Shelters

 These animals here are important to me. Because they are important to me, I want to give them the best life possible. I know I fail at times but I do try really hard. One thing I am adamant about is everyone having a shelter. Ronnie laughs at me about it because a lot of animals won’t use one. The funny thing here is all of these guys use one. When we moved Cracker Jack and Noma, I was worried because they didn’t have shelter. That turned out to not be true. We have a carport that has stalls built in it that used to have goats in it with the previous owners. Not sure why I didn’t think about it since that’s where Lucky was when he was so sick. I cleaned it out some and was able to make enough room in there for both of the donkeys. The chickens have made that their home and now the donkeys sleep in there also. I know they get in there when the weather is bad. These guys are smarter than me sometimes. I removed some of the fencing so the animals wouldn’t get hurt on anything. The donkeys and goats in the big pasture use the barn. The little goats and the pigs have their own shelter as well. As we get more animals, more shelters will be built as well. 

Let’s Talk Lucky

 Just wanted to give an update on Lucky. If you have been following Lucky’s story, you know he has been through so much. He was sick and then couldn’t walk. We got him back to being healthy and put him back with Hercules and Lucky. He is one happy goat. He is running around the pasture like there was never anything wrong with him. I prayed for that goat and he is doing so well now. I’m so glad. After losing Romeo, I was so scared I would lose him also soon after. I am grateful for friends who have helped me know what to do to help him get healthy. I am so glad he was well enough to get back to his friends and is happy again. He didn’t give up so we didn’t either. Animals are truly amazing. And all of this went down during a terrible winter storm. I really do not have the words to tell you what an awful time that was. It’s worth it to see him thriving again. 

The babies aka The boys

 It’s been a rough day. I came home to see the baby goats had broken into the shop. It really made me laugh, which I needed it extremely bad. It didn’t help that my husband wasn’t home yet and when he did get home both of us trying to get them back to where they needed to go was quite a sight I am sure. The babies still are not too friendly but we are still working with them. They are the cutest things and I am grateful they are here. Apparently some of the wood had come off of the shop and the goats were able to get in that way. Ronnie has really been the one to sit with them more than me so they followed him back to the pen, well Porkey and Buckwheat did. Waldo was a whole other thing. Waldo has a mind of his own for sure. He was not going back in the pen. He wandered around eating fresh grass for a few minutes. However, Noma has become very territorial and she did not like that Waldo was so close to her. She kicked at him, did not get him. After that, he came back to the pen. These goats are funny little things. I’m hoping they get a little bigger and then they can get out of their small pen. They are protected in there since they are small. There is never a dull moment around here. 

Ned

 Ned has seemed incredibly unhappy here. I have considered finding him a new home just so he will be happy. It is absolutely heartbreaking for me to think of this for several reasons: 1) he came in and is bonded with Red, or that’s what I was told but they seem to fight a lot. 2) he has not been here long and may just need more time to be happy here. 3) I rescued him and don’t want him to have to move yet again, it’s too hard on animals, but he seems so unhappy. He should be named Eeyore. 4) he needs to be fixed and that might help the issues. 5) I just don’t want him to go through all of that. I even had a lady stop and ask to buy one of our donkeys recently. I don’t know her so definitely not without references. Today I figured out the problem which I am going to have to address. He hates the goats. There are only 3 in that pasture with the donkeys, but Ned hates them. I watched him try to literally run over 2 out of the 3 a couple of times today. We are working on halters so we can take the donkeys to get fixed, but it d

oesn’t happen over night. I’m not loving this right now and really not sure what to do at this time. I can separate the goats from the donkeys but that’s my option right now. 

Having a Pig

 Having a pig, or 9 of them, is not an easy task some days. They all have unique personalities and they are moody. Today I was out trimming hooves. They really don’t like it all that much. I was able to trim at least one foot on most of them. I will continue to go back and do another foot for the next several days. I don’t like to stress them out more than necessary when trying to trim because they remember and the next time is just harder. I could hire someone to do it, but I know how my pigs are and they truly don’t like new people so I just continue to do their feet as they tolerate it. Darla let me do all 4 feet. Gus is usually my easy one but I only got one foot done. Doing one on Spam and Treat each and I had to dodge some teeth a couple of times. Brutus is fine until Gus comes around. Gus doesn’t like him.  They just hate it. I don’t exactly love to do it but it’s necessary for their care. Next I will be deworming since that needs to be done every 6 months and it’s time. I sure do love these guys but some days they are more temperamental and need extra care. Gus, Treat, and Spam will be getting their own space before long and I cannot wait for that. 

The Egg Game

 These chickens are something else. We have a constant egg hunt around here. I know they don’t want me taking their eggs, however, if I don’t, something else around here will. As soon as I find their laying spot, they switch it up on me. I found 18 eggs in one spot, once I gathered them, they won’t lay there anymore. So, every evening I search the barn, the shop, the baby goat pen, behind water troughs, in the chickens’ shelter, etc. some days I find a bunch, some days it’s just a couple but the eggs are usually spread out over several places. It’s entertaining having an adult egg hunt every night. I do hate it for them, but the chickens don’t sit on them to hatch, so I know a predator will grab them up. Everyday it is something new. 

Integrated Again

 I decided to put Carlos back with Hercules since he seemed lonely. Hercules is hard to get along with. But, since Carlos had been back over the fence with Lucky, now Lucky wasn’t happy. I was a little concerned since Lucky was still on the mend from being so sick and then unable to walk, I wasn’t sure I should put him in there with them. I decided to try it. Hercules behaved and those 3 are back in the same area. It so nice to see them playing together again. Hercules is still a bully but not as bad. Lucky is healthy enough Hercules hasn’t tried to kill him anymore. So there is that. Those 3 have been together for around 2 years. It’s nice they are back in the same area. I’m so grateful Lucky is doing so well.