Life on the Farm Known as Critterhaven

Welcome to Critterhaven Farm's Blog

Raising Nigerian Dwarf Goats in Southern Middle Tennessee

Trials and Tribulations...

It's been nearly a month since I posted last, and well, alot has passed.  We found out that Sky did pass away from a torn uterus, and the vet at the state lab assured me there was nothing I could have done to prevent it.  It still does not ease the hurt, but at least we have one of her babies, a beautiful paint doeling, retained from that kidding, and we have her nearly identical daughter Martina McBleu from last years kidding, and she is bred for spring kidding.  It will be bitter sweet, as I had hoped to have mom, daughter, and granddaughter here on the farm, but her memory lives on in her two gorgeous girls.

Sky two weeks before she kidded and passed away.

While other things have happened here, some not so good, we've managed to hold on.  The mortgage is being paid every month, simply by counting our pennies, and not doing anything beyond our budget.  The pantry is full, since prior to DH's 4 day a week cutback I was cutting coupons and finding deals where I could.  The canning all summer long has helped too.  With a 2 and a 4 year old going through jelly and applesauce like it was gold it helped I was able to take advantage of the abundant apple crop this year and 'lay in store'. 

We have 7 registered does that remain in the herd bred for spring, and 2 non registered.  All should be bred to our polled buck for spring kiddings.  In addition we retained 4 of our doelings from the fall kidding, and we still have our 2 bucks.  So the herd is cut in half, but so much more manageable now.  It still hurts with any loss though.  I just hope those days are over.  We have been able to find a few bales of alfalfa hay, and hopefully this will make a difference.  Still at $9 a bale we can only buy a few at a time.  With no llamas to feed now, and the horse has gone to a rescue more familiar with horses, the goats are the only thing eating hay.  We still are using round bales out in the field to keep out all time, good quality orchard grass hay, but I like having the alfalfa for the kids and the nannies.  The bucks appear to be doing fine on the orchard grass hay.  For awhile the goats were eating the alfalfa pellets, but I notice now they are not eating them, nosing them out of the way for grain.  A friend of mine has Saanans he milks and I'm going to find out what he feeds them on the milkstand. 

I guess what really hurt over this time was a friend of 30 years ending our friendship because I would not let her have the horse.  Now you have to know, this girl is like a sister to me.  But financially she could not care for the horse, however she could not see this.  She herself had just said to me they were looking into bankruptcy again.  So instead she had another girl say she wanted it, and ended up lying to us about it, and kept demanding on vet checks and such for the girl.  And then to beat all we found out someone had 'turned us in for neglect' to the local extension agent who knows me and knows I would never abuse or aid in the abuse of an animal.  Any animal who is found to be neglected in our county must be moved to another county, however it was thought by merely turning me in for neglect the horse would be taken from me and given to them.  It was explained to them that does not happen, but rather the animal is moved out of the county to a rescue facility.  I have NEVER been accused in all my twenty plus years of animal rescue of neglect, much less by a close friend.  In fact, I have the vet bills and vet references to prove our animals are all taken care of.  But life goes on, and it will for Pixie.  After searching for a suitable home, we have been able to place Pixie in another rescue with more experienced equine personnel.  She will be able to live out her life with another senior horse, and should get lots of love and care and gain more weight than just the 10 or so pounds we were able to put on her.  On the advice of a vet we added beet pulp with molasses to her feed, as well as black oil sunflower seeds and that really seemed to help. 

Whenever I do placement of one of our rescues, I make sure it is the best home for the animal.  I have the records and emails to prove this is the case.  One of my best success stories is Maggie, now renamed Seana, living as a therapy dog/companion to her disabled veteran owner.  I am so proud of her and her accomplishments already, AND I am thrilled to get updates on her  regularly!!  She was pulled just hours from death at the animal shelter. 

Seana with 3 of her new friends in the dog park at her new home in Delaware

Sorry for the soap box rant, but I just had to get that off my chest.  I hold no grudge or ill will against her and want her to know that, but from her end I know she does not wish to continue our friendship.  So I go on and wish her well, and yes, I still love her like my sister. 

