Herbie was already sleep, of course, it was 10pm ! Didn’t get to see him today.
But the mower started when I got back so I gave the cows the grain and then drove back to the house. Tomorrow I do it all again.
On Monday, the cows went walk-about. I’d just make my cup of Earl Grey tea when my phone rang, my cows were about a mile from home !! I loaded a bucket of grain on the buggy, and went to fetch them. Bringing them back was interesting as I didn’t know where they’d gotten out so didn’t know where they’d left the property. They ducked down a drive past some fields of corn, and I followed / chased them towards the farm. They were exhausted ! Especially Thor. He was panting and drooling. Got them into our woods, but Thor was dragging so I went back to shoo him, and promptly lost the 4 Jerseys. Well, at least they were on our property.
Herbie called while I was onfoot, trying to find the grain bucket that I’d put down to entice the cows. I drove to the house to get water and a hat and then went back to find the cows. Herbie walked out and got behind them, moving them towards the pasture. But once again, Thor was dragging so Herbie stayed behind him while I shoo’d the Jerseys into our hayfield.
Opened the gate from the hayfield into the pasture, and the Jerseys actually ran into the pasture. But not Thor, he headed towards the woods on the other side of the hayfield. Herbie closed the gate and said I should take the buggy and go find Thor. Couldn’t find him, although there was a fresh cow poop pile. Told Herbie that he wouldn’t go far and that I had to go find where they got out and fix fences, I couldn’t waste time trying to find Thor.
All together, from when I left to go find them until I had the fences whole and electrified, it was 7 hours. But, the fences were good and my cows were home, although it took 4 tries before eventually getting Thor in with the others.
And today, Gus was on the back lawn again. The little shit hops under the fencing, even being shocked in the process. He’s not our only escape artist either, Rose, the black ewe, keeps getting out the sheep enclosure, and I can’t find where she’s getting out. She spent last night in the back yard, I let her back in this morning.
Driving behind the cows, I had a good opportunity to inspect both heifers’ udders. Nothing on Bobbin, but JuneBug looks as if there is a little growth. Bobbin was supposed to calve in May, when I bought her I was told she was vet-confirmed due in May. She has never looked pregnant to me, but thought it was possible for the calf to be in the birthing position in April and therefore not visible anymore.
Have a 2nd lot of guinea fowl eggs in the incubator, only 1 keet hatched from my first attempt out of 41 eggs ! Need to candle them, it’s day 5. Also have 2 hens sitting on eggs in the chicken house.