|
|
Post by Double Take on Oct 16, 2011 9:17:37 GMT -8
No they didn't want to go into the pen! Java had to work hard to get them in. In the afternoon they went in no problem!
They are all sheep. Most of them are a breed called Florida native and are "hair" sheep meaning they don't have wool (I would call them meat sheep). And I agree some of them do look very like goats. There is a variety called Barb (short for Barbados sheep) that look like a deer to me.
The sheep get rotated. So each group of three only have to work once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
|
|
|
|
Post by California gal on Oct 16, 2011 10:25:47 GMT -8
Obviously the person taking the video for you has a dog as well. At that point with the stubborn critters, she muttered "been there, done that." ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by California gal on Oct 16, 2011 11:10:55 GMT -8
You might get a dog to do it with chickens, but you probably couldn't get chickens to do it with a dog. ;D
When we raised pheasants, they of course started out inside under an incubator, and then we'd let them out into a small yard. As they got more feathers--and thus their wings--we gave them more room. But we had to herd them back into the coop at night. I don't think there's anything more frustrating than having 50 or so young pheasants almost ready to enter the coop door and something--anything--would startle them. They would fly up and back behind us. Begin again.
|
|
|
|
Post by California gal on Oct 16, 2011 11:39:40 GMT -8
These pheasants were being raised to be turned out into the wild. We couldn't coddle them TOO much.  |
|
Silver
Book Worm
I love the smell of canon fire in the morning!
Posts: 625
|
Post by Silver on Oct 17, 2011 7:37:39 GMT -8
My folks' dog Gwennie just made the journey from central Texas to southern Ohio in the truck with my Dad and brother with no problems - by far the longest journey she's ever taken.
Her mother was half border collie and half Australian shepherd - no one knows what the father was. Her siblings looked like Australian shepherds and she was smaller and marked like a border collie. I can honestly report seeing her trying to herd her siblings at about 3 days old. By 3 weeks she was trying to herd her mama. Clearly this time the smallest was the pick of the litter, and she's been a great companion and sentry for my folks for many years. Smart! And she personafies the border collie alert stance - you know how even at rest they look ready for anything!
|
|
|
|
Post by artiesniecewannabe on Oct 18, 2011 7:04:18 GMT -8
Decided on a name for the kitty at last -- Marty. Any guesses where I got that from?
As soon as I said Marty, one of the kids said, 'McFly?' So fine -- if they want to think that's where the name came from, let 'em.
Interestingly enough, the one kid who was dead-set against me naming the kitten Artemus embraced the name Marty whole-heartedly, even asking could she call the kitty Martin! *Mom hides smirk -- 'Sure, kid, sure!'* It seems her favorite author, Dick King-Smith, wrote a book called Martin's Mice in which a cat named Martin wanted to be friends with some mice.
The mama cat moved the kittens into my laundry room, so we got a good look at last. My kitten turns out to be not pure black, but has a few small patches of white, and some very hard to see patches of orange. So looks like Marty's a she-kitty. Still keeping the name.
|
|
|
|
Post by California gal on Oct 18, 2011 7:11:36 GMT -8
Yep, if the kitten has 3 colors, it's a very good chance she's a she! There's a white and gray tabby that comes into my yard that has patches of orange, but I'm positive he's a he. Maybe the "law" doesn't apply to tabbies. Are you going to be able to get Mama to the vet before it happens again?  |
|
Silver
Book Worm
I love the smell of canon fire in the morning!
Posts: 625
|
Post by Silver on Oct 18, 2011 10:08:58 GMT -8
There's a white and gray tabby that comes into my yard that has patches of orange, but I'm positive he's a he. Maybe the "law" doesn't apply to tabbies. Well, I think the "law" is actually that the rare three-colored males are almost always sterile. Be nice if that's so, if he hasn't been 'fixed' by his owners. |
|
|
|
Post by California gal on Oct 18, 2011 10:18:23 GMT -8
Yeah, I've heard that 3-colored males are sterile. Usually they are the tortoise or calico variety. This cat actually resembled my Princess in markings, with striped tabby body, white in the front, etc., but he also has an orange patch by his nose and at least one other on his body. I think he's fixed but he's never allowed me close enough to be sure. One reason I believe he's male is that he tangles with another cat that I'm also positive is male.  |
|
Apple
Desk Jockey
"Speaking of love, Apple..."
