big foot-little foot?

ok, so does the daughter have little feet or the percheron really big feet? In any event the youngest daughter fits into Tomas's new boots. He has a cracked hoof that makes him sore on roads, so we bought him boots to protect his feet.

Hypocrisy of animal rescues.

The hypocrisy of animals rescues and adoptions.
Let’s face it there are way too many unwanted animals in the world today. In fact too many unwanted people but that’s a different rant. I also understand after 18 years in the veterinary field that rules are necessary to function. What I don’t understand is the hoops that rescue organizations force their potential adopters to jump through/over and around in order to adopt an animal.
I’ve had an experience with a chicken rescue here in Minnesota that will not allow me to adopt a chicken, even though she admitted I was a great home, took excellent care of my animals and insured that they get all of their needs met specific to the species, that she herself would love to live at my farm but…………. Because I chose to eat the eggs my chickens produce that made me ineligible to adopt. I pointed out to her that it seemed to be a bit of a hypocrisy unless every one of their adopters is a vegetarian. Many studies have proven that plants suffer a measurable response when faced with picking/pruning etc of the plant so who’s to say that just by virtue of being a vegetarian makes a better adopter. She also did not like the fact that we occasionally butcher our cows, completely disregarding the facts that a) I prefer to eat food that I know where it came from b) no hormones/antibiotics added c) humane treatment d) that I am helping to preserve a heritage breed. I also highly doubt that everyone of their adopters uses or wears no leather or leather products. I am offended too that she mentioned that she occasionally buys eggs at the grocery store to feed her chickens and the majority of eggs purchased at a store even when labeled: cage free, free range or organic may not be so. Cage free/free range only means that the birds are not in a small confined individual cage, but they may be in a larger group cage and it does not mean that they are allowed access to fresh air or outside. Organic does not mean that they are treated humanely, only that the food they are fed is ‘supposed’ to be organic. Hate to tell you but, organic has become a catch all phrase and that animal products may be fed to these organic chickens. I wonder why if there is such a moral dilemma to eating chicken eggs why don’t these rescuers limit the amount of light the chickens have access to prevent egg laying. Egg laying is an amazing use of nutritional resources by the hens and to lessen their egg laying allows more nutrients to be available to the hen itself………oh wait that would make sense.
I strive very hard to insure that all my animals are able to live as they were originally designed for. Example horses have a very specific range/roaming requirement in order for their bodies to work the most efficiently, do I have enough acres to fully satisfy this requirement? No, but I certainly allow them complete access to their 17 acre pasture where they and the cows are free to roam, socialize and be themselves, in fact the chickens are completely free roaming, daily foraging for bugs, dirt and whatever thing a chickens may find exciting to do.
In closing as I told the women at the rescue I fully believe that their personal views and opinions are preventing animals from being adopted by caring, responsible, educated people. Rules are necessary to function but logical needs also be applied. I believe that these people care about these animals but have become misguided in their rescue efforts. Well I’m going to go out to the barn to visit Joe chicken, who comes when called, gets lots of treats and seems to not care that I eat eggs from the hens, in fact I’ve never had a hen even notice that I have taken eggs, meaning that they don’t come screaming and pecking into the barn when I collect the eggs. Maybe they do get upset, but as a certified animal behavioral consultant I have never seen any behavior that would indicate their indignation at losing a egg, and once an egg is laid the hen leaves the nest and roams about the yard.
I've added a picture of some chicken girls enjoying their day, here at the funny farm

It's a bad hair day!

Well here he is, our new white crested, black polish Rooster. I wanted to be sure to name him to reflect his polish heritage so his name is..............Joe, yep, makes me laugh too. Daughter, Lauren, got the giggles even worse than I did when she saw him for the first time and then continued to break into giggles every time she looked at him. He's seems to be very docile, hasn't even tried to escape when he has been picked up. We also picked up another 10 hens ( not polish) to replace those lost to the racoons this summer &^%^!%!*^!

Brrrrr, weather has gotten quite cool this am, cloudy and overcast today.

Well that's about all the new news, so have a great day and I hope Joe brings a smile to you.

oops, forgot the after shots

Ok, so here are the shots of a more accurate portrayal of how the creek usually is, with a photo from last night.

Wow, what a few minutes of time and a few inches of rain will do

There is less than a minute between the above photo's. The creek went from a little above normal to a raging river in less than 5, went over our banks in several places. The photo is of a spot that is normally about 15' from the edge of the water. The bank closest in the photo is about 3' tall, NOT anymore.

Geese were entranced by the flood, having their usual vocal discussion on; what do you think happened? i don't know, do you think it's safe? I don't know and on and on.

Neighbors had two creeks running through their property, one of them covering 1/3 of their driveway. This second creek then went through the cornfield and into Tomas's pasture. He was not impressed by this show of water force and reared, and stomped his foot at it.

This morning creek is almost back to normal, and it's a beautiful day, hope you have one too!

Ruby Red

Well, I have finally remembered to take the camera out to get recent photo's of our first Dna typed red Dexter. The photo's don't replicate the shiny, shiny new copper penny color of her but it gives one an idea. Next on the agenda start halter training her, I would very much like to show her. Not too many Dexter classes or shows locally so it may be that she is shown for exhibit only. That's ok, I welcome the opportunity to educate the public on this wonderful small breed of cattle. The other calf in one of the pictures is, Spunky Mooster, you know like Punky Brewster. It's amazing that she wasn't tearing around wrestling with the weeds or bumping heads with Ruby.

Animals definitely seem to hang out with like sex, or color. The three boys all hang together and Spunky and Ruby are always together.

Scooter the dog is getting huge!!!! We joke that he is part great dane. He's still waiting for his brain to show up, think he has DADD-dog attention deficit disorder. He's a great dog, even if we do make fun of him.

Peeking chicken

Yes, it is a Peeking chicken, peeking out from the new basement they and the dogs are attempting to excavate.

It's official we have a dna confirmed red heifer!!! woohoo, she is the color of a new penny, very shiny and healthy. We've had two heifers this year and two bull calves. It's been very nice finally getting some heifers that are eligible for registry. Tomas is enjoying meeting new people and carrying them around.

Garden has gone nuts, have already canned 10 quarts of tomatoes, and frozen probably another 10 gallon size bags of them.