Thursday, April 11, 2013

Winter, Spring, Winter...





It’s been a challenging couple of weeks. New ranch hand moved in with an intractable dog. The little turkeys were outside the greenhouse enjoying some sunshine on their first day out in the world, running from place to place, enthusiastically exploring while the Maremma’s stood guard. The new dog, a large lab/pitbull cross decided to force his way into our yard. The Maremmas frantically charged the gate and were trying to dissuade him. As the altercation ramped up, Mr Peepers and his lady friend, ever curious, ran to see what all the fuss was about, and were crushed to death in the melee.
R.I.P., Mr Peepers. I will miss your antics.

The survivors miss him too. I'm pretty sure even my seedlings miss him.




In an attempt to make nice with the new neighbors, I offered a chain to secure said dog while his master was not with him, ie: when she is at our place visiting or playing with the critters, where he under no circumstances, is to be allowed. He broke his collar. She locked him in the house. He chewed up their stuff. Clearly this is not going to be an easy or happy situation. The back side of my garden is shielded from the chickens with 9 ga. kennel panels. I talked to Randy and asked if he would please take them down and put the kennel back together to contain their dog when it is necessary. We will have to go to the trouble and expense of putting up a different, more permanent fence back there. These people won’t be able to afford a kennel that would hold this dog so it’s up to me to make sure things go smoothly as possible. I’m hoping that this is going to be the least of our problems.

SushiMoo is slowly sweetening up. Greed is a virtue in an animal, a vice in man. You can train a greedy animal to do just about anything and Sushi is no exception. I can finally get her to come to me as I sit down with a bucket in my lap and she will happily eat grain as I work on petting her and doctoring her warty patches. I’m really glad for that, as she is the milk cow I had been hoping for...most likely low maintenance, decent amount of milk and cream and beefy calves.  The best of both worlds. I am looking forward to her getting bred this fall. It should also give me some real milk to feed some of the leppy calves, at least the ones who aren’t thriving. Real milk makes such a huge difference. In the past I have taken the weakest, poorest looking calves and grafted them onto Emma’s mama and in weeks, they were the most robust of the group. I still miss Dolly.

EmmaLouMoo is improving as well. I was concerned because even after a second trip to the vet, her milk was not straining as well as I would like to see. She had also cut her production in half again, giving me only a gallon to a gallon and a half per milking. Bear in mind, I had a goat that gave me 2, so this was pretty disappointing, especially in the light that she is not pregnant. Last nite she gave slightly over 2 gallons and it strained very well except for a couple of little goobers which may just be milk fat. That is actually a good thing. I will keep praying and watching over her to make sure all continues to go well and hope the boss will be able to loan us a bull in the spring, before he turns them out to cover all the ranch cows. 

I am slowly getting soap re-stocked for spring sales. I’ll be trying to put a batch together today as well as can up some burrito meat I made in the crock pot for future meals. Monday we head to town for medical stuff, livestock feed and to replenish supplies. We need to buy chicken feed as I have 55 meatie chickens coming on May 6. Much needs to be done to get ready, even though I ordered them months ago. Time flies when you’re having fun.

I went out to visit the critters yesterday. Bruno was kicking back where he could easily see the critters all down at the bottom of the pasture. I sat with him for a few minutes and he was in perfect bliss. 





 He even did some impressions of "Flipper".




Mr Potamus was nowhere to be found.



Now, normally, Mr Potamus watches over them by day while Bruno sleeps off a long night of patrolling. Potamus also usually stays close to the stock while Bruno runs security checks. Only if he is needed or all is clear do they travel together. It is unusual not to see Potamus during the day. I began to wonder if he was okay. No blood was on Bruno, so I assumed there had been no confrontation with anything large. I called several times, but he didn't show.