Posts: 2,202
|
Post by Apple on Oct 18, 2011 13:10:27 GMT -8
My aunt's name is Marty, it's all good Niecie! I personally like Martin ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by artiesniecewannabe on Oct 30, 2011 7:54:31 GMT -8
Sad news. Our Houdini-girl Hobbes, who utterly refused to stay in the house, got hit by a car early yesterday. The kids tracked down where she had stashed her babies, so we have them in the house to hand-raise them. They are nearly a full month old, so I'm hoping their chances are good.
|
|
|
|
Post by Double Take on Oct 30, 2011 8:30:53 GMT -8
That is so sad! I feel for you and your family. I hope the kittens do well; they should at 4 weeks. My youngest cat (9 now) was about 5 weeks when I found her in a parking lot where she had been dropped.
|
|
|
|
Post by California gal on Oct 30, 2011 9:39:51 GMT -8
So sorry to hear about Hobbes. That's the dangers of the outdoors. And once a cat has become accustomed to living outside, it's next to impossible to get them to be indoor only. That's why I don't even let my two even go out briefly. They would drive me nuts wanting to be out there all the time.
I agree. At 4 weeks you have a good chance with the kitties. Good luck!
|
|
Apple
Desk Jockey
"Speaking of love, Apple..."
Posts: 2,202
|
Post by Apple on Oct 30, 2011 16:06:48 GMT -8
Aw Niecie, I'm sorry. Those kitties will be very lovey, since they are being hand-raised.
|
|
Dieter
Desk Jockey
Permanent Admin's Bad Boy
Posts: 1,359
|
Post by Dieter on Oct 30, 2011 19:10:36 GMT -8
So sorry to hear, Niecie! Sad to lose an outdoor cat. It happened to us a couple years ago but in a different way. Our black & white kitty, Oreo, was always outdoors all day, came in at night, but one day drank anti-freeze some neighbor dumped in the gutter when draining his radiator. That destroyed her kidneys and she was gone within a week. I never found out who did that, but the Vet said animals love the sweet taste of anti-freeze and has seen that kind of thing happen quite often.
|
|
Silver
Book Worm
I love the smell of canon fire in the morning!
Posts: 625
|
Post by Silver on Oct 31, 2011 6:11:28 GMT -8
Niecie, Dieter, I'm so sorry about your fur-friends. It tore me up to lose Gerri last year, and she died very peacefully at home at 16+ years.
Niecie, those babies should do well, with a loving family to hand-raise them. My Artemus was about 5 weeks old when I found the litter, and once we cured his conjunctivitis (well, he has one slightly weepy eye to this day, but loves it when I wipe it for him) he's done great ever since. His brother Koko scared my friend Karen by not eating or drinking for a few days, but she managed to hand-feed him over that bump and he's a crazy but happy fellow now.
Joyous news on my front - Lily Fortune has come to live with us! She is just an incredible love. She and Artemus are still in the hissing stage, and he avoids her, but when she can't see him he watches her with a very kindly look on his face. She spent last night lose in the apartment while Arte stayed on the bed with me, like he always does. I think she slept on top of my armchair.
He's so funny, because he lets me pet him and rub his face, then remembers he's mad at me and hisses!
Lily is spending today in the fully outfitted bathroom 'isolation' room. They can reach under the door to play some, but she can be safe and he'll get curious. I know his gentle good nature will win out over jealousy soon. I keep reminding him how much I love him.
|
|
|
|
Post by California gal on Oct 31, 2011 8:36:53 GMT -8
I went through that every time I brought a kitten in with an adult cat. They have to get to know each other and set up a "pecking order." They act like they can't stand each other, but as soon as one gets out of the other's sight, they'd go looking.
Funny, despite all I had heard, I found it easier to bring two adult cats together. I think part of it is because one cat was Brandy, who had lived the first couple of years of her life with around 80 other cats and had learned to get along.
|
|
Silver
Book Worm
I love the smell of canon fire in the morning!
