Wednesday 27 August 2014

Mobile Pedicure !!! ...

 
 
Well here we are again, some readers will remember that about two years ago I had Dougal's feet trimmed by the vet.  I have looked for about 10yrs to find someone who can do the job, with the facilities to manage my pet Highland Cows.  Both are really quite old now, however the youngest, Dougal has always had problems with his back feet.  Mainly due to the fact that I have failed to be able to find someone who can do !!  If you know what I mean.

 
Well this has now been rectified.  After a very long quest I have eventually managed to locate a very nice chap, with a special mobile cow crush who does this for a day job.  His cattle handling facilities are larger than the average cattle crush.  Which is exactly what we required.  So last Wednesday it was the day of reckoning..... I must admit I was sceptical and worried all at the same time.  On Tuesday evening it was a case of getting the cows moved down into the barn. I did have help, my contractor who does my baling came over and we moved the cows successfully into the barn rover night, to be ready for 'D' Day !!
 

 
Now the man who can is Syd !  Here he is persuading Haggis to fit into a slightly smaller gap than you would expect him to.  After a bit of time and gentle persuasion... he went forward  into the crush.

 
Now for the clever part... Haggis's horns were just too wide for him to get his head through, but Syd decided to remove the left shoulder bar to give Haggis some more room.... however he still could not get his head through.  It was decided to just go ahead with the job.  It was done quite quickly as we didn't want to keep him fastened any longer than necessary.  His feet were not too bad.  

 
This is the main one ... Dougal !  His back feet were terrible, although the vet had trimmed the two years ago, he couldn't get them done properly at the time.  But this time, access was no problem !

 
Here is Dougal unceremoniously being placed on his side, his feet are tied to the side of the crush and he has two massive straps to hold him secure round his belly.  Syd get on with the job....


No need for nail files here I'm afraid, its something rather more powerful.... an angle grinder.

 
And finally ... back in the field, like nothing had happened.   I don't know who was more stressed ....Syd, the cows or me.... but at various stages of the process it was quite worrying.
 
I don't drink ... but I could easily turn to drink .... if that was my day job !!
 
What a relief .... all round .... now its slightly less stressful, as I attempt to hay make ..... then it will be time to think of new arrivals ....here !
 
The babies are due around mid September.

Sunday 17 August 2014

The Duck Collector has Returned !!

 
 
It has been a very wet week to say the least... needless to say the pond is looking good.

 
The pond is starting to settle and become established, this is taking some time but the plastic ducks seem to be enjoying their swim !  But not for long....

 
The duck collector has returned.... Doza just loves to round up the ducks.  Its a great game.  I throw them back in, they float around and he tracks them around the pond and then its collection time.

 
I really enjoy walking round the pond and watch it mature, I've already seen tiny frogs...  The swallows just love to swoop over the water hunting and drinking.  We have also had four real Mallard ducks come for a visit.  Just hoping Doza can spot the difference !!
 
 

Sunday 10 August 2014

Seriously ..... Slacking .... !!

The new Brahma Boys
 
 
Ok, I am guilty of seriously neglecting my blog over the past few months. 

 
The Peacocks are starting to look very nice.  Both have grown quite a bit and have taking to exploring around the garden ! 

 
I have chicks ....  this is them on the kitchen table ... when they were a week old.  They have now been moved out of the house, they are three weeks old today and the eggs were hatched by an incubator !  But don't tell Mrs Orpington who found 8 chicks under a gooseberry bush .... she just loves them and took to them straight away, which was amazing to say she wasn't even 'broody' at the time.

 
The alpaca girls are enjoying their sprinkler .... thankfully the weather has cooled down just a bit.  I still have loads to do .... as usual I am late doing my hay/haylage but I'm confident it will all get sorted on the next dry spell... I'm gearing myself up ....to get cracking !!

 
On the job list that has been done, I have managed to get the piggies mucked out .... we did as usual have some minor mechanical issues.  Which meant I was still busy at yontime .... but we achieved the end result .....which was amazing under the circumstances.
 
So to the more exciting times, my babies are due mid September, by then I hope to have done all I need to do, so that I can concentrate on the new arrivals. 
 
I am hoping to have a talk with myself about compiling a sales list .... at some point, but I can't promise anything !......... Just Yet.