Thanks to a downed DSL since Saturday morning, there has been no posting - no downloading of pix, either. And no lambs, dagnabit. Just when I think that Freyda can't go another five minutes, she continues blissfully along, chewing her cud. I did get photographs of their large bee-hinds, but cannot download until my Internet service is restored. A very nice young man at Fairport's technical help line, for whom English is not a first language, told me they are "very, very, very" busy and it may be some long while. I will take my payment off auto-pilot and reduce it in daily increments until I have full service.
A little excitement was had yesterday on the homestead. I heard a ruckus outside that included the ducks -- a new wrinkle -- so I raced out to the deck in time to see a large mink chasing the chickens around the yard. I let the dogs go and Bernie herded him into the now-empty coop, where I slammed the door shut. Meanwhile, Scrapping was sidling off to a far corner of the yard, nonchalantly peeing his way in the opposite direction. Killer, he is not. I figured a rifle would not be appropriate in such a small space, so I called in a neighbor who drove up a few minutes later, pistol in hand. At first I thought the mink had managed to get out, but I spotted him trying to become one with the shadows in a lower nesting box. Crafty fellow. The neighbor dispatched him and I buried him over the fence, a very healthy male specimen. I would have felt badly about it if it had been almost anything but a mink/weasel/vicious killer.
Over at the farm, I whipped up an Apple Cobbler Cake for the barn crew to celebrate Jasmine's freshening, and the arrival of tiny Alice. Alice continues to thrive - and she is, if I do say so myself, the cutest, smartest sweetest calf in the world. Even the farmer, who is rather numb to calf-cuteness, called her a "cute little feller". I am trying to get a better shot of her, but she is very bouncy when I'm there - I mean "bottle". Who could ask for anything more?
13 comments:
What is it with our ewes??? I KNOW when Annabelle and Bronwen were due; the back-up ram was only in with them 24 hours. But they keep chowing down and chewing their cud.... This week our schedule ramps back up and I can't be here all the time. GRRRRR
I've never seen a mink in person. I'll bet he was beautiful. Too bad you couldn't have at least saved his pelt (not that I could have skinned him!).
Michelle - Right?? Why are they torturing us? Is it too much to ask that they lamb on a weekend? Before 9a? Yeah - he had a beautiful pelt but they are musky.
Oh I can't wait to see more pictures of Alice! I take it your dogs don't bother the chickens either?? That's pretty cool!
Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do! I've never seen a mink either, but would have done the same.
APG - the dogs don't bother the chickens if I am standing out there watching their every move! I would NEVER trust my dogs - or any others - unsupervised amongst my chickens. They (chickens) are just too tempting. All that noise and feathers, and flapping around. They are on their best behavior when they know I'm watching.
Gosh I am not sure I would trust any of our dogs even if I were standing right there. You must have much better behaved doggies than I do :) The lab would only be allowed IF she had her 'collar' on. Sorry, that may sound mean but she is a darn good dog with that there thing on!!
ZZZT!
Go, Bernie! You have a cookie coming next time I visit!
Melanie - Yes, she is a good girl. You would never guess that, under her sweet, shy demeanor, there lurks a killer!
You did the right thing by getting rid of that chicken chasing predator. We once had a pine marten get into our pullet house and kill every single one of our 25 new pullets. That was a blood bath I don't want to see again.
I think you need to toss those ewes into the back end of a truck and take them for a ride on a bumpy road. They be needin' some jarrin' loose!
I'm glad you got that mink and the dogs trapped it without getting hurt, they are vicious and hate to think of what he could have done to the poultry - good job being vigilant!
Mama Pea - Heehee, I could just see me trying to heave those big mamas into the back of the station wagon! We have some good-sized potholes that would do the trick, not to mention all the heaves in the road.
Erin, I have to credit the roosters - even though Junior, who has always been a tad hysterical, is now a total hysteric - screeching every time a crow flies over. I think he's on the "to-cull" list.
Well I think Freyda is a watched pot. Never going to boil. Look away for a while and bet you come back to a lamb. I will be happy to send my hawks and eagles your way. I never have predators with them around. Of course they eat the chickens too. Double edged sword.
Jane - Bring them on! I have so many wild rabbits that I don't think they'd notice the chickens. Someone here has been shooting the coyotes, which has thrown everything out of balance. Fools.
Thank goodness you checked out the ruckus and that it was taken care of. :) Those darn weasels. Glad the chickens (and the dogs) escaped unharmed. :)
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