I am smarter than my phone…

OK, probably not.  But I used to be.  I recently have graduated (back) to a smart phone...leaving the peace and tranquility of my dumb phone behind me.  I used to have a smart phone…although back than it was just called a toy.  As many of you know I used to be the Chef for Microsoft Corp, they insisted on the latest technology (I know ironic).  I started out at MS many years ago with just a regular any old phone…although the technology was so advanced that one was a flip phone.  Yup no more having to touch that pesky end call button, just flip your wrist and you were on your way to being in the ranks of Captain Kurk with his fancy flip communicator.  Since I wasn’t leading any mission to seek out new life and new civilization, I stayed with my flip phone for nearly 7 years (it worked for Captain Kirk, it will work for me).  I was taken aback when IT called and said I was getting a smart phone.  I covered the ears of my flip phone…it was the right thing to do.  It was pretty cool though- sleek, very slim, very small buttons for my gorilla hands.  After 5 hours of set-up and 6 visits to IT, my smart phone was ready for action…but only 45 minutes of action before I needed to charge it for an hour.  After installing the extra life battery, my phone was now 1-3/4” thick and weighed about 6 pounds.  I had to tighten my belt when I put it in my pocket, but having a full 65 minutes between charges was worth it.  Over the years, I got fancier and fancier phones.  I am not sure how it happened, but slowly- gradually something changed.  My phone had become smarter than I was.  It told me when to eat, when to go places, what time it was.  I couldn’t function without it.  When I dropped it down the elevator shaft (another story I can share with you latter, but it had to do with my boss insisting that I use a belt clip for my phone) I simply had to go home.  My computer didn’t talk to me and I  would look pretty stupid walking around holding it to me ear (after all, it was more about the status symbol than the ability to download text emails in lightning fast 5 minutes each). 

When I finally left Microsoft for a leap back into family life, I left behind my smarter phone, my laptop, and everything else tied with fast business.  I wanted to start fresh.  I wanted to swear off the constant bombardment of technology and information and focus on family.  I bought a very stupid phone…a flip phone.  I even went as far as buying a burn phone so I wouldn’t be caught in any contract trap.  Then, I started Shoreline Farm Supply.  I insisted that I can do this the old fashion way…with nothing more than a really expensive computer, a cell phone and a GPS thingy.  I was once again smarter than my phone…I just didn’t know when to eat, where to go and I had to push a button to find out what time it was.  It was only after I accidently connecting to the web…apparently by holding my phone wrong…and then stayed connected for a very long time while my bill grew by leaps and bounds, that I realized that my dumb phone was still too smart.  Hence how it earned the label of a stupid phone.  Regardless, that phone has done me right for the last couple of years.  Customers could call me and I could call them.  I did learn that that’s not how business is done anymore.  Most of my customers were younger than I am.  Some are MUCH younger.  I found out that anyone under 35 was never taught how to use a regular phone or in some cases have even seen a dumb phone.  So…now I have a Facebook account.  I blog…sort of.  I send out mostly texts.  I decided that I had to buy a smart phone to manage everything.  I am not sure how smart it is…it keeps yelling at me instead of calmly explaining what I am doing wrong.  I finally configured the emails and visual voicemails.  Useful since you can’t read while driving and driving is 90% of what I do.  I have a Bluetooth to talk and drive…of course every time I turn it on it goes on and on about how I am supposed to use it.  (Really, it talks to me and reads off a paragraph of instructions every time I turn it on.  I just turn it on and leave it on the counter to go through its routine.  I shudder when I think of what will happen if it figures out I am ignoring it.)  Time will tell if I made the smart purchase.  Theoretically, I will be able to stay in touch and respond faster to customers.  I hope so, I did it for them.  I personally would like to be smarter than my phone again.  Maybe latter.

How goats handle the cold and what you should know.

Wanted to share some "urban goats in the snow" wisdom from friend and local goat expert Lacia Lynn:

 

"Cashmere is the undercoat of goats, so they are plenty warm as long as they are DRY, and if they have ample hay and LIQUID WATER.  Make sure they can get to water EASILY and don't have to go thru wet spot or weather obstacle to get to their water.  It's the fermenting hay in their belly rumen that keeps them warm, and it takes more water than usual as in the cold they are eating more hay than usual.

 

If you add an extra "inside" bucket of water for them, make sure to hang it above pooping level so it stays clean.

 

Goats generally adore warm water on cold days, take some out to yours and enjoy how extra fluffy and cuddly they are on a day like today.  Mine climb into my lap, even the big ones get as much of themselves in my lap as possible, LOL, and they just the best!

 

Goat herd politics: 

Be extra aware if they are pushing any one goat out of a common shelter, even if they are normally very nice to each other.  I pulled  a significantly pregnant one of mine into my milking area, to get her out of any possible risk of nonsense.  I do also add a temporary extra tub of hay and one of water to lessen any risk of someone hogging the resources indoors.  Keep those high enough that they can't get ruined by poor or pee, otherwise it'll look full to you, but not edible for them.   As adorable and wonderful as I think goats are, without training they are not especially aware or thoughtful about where/when they poop or pee.  Many of you know I have some that are close to housebroken for short periods of time, they seem to get the concept, but that doesn't apply in their own space unless you work on training that too.  Some folks do, most find it easier to just keep food and water above rear end level.

