Brush Creek Farm

Another Day on the Farm

2011-06-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the weather with the Dogs

2011-06-21T21:53:00.000-07:00

I needed the dogs to remind me today to stop and look at the birds and the flowers and the horses and every other beautiful thing on my path.

Flowers on the Farm (a few of them anyway)

2011-06-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

There are many more flowers on the farm right now but I just didn't have the time to take the pictures and process them. So, this little sampling will have to do for now.

Would ewe believe it?!

2011-05-03T21:08:00.000-07:00

Ok, this morning's chores didn't go as planned. I had planned to just offer a bottle to one of the quads, check on the red #111 lamb that I thought the mother was going to reject, and to check on the last ewe waiting to lamb. Of course there's the usual of feeding the couple of penned ewes and giving them water since I try to keep 2 ewes in the building so that they don't feel like they're alone. They're calmer if they have company next to them.

I had already fed the dogs and cats, and moved on to the sheep shed which is also our hay shed. In there is the sheep hay (small squares) and the horse pasture hay (big round bales). I have a couple of pens in the back for the ewes to lamb in if the weather is cold and/or wet. That's practically all we've had for weather here. All the ewes but the first one have lambed in the shed this year. What's that say about the weather? It's been cold and wet.

I went in to check on a ewe and her lambs to see if they were getting to a point where they could be let out with the flock. I usually keep them in a pen for about 24 to 48 hours if they're in and not on pasture. It's harder for the lambs to stick close to their moms when they're in a more crowded situation. Out on the pasture they actually separate themselves to some degree and the lambs find it easier to find and stay with their mom. Also some of the ewes are really rough on lambs from other moms that stray into their space. That was the reason I had kept this one ewe in as the companion for the ewe waiting to lamb yet. So her lambs are actually about 3 days old or so.

One of the little ram lambs seemed a little less active than the other one. It had some poop sticking out from under it's tail. Now if you've never dealt with very young lamb poop, it's sticky. It's REALLY sticky. In fact I think that when it dries, it's probably comparable to that product they call Liquid Nails. Somehow, he had gotten his tail probably pushed on when he was pooping and got his tail stuck to his butt and then he kept pooping and soon he had a poop blob stuck to his butt and he really couldn't poop. We all know if you can't poop it's a really bad thing!

So...something had to be done. I knew that soaking a lamb's butt would be a tough one. And knowing what I know about the poop, it would take a long time to soften up. So...I got a 5 gallon pail, filled it 3/4 with hot water from the house. I carried it out to the shed and then used some cold water to make the lamb's bath. I took the little guy and sat on the floor of the pen and put him in hind feet first. I held him with my left arm so that the edge of the bucket wouldn't hurt and then with my right hand I began the hour long poop massage and removal. I had my hand in the water so long that my fingers were looking like prunes.

I got the job done finally and with a clean towel so as not to scent him with another lambs scent, I dried him off. He sure was glad to get out of that bucket but not as glad as I was to have him out. Of course by the time I was done, I was wet and he was dry. I had just soaked my arm in warm water and lamb poop for an hour. I had splashed it on my front and it soaked into my clothes of course. So once I could see that he was being accepted ok by his mom and he was nursing again, off I went to the house for an early shower. Usually waiting until the end of the day makes more sense on on a farm so you can go to bed clean at least.

I think someone needs to investigate lamb poop for some kind of new "green" adhesive. Trust me, it's water resistant and really holds strongly and isn't easily washed off though with persistence it can be done.

Well, we'll see what tomorrow brings. There's no more lambs coming but there's 2 mares in the foaling barn that look ready to grace us with a couple more additions to the spring birth numbers. Come on warmer weather so I can get out the camera and get some great pictures of all that's been happening here.

A Quiet Sunday on the Farm (c;

2011-05-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those days where it's one thing after another. It started out with Dizzy having a lovely bay filly with a blanket. I was out the door before Terry so I checked on her first and then since all was well there I headed up to the sheep shed.

