Spring Cleaning

Throughout the winter months, bedding builds up around the concrete pad. Removal requires a morning of team work.

After Jim scrapes and removes the bulk of it with the tractor, I go to work with a rake and a shovel. 

If all of this were left behind, the grass would not grow and the flies would be out of control. After everything was raked and removed, I thoroughly hosed down the concrete and side of the barn. Ahhhh clean!

Old bedding and manure removal is just part of farm life. Here Jim is moving a temporary pile that was created behind the barn when there was snow. It's easier to empty the wheelbarrow next to the barn when the weather is nasty, and then have the tractor guy move it when the weather is nicer :)

Leo & Juno

** This post has been sitting in my drafts folder since last summer - 'thought I should finally publish it!

Barn cats are controversial. Most adoption organizations will not let you adopt a cat for your barn, despite the huge population of cats and kitten in the shelters who are waiting for homes. Yes, there are more dangers for cats that live outside: coyotes, cars, fur traps, nasty people with guns. A barn kitty's life expectancy is shorter and that is a hard fact. It is true that to simply set free cats on your property (or worse yet, somebody else's property) is an abomination, but a properly cared for barn cat is the happiest form of feline.

So what constitutes proper care? Absolutely every single thing you would do for your indoor cat.

First, both males and females need to be fixed. It keeps them from roaming as much and - duh - it keeps them from making more cats. We have a neighborhood cat periodically visit our barn and it sprays, so not only is this cat making more cats it is smelling up my barn (yes, smelling up my barn because cat urine odor is extremely offensive, even in a barn). It astounds me how many people have unfixed cats.

Barn cats also need a constant supply of food and water. Well fed cats will still hunt, contrary to the myth that you have to keep them hungry. I guarantee your barn will be rodent free even when you have healthy food available.

Regular worming and vaccinations are also a must. These kitties are exposed to more than any inside cat, and it is our responsibility to keep them safe and healthy. By the way, even the goats are vaccinated against rabies.

A warm bed is also a must. My cats love the hay, but when it gets cold they want their comfy bed to snuggle. Leo likes to snuggle in the stalls with the goats, and some mornings I find Juno in a hay rack :) but most mornings I find them in their beds.

Barn cats need grooming from time to time. Of course their claws need to be intact, but their coats may get burrs or matts, and it is your job to take care of them.

Human affection needs will vary from cat to cat, depending on if the kitten was more feral or more tame. In my experience, my barn cats are friendly but will not go near our house even when we have tried to bring them in on the harshest winter days. They are too stressed and they feel safest in the barn. However, they love their humans, and they love attention.

So now to the fun part of this story: the addition of Leo and Juno.

 

August Barn

Wow. The last post is from a frigid February day, and here we are in warm and sunny August. It's been a whirlwind here since February with my mom's wedding, school wrapping up, traveling, landscaping, family, church ......... but the farm family is all happy and healthy and soaking up summer.

I am super pleased with the condition of the goats. Their coats are all shiny and silky, and they are all healthy and content. Last summer I struggled with getting them shined up - I even tried copper boluses - but nothing seemed to get them looking (and that means feeling) the way they should. Plus, if you have never tried forcing something down a 100 lb. goat's throat then you can only imagine how much fun it is!

So what is different this year? Well, the goats were settled into the barn when this winter hit, unlike last year when I moved them to their new digs in January. There is a lot to be said about stress affecting our animals (and ourselves, but that's a conversation for another time) and that is why stability and routine in the barn is vital. I truly believe stress took it's toll last year.

We added two barn kitties to our family, and I am in love (Apollo is not so excited). Leo and Juno are so sweet and playful and joyful and fluffy and curious and purry - I will write about them soon. My barn mornings in the summer are my raison d'etre. I am refilling my spirit each time I am in the barn, interacting with my goats and kittens, sweeping floors and clipping hooves and filling food bowls. If only I didn't have to work to pay for the floors and bowls and hoof clippers! Ah well, I am starting to feel ready for school to start but meanwhile I am savoring my leisurely barn mornings.

As I last posted about my winter routine, I snapped a few photos to share about my summer morning barn routine.

When I first enter the barn I am chastised loudly for how tardy I am regardless of the time, and it is never later than 8 a.m. in the summer. I do a quick visual check to make sure everyone is fine, and then I prepare the grain bowls. I slide the bowls through the Bigs' fence (I think of prisoners, haha!) before I get to cleaning. The three young girls are tied to their "station" so that I can precisely control their feed, and they go right to their stations because it's their routine. The Bigs (which include my old doe Ellie) only get a token amount of grain and minerals so they scramble between the bowls. Imagine a giant game of goat Twister.

After feeding I sweep starting with the concrete outside the barn in the pen (this is where my big boys demand hugs, and they get in the way of the broom constantly), and then I close the Bigs out so I can sweep out their stall. I then open their stall, and close everyone out of the Littles' stall. It's always easiest to sweep without goats.

Here come the Bigs, anxious to check out the clean stall and fresh hay. Will the hay be acceptable? :)

Here is the Little's stall with yesterday's bedding and wasted hay swept in a corner for easy pick up. Note that the hayrack is still full of hay: goats should have access to hay at all times.

I use a snow shovel for efficient pick up.

Here's the stall ready for it's occupants. I have re-fluffed and filled the hay rack, and I always throw a little hay down so that the goats can nibble on it (they prefer to eat off the ground, but hayracks prevent waste and are healthier). I use a bushel basket of shavings per 12x8 stall daily in the summer. Note the desperate goats waiting outside.

The goats are excited to see if this hay is better than that in the other stall (I always use only fresh, mold-free delicious hay, btw)

Invasion

This hay is sooooo much better than the hay in our stall!

