The Rural Blogger

Archive for the ‘Animals’ Category

Sunflower kindles 8 kits

I headed down to the barn this morning to milk Miss Daisy and as I walked past one of Madison’s many rabbit cages, I thought, maybe I should peek in since Sunflower is due any day.  The picture above is what a found, 8 beautiful and warm satin babies.  So up to the house with them and then it was back to milking.

Since Daisy’s front right quarter was clear last night when I stripped her, I decided to milk that quarter this morning into a separate container, just in case it was off.  It milked beautifully and strained easily.  I’m so happy that  is was really not serious and I caught it so early.

It has snowed off and on all day with very mild temps so being outside wasn’t a problem at all.  Winds are suppose to pick up overnight and most area schools are closed already for tomorrow.

Madison had another 7 baby rabbits born this afternoon.  These are the babies that will be ready to go at Easter time.  So happy the rabbits are finally kindling.  They had me a bit worried.

Madison also received the news that she placed 1st in her Proficiency Interview yesterday.  She now advances to the State level.  She is very excited.

Rich also made me a second cheese press today.  I’ll have pictures up tomorrow.

Still waiting for the baby

Yep, we are still waiting but she is getting so very close.  Madison did the last barn check tonight and said Miss Daisy is very restless and just not herself at all.  Of course, tonight the temps are dropping to well below zero as a cold front moves through.  I will be doing one last check before midnight and then 1 or 2 during the night.

Miss Daisy

That is the big question.  Miss Daisy has been a bit off today and tonight she seems uncomfortable and is “leaking” a bit.  She is penned for the night and I will be doing periodical barn check on her throughout the night.

Baby Bunny ER

Welcome to my Emergency Room for baby bunnies.  OK, it’s really not a room, more like a spot on the couch.  These 8 young’uns were born this morning.  I found them scattered in the rabbit hutch, which in MN when temps drop below freezing, is very bad for a baby bunnies.  When this happens, first thing I do is put as many of the cold ones into my bra.  I know, it sounds weird but there is a very small window in which to save kits and a ride up to the house in my bra starts the warming process.

There are a couple of ways to warm up a chilled kit (baby rabbit).  The bra way is a good way to start but it won’t do the job as it’s too slow.  The kit(s) need to be warmed as quickly as possible.

You can warm them up by placing them on a heating pad (set on low) and/or also by using a plastic bottle filled with hot water.  As you can see in the above picture, I did both as these babies were really cold. I cover the whole area with a towel and try to make a barrier so they don’t crawl away and you end up sitting on them.

Baby Bunny Hot Tub

Another way to warm them is by placing them in hot water.  I take the hottest water I can get from the tap.  Remember, you want to warm them not burn them.  Then, if they are really cold, I drop them in the water.  I usually only do this when the baby is just about frozen.  It doesn’t matter at that point in time if their face goes into the water as they are barely breathing away.  And yes, it works and no, they don’t drown.  But as soon as all 4 limbs are moving, I lift their heads out of the water.

You can also place the baby in a plastic bag, like I did above.  That is a snack size bag that I put the kit in and then placed it in the water.  This baby was chilled but not freezing so I choose to warm it this way.  You have to be careful so the nose isn’t against the bag or it can’t breathe.

After the kit is warm and moving. I put it on a heating pad (set on low), add towels, the rest of the siblings, etc.  It takes a while for the head to warm up so be patient.  You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to save a chilled, almost frozen rabbit.  Make sure you check them often as you don’t want them to get too warm, that’s not good either.

Once they are warm, they are moved into a nest box and place in a warm area.  We bring mamas to the babies in the winter.  All our babies are kept in the house during the cold months until they are about 3 weeks old.  At this age, they are ready to endure the chilly days and nights.  They are then moved out to the bunny barn where they join their mama until they are weaned.

We have saved many a freezing rabbit by doing these things.  We don’t save all of them but we try.

Good Luck!
~ Carol

Sampson, Scottish Highlander

Today was the big day, our first beef animal was to be loaded and ready for a quick trip to the processor tomorrow morning.  It turned out to be quite the adventure and we made just a few mistakes.

