Right then-off you go

Oak had his spring vaccines and check up to day-teeth floated, tear ducts flushed (they get really plugged) and a few other things. Cha-ching. But he's worth it. Sheep were baaing almost the whole time, since apparently if I'm in the barn I should be paying attention to them, not the giant dragon.

I'll be putting in some t-posts later for our new horse Winston's temporary paddock--g will hook up the electric later since he knows all the bits and pieces and it will take him half the time it will me.  Also he's liking these longer days so that he can come home after a long day at work and actually get some farm time, so he seems to relish getting to use that other part of the brain/heart. It's all about trying to live your passions, isn't it?

Slowly getting the sheep onto grass for a few hours a day--the saying goes "feed the bacteria, not the animal".  So especially with ruminants you need to transition slowly to any new feed, especially rich grass so they don't get bloat, which can be fatal. Of course it's tough to restrict them when you know they like it so much, but must practice tough love, and not kill them with kindness.

The orioles are singing for most of the days lately--we've managed to keep them around with some orange slices out on the deck, and they are loving the flowering crabapple. G spotted a cedar waxwing in it yesterday as well.  Hoping the mourning dove nest is not flooded--she's still on it even after the crazy monsoons we've had in the last few days. I saw the parents switch off brooding the other day. Pretty neat stuff. Humans could take some lessons from some birds. Except ducks. Or at least our ducks. No chivalry there. It's a little shocking at times. Seriously boys, learn to woo a little. Watch the roosters for a while and learn something! Watch your egos there drakes, you don't appear to be that good at it!!

The banty roos and their ladies are all outside after a long winter in the garage. Great to see them active and healthy, but man am I ever tired....they are just outside our bedroom window and two of them started crowing before 6am today.

Miss Demeanor the picked on guinea hen has been living with Rusty Cage the Old English Game Bantam roo and his two hens.  They sort of fell in love when Miss D was being horribly picked on by the three guinea boys back in the summer.  One day when I let her out of the guinea aviary after she was being tormented she ran straight to the open cage of Mr. Cage, so we figured it was her choice, and he was a gentleman to her, and at that time he was alone so needed the company. 

Since the snow cleared we've been letting the guineas out to range and bring death to ticks (and entertain me in the backyard, and act as raptor spotters--oh and they scream at any strangers that show up--my guard guineas--the decibels alone are enough to make someone flee in terror...ha ha)

We let her out as well, and things have been going very well. So as long as the boys don't start horribly fighting I'm happy with that arrangement, although I'm sure Mr. Cage is a little sad. 

Well I'd better go and get the dragon off the pasture now, he's had his fill. And buff drake just ran by the window so who knows what trouble they're up to....