Oh dear. Liquorice was lying down in front of the feeder today, so I went and got the de-worming meds, selelium and some electrolytes. She's been on heat and Prince has been keeping her separate from the rest, pawing at her rump to get her up so he can mate. Pulled her up onto her feet and the back leg is broken. Damn. Must have been Prince in mating with her. Went and got those piping insulation tubes, 2 sticks and a roll of duct tape. Cut 2 pieces of the piping, about 6 inches each and placed them around her leg. Secured the sticks on either side and then duct taped the whole lot. Took the little wagon into the sheep enclosure, loaded her into it and wheeled her to the shed. She ate hay, gave her a bucket of water, a handful of corn. She nibbled on the plastic wrapped sheep block, so I opened it for her. Went and checked on her this evening and she's lying behind the buggy, otherwise looking good. Not sure how long it will take for her bones to knit.
Amber came over this afternoon with their 13 chickens. Their city council is fighting them about keeping chickens, so we're boarding them for about 2 months until it's resolved. She brought 3 bags of feed for them, and put zip ties around the legs of the ones that are the same breeds as mine. She has some gorgeous blue silkies. We put them in the lower barn where my little bantam rooster reigns with his girls :).
Today was the day I took Eleanor to the pasture. Well, that was the intention, not the actuality ! Her mum, Daisy May, and Dolly know the routine - after milking its across the back mud (it's not a lawn anymore) to the pasture for the rest of the day before returning to the lower barn enclosure for the night. Eleanor didn't follow them as she hasn't before, so I had to go around her and chase her out while keeping Star in. By this time Daisy May and Dolly were already waiting at the veggie garden gate. I let them in, then turned to see if Eleanor was following her mum, nope. She was ½ way down the back fenceline. Went towards her and she ran through the electric fence, snapping it. Passed across the channel, and through the next fence into the veggie garden with the others. Well, not too bad. Switched off the fence and went to fix where she'd broken it. Looked at them all in the garden, only to see Missy starting to chase her, Max joining in. Damn. They chased her right through the fence back into the yard. I approached her and she blundered through the fence again, the horses set chase again and chased her back out. Her mum was at the bale feeder, eating. I left her out there as I couldn't get close enough the try hold onto her. She'd get hungry, and I'd shoo her back when her mum was returning to the lower barn.
Just before 5 I went to get the girls, they're so good, I call and they come, well Daisy May does, had to walk behind Dolly to get her to move. Herd them across the yard, Eleanor is playing silly buggers. Eventually get all 3 outside the gate, open it and Star starts to push her way out. No dammit. Tried to walk her in a circle back inside, but she's a big, strong cow. Opened the gate wide and went to get a bucket of grain. Star was already at the veggie garden gate, Eleanor following her, Dolly and Daisy May milling around the lower barn enclosure gate. Herbie must have seen all this happening and came out to help. Star saw the grain bucket and started back, and all 3 cows followed me into the enclosure where I put the bucket down and went to fetch Eleanor. She danced in through the gate, a happy girl. Hmmm. Going to have to figure out how to get her to stay in the pasture with the others. She went through the electric fencing so fast I don't think it shocked her, and she doesn't have electric fence experience. Also need to keep the horses from chasing her.
So tonight I hurt. Everywhere. Chasing cows is exhausting.
I didn't cook today. Made a huge bowl of popcorn tonight. But it's the weekend, Baby :).