Farm Visit Log
January 23rd and 24th, 2011
by Brian Higgins on 01/29/11
It had been three weeks since my last visit (I missed documenting the first one in January...oops) and I was aching to see my friends again. It is amazing the difference that one week can make! Since we had added some bunnies to our family (Buddy and Rosy) the weekend before, it had not been possible to come up. It worked out in my favor, however, since Sophia had planned a volunteer dinner for the 23rd.
Saturday started out with some cleaning and floor repairs to the Chicken Barn. Between the chicken scratching, the rat tunneling, and the effects of nature, there were large sections along the sides and in the middle that just weren't quite level. This meant hauling wheelbarrows full of gravel and dirt to patch them up. It seems that there were some logistics issues and someone forgot to advise the chickens about this extra work because they seemed a tad annoyed about not being able to come back in as soon as usual. Between the burning in my arms and the burning of chicken eyes peering through the windows, it made for a bit of an uncomfortable situation. After a few hours of work, all was well and apologies were made and accepted.
While I was working on this project, I couldn't help but see my buddies Coco and Melvin. Coco had a bit of a limp on her front leg so she was in the isolation area near the rest of the goats. I could tell that she was wanting to be back with them. She was routinely bleating this desire in the surprisingly warm air. Her calls were being responded to by Noel, the newest edition to the Farm, who was also in isolation pending a clean bill of health. It would be very difficult for any practical person to listen to this and not concede that they are communicating and not just making random noises. I checked in on her from time to time and she looked as lovely as ever.
Melvin was sporting a new haircut. I am sure that it was a lot cooler for him with the bulk of his hair shorn, but I sure hope he didn't pay for his new do (Or at least didn't tip his barber). Lets just say that he reminded me of a goofy "Cowardly Lion" from the Wizard of Oz because he had short hair on his body but a large mane/scruff around his neck. He still had that cute little goat smirk so he was instantly recognizable. His short hair cut also made it easier to see a small abcess on his side which I had the chance to help Mike C. treat. Melvin was a good little patient and I think he understood that we were trying to help him.
After the Chicken Barn work, it was time to help Mike K. with the Rescue Barn pig area totalling. This went pretty smoothly, but once again, someone had forgotten to tell the pigs, most notably Lassen and Mathilda, that it would take a little longer today. As we worked to get their new beds made just right, they worked to try to open the gate and get back in. I think that it was more of a gesture than anything else. These are some big piggies and if they really wanted to get in, they would. As we were finishing loading the tractor with the straw, Elliot and Oliver made an appearance. I had seen then earlier in the pasture, never far from each others' sides and they strolled into the Rescue Barn side by side. They were very fascinated with the tractor, so I sat down and called to them to make sure they were clear so Mike could pull out. Elliot came strolling over first and then Oliver. They are both growing up so fast. While they still have that calf-appearance, it is only a matter of time until they are full-fledged cows. I smiled broadly when Elliot took my whole hand, up to the wrist, in his mouth and started sucking on it. Old habits die hard, and there will be a day when I will sorely miss this one.
Justin (a.k.a. "Squishy") was also checking us out and he received a special visit from Indran who was taking pictures and shooting videos. I was saddened to learn that Sunday would be his last day, but glad to know that I would be working with him and have a chance to say goodbye.
The rest of Saturday was consumed with miscellaneous cleaning and odd-jobs which I will not bore you with here, but which do make a difference for the animals.
Sunday started off with a real event. It was time to introduce Justin to the goat herd. Now by himself Justin looks pretty small, so I was imagining how much smaller he would look next to his new "BFFs" (Hopefully). Indran and I coralled him and I had the honor of holding him on my lap in the front seat of the red van for the drive up to the Sheep and Goat Barn. When we got there, all I could think was, "Don't drop him or let him jump out" as I exited the van and walked through the gate. Everyone on shift was on-hand to see this and Justin didn't disappoint. He worked immediately to establish himself as a tough guy by standing on his rear legs to challenge the larger male goats with head-butts. The sight of his tiny horns bumping against theirs was pretty darn cute. Gradually more and more goats and sheep came over to meet this "New Kid on the Block" (Credits to Kim who made that connection) and he was quite the popular little fellow.