Up at the sheep shed we had another set of triplets. Only problem is, one must have been rolled in something from another ewe or lamb or it's mother thinks it's defective or too much for her to handle. My take on it, poor thing just got the scent of another lamb/ewe on it and now she thinks it's not hers. I probably didn't bed the pen deep enough and when she dug down to make a nest, she had the lamb on the dirt that was scented by another ewe already. She's giving it the barrel roll each time it tries to come up and nurse. The other problem that creates is that if it's nursing on one side then she moves off also and the lamb on the other side doesn't get to drink either. I had tried using some placenta from her to put more scent on the lamb but that didn't seem to change her mind. I've been up to the shed and held her 4 times today so it could nurse but that's a real hassle. Well, not as much of a hassle as making and feeding bottles right now I guess.The neighbor kids were over hoping that Tiny Tim from the quad set was going to end up a bottle lamb but he's 7 days old today and still doing well. I offer him a bottle twice each day but he's not usually interested so he's getting what he wants from mom at this point I guess. All 4 are strong and active so I guess I'm lucky with those so far. If by tomorrow night the little #111 ram lamb is still an outcast and it's learned to drink even better from the bottle, I'm sending it home with the neighbor girls. They'll be moving to Texas soon and they'd like to have a lamb just one more time before they go. This is only the 4th bottle lamb I've ever had. Last year a ewe that had triplets (first year ewe) rejected all 3. She's no longer with us, and then this year just this one lamb from this last set of triplets. Guess I'm pretty lucky he's learning to drink from the bottle pretty quick too.

Then the 4 older Boer nanny goats from Terry's brother showed up. Some friends dropped them off for us after they made a trip to buy some does and a couple bucks from him to start their herd. Oh my, are they a PITA!! They aren't used to being out on a pasture and they want to be up by the buildings. I tried to have Tag and Kip put them back out and into the valley around the creek & that was a venture of it own right. We got the goats so they'd eat the stuff down in the woods and try to help us make some paths through there. They don't move for dogs much and they know they have big horns and they're not afraid to use them. Poor Tag is sporting a cut on his eye, not bad but still. He is used to being able to bite a sheep on the nose when it gives him a hard time. That isn't happening with these goats. They need a lunge whip and a human to back it up to make them move off the gate even.

Scared the pants nearly off me when Tag went after one on my command and the darn thing retaliated and slammed him hard in the face with her horns. Neither he nor I are used to horns and I don't have a word for him to only bite from behind. I think I'll just use my lunge whip and grain to move them around. I'm not willing to try and train up the dogs to figure out those horns and that personality. I've only had a couple rams with horns and they were a long time ago and I decided horns weren't my dogs or my strong suit.

Terry had to go out and put additional hot wire up all around the pasture in order to keep them out there. They don't mind crawling under or jumping over something if it's the right height for them. So a short hot wire, and a tall one too were added today. Terry should be exhausted after all he had to do today. I know I am!

I'm headed for a hot shower, then a cup of cappuccino, and some courses to review. Right after I eat something! Later all!

2011-01-27T11:10:00.000-08:00

While I'm doing chores each morning, I find myself thinking about what it would be like to be a great herding Border Collie trainer and be able to get out of each dog I work with, their maximum potential. I know that with my experience and knowledge level I can only scratch the surface of what my dogs are capable of doing. It makes me very sad sometimes to think that they won't be seen as the great and talented dogs that they are. But that's ok of course, since I love them all dearly and think they're all the best dogs on this earth. I sometimes think that they believe that I'm the best human on this earth too and that makes me smile to myself.

This morning, as most mornings lately, after feeding all the dogs, and the cats, I decided to have Tag (who's 7 now though it doesn't seem possible) go out into the fields and get the 17 ewes so they could come in and have some hay. The snow cover has gotten deep enough that scratching for hay out of the hay fields or missed corn in the corn fields or grass in the waterways is getting to be pretty difficult. They are more than happy to have their meals served up hay feeder style. When they see Tag they start bunching up, readying themselves for the dash to the dinner table.

As I walked out through the open gate into the corn stubble, I decided to try sending Tag in the opposite direction I usually do and to try using my whistle more and voice less. I know that I have a tendency to come across as gruff and controlling to my dogs and I'm trying to change my ways. Yes, I know, it's hard for an old woman like me but it can't hurt to try. I told him to heel in preparation for the "go-bye" command. I use "go-bye" with him since I had been using "come" so heavily in other situations like agility so I wanted to try and make things as clear as I could. I'm sure he's thinking "yeah right!" if he could read this.

