Hi everyone!
I know it has been a while, and I just wanted to post a quick update. I got a job doing some marketing work for a real estate office in town. The pay sucks, but I am grateful to have a job, that I am not in pain, and its not in New Orleans!! They seem to have a good amount of work for me. I don't know if it will always be full time, but at least it probably won't ever be as bad as the coffee shop. We celebrated the fact that we both have jobs Thursday evening by going out for dinner and renting TWO movies... one of which we watched that night, and the other I got up at the *insert expletive here* crack of dawn to watch before work Friday. I got paid, and I got let off a couple hours early Friday and decided to clean out my car at the gas station when I filled up for *insert expletive* $3.23/gal!! The next day of course I saw the newly built Race Track had $3.16/gal...
After seeing how dirty the car was even after I cleared out all the crap, I took it to the full service car wash and had it detailed. I should have expected it...despite my precautionary measures 4 goats, 16 chickens and 4 turkeys have taken rides in that car...not to mention the numerous trips back and forth to Dallas and the vet over the past 6 years. NOW though, its as if I have a new car.... and it is SO nice to drive a clean car!
I managed to make it through 2.5 months working small side jobs whenever they were offered, and with some savings and unused student loan money, and I didn't get behind on anything, and the goats didn't have to go on vacation at my mentor's house.
Things are getting back to "normal" around here. The chickens have done remarkably well with the heat this year...hopefully they will continue... One day my black australorp nearly died from the heat, but I noticed her just in time and brought her inside and set her in front of the fan on the tile floor with some vitamins in the water, and no food. within 12 hours she was back to her normal self, and has not had any serious problems since.
The Turkeys have done well since moving to their big pen. Of the four I bought one had problems almost from the start. I thought she had healed up, and she was doing well all last week in the big pen and getting along with the others, but this morning I found her very weak. I did not catch her in time though.. and she died in my arms before I could bring her inside. The other three have been very well aside from being hot, but there's not a lot to be done about that here with temps in the 90's heat index well over 100 and the humidity over 50%. Shade, clean water, ice, frozen jugs, frozen fruit and shade...It looks like we now have 1 hen and 2 toms.
The goats have been doing alright. I have had the girls in with Catcher for some time now. but I have seen no activity between them...Isabel's son, now a whether, has tried to mount his mom a few times, so I can only assume that Catcher has had a few dates with her. Indiana, I don't know. I am planning to send off some blood samples for pregnancy tests to biotracking since my vet can only do ultrasounds which are far more expensive. I am waiting for David to get a Saturday or Sunday night off so he will be awake to hold them for the draws.
All the water has been in the river, but last week we got some decent rain, after which I checked eyelids, and everyone checked out. That was about 4 days ago. I was out there today...filling up my camera with goats when I noticed that everyone was laying down and chewing cud except for Indiana...not that they all have to be doing the same activity at the same time, but I have learned to listen to my gut when it comes to my herd...So I checked eyelids. The two boys are fine, but Isabel is about 4 and Indiana is paper white. I freaked because the only thing I have is half a bottle of Valbazin...which I suspect we have resistance to even if I was sure they weren't pregnant and I could use it. So I called my mentor and called the vet, and they both said they couldn't say for sure but that they would probably be ok until morning if they are moving and eating and there's no bad poop. They both recommended 6 cc each of red cell, and the vet advised free choice black strap molasses and neutridrench until I can get to the vet to get cydectin in the morning. God willing I won't have two dead goats in the morning. Edit---I got to the vet this morning. Indiana didnt look like she was feeling all that great, as I was on my way out to the car to go to the vet I could have sworn I saw her sprawled out...Thank God though, they are both doing well now will keep up the red cell and what not for about a week to help them build back up.
We got a boil advisory until further notice on Friday afternoon. Some microbiological issue with our water. So I did some math, and decided to get a water service. At least temporarily. I cannot boil all the water for us and the animals with my current set up unless I want to boil day and night, and by the time the electricity is factored in.... forget it. So I went to home depot and got enough water for the weekend, and the service will drop off every two weeks. After seeing how clean the water was compared to what we usually have...which the animals don't seem to mind, but I think I might keep the service for us at least....I think the goats were a little put off by the sudden change in water, but they are drinking.
I'll try to be on a bit more now...cant wait to read your book Deborah! Can you advise on a good Caprine veterinary reference? I am looking to add to the library.
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