degree weather.  Early in the morning, all water buckets are filled to the top.  When I return home from work in the late afternoon, most water buckets are low, but not empty.  They are filled again.  Then, before I go to bed, they are filled a third time.  They all drink a lot of water.

The two hottest days just past thus far.  I think they all did very well with the high temperature.  Hopefully the weather will change and instead of a long, hot summer ahead of us, we have a mild one.  So far, it doesn’t look like that hope will come to fruition…

Thor as a little lamb. Doesn't he look a lot like his son Fritz?

Thor, the noble Icelandic ram, was put down yesterday at 9:43 am. 

I knew the time was getting close as he was becoming more and more lethargic.  After learning that his nasal condition was a genetic defect that was incurable, I faced reality and knew that one day soon he would have to be relieved of his suffering.  I had been successfully treating the symptoms of his genetic illness, but sadly there was nothing to be done for the root cause.  As it got hotter, Thor became more withdrawn. 

Yesterday morning I woke up and took care of things as normal.  This was the day that we planned on putting him down.  He got a few extra treats and I sat with him for a little while.  He enjoyed being petted and scratched behind his ears.  I cleaned him up a bit and took him for one last walk. 

What made Thor special was his gentle spirit.  Many rams are not gentle.  Thor was.  He enjoyed going for walks and hanging out with the humans.  He never was pushy or out of control.  He even treated the ewes well.  He loved to eat and go for walks. 

Last year, before he got sick, he would go deep into the woods.  This would sometimes worry me because I wouldn’t be able to find him.  I would bring out grain and shake it to call him back to the barn, but Thor wouldn’t come for that.  He had too much fresh grass to eat and couldn’t be bothered with grain.  He would eventually come back, but his wondering worried me.  One day, instead of calling out “THOR!”, I decided to call out “Baaaaaaa”.  Way out in the distant woods, I could hear a return call, “Baaaaaaa”.  I then would call back.  This could go on for five or six times and then Thor would emerge from the woods.  After that, I never worried again.  He would always come when I called him with “Baaaaaaa”.

He will be missed.

Finnemore Loves Holidays!

Yesterday day was the Fourth of July.  For me, the day was marked by good food, friends, and fireworks.  The animals love holidays such as the Fourth of July because the humans eat a lot of tasty things like melons, salads, and the pigs personal favorite, strawberry shortcake with blueberries mixed in (red, white, and blue).  The sheep, goats, pigs, and even chickens all get their fill of watermelon, cantolope, honey dew, lettuce, cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries, and even a small amount of shortcake! 

Another reason the animals love holidays is because the humans normally stay home rather than go into the office to work.  Staying home allows them extra time out in the yard and in the woods.  It also gives them oppertunities to sneak treats all through the day.  They love the attention and I imagine they look forward to the next holiday almost as much as we do!

Other than the holiday, the weekend was productive.  An upcoming heat wave convinced me to cut Kit and Kaboodle’s wool again.  I know a lot of people don’t bother, but their wool was growing so fast and they seemed so hot with 95 degree temps, I was concerned for the 105 temps we are expecting to get tomorrow.  So they got sheared. 

The garden is doing well, but with no rain to speak of in over two weeks, it requires a lot of watering.  This area of Maryland is under a water conservation rule so most can’t water their lawns or gardens.  Thankfully, I do not use tap water to water the plants.  I pump my water right up from the Piscataway Creek.  This is a cheap and effiecient way to use the water and keep the plants healthy.  The garden continues to thrive.  Although, a pesky groundhog has been digging under the fences and eating the leaves off of some of the plants.  The groundhog seems to love sweet potato leaves the best, but also seems to enjoy watermelon leaves.  I have secured and rescured the fence, but I am afraid that the trap will have to come out shortly.

For those of you in the heat, I hope you can find ways to stay cool.

