Animal Upkeep

up·keep

ˈəpˌkēp/

noun

1. the process of keeping something in good condition.

   "we will be responsible for the upkeep of the access road"

   • financial or material support of a person or animal.

     "payments for the children's upkeep"

     
     

   • synonyms:

     maintenance, repair(s), service, servicing, preservation, conservation

   
   
2. 
   

Animal upkeep is a large part of our work here on Gael Glen Farm.  From mucking the chicken coop to cleaning the pond filter - our efforts to keep our animals healthy and happy never cease.

Last week, we did some honey bee maintenance in the form of hive inspections and mowing down the grass around the hives.

Krystal mowing around the hives

Our bees are in great condition so far this year.  We split one hive already to replace our hive that did not overwinter successfully.  We definitely have queens in two hives, a just-hatched queen in the third and a very soon-to-hatch queen in the fourth hive.  The bees are all filling up their brood boxes with baby bees and working hard to draw out the wax comb and fill up the supers with delicious, golden honey.  Fingers crossed so I do not jinx it, but this is the best we have been in the bee department ever.  Hopefully our good luck streak continues.

This afternoon we have the large animal veterinarian coming for a farm visit to help us with the animal upkeep that we are not yet qualified to do ourselves.  We have selected a vet from the Mississippi Mills Animal Hospital in Almonte to come meet our animals.  It is time for lamb vaccinations and sheep deworming.  Our baby ram lamb also needs to be wethered (aka castrated) before he starts exhibiting any unwanted, aggressive, testosterone-induced behaviour.  This has to be done before he gets to be four months old and accidentally (on our part) and intentionally (on his part) impregnates his mother and/or sister sheep.  Ew - talk about bad for the gene pool!  I also want to remove their ear tags.  Additionally, Charlotte and Emily need their blood tests done for heart worm and a renewal of their prescription heart worm medication. 

I am looking forward to the vet's visit because he is going to teach me how to give the sheep vaccinations myself.  This is going to be very cool and will be a great skill to learn so I can do this myself in the future.  I am a bit more apprehensive about the castration but at least I will not have to actually do the "chop" myself - just watch and comfort our little ram lamb during the procedure - that I can handle.  It is going to be a busy and exciting afternoon!

Head Rest

Sometimes you just need a comfortable place to rest your head after a long day...who says chameleons don't understand?

Comfy

Introducing Alice

We have finally decided on names for our new sheep.  As such, I am proud to introduce you to our ewe, Alice.

Alice is a three year old Shetland sheep.  She enjoys whole corn kernels, fresh clover and long, cool drinks of water.  She also likes to munch on little toddler fingers so watch where you put those hands!

She has beautiful brown and tan fleece but recently got sheared for the summer so she's looking a little patchy.

Alice likes to graze in the field for most of the day interspersed with little cat (sheep?) naps in the shade.  She has excellent vocal cords and can project a enthusiastic "BAHHHH!" in a lovely tenor voice.

Her favourite treat is potato peels which she gobbles up with great zeal. She is interested in photography - though likely more in chewing the camera than taking the photos.

Alice is an attentive mother and over all a very lovely sheep.  We are very lucky to have her.

Incoming!

Last Thursday we had a heck of a rain storm.  It was amazing to watch the storm front move across the blue bird sky from north-east to south-west - the opposite way the wind usually blows.  I tried to capture the amazing view but a photo really does not do it justice.

Right before the torrents of rain started, an otherworldly calm settled over the farm.  Everyone and everything went eerily silent; the animals stopped mewing, the insects stopped chirping, the wind stopped blowing.  It really was an incredible experience...and then came the rain.