I don't leave them in the actual milking stall any more, too much cleanup, and can't leave them in the lower barn as Dolly has to be able to come in, so they're in the yard with access to the lower barn. Dolly still bawls for Larry in the morning, but as soon as she hears me in the milking parlour, she comes and stands at the gate waiting for me to open in and let her in. Daisy May also came into the lower barn, but closer to the door, with Eleanor behind her, and then they left when I came to open up for Dolly. After I was finished with Dolly and let her out, walked up to the gate with her, Daisy May came along behind, but she knows she doesn't get to leave.
When I got back from returning Dolly to the others, I was sneaky and went in at the bottom gate, quietly entered the lower barn and pulled the door down behind me, trapping both Daisy May and Eleanor inside. Then I continued up to the milking parlour, chasing Eleanor up and waiting for Daisy May to realise that she needed to be up there too. Yesterday it was a song and a dance. I ended up attaching her to a lead which I tied to one of the metal roof supports. Then tied another lead to the next support and when I'd moved her up the step, attached the next lead and pushed her further. Had to use 3 leads until I got her attached to the wall.
Close to 4 gallons today from the 2 girls, so Amy wasn't short milk as she has been recently. Tomorrow I think I may take Daisy May back to the pasture with Dolly, leaving Eleanor behind. If she is like the other girls, she'll be out there a maximum of 3 hours before she wants to get back to her calf.
My de-caf this morning reminded me how disappointed I've been with the Riccoffy I ordered from the South African shop. It was always my favourite in South Africa, and I've had it a couple of times here, when they had it on sale. But it didn't taste the same, so I checked the ingredient list - dextrins, dextrose, maltose, chiccory and coffee solids ! Well, won't be getting that again.
Made a chicken curry, brown rice and brussel sprouts in butter for lunch. I'm the only one that ate the actual chicken - was spicy and yummy. Learnt a new cooking thing today. Put fresh chilies, garlic, ginger, onion and some water in the zoup-zoup machine. Then add the puree to the frying pan and cook before adding other seasonings and tomato past and returning the browned chicken, stirring it all up and cook over a medium heat until done. That puree has so much other potential and I can make it of anything I like. Me likee !
Last night I picked Aflac up and put him over the fence into the sheep enclosure. I worried about him on the edge of the woods as he is not walking well. From what I can make out, his feet cross badly so he stands on his own webbed foot so can't walk. He flaps his wings and sort of falls and then gets back up, slowly moving in the direction he wants to go. He hides from the rooster that thinks he's a girl chicken, and although I feed him a handful of grain every morning and evening, I'm a lot happier that he's in with the sheep. It's more challenging to feed him, I give the sheep hay first, then holding the grain in my hand (the bucket will be a complete giveaway) call him and toss the feed to him. When they hear the grain hit the ground they come looking, but by then I've started walking back so call them to follow me while Aflac gobbles the grain. For now it works, but will probably be harder once the snow comes.