Meanwhile the little girls head to the tranquility of the other stall. Eventually they all merge, but every morning it begins with the switch and scramble!

Annabelle nibbles on some loose minerals. The mineral feeder is purposely somewhat challenging to reach so nobody overeats minerals out of boredom.

The Bigs' stall has two buckets of water. Sal is demonstrating.

The Littles' have one pink bucket of water :)

Leo is supervising the morning activities.

Frigid Snow Day

In Niagara County, the temperature seldom gets as cold as it is today: 0 degrees with a windchill of -18. As a result our school is closed and I had some extra time to spend in the barn. Yay!

Keeping your herd warm in these temps can be a challenge. In our old location I had a small shed so I would use an electric space heater during frigid spells, but now that we are in a large barn a heater is impossible. I was concerned that I would have shivering goats this morning but I am happy report that they appear perfectly comfortable. Here is the formula that seems to be working:

1. A draft-free although well-ventilated barn. I open their stall doors on most days depending on the wind direction, but on the crazy cold days like today I keep them closed up.

2. The deep bedding method. I add a new layer of fresh straw each day on top of their bedding "mattress", and I only clean it all out when the weather breaks for a few days. I last changed the bedding about 4 weeks ago so it is really deep right now which is perfect for this frigid weather. The floor is concrete and covered in deep shavings, then loads of straw and the wasted hay build up on top (any goat owner knows that wasted hay is unavoidable - goats are actually very picky about the hay they eat). There is no moisture and no smell whatsoever as it is too cold and the layers of fresh bedding cover it up. When the temps warm up this method is no longer advisable, of course, but in these temps it's the only way to keep your herd warm.

3. Unlimited access to hay. This is true any time of year unless you have enough browse during the growing season, but especially true in the winter.

4. Unlimited warm water. Again, unlimited water is vital 365 days a year, but having warm water available in the winter encourages your goats to drink more and warms them as a hot cup of tea warms us. Heated buckets are a must unless you plan on going out to change the water three times a day. I refill their heated water buckets twice a day with very warm water so they are never without access. I am now lucky enough to have running hot water in my barn, but for years I filled buckets in the kitchen sink and lugged them through the drifts although I have always used a heated bucket. It's worth it for the health of your goats.

A note about coats: I have used them in the past but find them less useful than I thought they would be. First of all I have a goat that likes to pull them off his friends, so I would go to the barn to find goats in various stages of undress! Also, in my experience if the goats are healthy and the above factors are in place, they don't need coats. Of course there are circumstances where coats might become necessary - babies or sick goats - so it's a good idea to have them on hand.

** I am not an expert on goats and I am only writing about my experiences so please do not take my word as gospel. Seek the advice of many, especially your veterinarian.

2.18.15 Update: The brutal cold continues, and my oldest goat Ellie (10 years old) was shivering yesterday. I put a blanket on her - the blanket model with the most velcro so hopefully it will stay in place. She seems much more comfortable now, and I'm guessing her age made he more susceptible to the cold. 

Below are some photos from this morning although the cold made things a little out of focus.

VISIT THE FARM FACEBOOK PAGE TO 

WATCH A VIDEO FROM THIS MORNING'S BARN TIME :)

Annabelle, Lilly and Butternut

fuzzy heads

the ignored hay rack

hay on the bench tastes more delicious than that in the rack

Settling In

Saturday evening we brought home our three babies, and I think they have already grown since then! Saturday night Miss Annabelle was already hopping around and playful, but Butternut and Bramble (who we have been calling "Lilly") have taken a bit more time building up their confidence. Sunday evening I figured out where each liked to be scratched best, and that sealed out relationship - that plus giving them grain :) Annabelle has decided she is in charge for the time being, and she doesn't hesitate to remind the others with head butts and little nips. Lilly is the most timid of the bunch, and even Butternut tends to give her a little nudge now and then. Just today they all really seem 100% comfortable and content, and I think the photos capture that well. (It is SO difficult to get good shots of ever-moving goats!)

The big kids are enjoying breakfast with today's cooler temps. 

Vinny loves the camera!

Goats like to do things together.

Kitty's house and the "kitchen". The barn is still a work in progress -- we need more concrete and hayracks but Jim has been so busy with work that I hate to bug him -- 

All the big kids in one shot.

Handsome Wilbur

Hello, Babies!

Little Lilly 

Why we can't have nice things

All three girls are eating nicely together - at least at this moment.

Butternut ventures out on her own.

Lilly decides to join her.

Annabelle is too nosey to stay inside by herself. Her colors are so beautiful!

My sweet tiny little Butternut

She reminds me of a little fawn with her big brown eyes.

Butternut says hello to the big kids who are checking out the action in the baby pen.

Goats like nothing better than to lay and eat.

Pretty little Annabelle nibbles her hay.

She really loved the camera - I have several of her like this!

Gorgeous Lilly and her blue eyes.

Annabelle's fat tummy (she gobbles her grain and then tries to take everyone else's)

Lilly's tum is plumping up, too (she eats her grain very slowly).

Even petite Butternut is getting a little belly. 'Lots of good food to grow big and strong! (she eats at a normal pace compared to the other girls)

Miss Confidence loves the rock.

This was Miss Timid's first rock climb -- so exciting!

She was a little uncertain ...

... but then gained confidence. So proud of her!

Uh oh - here come the Queen of the rock ...

... but Lilly stood up to her.

Remarkable achievement for Miss Lil. 

Everyone is pretty chill.

Butternut and Lilly seem to really love each other.

It's been a long morning of food and fun ...

... time for nappies.