The goat kids are now in the new playspace with the new 'guardian' our new 1/2 komondor and 1/2 pyrenese pup 'Snow'.  She is showing great potential, although from the pic below you couldn't tell!  The fourth day 'on the job' she proceeded to bring back a stray baby who had wandered too far from the rest of the herd, running after him, getting behind him, and bouncing on him until he joined the rest of the herd.  She then lay down next to me like, 'my job is done'.  Amazing.

Well as much as I hate to I'm going to put our two puppies up on my petfinder site and find them homes.  They are so cute.  We were called by another rescue group to take in 5 puppies that were dropped off at the pound in town.  Got there and they were probably about 3 days old, eyes still closed and umbilical cords still on.  Within the next week, 3 had passed away, but these two survived, due mainly to the fact my papillon Bea, who has NEVER been a mom and never been bred, came into a false heat, and false pregnancy, and down dropped her milk and she has been feeding the pups.  Unbelievable.  But now, it is time to find the pups homes, so Spot and Mouse will be listed on my petfinder site by this weekend.  I'm not sure, but the closest breed we can associate with them are Lhapso Apso's..so they will be listed as mixes of the breed.

I've asked myself over and over, why do I do this?  Why do I raise the animals if there is death? Why do I rescue the animals if I just have them for a bit.  The answer is simple now, and it took these past few weeks to realize that.  Because if I do not, I will be empty.  They bring a joy to my life, even in the tragedy, because we have the memories.  Even in the pain of their leaving for new homes, because of the memories and experience of life they bring.  Which leads to my new venture.  I've had in my mind for a few months now a book idea, and while I may not be able to traditionally publish it, I'm working on possibly doing it as a downloadable ebook.  Life here on the farm, and tales of all the ones who have come and gone.  Their beginnings, their life, their final days.  It will be a true animal lover's tale of life lived to the fullest.  We can all certainly learn from our animal's.  I know I have.  I do not know when I will have it completed, but it is in the works as we speak.

I am VERY grateful for all the words of encouragement during these times.  Your reminding me of Job's trials was just the mindset and reminder I needed.  We just found out another plant here in town is closing by the end of next year...and my brother in law and sister in law work there.  Some nearly 500 workers will be affected by the plants closing here in this town and the next, and I truly feel and pray for those affected.  DH's job is okay for now.  If there are to be further cuts he will be affected by having to move from 1st to 3rd shift, but we will survive.  For now we just go day by day...saving as we can...praying always...and always thankful for what we do have.  That and thank goodness for ebay.

I've also started a new challenge to myself and I encourage you to do it also.  Nearly every community has an online yahoo freecycle group nearby.  I have been blessed to have received a microwave and a few other things from it, and now have pledged myself to find something to give away every weekday until Christmas.  Outgrown kids clothing, pieces of quilting material, roosters, even plastic bags I've given away so far.  You'll be surprised at what people need and use.  Today's freebie is an older playpen that is the old wooden type.  Banned for kids use, but still good to use for stuffed animals, toys, and the like.  I have to post it tonight.  I encourage you to go through your house and find what you are not using...ie if you haven't used in a year, guess what..?  Probably not going to.  So why not give it away?  Make someone's day, and clean your house and heart while you are at it!

Enough rambling.  I've pretty much covered everything but the election this go round, but I won't go there tonight.  I've done enough soap box for one day!  Maybe tomorrow, or maybe in 2012 I'll campaign for someone from a great northern state. 

Thank you for listening and caring about Critterhaven.  Good night, and God bless.

Susan

Puppies

05:43, Thursday, November 13, 2008 .. Posted by ajhelvie

Those puppies are adorable. I am sure they will have a place to call home in not time. As for the goat...I am sory for your loss. It's amazing how the Lord gave the puppies the goat for a serigate mommy. *smile*
Harvest blessings.-me-(Mommy of two little blessings)