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.

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Surviving the Cold

I am so grateful school was cancelled for Tuesday and Wednesday because Tuesday morning, when I went out to check everyone, Lily was already shivering.  I moved all five goats that were in that shelter into the garage with Tony.

Lily

They were very happy to be inside where it was warmer.  Although, it about killed both me and Harley to drag her across the barnyard.

Harley and Cupid (Tony in the back)

Dolly was being a brat to both Cupid and Harley, so I threw her in the room next door in the buck room with Xerxes, Zinnia, and Cookie.  She was a brat in there too, so I finally put her back where she was and told Lily to make her daughter be good.  It does seem that she’s finally settled down a bit.

Dolly and Xerxes

Aurora is handling the cold well.  Although, she’s ready for better weather.  We all are.

Aurora

Of course, Tony might not get any of the extra llama feed with his new roommates.  I will try to stand there and let him eat while the goats are eating their food, but holy goats, it’s cold.

Pistol and Antigone

As of preparing this post, the birds were all doing okay.  I have the door shut, and they really enjoyed the new cornstalk bale.

The three kids in the Love Shack are enjoying their heat lamp.  I wish I was set up to be able to provide heat to everyone.  Anubis and Hera quit all their running around like hormone crazed teens (Oh yeah, they were hormone crazed teens).  They did manage to dump their water bucket while they were running around though.

Hera (back), Anubis and Pluto

Luckily, the new heater in the well house is still working because my hydrant was not frozen!  Yay!  Of course, it was frozen by Wednesday morning.  The well house is warm, but I’m guessing the pipes were so cold that the water froze before it drained back down when I shut it off.  I’ll be carrying water from the milk room for the goats in the Love Shack and greenhouse.

The cattle tank is still thawed (and I assume the water is still running to it), but it’s almost frosted over.  The ice floe down the side is from our strong south wind the other day.

I’m not surprised that the hydrant froze because this morning did start cold, but so far everyone is doing okay. (I missed the picture at -26* F (-32.22 *C) when I let the dog out).

-24*F (-31.11* C) at 7 am Wednesday

Betty Lou was shivering, but that’s normal with this weather.  She is my second oldest goat, and the oldest one not in the garage.

Betty Lou at -16*F (-26.67*C)

I’ll keep checking everyone because we’re supposed to be back down to -24*F (-31.11* C) tonight.  By the weekend, we’re supposed to be back up to 40*F (4.44*C) with rain.  It’s crazy.

More of Our Snowy Weekend

I really do enjoy having some snow.  When it isn’t a blizzard.

Pluto is just so stinking cute! And sweet!

Pluto

Sky doesn’t seem to even notice the snow.

Sky

He doesn’t care if it melts on him when he comes back inside and takes a nap.

The goats are not quite as happy with it, but they will survive.

Fionn

They all got plenty of food given to them.

Fionn and Wanda

They do have shelter (as long as I can keep my cranky girls from fighting).

Dolly and Lily

Like I said, the geese don’t even notice the snow.

This is a perfect snow to sit back and enjoy!