New hay feeder...

Some pics of the new hay feeder I put together.... Holds about 3-4
trashcans packed with hay.

They are really a few super simple homemade pallets... A few 2x4s on
top of a pair of 2x4s.... The 'V' section uses porch rail stiles which
are only about 36" so the bottom rail is raised about 4-6" from the
bottom and that happens to work out good for making the 'V' section.

After that put 2x4 plywood boards on top to keep the tarp from settling
on the hay in the rain and causing mold problems. I used t-posts to
hold the mess together... Then put metal chain-link fence posts over
the t-posts to hold and protect the tarp a little better but they will
probably make better lightning rods.

First post via Mail2Blogger...

Forgive me blogger, it has been over two weeks since my last post...

Not much going on around this neck of the woods. I'll mostly give a
brief run-down.

E-Mailed response to property for rent advert... 50 Acres in Granville
County: log cabin, 15 Acres cleared/fenced/pasture, 2 Acre pond, creek
runs through it. $700/Month... Far above my estimate of what I may be
able to afford by myself... About $300-$400/Month at most... Even
then I know I may likely be stretched in the course of making a jump in
raising livestock.

It has been a just over a month since the cows were taken to market...
I miss them and am reminded of them from time to time. Goats are
enjoying the extra time spent with them now... and they have been more
accepting of the attention... Although I am not sure if the goats need
it or just how much, being winter they are getting supplemental feeding
they would normally not get during warmer months. So that helps.

During that last big rain we had, our skylight re-sprung a leak... I
threw some patch mix on it several times before and after looking at
the roof around the skylight I decided to re-shingle around it... Was
not exactly the smartest thing to do... Certainly not the easiest...
And at the moment it was a had to do it thing which ended up with me
working on the roof after dark with a headlamp. So far no leaks.

Thanksgiving is upon us... My aunt invited anybody whom wished to join
them up north in Delaware... I accepted.

Goats feet

Trimmed goats feet yesterday evening... Something that has been needing to be done for a long time. I picked at their feet from time to time but taking care of the calves took high priority...
Had to chase them down many times and did the best I could to run with them all while holding onto the foot... They were tied to their run line, but they still had plenty to go. Charlie calmed down a bit towards the end, started nibbling at me and mouthing me which I kept correcting him for as that quickly turns to biting. Mack was worse! Yeah... He calmed down a bit too towards the end, but I also let him get wrapped around the post so he couldn't move... Didn't stop his mouth from trying to take a chunk out of me multiple times!... I hauled off on him a few times... He has bit me good in the past... Left a fair sized bruise on my chest!... Close to a prominent place. Mack got himself wrapped around good on the pole... I started to feel sorry for him so pulled him loose and retied with a little slack... That is when he calmed down a bit. I had been out with them for over an hour and light was quickly disappearing, so I wrapped things up and fed them.


My first efforts at doing their feet were hampered by not knowing what a goats foot should look like and also not knowing how to use a hoof knife... I have tried many different methods to trim down their feet but to no avail... Last night was a luck shot that paid off... I just managed to get it right and slowly did the best I could to take slivers at a time off their feet... Despite their raising a ruckus!

The hoof knife is NOT an easy thing to master... and one can easily make a mess using one... However, a hoof knife is simple but very powerful tool! Takes a lot of time and patience to learn for both the user and the animals! But well worth it.

Insanity IS

Fire from each wall
Pain and madness inside me
Insanity IS.

Anger and hatred
Frustration and sadness
I sit in the darkness alone.