He laid down quietly at my left side and had already spotted the sheep this time since they were on our side of the hill in the valley eating the waterway grass that hid beneath the snow. I put the stainless steel whistle in my mouth and a chill ran through me because it was like putting an ice cube in my mouth and my teeth are very sensitive to the cold. As soon as it was unstuck from my tongue, I spit the darn thing out! I decided that even though my fingers would be freezing, it was going to be more comfortable and accurate to use my finger whistle instead of the metal one. I hate winter for so many reasons and this is one more to add to the list, cold metal whistles.

I'm not real good at guessing distances longer than an agility field but I'd guess the sheep were about 400 yards or so from us. So not too far. I whistled "high low" using my finger whistle and gave the go-bye command and he took off like a shot. He arced out to the left as he should and dead ahead about 80 feet away were 6 horses standing and eating at the round bale feeder. The mares are all pregnant brood mares, most of them over 10 yrs.old and used to the dogs and hateful toward the sheep. Thus why the sheep weren't eating at the feeder with the horses. There is also another feeder in an open south facing shed where some of the other mares were eating or in for a drink from the heated water fountain. He gracefully arced out to the left past them and against the fence and continued on his way. I lost sight of him as he went into the waterway about 100 yards from me.

I stood patiently waiting, watching the sheep and looking for Tag out of the left corner of my eye. In a few moments, there he was perfectly lined up to go out behind the sheep and keep them from bolting in their favorite direction away from where we want them to go. Tag has learned over the last few weeks, where they go and where I don't want them to go and he's picked that up and prevents it on his own without a single word or whistle from me. I've learned to be more patient and allow him to show me that he's got them covered and he's doing the right thing. It's amazing to watch and nearly brings me to tears to see him so happy in his work and that I've finally allowed him to be the dog that I knew he was. A powerhouse of physical beauty and with a mind to reason and problem solve and plan ahead.

He was so far out this time and perfectly lined up and the sheep seemed to know that he had them locked into his plan. They took off at a run toward me, which they like to do no matter how far off the dog or even if the dog is laying down. I think they're so glad to be told to come in and eat, they just can't help but coming running for joy at the thought of all that great sweet hay awaiting them. I never called or whistled a lie down or steady and he dropped to the ground for just a second to show the sheep that he was in control but that he didn't expect them to feel like they had to run all the way back to the barn. It was a great thought but the sheep didn't take him up on his offer. They continued to run but did ratchet it down a notch and just jogged after that.

Tag knew he had to go "away" once the sheep reached closer to the area where the horses were. If he doesn't keep them from getting into the horse group, he has a much more difficult job of getting them to me. He has to ever so slowly as so not to disturb the mares, work his way around and through the mares to push the ewes out from under the aggravated group. The mares will lazily kick at a sheep to get it out from under them, but they really don't intend harm and are just trying to send the message that it's not necessary for them to have belly warmers, thanks anyway.

Tag couldn't push them too far down the slope though as then the ewes would intercept another group of mares that were just out standing and laying around having their morning naps. Since the mares are pregnant they tend to each lay down a while a time or two each day. He came around them on the high side watched them closely and then back behind them and then down to the low side and now they were within 100 feet of me. At that point I turned my back to all of them and start the short 100 foot walk over to the gate into the sheep pen. We have a barrier on it at about 4' up that allows the sheep to go in and the mares to stay out. A nifty little thing that my husband made for me that's made from a wood dowel and recycled horse shoes and a bit of hardware that was laying around.

Each time I do this now I just move to the side and soon the ewes are passing me up and trying to squeeze into the pen (100'x60') 3 at a time through a 36" gate. They make it just fine but not before one or two just about end up on the back of the one in front of them. They quickly take their spots at the full of hay plastic water tank turned feeder for the winter and at the 2 other hay feeders that really are made for hay out of recycled barrels and cattle panels and wood. Tag has come to a self imposed halt at the gate and lays down to make sure that no one dare try to escape from this place of plenty. I stepped up behind him and he turned his head back to look at me as if to say....

"Thanks for listening to me, thanks for letting me do my job today, thanks for letting me have so much fun and thanks for being my Mom, I really do love you you know even if you don't know what you're doing sometimes." And with that, I gave him a "that'll do Tag" and we turned and strode off to the house where the world's most wonderful and understanding Border Collie gets to spend the day laying at my feet and making me feel loved. How he has put up with me all these years is beyond me but he has and he's done it with such resilience that I marvel at how he can continue to grow in his skills as I slowly gain knowledge and earn his respect and trust.