I headed out front and called some more. No Potamus. I got on the 4 wheeler and headed down towards the horse pasture. Bruno saw me and came through the fence, preceeding me all the way down the lane and across a couple of pastures. Still no sign of the Potamus. I came back and checked the front yard again. Nope. I headed up to ask Randyman if he had seen him all day. He wasn't sure. He said he thought he saw him sleeping by the gate, but that is where I found Bruno. so I figure it was the wrong dog. I headed out into the sagebrush where they often seem to alert to things and saw Bruno had returned to his spot overlooking the sheep. He ran over once again, through 2 fences to join me. I asked if HE knew where Potamus was. He turned and headed off through the sagebrush. Now, when I ask Potamus himself where something is, he always takes me directly to it. Weird, but true. So I assumed Bruno would too. There are places a 4 wheeler just won't follow a dog through heavy and overgrown sagebrush, so after an hour or so of getting stuck, backing up, going around and trying to follow we found ourselves down at the cattleguard. I could have taken the road and been there in a couple of minutes. I pffftted at Bruno and left him behind on my way home. Potamus was happily sitting out front, with blood across his muzzle. They had obviously found another coyote kill and he had been cleaning up. I should know better than to worry about them, what with their size, no collars and all. I'm just glad he was ok. Bruno pulled up, his tongue hanging out about 3 feet from the long run. These dogs are built for sprinting and fighting, not for long distance running. It showed. They went back to the pasture where fat happy sheep were grazing alongside EmmaLou.

I went to fix dinner.



Here’s hoping spring makes it to all of us soon and we can all revel in the glory of sunshine and flowers soon.



18 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry to hear about Mr. Peepers. It is so hard to deal with other people's uncontrolled dogs - best wishes for an improvement in that situation.
    Glad to hear Sushi is coming around though.

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  2. Thanks. I keep telling myself it was for the best, because Mr Peepers wasn't a breeding bird and I think it would have been very hard to me to serve him. So far, until they can get my fence replaced and the kennel together, the woman can't leave her house, and the boss' son who lives across from us has 2 pups who ARe in a kennel that have been barking non stop for 3 days now. I can't appreciate enough how good my 'guys' are!

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  3. Very sorry about your Turkey! I feel sad and angry.
    Pit-bulls are not farm animals! And I had the feeling that these owners won’t go through the regiment of keeping him contained. I know people like that….After all; they came to vast country terrain with thoughts that their dog can run freely and trouble of care taking will be over!
    Such dog can kill a cat, chicken, or any small critter in split second.
    Pit-bull tormented one of my Livestock Guardian’s Mother Dog, when she was nursing the little ones. She was fighting to death to protect her babies. They had to put her to sleep…And that also was wondering neighbor’s dog. It happened 2 yrs. ago and I still have tears in my eyes. Please use all caution! I don’t wish for you to lose any more life beings.
    And sorry for not Commenting often, but I do read every word of yours! :)
    Maria-NY

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    1. Hi Maria! I agree. I'm not fond of the breed myself and it always concerns me when someone wants to bring one here. THere was a guy who brought one a couple years ago and swore up and down the dog was gentle and non aggressive. He would disappear for days at a time (so he had to be killing something in order to eat) and finally went to the boss' house and threatened him there. The dog was put down by the owner. It made me sad becuase it could have been prevented if he had provided proper measures to control the dog. I am glad I have the TWO Maremmas to back one another up and the woman does keep the dog with her, inside her house almost all the time. It just means she is confined to her quarters. My kennel is a 9 ga. so he will break his teeth if he tries to chew out, and we will find a top for it and secure the bottom so he can't dig out. At least that way he, and everything else, will be safe when she is not there supervising him.

      I am so sorry your dog was put through that. I dont' blame you for being upset.

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  4. Sorry you lost your turkey poults so violently. People can sure complicate other peoples lives with their poor choices.

    It has always astounded me that our neighbors can fail to hear their obnoxious undisciplined dogs when they bark all night. I wish my hearing was that selective!

    Your tomatoes are way ahead of mine Petey, they look great! And I like the way you got your herd to pose for that photo!
    Kristi

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    1. These are 'city folks' so I don't think they realized their choice of dogs was so inappropriate for living here. THe barking dog is just heartbroke to be left home but he goes inside at night, so no problems there...I just wear ear phones and keep my ipod going by day! LOL
      The herd are a bunch of hams. I am lucky to get any pics of them at all that aren't close up nostril shots!

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    2. The little green house makes a world of difference. There just wasn't strong enough light in the house for the seedlings to thrive before. I put a heater in this thing so it doesn't get too cold and they do pretty darn good! The t-posts and cattle panel have held together through some horrendous winds this year already, no harm at all. It is oversized on the bottom so concrete block keeps it all anchored. It's nice the thing is completely portable and can easily be taken down if need be.

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  5. I hope that the issue of the neighbors' dog is settled soon. Some breeds/dogs are just not meant to be anywhere near livestock. Ranches and farms are for working dogs, or at least dogs who are well-trained and not aggressive. I'm sorry you loss Mr. Peepers. There is something so compelling about turkey poults - they look so adorable and vulnerable. Your sheep and goats look terrific!