Fritz Before the "Procedure"

The day started out very nice for everyone here at Piscataway Acres.  As it is a weekend, the sheep and goats were let out into the woods to have the whole day to eat and play.  The two little lambs have great fun running around the yard, playing with each other and whoever else they can find to play with.  This morning was no different from the last few weekends.  The little lambs enjoying their freedom and having a great time.  Until…

From the moment that Kaboodle’s lamb came out and he was identified as a male, we knew this day would come.  He would need to be castrated.  There are several ways to castrate a lamb.  I choose banding as it seemed to be the least traumatic for the lamb and the easiest for a non-vet to perform.  The process involves a pair of funny pliers and a tiny, but strong, rubber band.  The pliers have prongs that stick out, when one squeezes the pliers, the prongs separate.  You can slip the rubber band on the prongs, squeeze, and the rubber band opens up.  You then slip the rubber band around the little fella, and release.  The rubber band closes around him and cuts of circulation to the unwanted appendage.

Fritz was very well behaved and took the whole think like a man.  Afterward, he was none too happy.  His day ruined, he is just laying around thinking about how this could have happened.  I have read that after a few hours, they start acting like normal again.  I am waiting for that moment to come, as seeing him pout as he is doing right now is very sad. 

As expected, his mother doesn’t seem to care one way or the other.  She isn’t going to win any “Best Mom” awards anytime soon!

The goats always looking for an oppertunity to jump on me...

As anyone who has ever met the animals here at Piscataway Acres knows, the goats love to jump on people.  Thankfully they are Nigerian Dwarfs, so they are smaller and manageable, but this is what I get for spoiling them rotten.

The other day I cleaned out the barn.  This required to pull out old hay, scrape and wash the floors, and move everything out and sweep.  To remove most of the dirtier areas, I use a garden hoe.  This is very handy at grabbing hay and pulling it to where I want it.  While working, all the animals were out and sat watching me.  I think they get a thrill out of watching me clean up after them! 

I had just about finished and set the hoe down in a pile of hay.  I worked a little with the pitch fork, then turned to grab the hoe.  In cartoon fashion, my foot stepped on the hoe and up it came, the handle hitting me right in the head.  I fell back, half conscious and down to the ground I fell.  It was a hard hit.  The sheep just looked at me, shocked at the display.  The pigs grunted and weren’t sure if they should run for cover themselves.  The chickens fluttered all around.  The goats did what they normally do, they jumped on me laying there in the barn.  As the goats danced on my stomach and chest, I gathered my whits and pulled myself up.  Staggering into the house, I examined the knot on my forehead.  Not the most dignified barn cleaning, but at least it is done…

When I first went out today, it was late morning.  The heat was mounting and the animals were in a sedentary state.  The goats rested in a thoroughly shady spot under a cluster of trees in the yard.

Eliza and Brie's Shady Spot

The sheep have decided that one of their favorite cool spots is on the cement under the back porch. We don’t fight it.  We imagine that their wool gives them enough grief in the summer months.

Kit and Ella Under the Porch

The month-old chicks were enjoying the day in Bunny’s old pasture.  Bunny’s old pasture isn’t chick-tight, so until we gathered them up again, they were often enjoying the day outside of Bunny’s old pasture.

A Chick in Bunny's Fenced In Pasture

A Chick By Bunny's Old Stoop

The pigs find that it is coolest underneath the milkstand.

Chesapeake Wades the Creek

Eden?

A Close-up of the Plum Tree

 It seemed due to the umbrage of the leafy blue hubbard squash plants, even some of our melons sat cornered under the shade.  These leaves have since been trimmed to let in the valuable UV light.

A Melon

A Watermelon

Chesapeake, Brie, and Eliza

Kit Leads Daughter and Nephew on a Stroll

Kaboodle, a new mother, hasn’t gotten used to the responsible of raising a lamb. Having crossed the creek through the deep areas earlier, she had left her little one behind.  She couldn’t be held back by that deadweight, Fritz.  She had a life to lead.  This is why Kit, filling in, allowed Fritz to tag along with her and Ella.  Still, Kit won’t be able to take over all the time.  He’s a burden Kaboodle will just have to bear.

