It's hot here in Oklahoma!!! Real hot! This is the temp in my chicken coop with a fan going! Yesterday morning I woke up and discovered my boy bunny dead from heat stroke, I had him for over a year, and I will miss him :'( The realization that I, the caretaker to these animals, kept my bunny in an unnatural environment and he passed away makes me feel horrible. I had put a frozen water bottle in his cage but it wasn't enough, if he was able to burrow he would still be alive. So once I had him buried I went crazy trying to cool down all of the animals, I have two fans going in the coop. Mrs. Squirty who I should call Mrs. Broody is sitting on eggs again and won't leave the nest. I couldn't bare losing her too, so fans will run all summer if they have to! The goats are in a pretty shady spot and I change their water 3 x's a day, so they should be fine. Normally I love summer but this is crazy, it's still June and it's 100+ everyday. On a happier note, I have been canning up a storm, I have crocheted two cute mesh bags which is quite an event since I was stuck on dishrags, and I received a priceless treasure recently that I have been fiddling (hint hint) with that I am so proud to own and excited to learn. My house is still a pig sty, with three kids out of school and all the goings on with the animals, garden, canning, and my general dislike for my domestic duties. It might just stay a pit for awhile! Martha Stewart I am not!
No doubt its hot - and no rain in the forecast for us either. Its almost been two weeks already which is very abnormal. Sorry to hear about your bunny :( Glad you're able to go out and tend your animals as frequently as you do, they will all benefit from that. Are you letting Squirty keep her eggs, or are you changing them out? What are you canning? We JUST got our first tomato the other day (Hooray!) Stay cool, and Bah to house work, it just gets messed up again the minute you finish it.
ReplyDeleteWe finally have fertile eggs so I am letting her sit on three this time. I have canned tomatoes and made two different types of pickles and jalepeno jelly. I have about 40 tomatoes right now, so I am going to try my hand at homemade spaghetti sauce ☺ I'm also thinking about washing my car, that always brings the rain LOL!
DeleteWe are almost a month without any significant rain, the pond is down a few feet from when we looked at the property. 100+ without factoring in heat index and humidity is in our forecast too. I struggle with keeping rabbits in unnatural habitats too. I ice them down frequently but sometimes it isn't enough. I mourn your loss as I know exactly how you feel. Congrats on the canning though! I have nothing to can yet, next year though!!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how you kept your angoras cool. The lady I got my rabbits from lets hers live in a colony, but then she has to deal with them burrowing out, predators, and not being able to see the babies when they are born in holes. I think she has altered her setup a bit with more cages because she was losing babies. But no matter what you do, to lose an animal in your care is rough and makes you wonder if it's worth it. You will have a big garden one day, I have been doing this for two years and this is the most produce I have ever had. Everything takes time, when we first moved I wanted so much done that my head would spin, but you just add little by little and then it will all come together ☺
DeleteIt's soo hard to listen to the little by little advice but I KNOW it is the right thing! :) I considered the colony set up but I don't think for Angora's it would be best. The cages keep them clean. I think for other rabbits it would be a great thing, excepting of course the reasons you just gave! :) Death is never easy but that's why farming is such an adventure, there is always new life around the corner.
DeleteYour right about the angoras, I was just talking about my setup and how I am reconsidering rabbits until I can provide them with a more natural habitat. I have been waiting for the life part to happen on my little farm, even just a little hatched out chicken. I was hoping my girl bun was pregnant but she isn't. I have only experienced the death side(1 hen, and my bun) so far :( and I can't wait until something is born/hatched it will make it feel like a real farm :) You are so lucky your new place had so much already established, you are off to a better start than I was :)
DeleteI'm no Martha Stewart either, so I can relate!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your bunny. It's hard to keep the critters cool when it's hot like that. I don't have that problem currently it's been cool and lots of rain here. Hope it cools down some for you.
Lucky! I hope it cools down too, but last year we had a record breaking heat wave and I have a feeling this summer will break that record :p
DeleteSounds like you are well on your way to farm life. It will be fun to watch another Oklahoma gal in this adventure.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I found your blog today and it's great!!! I'm looking forward to everything you have to share! Enjoy this HOT weekend!!!
Delete