It is 85 degrees and still humid, and it has been a while since we’ve had a good rain. The pastures are crunchy under my step. I remember just a short time ago grumbling about too much rain. The sheep and goat are all better now that the parasite issue is behind us. Wow, was it a booger this year. We’ve had so many years of drought that we’d forgotten what wet weather can do. No hoof rot for us though. Golden Acres is on a hillside and drains quickly which is a good thing.
Reflections in the Mayhaw Pond
I just took a walk around the Mayhaw pond. Lots of white wading birds, egrets and cranes. I took photos but I definitely don’t have the tracker’s touch. Crunch, stomp, splash sends them scurrying off to the other side of the pond and they look like white spots on my pictures.
I tried to see what they were gobbling so greedily, but only saw bugs walking across the water. The birds stick their long curved beaks down into the water so there must be some goody I can’t see. There were dragonflies flying in pairs and I could hear lots of unknown bird calls.
The trees are dropping leaves now and getting ready for the cold winter to come. That’s what the farmers almanac predicts and I’m seeing plenty of signs. The Mayhaw trees are fascinating without their leaves – all gnarly and grey.
Woody in his cave.
The two big dogs had found cool spots to spend their time. Ben was just laying in the muck under a tree but Woody was in a cave-like hole at the root of a fallen oak tree. He was snoring LOUDLY and didn’t bat an eye or slow his pace as I took a photo. Some guardian dog he is.
Have I told you we have another Great Pyrenees? He’s a rescue but I know his background and the former owner. He is two years old and is India’s new boyfriend. We are looking for puppies by the end of October. We will keep one or two of the pups and sell the others. These are working dogs and will not be sold for pets. They require too much room and do not fair well indoors. They are nocturnal and bark at things through the night like coyotes, foxes, raccoons, armadillos and bunny rabbits – which can really irritate the neighbors – but it does keep the predators away.
Siggy has been retired permanently as potential sire. Roper, our new guy, comes from a good line of guardian dogs. The owner had to head back to the city because of illness and sold off all his livestock. He wanted a good working home for the dog and we got him.
We are excited since both he and India have the qualities needed for our environment. They guard the poultry as well as the sheep and goats. Neither are aggressive toward people but let strangers know to keep their distance from their charges. Roper and India have strong strides and are in good health. Both have nice silky coats and brush out easily. Ben, Woody and Siggy all have heavy thick coats which are difficult to keep clean.
What did we do wrong?
It was fun wandering through the pond and then I went meandering over to the chicken coop to comfort the now confined white hens. No more free range for these ladies. Last night we captured and put them into a section of the coop that can be closed off. Now they are all in jail for a few weeks. This group had decided they liked the barn better than their digs in the chicken coop. Every night they’d line up high on rafters and leave yucky stuff all over the stalls and managers. Nothing was sacred – chicken poo everywhere.
Then there was the issue of daily egg hunts. Some were on the floor of stalls and that is just too tempting for a few of our dogs. The eggs would go missing if we weren’t quick enough. We will let them out again after a few weeks. If they haven’t learned their lesson, back in they go. These girls lay nice big white eggs but have absolutely no manners.
We have been hatching keets again this year. We try to watch for the Guinea nests and rescue the eggs. These silly birds and eggs are a favorite delicacy of the fox. The adult may get away but all the eggs will be gone in a flash.
So far we’ve incubator hatched four batches, the last two since August 27. I sell a few but enjoy having them run all around the farm. They pair off through the spring and summer but gather back as a group in the fall. A group of 15 to 20 birds will move through an area rustling up insects. They are great tick control.
People say they’re noisy but we don’t notice it. Ours run all over the 68 acres and sometimes go into the field next door but come home every night to their favorite oak tree. Guardian dogs India and Roper keep the fox away from them as they hop down in the morning.
We also have six Miniature Fainting Goat kids that will be up for sale soon. One little blue-eyed boy has already been spoken for. We are waiting until they are three months old to be sure they are healthy and ready to leave momma. Watch for pictures and descriptions coming up soon.