Quite often when I'm on the porch looking out at the goats,
there's a goat standing in the barn or paddock looking back at me.
We've had some genuinely brutal weather since the snowstorm on Saturday and Sunday; bitter cold and high winds. This has meant extra rations for all, and an extra check every day to make sure everyone is comfortable. I shifted Violet and Sambucus up to the barn paddock which has extra options for shelter; that just leaves LeShodu and the four biggest boys in the stilt barn and south paddock.
Extreme weather also meant two nights of going out around 8PM with a flashlight, and tying the three meanest does in one side of the barn so everyone else could get into a shelter for the night. The wind was blowing from the northwest - not typical - which made one of the shelters into a wind-tunnel; more goats than usual needed to be in the barn. I don't like tying goats (except when they are having their buckets of grain) but there was simply no alternative.
As a result, I've decided to replace the old bashed-up stockpanel dividers in the barn, using solid boards. It will make the barn much less convenient to work in every day, but for the rare situation like this recent weather, it will be helpful to have the option of four separate stalls with doors. Small group suites. No tying.
Today it was warm enough to work outside for an extended time - halelujah! - so I began making one such divider. I had a lot of help.
That's Rocket, above.
And here's little Iris:
Unfortunately I had to stop when I needed an extra pair of hands to help shift long, heavy boards from a stack under a snow-covered tarp.
Despite years of practice at looking on the bright side, hitting that kind of previously-surmountable hurdle in the middle of a task can still sometimes mean discouragement or frustration. Today it was discouragement, because I was too exhausted to feel frustration! I'll shift those boards soon, when I've got someone here to lend a hand.
Meanwhile, we are now expecting 24 hours of rain, on top of the frozen snow. Should be interesting out there. I'll be dusting off my cleats.
Winter is here!
~~~~~
Ugh. I can understand the frustration. How wonderful, though, when it's done and you don't have to tie up. Certainly a worthwhile project.
ReplyDeleteYes, it will be satisfying to get it done :)
DeleteThere something about extreme cold that really takes its toll on one's spirits. Good idea for the barn, though.
ReplyDeleteWell, it was more the physical limitation than the weather, but yes, having a stall option will be useful now and then. Do you have to separate any of your herd to prevent bullying?
DeleteThe extreme cold and bitter wind can suck the optimism out of any of us. Perhaps the mean does feel the same way. :)
ReplyDeleteSadly, I'm afraid goats are always vying for position and throwing their weight around. It really is my least favorite quality in goats. There are plenty of shelters for everyone here, but when one doe decides she is taking the whole barn, there are going to be others standing in the rain or snow if I don't intercede.
DeleteOh no... now rain? Yuck.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you find that extra pair of hands soon... You are so resourceful - I am impressed with your plans!
Thanks for the encouragement!
DeleteThe rain washed out trenches in parts of my driveway and turned every surface to ice. I'll be walking VERY carefully til the next snow or thaw.
Goats sure are funny. It's interesting to hear about their personalities. My NY boy is getting that same kind of weather. Just do what you can with the barn as you can. Sounds like you've made a good start.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the goat-inspectors take their jobs quite seriously and want to make sure that they have the most comfortable of accommodations. Too bad your project had to come to a halt - but perhaps it was for the best so you could rest up for the next onslaught.
ReplyDelete