Kaboodle's Burden

Of course, while all the other animals had gotten bored sitting around, Finn never did.  When Chesapeake got up to play, Finn got up only to find another resting place.  He spent most of his afternoon sprawled out under the cluster of trees where Eliza and Brie were earlier.  As usual, he was a happy pig.

Wide-eyed Finn; happy as usual

Last night, a post was done discussing the signs of labor.  I made a prediction based on the signs I had read about and saw in Kit before she gave birth that Kaboodle would lamb either through the night last night, or in the morning.  Apparently, the signs are accurate as Kaboodle gave birth to a healthy lamb ram at around 5:00 in the morning.  Both he and his mom are doing well. 

With any big event such as birthing, there is always a certain amount of stress and anxiety.  Is everything going right? Do I need to assist with something?  Do I need to worry about them getting enough milk?  The list can go on and on.  One of my bigger concerns is the passing of the placenta.  Neither Kit or Kaboodle passed their placenta.  This seems to be a very bad thing to me, but I am informed by several other sheep herders that this is somewhat common and not to worry.  I am keeping a close eye on the ladies.  Hopefully mothers and lambs will all be healthy and happy.

One week ago today, Kit had her first lamb.  A little girl that I named Ella.  She is doing very well.  Kaboodle has not yet lambed, but if my reading of the “signs” is correct, I predict Kaboodle will lamb either tonight or tomorrow morning.

The anticipation leading up to the moment of lambing has been high.  For the last month, I have been wondering if they are in labor, or just acting funny that day.  I searched the web for sites that would tell me the signs that my sheep were about to go into labor.  A few good sites include Sheep’s Creek Farm and Wool Farm.  Another great site for all things goats, which is similar in many ways to sheep is Fias Co Farm. 

Both Kit and Kaboodle are first time lambers and I understand that not all sheep act the same when they are about ready to give birth.  What I saw the day before Kit gave birth, and what I am seeing now with Kaboodle are as follows:  First, almost a month ago both of their udders started to grow and became a little baggy.  About three weeks ago, if you were to squeeze the teat, you would get a clear, very thick, sticky, yellow tinted liquid.  About a week before they lambed, the clear, yellow liquid turned milky.  Although their udders continued to grow, the most growth happens right before they lamb.  With Kit it was about two days before, with Kaboodle, I will bet it is only a few hours off.  Second, the day before Kit lambed, she was acting very strange.  Standing in a funny position and looking off into space.  She didn’t really move around much and when she did, it was slow.  Even when she ate, she ate slower and seemed to chew her food more.  Kaboodle is now doing this.  Standing and staring at nothing for long periods of time.  The strange behaviour also related to the noise they made.  Typically, Kaboodle is very vocal.  Right now she is very quiet.  Kit isn’t as vocal, but about 12 hours before she lambed, she was also very, very quiet.  Kit was interested in food right before she gave birth, but she ate slowly and not all of it like she normally does.  Kaboodle took a few bites of the grain, then turned her nose up at it and went off into the corner of the barn to stare at the wall.  Not typical behavior at all.  Third, their back side changes.  It has been changing for over a month.  But right before they give birth, it protrudes a little and is much more red than earlier.  With them both, it went from a kind of pale color, to a pink, to a darker pink, to almost red.  When it gets to be almost red, they were ready.  Also, right around their tails gets soft.  If you feel back there, you can feel the ligaments right where the tale meets the backbone.  Shortly before they lamb, you can’t feel the ligaments and it is all squishy back there. 

These are some of the signs I have noticed with my sheep.  And it is still unsure if Kaboodle will actually lamb tonight or tomorrow, but I wanted to post this as a challenge to see if the signs I saw are accurate descriptions of when lambing will occur.  If she lambs, we can be somewhat confident that when you see these things, lambing will come.  If she doesn’t lamb, I would argue that you never know and the little ones come when they come. 

Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well with Kaboodle!