Rich brought the fold (that’s what a herd of Highlanders is called) back from the east pastures, across the creek, to the tree pasture where we have a loading area.  That was probably mistake #1.. bringing the WHOLE fold back.  There are 17 animals in the group, which included Sampson, a dairy steer, a bull and the cows and calves.  The fold moves pretty much as a group so I’m not sure we could have just brought Sampson back.  The animals aren’t exactly tame but they do know that when Rich shows up, they should follow because usually that means fresh pasture or hay is going to be offered.

So, thinking we were prepared, Rich brought over a small square bale of hay and placed a bit of it next to the fence line.  This of course brought all the older animals over.  The calves are shy and wanted to play instead of eat.  Rich, after a few tries, managed to laso Sampson’s horns.  That is about the only way you can rope a Highlander.  Sampson was not happy and let everyone know.

After Rich got Sampson secure to the telephone pole (fence post) our bull, El Dorado, decided that Sampson needed to be put in place and went after him.  Poor Sampson, I thought, that lasted one second as the 2 crashed down the gate with Rich standing on the other side holding the rope on Sampson.  Yeah, the gate went down like paper and next thing I know, Sampson has Rich pinned against the fence, with his head and horns thrashing.  El Dorado just stood there next to the downed gate.  Madison and I were grabbing hay and throwing it out into the paddock, trying to get El Dorado away, so Sampson could relax.  Soon Sampson backed off of Rich.  Rich was just fine.  We decided to leave Sampson settled down and headed back to the farm site to get the truck and trailer.

We returned a shor time later to find El Dorado pinning Sampson against the fence line again.  This time, Sampson was really on the losing end of things.  He was bleeding from the scrapes of El Dorado’s horns.  Rich manged to get a gate between them and El Dorado just kind of gave up after that.  Sampson wasn’t too hard to get into the trailer.  He actually went in quite easily.  Once loaded securely, I apologized to Sampson.  I felt so bad for him.  Rich and Madison burst out laughing saying, “like tomorrow is going to be a better day for him…”  Must be the city slicker in me, Rich and Madison are farm kids, hehe.

Tomorrow he makes his final trip to the local processor.

~ Carol

The boys arrive

Our first set of twin lambs arrived this morning and they are both rams.  Rich found them.  Dandy lambed while I was on a shopping trip.  I’m so glad she didn’t have problems like last year.  I just love this picture with Madison’s 4H llama, Buckly.  Do you see the little lamb laying next to him?  Our llamas are so good with babies, be it lambs or kids.  This is not an unusual scene in the barnyard… llamas working as nannies while the mamas take a break.  They also help find lost babies.  They are such intelligent animals.

New Lamb

Once I was back home, I checked out the new arrivals.  I believe they are premature.  Their hair/wool is very short and tight.  They are missing hair/wool on the back of their legs, appear a bit bony and are small.  They do seem healthy and happy.  They readily nurse and Dandy is tending them like a good mama should.

Madison checked on the little ones tonight.  She has named them Johnny and Jimmy for now.  They also are now sporting sweaters as we are expecting temps to drop into the single digits below zero tonight.  With them not appearing to be term, I think they can use the extra warmth.  I’ll see if I can snap a picture of them tomorrow modeling their coats.

~Carol

OUCH!

Yep, I’m hurt.  This is my ankle this morning.  I managed to slip off the steps of the pouch when going out to check the bunny barn last night.  I thought I broke it when I heard the snap as I hit the pavement.  It’s not broken but it sure does hurt!  Rich had to help me back into the house as I couldn’t step on it.  Madison did the reminder of the barn checks last night.

Snowflake kindles

On her last check before bed she found Snowflake’s fresh kits.  There are 7 little pink bundles in there.  That’s a small litter for Snowflake who is a large rabbit.  She usually has no less then 9 for us but she’s getting older so I’ll let it go THIS time, .  We have 7 litters now but we only bring up 6 does for feeding as one litter has only a single kit so that one was placed into foster care .

Well, I better get my chores finished.  Takes me longer as I’m hobbling and not walking ;P

~Carol