Picking Up After Mother Nature
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This week has been a whirl of different weather, as well as several fixes. A moveable sheep shelter was built for shade out in the new lease spot. The lease spot has no coverage and lately it has been getting very warm during the day. While moving it to a new location the weld on the pipe, linking it to the wheel axle, popped off. Then we had to figure out how to reinstate movement into the structure. We used bailing twine to tie the frame onto the axle, it still drags a little in the front but this allowed us to get it far enough for the sheep to have a cool spot of shade and cover.
Rain hit us hard a couple times this week. While completing daily tasks and checking on all of the animals it seemed like a normal day. The weather has stayed rather warm with little rain lately so it is hot and dry. While moving the sheep and getting the fence setup and settled, a sudden downpour of rain hit. I was stuck out in the field so I had to drive back to the house before I could get inside. It started raining so hard you couldn’t see through it. After it passed, we went to check and make sure all the chicks were doing okay, as well as the sheep after it had been raining so hard.
In the middle of the week it was time to move the pigs. They are currently helping work over the ditch and mow down the grass in order to keep the growth away from the road. Reflector poles strung with electric wire are used to build their temporary pens. During the rain they enjoy being out overturning the dirt the most. They will be worked along the ditch to the end, and then brought back. The boar that had been in with the sows was taken back, so now they are back as one group again.
Later in the week we had another crazy storm but somehow this one got worse. It was like a wall of rain had hit. Dark, cloudly, and no visibility ten feet in front of your face. Once it let up, and things started to clear up, you could see the path of destruction. It was quite possible a small tornado had hit. The chicken coop trailer was fully on its side while the pig shelter was picked up and strewn across pastures. We went out to bring chickens that were not looking well inside in order to get a heat lamp on them. Thankfully most everything made it through with no harm.
At the end of the week one of the neighbors down the road called and asked if grazing on their property would be obtainable. Of course we said yes because it is more free grazing and it helps the others out as well keeping growth manageable. Once we got them all moved through the pastures and onto the new place it was time to prepare for the farmers’ market. The farmers’ market in Laramie happens most every Friday from 3pm-7pm. We bring legal and ethical products. The new edition this time was a few painted skulls that a friend of BJ’s had made from her sheep skulls, one otter, and one raccoon. We had one mishap along the way and it just so happened to be a blown tire. We fixed it pretty fast and were back on the road again.
Finishing off the week was a branding of a local producer that sells their beef through BJ’s business. There were only a small bunch of calves but it was still a fun experience. These calves are highland crosses and were all mostly born in June. The calves were given Vision 7 with Spur vaccine. Which is given in two cc’s subcutaneously. This certain brand was placed on the right shoulder. There are several places brands can be located, so if you are ever helping with a branding make sure to know the placement of that producer’s brand. Then of course, the calves were ear tagged right for steer and left for heifer. This producer also chose to switch up the colors of the ear tags for the heifers and steers. Personally, I think this makes them easier to pick out which is nice.
Submitted by: Savannah May
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team
