The Lazy Dog Ranch Blog: January 2016

Monday, January 25, 2016

Wesley & Buttercup

Back in October, only a few weeks after moving to the ranch, I decided I wanted a goat. So, of course, I text my friend because she raises and shows them. Almost immediately I got a reply that she just had two born the previous evening and included a photo of the little boy that was available. I had to have him! They are very social little critters and he would need a buddy so she started the search for a second that would be close in age. A few weeks later while running errands I got a call letting me know she'd found me a second goat that wasn't far from me, came from a reputable breeder's stock, and I would have two to choose from. I made the call and we headed that way. We met the nicest, feistiest, tiniest little lady that I wanted to bring home as well! Don't worry, I didn't. She's too happy where she's at. But, I do have a precious new friend! Anyway... As we were walking to the goat pen I caught sight of a spotted little thing and just knew it was a girl. She was... bummer. So, we hung out, talked, asked questions, and drove off knowing when it was time we'd be taking one but not quite sure which one. I called my friend back with a couple of questions...

Bear with me a moment, please. This is one of those times (there are a lot of them) when I feel rather uneducated, ignorant, and just plain dumb. Well, I'm not alone but still.... I knew I wouldn't need a rooster to have eggs when we got our first girls a few years back but the most common question is: Don't you have to have a rooster? The answer is: No. Unless, you want to raise chicks. Just like women chickens regularly "release" an egg. It's just daily (well, close) and, trust me on this, much more difficult. So glad I'm not a chicken. Everything they do and eat goes toward their body producing that egg. Whew!
Apparently, something most people don't think about and know, because we don't grow up on farms, is that dairy cows and goats are bred regularly to continue their milk production. DUH! Common sense. It's just not something I'd ever thought about. I was in the process of reading 4 books on goats at the time but the dairy chapters were skipped over because I didn't want a dairy goat. Okay, so, I learned something ~ cool! That's one of the many things I love about this new life out here ~ LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!

To continue my story...

... and, I quickly learned something new and reinforced something I'd learned in my reading. Yes, of course, girls can be kept as pets without needing to be milked. Twice a day. Every day. With. Out. Fail. Yay! The wethers (just a minute) are considered to be "sweeter" but girls can be sweet as well. SOLD! I was getting the spotted one. Call made. We had lovely visits a few times and picked up Buttercup last Saturday.
Wesley spent Thursday with a morning side trip to the airport, most of the day at the vet, a three hour trip home, and a night in the garage with Hazel and Hank. He is absolutely adorable!

My babies are pets and will not be bred so this Wesley & Buttercup don't have to worry about unlocking that chastity belt ;)

Wesley is an African Pygmy and Buttercup is a Nigerian Dwarf. The difference is that she is built like a typical goat only smaller and he'll be shorter and stouter. They'll both be about 75 lb. His coloring is black agouti and she is white with brown moon spots (lots of them). Buttercup is 25 days older than Wesley.

Finally, here they are...

And, that folks, is what the shed is for :)

Sunday, January 24, 2016

And, then this...

Sierra has been really good about staying close to home since we lost Merlin. She patrols the property, visits the horses next door, and checks on the dog across the road occasionally.

Last Sunday while with the horses in their pasture I see her running down the middle of the road (yes, this drives me crazy and now makes me cringe even more when I see it) and barking like crazy. Then I notice movement quite a way up the road. She's found a dog to chase. They disappear and we go about business. About 20 minutes later she walks up.

With this...

A skinny little red cur dog.

Sigh... We're sure he was dumped. Knew it would happen but hoping not so soon. And, being in the county outside city limits we're stuck with him.

Hank keeps watch while the horses eat their breakfast wearing one of Merlin's old collars.

Here he's curled up on a pile of cut grass while we work.

Hank is very sweet, quiet, loyal, clean, friendly, gentle, and wants to be loved. He's scared of everything, especially Hazel, and would love to come inside like the other dogs. He sleeps in a comfy spot with blankets inside the garage right at the kitchen door despite that being Hazel's domain. It's warm and close to us. He's got a scar on his chest. I'm thinking he's about a year old. We don't really want him but he seems to want and need us. He's not been loved and really really wants to be.

He's had no training but with a little work, patience, and time maybe some will stick.

If you happen to want him or know somebody that would love to give him a home (we really don't want him) he'll be here waiting.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Our chicks will be in next month! I can't wait!!

Um, well, I kind of... didn't.

This is what happened:

We go into the feed store to pick up a couple of items. Immediately we hear the sweet little peeps of none other than chicks! I couldn't wait. Especially since I discovered they were Bantams (the little "mini" chickens) and one of the batches were Cochins with potential of being frizzles. I love my Cochins and we love our two little roos sooo....