 

Goats don't need grain for this level of cold.  Best is just hay and water that is inviting to drink (accessible without weather obstacles, and not too cold) is best.

 

This is a time to feed lower protein if they are "indoors" without great air circulation. So cut back on any grain and high protein alfalfa a bit.  Just for a couple days of this, don't change their diet drastically.  For most goats, cut grain and high protein alfalfa by 1/3 to 1/2.   If they have recently kidded (given birth) then change NOTHING except add extra accessible warm water.  If they are heavy bred (kidding the next month or so, and looking very big), cut back grain/alfalfa only 1/4 to 1/3.  

 

Its the fiber in the hay that the microbes ferment that keeps the goats warm.  Any excess protein just makes ammonia stronger in urine, and that's a respiratory risk in confined quarters.  I'll also do just a little spot cleaning or adding extra wood shavings/pellets to their bedding in any wet spots.  The  fine line between good air circulation but no drafts, is part of what makes a GREAT goat shelter.  Designs based on your microclimate, and nearby buildings and features that make wind do atypical patterns are key for moving from "having" goats to being a really good goat keeper.  

 

If you want to practice your observation skills, and improve your set up and goat keeping standards, notice where they are hanging out, and go visit the part of their shelter that they aren't hanging out in.  Most times you'll find a funny slight air movement coming around a corner etc if you wet your finger and hold it up in the air.  There's just far too many things for air to move around in weird ways in city environments especially, no one can really predict every little breeze eddy.  This is why I teach to use moveable shelters the first year with goats.  You want to observe and accept feedback from your system and make appropriate changes.  Its harder to to that if you've got a big investment in a building set up already.  Balancing refining your moveable set up with noise concerns and needing a place a door that closes for many city goat situations is a different post.  <smile>  I'll try to blog about that if I get enough folks asking and before the big rush of kids comes in spring and we have a lot of new goat keepers.

 

Goats will "survive" in far less than ideal circumstances, but to have them "thrive" and maximize their yield to you in our tight city spaces where every inch counts, the details of goat keeping and design can make a big difference in their health, yields, and your sanity and amount of work to do. 

 

Back to more direct snow topic...

 

When the active snowing stops, they usually go run and frolic and just have a great time in the snow!

 

When they are done running around in the snow, pay attention if any are limping a bit, check for snow packed into an ice ball around their toes.   Its not common, but can happen.  The shaggier ones are at more risk as the snow collects on the shaggy fur vs less snow collecting and more melting faster on goats with less fur.  In this weather, its very unlikely, but theoretically possible they could get a little frostbite spot with enough of an ice ball.  If you do want to remove and ice ball, depending on where/how its attached to the foot, sometimes it can be easily broken, or poor a bit of warm water on it but THEN make sure they go inside and not back out in the snow with a wet foot. 

 

Really, this weather is not "cold" from the average goat's ability to handle weather.   If you've got one that is old, or has bad teeth, or thin fur, then of course take extra precautions, but for most goats, just keep them in hay and warm water, and lowering their protein just a little, is plenty good.  If you do have baby kids, that's a longer topic to cover everything to make sure they are warm and getting enough extra food. "

The critters need their greens too. Green Forage for your Chickens

Happy New Year!  January is a time when most people are considering what to do to past the time.  Seed catalogs are arriving in the mail and garden planning should be in the forefront of your thinking.  Your chickens and poultry have probably stopped laying (unless you use supplemental light) and the rabbits have slowed down their natural reproduction cycles.  It is easy to forget about green forage as winter really starts to set in to the Puget Sound area.  If you were capable to plant cover crops at the time, your green manure cover crops are in their full thick glory.  Time to clip them down a bit to stimulate growth and feed the resulting greens to the chickens, ducks and other poultry. 

Even though modern feeds boast a complete diet, forage is and always will be a recommended part of a complete livestock diet.  Green forage grasses and legumes are unsurpassed at providing antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that are easily processed by poultry.  It also can reduce your feed bill by as much as 15% ifyou stay on top of it.  Adult rabbits benefit as well, but only in small quantities (juniors and kits are never allowed to consume so much moisture rich greens as it can lead to moisture loss through manure and even death).  If you have rabbits, consider drying them in a sunny location in the garage or shed.  Fresh dried grass and legume hays are very good for your rabbits. 

Didn’t plant any cover crops this year?  Look for other greens; UNTREATED and UNFERTILIZED lawn grasses are fine, comfrey, dandelion greens, wilting or molting garden greens are all acceptable.  While cleaning up the garden, remember the brussel sprout stocks and winter pea vines are great for the rabbits to gnaw on.   It is a great opportunity to keep the blood flowing, get you into the yard to identify last minute forgotten products, and give your animals a nutritious boost as they adjust to the cold months ahead. 

Shoreline Farm Supply carries a large selection of pasture grazing grass seed blends and single seed cover crops starting in early summer.  You can follow us on Facebook (http://facebook.com/shorelinefarmsupply), follow this blog or sign up for alerts on the website to be reminded of what and when items are stocked.