The Start of Spring Break

Today I finished work, and I’m officially on spring break.

Bob

Blaze

Sky

Hera

Pluto

Annie

Tony

Let the babies begin!

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The Aftermath of the Cold

With the sunrise on Friday morning, we finally also saw some rising temperatures.  I really did a good job of powering through and just taking care of things, but I tell you, I am ready for some easier weather and life in general.

This is actually a sunset (I don’t do mornings well).

I did lose my old gander.  He was about sixteen or seventeen years old, and I was pretty sure he wouldn’t make it through a severe winter.

gander taken last summer

My young goose is lost.  Geese mate for life, and now she’s all alone.  I’ve already talked to my sister, and if this girl wants to sit on eggs this spring, I’ll try to slip some fertilized eggs in with her.  If that doesn’t work, I’ll see if my sister will hatch a few for her to have company.

The same day I lost my gander I realized my little phoenix hen couldn’t walk.  I don’t know how she injured her leg, but she wasn’t able to eat or drink.  That means she got moved into the garage.

Ms. Phoenix Hen, Tony’s butt, Antigone, and Pistol

She seemed to like the accommodations, but she wasn’t too sure about the new roommates.

She really wasn’t sure about me opening the garage door, starting the truck, and backing out.

(Trying to figure out how to get to the rafters)

Then there’s Fionn.  I had planned on moving the bucks and does back into their ususal groups and out of the breeding groups last week, but I didn’t want to make changes with the cold weather coming.

I know you still love me.

Well, it was too long.  Fionn managed to bust my barn wall.  I’ll need to sweet talk my nephew and dad to try and repair it this summer.

That wall was solid until Friday.

That boy is a pain.  Dolly was also continuing to be a pain and pick on all the other goats she was sharing the space with in the garage.  I kicked her out.

Dolly

Now I just need to get everyone else moved back where they belong.  For some (like Zinnia and Cookie), I can walk them through the soap room,

Zinnia checking for treats

but I need to figure out how to get my gates open because I’m not about to try walking Fionn and his big horns through the soap room.

Fionn and Everyone Else

I put Fionn with the girls who are already bred.

Ava

Annie (far back), Reva, Joani (laying way back) Victoria (behind), Fionn, Cinnamon (behind him) and a Maisie butt

There’s a couple I’m not sure whether or not the settled, so they are with him too.

Cinnamon

Then he has a couple that he needs to breed.  He loves his job!

I decided to put Penny with him.  She didn’t have a kid last year, but she looks good after the copper capsules, and if she has two, I’ll just make one a bottle kid.

Penny Lou

I also have him with Flower.  She’s never been able to have a kid.  I think she’s a freemartin.

Flower and Fionn

He’s also with the wethers and the llamas.

Buster and Fionn surrounded by Reva, Vinnie, and Victoria

These guys all get to go out to the big pasture.

Fionn should enjoy that.