Posts: 625
|
Post by Silver on Nov 1, 2011 6:38:39 GMT -8
Is this a face, or what? Sleepy Lily.  Artie is even accepting of her playing with his favorite mouse!  |
|
|
|
Post by California gal on Nov 1, 2011 6:50:46 GMT -8
What great markings on her face. She could be named "Harlequin" with those markings. Nice of Artie to share his toys. But it is Lily after all. |
|
|
|
Post by artiesniecewannabe on Nov 5, 2011 7:56:26 GMT -8
The kittens are a month old today. And one of them is sitting at my foot currently and --OW -- testing out its pointy ends on my ankle! *stops typing to see who it is -- oh, it's Dexter, the orange one* The littles went on a grand explore of the house this morning and found the kitchen! So we all will have to be exceedingly careful where we step from now on throughout the entire house.
It's funny how the three older cats (Esther, the 2 yo, and Inigo and Binky, the 1/2 yos) think the tiny kittens are SCARY! *run and hide*
|
|
|
|
Post by California gal on Nov 5, 2011 9:46:39 GMT -8
I had that happen between adult cats and an introduced kitten. The big kitty would run, but then come sneaking back to see what the little one was doing. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Double Take on Nov 5, 2011 13:27:12 GMT -8
It's good to hear the little ones are doing okay. Post some pictures for us! There is nothing cuter than kittens (excpet maybe puppies).
|
|
|
|
Post by artiesniecewannabe on Nov 7, 2011 9:52:17 GMT -8
I had set my writings bag down by the computer desk earlier and just now reached down to pull out one of my compy books to do some typing from it -- and all three kittens were curled up on top of the bag napping.
|
|
|
|
Post by California gal on Nov 7, 2011 11:30:44 GMT -8
And if you're anything like me, you won't be using that bag for awhile... |
|
Silver
Book Worm
I love the smell of canon fire in the morning!
Posts: 625
|
Post by Silver on Nov 7, 2011 14:22:53 GMT -8
And if you're anything like me, you won't be using that bag for awhile... Ditto! Lily saw her vet yesterday (they're also an emergency clinic, are open 24/7 and make regular appointments on the weekends too) Saturday the 29th she was weighed at 2 lbs. Yesterday she weighed 3.22 lbs! The vet tech picked her up to look at her, put her up beside her face and said "The motor's running fine!" Everybody had to cuddle her and make a fuss over her. She just ate it up! |
|
|
|
Post by California gal on Nov 7, 2011 15:48:26 GMT -8
And if you're anything like me, you won't be using that bag for awhile... Ditto! Lily saw her vet yesterday (they're also an emergency clinic, are open 24/7 and make regular appointments on the weekends too) Saturday the 29th she was weighed at 2 lbs. Yesterday she weighed 3.22 lbs! The vet tech picked her up to look at her, put her up beside her face and said "The motor's running fine!" Everybody had to cuddle her and make a fuss over her. She just ate it up! They grow up so fast! |
|
|
|
Post by artiesniecewannabe on Nov 8, 2011 10:03:41 GMT -8
Inigo has started grooming the tinies; curious, since he's the tom of the older cats. I think I mentioned before our family habit of calling the cats 'mooses'? Well, my homeschooling son was just talking to my little Marty kitten, calling her 'Marty-moose'. And then 'Marty-moose Short'un.' (Say it out loud.)
Oh yes, I'm a baaaaaaad influence on my kids...
(Particularly where puns are concerned.)
|
|
Apple
Desk Jockey
"Speaking of love, Apple..."
Posts: 2,202
|
Post by Apple on Nov 8, 2011 12:48:16 GMT -8
Artemoose...LOL You sure pulled a number on those kids ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by artiesniecewannabe on Nov 8, 2011 12:57:04 GMT -8
Artemoose...LOL You sure pulled a number on those kids ;D The daughter who did not want me to name the kitty after Artie finally figured out that Marty is for Ross Martin. So yeah, she got mad at me. We also call the kitty Smarty Marty. Now that the babies are a month old, their teeny tiny little ears are growing like mad. Soon they'll be in that stage of the rest of the kitty needing to grow to match the ears. |
|
Silver
Book Worm
I love the smell of canon fire in the morning!
Posts: 625
|
Post by Silver on Nov 9, 2011 10:05:14 GMT -8
My mom calls Artemus 'Andsome Arte.
|
|
