Farm Update...Now With More Pedicures!

 

I have been working in animal care in one way or another for almost 20 years. Those who know me know that I am more of a rough and tumble kinda gal. If I am working (especially in my own barn and not in the public eye), I am usually in dirty barn clothes and almost always have hay in my hair and shavings in my bra (0/10 does not recommend). Even with all the rough and tumble, I am still a girl and do the odd stereotypical "girly" thing, and sometimes that can throw people off.

 I get my hair cut and coloured regularly*, my brows are usually in good shape, and I maintain a set of acrylic nails. 

Before the onset of COVID made getting one's nails done impossible, I always had my nails done.  I maintained a set during the last five years at the zoo and almost a year at the previous farm I was doing programming with. After what seemed like forever, I finally got a fresh set this summer, and I am super happy to have them back. Like most anything, with proper maintenance** I have zero issue having pretty nails on and being a farmer. 

I have had a lot of feedback about my nails over the years. Some of it awesome, and some not so awesome. I have had more than one person tell me over the years that I clearly don't work very hard if my nails stay in decent shape.  For those of you who know me, you know how far that is from the truth. I can't count the times I have been asked who I was trying to impress, who I was dressing up for or why I bothered. 

See, the thing is, I do it for no one but myself. It makes me feel good, and I like them. Those that continue to push the matter are often given explicit directions to the nearest short pier and what to do once they get there.

I'd like to see them wrangle twenty-foot snakes, large (and small) alligators, unruly birds, put a halter on a less than happy camel, deliver any number of wee four-legged beasties, sling hay or run fence and come out with nails that look as good as mine. But hey, I've also had people tell me I was too fat to be a zookeeper...yet here we are. 

Doing things people say I can't or shouldn't has always been a favourite pastime of mine. 

But more to the point of our story, sometimes the goats just need to get their nails done too. 

Pierre and I tackled the fun job of herd health on Sunday. All the girls got their hooves trimmed, and Lacey gathered some important information to help keep everyone healthy. 

Unlike some animals goats, and sheep don't do well standing on only three legs. So when hoof care is being done, especially on animals that are not as used to it, there can be an element of challenge making sure everyone stays safe and injury-free. If you have an animal from a young age, training them to be comfortable during health exams and hoof trims is quite easy. However, like people, some animals just never get used to it. Using tools like squeeze gates and headgates (for larger animals) or lift slings can make it easier and safer for all involved. 

We invested in a calf sling and digital scale a few weeks ago. Pierre found it on Amazon, and for under $100, we had the proper tool for the job. (***links below). Here at Nova Dawn, we are all about having the appropriate tool for the job. It makes things much easier and reduces the tabernak-factor (****), making the overall process that much more pleasant for all involved-unless you are the one getting your temperature taken with the thermometer marked "BARN USE ONLY!" because, well, that one doesn't go in your mouth. 

We were able to get weights, vitals (heart rate, temp etc.), check ears and teeth, trim hooves and give everyone preventative meds as needed. We were able to get this done on all three goats in just over an hour, and besides a nice bruise on my leg, no one was injured. 

However, Kelly wouldn't let us past the laundry room with the clothes we had on. 

Penelope is doing very well overall. Our two rescue goats from the spring, Patty and Selma, have both lost weight! Patty is down 18lbs, and Selma a whopping 35lbs!  We would like to see Patty down at least 35lbs more and Selma another 20lbs, but we are definitely on the right track. 

Patty and Selma (formerly Yzma and Mulan) came to Nova Dawn this spring from a very lovely young family in Hants Co. They loved the girls, but didn't have much experience in caring for goats. 

The girls were very overweight, less than ok with being handled and not super sure what hay was. Selma also had a blown udder, and even though she hadn't seen a buck in eight years was producing milk (at age 11!). After a couple of milkings (boy Selma didn't like that!), a change in diet (less grain and more hay) and lots of space to run and play, they have both settled in quite nicely! 

Nova Dawn has also welcomed a few new members, both permanent and short(ish) term. We welcomed Raz, Peach and El in June. A trio of beautiful Orpington chickens (well, two chickens and a rooster...who thinks he is WAY cooler than he actually is). Then we had four ducklings hatch in mid-July from our trio of Muscovy ducks Sir Frances (Drake) and his ladies Mary and Elizabeth. We added a trio of Royal Palm turkeys over the summer as well. Sonny, Cher and Madonna are a constant source of entertainment, and Sonny is VERY (somewhat unhealthily) affectionate towards me. I often think that I should have called him Freud. We recently welcomed Herk (Hercules to some, Herkimer to others), a four-horned Jacobs ram and accidental (Silkie) chickens Warp and Weft. We have a stunning barn, beautiful pasture fence and chicken run (big thanks to Derrell Hudson of Free Bird Farm for the help with the fence posts!) for everyone to call home. Things are really coming together, although Pierre is still coming to grips with this whole being a farmer thing.

I will link Pierre's Youtube channel with videos of the barn rebuild and running of the pasture fence below. They are very entertaining, don't forget to like the videos and subscribe to his page for more updates! 

Barn Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7nTjyMK5C4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pczl7fH5xQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eiZYT34yac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld3F4H1otCU&t=5s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah_Xt3fHtOY

Fence Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah_Xt3fHtOY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E2kCdDQjNc&t=488s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaZS530SnG4

Audrey the hardest working 8 year old I have ever met hanging out with Miss Penelope.

Lacey and Pierre getting some vitals for Salma.

Kelly holding Warp, the silkie chicken. 

Penelope and Pierre getting ready for their day at the spa!

*It really helps that one of my best friends is a semi-retired stylist that does house calls. 

**I get a fill done once every four weeks. My artist is in Dartmouth, I had been seeing a great new artist in Digby, but sadly I needed the expertise of my former shop in Dartmouth.  I knew their work could stand up to the crap I put them through.

***

Sling:

https://www.amazon.ca/Rural365-Sling-Weighing-Small-Animals/dp/B07G9M2BK1/ref=sr_1_29?dchild=1&keywords=lift+sling+for+goats&qid=1634752817&sr=8-29

Scale:

https://www.amazon.ca/Klau-Portable-Digital-Hanging-Backlight/dp/B07BHLR9DN/ref=pd_bxgy_img_1/147-8755654-0099266?pd_rd_w=xHYKw&pf_rd_p=8c482a45-7c0f-409b-937c-741a67b11a67&pf_rd_r=2Y18DBCNT4T0W939376W&pd_rd_r=0ae5de87-29f0-49fd-aa1a-fe511e04f7f7&pd_rd_wg=c262t&pd_rd_i=B07BHLR9DN&th=1 

****

If I have to explain what that means, you are too young to be on the internet unsupervised. May I suggest some play-doh and crayons instead?