I hope that tomorrow as I fly away to my real off farm job, that those that live, work and breathe raising sheep with the help of a great dog, take a moment to enjoy something that many will never have the chance to experience. There is nothing much better than the look on the face of your dog that is so happy in being a part of your life and your work that words alone could never describe.

Rescue Dogs

2010-12-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

Jack

When the pictures of these three little guys arrived in my inbox what could I do? I was helpless against such cute faces that were begging me to find them a great home. Sooooooo......

I went to work on the names in my "wants a BC puppy" file. I didn't think it would be too hard to find adopters but I did want to make sure before I committed to bringing them all the way up here from Evansville, IN that I at least had some interested potential adopters. Well......

I sure can count on my friends to spread the word for me when there's a BC needing a home! I could have adopted out a couple more if there had been more of them. That is great news!

What is really amazing with this group of pups....is the fact that one of the adopters offered to drive the 9 hours down and 9 hours back to bring all the puppies back up here as quickly and stress free on them as possible. He and his young daughter (Mom and brother will stay home to hold down the fort) will make a 2 day trip out of it and deliver the pups back to me. The advantage for them is I told them they could pick any of the 3 boys that they decided was the puppy for them. By the time they get them to me, they'll be well acquainted with all of them. Heck, they'll be able to help me know how they each handle stress and travel.

My biggest worry right now is that the weather is due to turn ugly tomorrow night and then continue into Sunday morning. I don't care about how soon the puppies get to me. I do care that I want the Father and daughter to be safe on their trip. I also don't want them to try driving out to me on Sunday morning if it's not safe. But.....the thought of them having to care for 3 twelve week old BC puppies is a little above and beyond the call of duty. But then.....maybe this is just a foster home in training? Maybe they'll love having and helping the dogs so much they'll consider fostering a dog in the future some time.

Everything for a reason.....that's what I always tell myself. Just that sometimes we don't know the reason till a little later on.

Tank

Hank

What a relief!

2010-08-15T21:06:00.000-07:00

Finally, the misery has ended. The weather has taken a turn for the better and being outside is now not only tolerable but actually quite nice. As I slid the windows open for the first time in weeks and let the sound of the birds and rustling leaves into the house, I felt a sense of relief come over me. I think that was mostly for the money that we'll be saving on electricity by being able to turn off the AC finally!

Took a trip on the Kubota out to check the bluebird nest boxes and enjoyed the breeze in my face as Kip and I raced to the back of the pasture. It's easy to feel like fall is just around the corner as most of the boxes are empty now. There were a few pleasant surprises as I opened some of them and found some nestlings well on their way to leaving the nest. We have one box of bluebirds, one of house wrens, and one of tree swallows yet to finish up. I'll miss the suspense as I open each box all summer to see what wonderful gift it holds. Terry has more boxes ready for me to put up, and I need to do that on my next trip out since there won't be as much to do anymore. And as you can see in the pictures of the mice in the box, there were even some unexpected residents that surprised me today too. I'll leave them for a while (after all they do feed the owls, hawks and fox) and then clean out the boxes when they're finished with raising their young. We had more problems with unwanted box inhabitants this year than in any past years. With the wet weather, the mice, ants and wasps were all looking for a dry place to nest too and the boxes were an obvious choice they thought.

The foals are all growing so fast and watching them race each other and play games to see who's going to end up the next boss mare or stallion at the head of the band is so fun. They just get pure joy from being able to ran all out and see what their legs are capable of. One of the foals has managed to injure herself on something so she and her mama are in the barn lot for a couple days. Nothing that some care won't fix but treating her isn't going to be the easiest as she's not halter broke or anything. We turn all the mares and foals out to just grow up for the first few months so she's going to be getting a lesson in how to lead and when to eat from Roger the donkey. We'll wean her off her Mom since it's about time anyway, and let her have Roger for a buddy for a couple days.

The lambs are doing great and growing fast on all the pasture we have due to all the rain we've been getting. Usually in August, it dries up a lot but not so far this year. There's grass everywhere and plenty of it. Sure makes it nice for saving a couple bucks on feed here and there. No need to supplement anything for the sheep or horses when they can't even keep up with all the grass.

Well, hope everything is as wonderful where you're at as it is here. Off to rest my weary body and prepare for the world of work and meetings this week. Night all.......

Meet Tag

2010-07-22T21:26:00.000-07:00