Bean 2.0 (yes we named her after the dog) is very chatty today.... what do you think she's saying?
The key risks to farmers when their land becomes flooded are, physical loss and damage to crops, livestock buildings and/or equipment.
The land ifself may also become damaged, for example, compaction caused by long periods under water.
Soil compaction can have negative effects on crop production, including restriction on root growth and reduced water-holding capacity as hard landscaping does not allow rainfall to drain into the soil below.
Fencing complete 💪
For this paddock anyway!
Stock fencing is a fantastic all- round fencing. Though the electric is a great deterent, some animals (like ours) learn that if they run through it fast enough, they don't get much of a zap AND are able to steal extra snacks! It is also liable to be affected by overgrown grass, trees, or hedges, or the pigs dig and bury the wires in mud and will reduce the voltage, making it less effective or non existent
The combination of stock and electric means the pigs are unable to charge through the electric (or bury any wires) and the goats, though are able to climb this type of fencing, are unwilling to do so because of the electric.
This also reduces our electric usage as we now only have 3 wires - one low for pigs, one mid point for young livestock like kids, and one high to stop climbing.
We can not wait to start on the next paddock! What a game changer!!
An evening feed consists of more than just chucking dinner in and then feeding ourselves (once warmed and dried)
We do a quick check on fencing. Any faults in the electric or structural damage could mean escapee animals (we've had enough of those) or even wildlife endangering our livestock. We do a visual check on our animals and monitor their intake to keep note of their health and any changes. Frozen water will be rebroken, and ice is removed, and those that are shut in pens will be shut in for the night.
The safety, health, and comfort of our animals are top priority, and we have been known to be out late in all weathers until all is well... we just wish the animals had their own safety, health, and comfort in mind too cause sometimes it seems like they are oblivious 🤣
Ruminants (cattle, sheep, and goats) create “energy” from the digestion of carbohydrates. But they also need adequate protein to help digest the forage. This “heat of digestion” helps the animal stay warm in cold weather. It is even more crucial to feed animals well in winter months, we like to up their intake slightly to help them keep weight which also aides in keeping warm!
Animals need a constant supply of water. They can’t go more than 24 hours without water.
Cold temperatures can freeze pipes, which limits supply and can lead to pipes breaking, flooding buildings, and making an uncomfortable housing environment. With this being such a risk, as we are still in the process of properly installing automatic troughs and insulating pipes, we ensure a full water check multiple times a day, this includes breaking frozen water troughs and removing any ice... It's not my favourite job 🤣
Luckily, most of our animals don't struggle with fireworks. We have one worried dog and a panicked pig, back in their pens, safe and sound for now.... it'll be a long night, but I'm sure we'll get through.
Please always notify anyone near you who may have animals before letting off fireworks. It allows us to prepare and prevent animals from escaping, like tonight.
When it comes to barnyard animals, goats might be the weirdest. Unlike sheep, which are content to stay with their herd, goats are naturally curious and independent, often getting into mischief as a result.
In a recent interview with National Geographic, University of Maryland sheep and goat expert Susan Schoenian explained that of all the livestock she’s worked with, goats exhibit the oddest behavior. Even getting them to stay in a pen proves surprisingly challenging.
“We frequently tell people [that] if you want goats in a fence, you need a moat,” she says. “They're always looking for a way out.” - nationalgeographic.com
Good morning from the piglets 🌞
Violet and our new lady piglets (Bean & Toffee) met today! Violet is a very social pig and loves being around her new friends. She's shown very maternal behaviour, though never having farrowed before. She is very gentle, and we are looking forward to our girls growing up and farrowing together ❤️
Our new OSB girls are getting used to us. We don't like to pressure them into making contact but still need to work with the animals for easy handling, especially as when they are fully grown, these ladies can roughly weigh 129-145kg . At this age its good to just be with them, getting them used to your smells, sounds, and movements.
New paddock = happy pig 🥳
Not bad for a 5-minute job! Needs completing and sprucing up but we're hoping for some happy pigs and some well dug up soil for our allotment next year!! This is a great example of how we can utilise our animals for our benefit while giving them new adventures and a fresh zest for life 🥰
Ita been a bit hot for our big girl Violet but she loves a hose down in the sunshine! We love a happy pig 🥰
The good ol'English summer ☀️ Rain never stops us. We just learn to dance in the rain, and if we fall, what a great excuse for a giggle (and a cuppa tea while you dry 🤣)
Barry our young buck Boer goat! He's a friendly, playful chap and was actually our very first livestock at Muddle Farm 🚜
Morning feeds ✅️
Fill water ✅️
Cuddles ✅️
Muddy puddles for cooling pigs ✅️
Poo picking ✅️
Feeling the heat already ✅️
Happy Birthday Spaniel 🥳🥰
We haven't had much, if any chance to do our garden lately, soo... send in the goats! They're fantastic at eating weeds and keeping the grass short!!