We now have 8 more little itty bittys!

And, yes, I will still get my chicks next month because I want regular sized eggs not just itsy bitsy teeny tiny ones.

Meet the crew ~

In the brooder

Penny all snuggled in

Penny showing off her new wing feathers

Cat being cute

Cat lookin' at 'cha!

Robyn wondering what's up

Robyn showing off her pretty markings

Penelope is all attitude...

Can't you tell?!

Danika posing

Danika standing tall!

Danika's backside

Daisy being her sweet self

Daisy keeping an eye on everything

Mouse is getting lighter every day

Mouse's white wing tips

Pip's always looking up because she's the tiniest

Pip's white markings coming in

Tucker absolutely loves everything small!

Penny, Cat, and Robyn are the Cochins. Penny is by far the largest and Pip is so tiny compared to the others. I believe Pip is going to be barred, which is one of my favorite markings. I have guesses but absolutely no idea as to what they will look like when grown. You know I'll post more photos as they grow. It'll be fun to compare in a few months, even weeks. Oh, and, of course, there's always the possibility of a rooster but we're hoping they're only girls!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Plenty of firsts

Plenty of firsts in this project. First time building a structure from the ground up. First fence with H-posts, t-posts, and hardwire. First use of our own auger. First use of our new chain saw. Finding some clay on this sandy property. It's been a learning experience to say the least. Making plans, changing plans, gathering materials, changing location, correcting mistakes along the way, time restraints, and weather - lots of wet and cold weather. This project took a tad bit longer than anticipated.

What to do (or, more like how we did it):
Research what you want or think you want. Discuss and decide what you think you want. Change your minds on the type of structure half a dozen times. Choose materials, change material choice, and change it again. Location. Choose a location, mark it off. After Rachel and Michael clear it, dig holes, and start.... change the location. Change foundation type. And, start again.

Now you have an idea of how this went. We're never quite this indecisive about things.

Even after measuring, things were either perfect or just off. I think it bothers Michael the fence isn't square but, it's a fence, I don't care. As long as it works that's all that matters to me! After this is finalized I'm pretty sure we'll only be doing maintenance around here for a while just to give ourselves a break.

Cleared and started

Everybody has an opinion...

Of course, it has to be stained like the coop, DUH!

Floor, framing, and first panel up

Paneling almost finished, doors, and roof joists added

Oliver wondering if it's time to head back to the house for dinner

Hazel supervising and watching progress from atop the tractor

Now, you ask, "What is this for?"

My response, "You'll have to wait just a little bit longer." But, it's cute, right?!

Friday, January 8, 2016

Guineas on guard duty

I know y'all have anticipated this day as much as the guineas have and now it's here! Well, it was here. It's past. It was actually eight days ago... Okay, so maybe y'all weren't waiting with abated breath and the day has come and gone. So what?! At least I'm finally getting the photos up. A few of them anyway.

Just for review: The main reason we want guineas is for their ability to guard the flock. Ticks will be eradicated, at least in the immediate area, as well as snakes, which is a good thing. Of course, they'll eat the frogs and, sadly, all of those adorable small critters I love as well. And, eggs! Well, a few eggs. They are seasonal layers, and I'll have to hunt for their eggs, and they only lay about 100 a year. Still...

So far all the things I've read are spot on. Guineas are noisy but they do tend to quiet down once in a while and you get used to it. They stayed in the coop for weeks so they consider it home and hopefully they'll be happy enough not to wander off. Time will tell. Yep, lots of extra poo... They are fun to watch and really are rather dumb. They stay in a rather tight knit group, follow us around, love the echo in the garage, and haven't bothered the chickens. We'll see how they treat the newbies once they are added to the flock. I'm thinking they guard the flock well because hawks just don't want to deal with the noise and numbers :)

January 1 was release day. After being cooped up (pun intended!) for weeks they are ready! Fortunately, they also readily come in with the chickens to roost at night on the topmost branches. Here is their first moment outside...

A confusion (LOL, so appropriate) or rasp of guineas...

The roos tend to hang with them most of the day...

Slowly following me to feed the horses. Usually, they run or fly and don't spread out so much....

The drive offers an abundance of tiny pebbles needed for digestion...

A couple of days after release they were carrying on and the boys were crowing so I checked things out. They were all at the side door just wanting to say "hi"!

After a few days they finally braved going under the fence into the pasture while the boys were eating breakfast...

Playing king of the rock then stopping to preen...

Empty coop is so quiet....

Seems like we have all girls so we won't be raising any. We'll decide next year whether we want to get a few more. If you, or anybody you know, want feathers for tying flies or crafts let me know ~ we'll have plenty! :)