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    1. I think it will all work out...although I do miss Mr Peepers. but I'm pretty sure I could never have put him on my table, so maybe its all for the best. The pasture piranhas always look pretty good :)

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  6. I sure hope the neighbors dog can be confined before you get the meatie chickens. Poor curious
    Mr. Peepers. It doesn't sound the the new dog in the hood has many manors, I bet there will be a lot of barking, too. :( We have a lot of barking dogs around. The 2 behind us bark non stop when they hear us. (Can'r see us because of the fence.) And no one shuts them up, even when they are home. Then the neighbors to the west let theirs run. Too often they come into my drive and growl and bark at me. Boy does that get my dander up. I can tell you our dog would be death on chickens as he is a hunter and has caught a pheasant or 2 on his own. Oops. ( Not a rooster, either.) Try telling a gamewarden you did not kill it, the dog did! He will also chase anything with fur, cat, squirrel, rabbit, groundhog, oppusom anything. So I would NEVER take him someplace that would present him such temptation. And would most defineatly be sure he was secured and under control if we did.
    The photo of Bruno is a photo of pure bliss! Love that dog. :)
    The sheep and goats all look happy and well feed. The sunshine in that photo looks so warm and inviting. No sun here for about 5 days. Cold and wet. May get SNOW one more time next week. Argh. Will spring ever come?
    Hope things level out and peace in the valley returns along with SPRING.
    hugs... CAROL DEE

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    1. It's all good. We had neighbors like that in Cali. The dog barked right behind my bedroom window all night so I got up at 3 a.m. and rang their doorbell to let them know they needed to put him inside. That was the night after going down and turning a hose on him in the middle of the night. It did solve the problem, they kept him in because the sight of me at 3 a.m. is not something a person wants to experience twice. Randy is one tough hombre.

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  7. Unacceptable about the other dog's behavior. Clear reflection of the owners - no excuse. Can't the Boss make them get rid of the dog if it's going to be such a disruption to what already exists not to mention liability. I'm not going to say what I would do but if an out of control attacked me or anything of mine ...let's say a bullet is involved and I'm an animal lover. Go figure.

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    1. So far, she has been staying home, inside with the dog. I need to goose Randy about getting the kennel up. I really don't think they had any idea the dust up this dog would cause as they are strictly city people. I think we can work with it, honestly. He hasn't threaten any of us, he just does whatever he has to to escape and be with her, at this point. The turkeys were killed because they got underfoot during the battle at the gate. I should have captured them as soon as I saw he was heading this way. If the dog is a big problem or dangerous, then yes, I am sure the Boss would intervene, but I am hopeful we can find a workable solution. They are a very young couple.

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  8. The kennel goes up tomorrow and they are very grateful about having it to use. Prayer and problem seeking...I love when things have a happy ending. Maybe not so much for Mr Peepers, but in the end I think

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  9. "Blessed are the peacemakers..." I really admire your attitude and efforts regarding your young neighbors Petey, I'm sure they are grateful too, and this will be a much deeper life lesson than containing a dog.
    Kristi

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    1. oh gosh, Kristi. Thanks, that's a really nice thought!

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  10. dex said u were grumpy n i thought who bettr deserves that right, once in awhile. I smile at ur work with the neighbor's dog. I wonder if they realize how much u r doing and I have to say sure they do. maybe i'm naĂ¯ve. i'm down too n reading ur blog helped. losing friends takes its toll. people think what they think but the truth is I don't want u to be grumpy or troubled. X said, "she's a friend n I didn't kno what to say." he probably said more than he thought. u have a good heart n i'd gladly be ur neighbor. everyone that comments on ur blog is. God bless you dear Lady. I wrote a little song today (in the room) that cheered me up. I want u to kno again that we love u. danny-boy (I feel like that song)

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    1. You and Dex always brighten my evenings. It is hard to say goodbye to friends, or family. I think it might be easier for me to say goodbye to Hook because I know what it was like for her to live alone and how long she has waited to be reunited with her husband and her other daughter.Being face to face with Him and in heaven with them is a rich reward for her faithfulness here.
      I have been kind of out of sorts a lot lately. Losing dad, and hurting as much as I have has had an affect on me. I will make an effort to be cheerier though. Love you guys. I will have to go see your new song.
      Bless you and a round of smiles for all, on me.

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