Yesterday the weather turned seasonably cold and the
animals, instead of huddling up, were wound up and ready to play. With fully
grown winter coats combined with the warm temperatures we’ve had these past
weeks, they have been lethargic and uncomfortable, moving slowly, sweating, and
generally moping around. On New Years eve, Zip had colic, which we are assuming
was the result of the warm weather. We considered shaving them, but felt that
the cold would soon come, and from past experience, we know our guys don’t like
blankets – Louie had a habit of reaching back and grabbing the blanket with his
teeth, pulling it off every time we tried to get it on. Zip and Pat resisted in
their own ways too. We always ended up with torn blankets, and at times found
them trampled in the mud.
Yesterday it finally was cold enough outside to make them
completely comfortable which lifted their spirits, and what fun it was to watch
the horses race and the goats play! Pat (despite his DSLD) and Zip took off
across the fields while ‘ol Lou pranced and did his trademark sideways dance
across the paddock, getting all four of his ‘clompers” off the ground at the
same time. Not bad for an old guy.
And the goats played chase the goat with each other, and
after a while, Frances
decided to get playful rearing up on Mary and Irene. For an hour or so, they
were acting like they did when they were “kids” years ago.
Snoops, who doesn’t want anything to do with the other
goats, was on her own close by, excitedly chomping away at all the green grass
she could stuff herself with. We always call her a 747 after she eats, as she
expands almost to the size of one!
The chickens? Well chickens don’t show much excitement, but
it seems they were all running around as if they too were feeling better in
this cold.
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