New Chickens

I have fallen in love with that crazy chicken breed, the Turken. I do not know what it is, but I love them. So, I found some more and Ronnie and I went to pick them up. I got 6 more hens and a rooster. We allowed them to roam free for a bit, but then Craig and the new rooster were fighting and that new rooster is much bigger than Craig, so they all went in the coop. They did seem more relaxed in the coop and all together. Whatever works. I am so happy about them. I do want to expand the coop now. Ronnie is not going to want to hear that. 

Next Morning

The next morning Prada and baby Louie were doing fine. He was able to nurse and she was getting the hang of the mom thing. I did have to say to her a time or two, Prada, that is not going to work since she was on one side of the pen and Louie was on the other, but for the most part, they were doing okay. You know Tina Turken was right there with them. Louie would get very sleepy after getting some milk and he was still a little wobbly on his legs, but doing better. He is so cute. This is going to be fun. More fun than I thought it would be. 

Doing Too Much

Prada had given birth to Louie and if you know me, you know I do all I can to make sure the animals are taken care of. Prada was a first time mom. She was acting like she was not really sure what to do. I mean, understandable. Problem is, I did not know either. I did know Prada was not letting Louie nurse and the window for the colostrum was closing and I knew that baby needed that. It’s after 11 pm, there are no stores opened. We did not have any colostrum. We did not have a bottle. We were unprepared which was not like me. I am usually very prepared. I texted a friend who said that had some colostrum and they would be on the way over. While I waited, I decided I would just milk Prada. I have never done that in my life, but I guess that is a first time for everything. I was able to get enough colostrum for 2 syringes for Louie and I was able to get most of it down him. I got the rest of it on me. That stuff is sticky gross. My friends came over and we ended up having to tie Prada to the fence and getting Louie latched on her to show her it was okay. After that, she relaxed and was able to do all that on her own. I was grateful for my friends and grateful we got all that done. Whew. The next morning Ronnie said, you know, you were doing too much, they would have figured it out. Well, probably true, but now I did not have to wonder or lose sleep, I knew they had it figured out. 

What?!?!

Ronnie was going out to let the dogs out and lock the chickens in the coop and do the nightly stuff we do. This is still June 11. I told Ronnie I was just going to go out with him. He looked at me wild but we went outside. I just had this feeling I needed to check on Prada. I knew I needed to check on her. I got out there and started hollering for her to come to me and she wouldn’t come to me. I finally shined a light in on her in the shelter and she had already had the baby. She was still having some placenta issues, so I was not sure she was finished with having babies, but for that minute, she had one. Tina Turken was by her side through it all. Prada made it through. I was so happy to see that cute little baby. Turns out it was a little boy, so Louie is the name. As in Louis Vuitton, but I don’t like the spelling. That baby goat is precious. 

 

So Hot

This June is so hot. I forget how hot it can get out here. I know it gets this hot back home, too, but dang it is so hot. It is already 107 and it is middle of June. That is just ridiculous. I do not know what else to say about it. It is miserable. I hate it for the animals. I know they get hot, too. I go outside and sweat like crazy. It is just no fun at all.

Surely

I got home late again. Ronnie was almost finished with the feeding. I just had this feeling I needed to go look at Prada, so I did. I just looked at her. I was thinking surely she is going to go soon. Surely it would be today or tomorrow. This was June 11. I just really thought she was that close. She looked so miserable and her milk was sure coming in. The waiting game was definitely here. 

Late Coming Home

I was late coming home. I have been late coming home lately. Work has been busy. Luckily, my husband was home. He was able to do the feeding and watering. The animals all seemed to be doing fine. The deer was still there also. It was a pretty evening even though it was hot.