Hi all,
I have recently updated the news area on the site, with the most recent YouTube video. It is how Dixie, my dog, steals the show, whilst I am planting out garlic, elephant garlic and onion seeds – 2 different ways. If you enjoy the video, if you could click the subscriptions (which do not cost you anything, it just helps the channel to grow) and a like would be fab. Also, if you click the bell, you will be notified every time I make a video. That way you won’t miss anything. No worries if not, I know that it isn’t every one’s thing.
I can’t start the blog without talking about the weather. I don’t know about you but for us in Cornwall, it has been torrential. Some of the winds have been pretty chilly as well. The poor goats, hate the rain so they have been hiding in their stalls most of the time. This does mean that they need more hay, this does have a financial impact, but they have to be fed and looked after. As soon as the rain stops, they are out grazing or browsing, dependent on what is available. There is less browse available at this time of year so they have to make do with what they can get. They have extras as well. They have turnips, carrots, and greens as treats. They were even treated to some butternut squash, cut up today, which they really enjoyed.
I also took Storm to be mated this week and all seemed to go well, so we will have to see if she comes into heat again! We could possibly have to new mums, come spring, now wouldn’t that be exciting.
The goats also hate the floor being wet and muddy, so we purchased some pea gravel and put it down in places that the rain had caused some boggy areas. This should in time work its way in to the soil and make it more free draining. But at the moment, it is just helping to make it safer to walk on for me and the goats happier to move around. When it is raining, I keep the goats in their smaller paddock as they are inside most of the time anyway. However, if I do leave them to come out, Storm thinks that she owns all of the food areas, and the poor alpacas can’t come in to get their own hay! So, keeping them in their own area keeps them all happy.
I have some very exciting news on the alpaca front! This week, Gary from Popham Alpacas, came and scanned both of my girls and they are both pregnant! How exciting is that! They should be due around the 24.07.2023. However, you need to be ready from about 2 weeks before and possibly up until 2 weeks past their due date. The earlier they have the cria the better, as this puts them in a better position before the weather turns colder and wetter. When the time comes, I will try and video some of this so that it can be shared on the YouTube channel, but we will see. You know what will happen, I will be poised with my camera and turn around for some reason and miss it! Let’s hope not!
Unfortunately, on the chicken front, it is not such good news. We have been advised by the government that from 1 minute past midnight tonight chickens are to be kept in a secure area and their food and water is to be in a covered area, where bird experiment can not infect it. This is due to a huge number of confirmed cases of bird flu around the country. We will be looking to enlarge the enclosure so that the birds do have more room to get about. We will be needing to come up with different ideas to keep the birds active, or like us, they can get bored and bad tempered. This then causes fall outs within the flock, which is not good. The birds lay less eggs in the winter, due to less light but when they are not happy, this also has an impact. So, if you have any ideas on how to keep the birds occupied, please let me know as I am open to try anything.
Dixie (our dalmatian) has had an ear infection. She was quite poorly with it and had to have antibiotics and steroids, but I am glad to say that she is now on the mend. However, the one thing that I will say, is that I feel for anyone on steroids. Oh my, my poor dog didn’t know what to do with herself. She just wanted to eat everything and anything that she could get her mouth on. She was begging, like there was no tomorrow! This is really not like her at all. Thankfully, it is settling down again since she stopped taking them, but I really do feel for anyone on steroids. Thankfully, she will be all better for her 1st birthday on 12th November. She is a good girl but has needed intense training, which is continuing as if we let up, she regresses very quickly. We have however, been contemplating getting another dog in the future. I think we could be mad, but we haven’t decided yet. We need to do right by our dog and any future puppy or dog. What do you think about having more than one dog? Good idea or not?
Anyhow, it just leaves me to say bye for now and I look forward to updating you on our goings on in a couple of weeks. Don’t forget to pop on over to YouTube to see what is going on, and also watch for updates on both Instagram and Facebook. I do try to keep them as up to date as possible.
Take care for now,
Cathy
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