Amidst the rest of the day's cleaning (And a close encounter with a black widow spider that spiked my adrenaline for the afternoon), there were some other notable events. The first was spending some time with Noel. He had gone through a rough patch at the hands of some meth heads who had stuffed him in a car trunk and were apparently planning to eat him, but now he was settling in. He had just been neutered a couple of days ago, but he didn't seem to be holding too much of a grudge. He was sweet and would alternate between nuzzling in my hand and butting my knees (Gently, luckily for me). As I was wrapping up my time cleaning his yard, Fred mentioned that there was a visitor in the Duck pond.
Lo and behold, there was a river otter sitting on the bank. He was minding his own business and didn't seem to mind us watching him or taking his picture. He didn't seem to interested in the ducks, but I remembered reading an article once about river otters attaching and eating a poodle so we did some web research and decided that it would probably be wise to have a "duck lock-down" to be on the safe side. He was still there in the pond when I left, but I am told that this little "exchange student" went back home at the end of the day.
In between and during assignments, I also had the chance to visit with Whitaker, Blossom, Calvin, Ady, Colvin, Wendy, Lassen, Mathilda, Ramona, Kiwi, Fergus, Boe, Daisy, and Indigo.
Whitaker was laying in the pasture and let me pet him and hug him for a bit while Ashley counted the herd. I know that he will miss Indran almost as much as Indran will miss him. Fortunately, he is staying in the Orland area so he will be able to visit him regularly.
Blossom and Calvin devoured a large bowl of grass that I prepared for them. They seem to be quite the couple nowadays; maybe a celebrity inspired name like "Blovin" or "Calsom" is needed to signify their relationship. She is also finally done with her duct tape slippers since the hairy heel warts have finally healed.
I had a chance to pet Ady, Colvin, and Wendy when they congregated around the large water bowl. It is a rare thing for Wendy to let me pet her, so I made the most of it. They are a cute little sheep family.
Lassen, Mathilda, Ramona, Kiwi, and Fergus were a bit of a challenge to get separated for PM produce, but once they saw that food was on the line, they were a bit more cooperative.They had settled into the nice beds we had provided them the day before and hand't really wanted to get up at first.
Boe let me pet her briefly in the Main Office and I told her about our new bunnies.
Indigo seemed to be enjoying his new surroundings since the chicken and turkey hospital hutches had been swapped. Everyone likes a change of scenery from time to time.
I visited with Daisy from a distance since she is still pretty shy, but I am convinced that she knows her name. She is adorable.
With some sore muscles, but a restored heart, I bid my friends a, "See Ya Later" and closed my visit and made my way down the dusty trail to the "real world".
December 20th through December 23rd, 2010
by Brian Higgins on 12/24/10
Since I am required to take two weeks off for the holidays, it seemed fitting that I would spend at least some of that time at the Farm as a gift to myself. I am happy to report that my buddies are doing well.
I kept pretty busy with barn cleaning and using gravel to fill in holes due to digging and erosion in the barns, but as always it was a great experience. I have it on good authority that all of the animals are on the "Nice List", although it was touch and go for a while with Romeo Goose. I am sure that when Santa comes, they will be well rewarded.
Blossom was looking as cute as ever, complete with her little "duct tape ballerina slippers" on her rear feet. Her hairy heel warts have healed up and she should be out of her corrective foot wear soon. I can definitively say that she has the cleaest snout of all the pigs. She seems to enjoy washing it in her water bowl, which is quite a sight to see. Blossom enjoyed copious treats during my visit, although I suspect it is never enough for her. I think she looks forward to being back in the main pig herd once her feet are fully recovered.
Coco and Melvin were in fine form, despite the chilly and wet weather. When they first saw me across the pasture, they began to amble over from their repsective spots. In my last couple visits, they have shown a particular fondness for carrots, so I didn't let them down this time. I am glad to see that they are both getting along well with the rest of the goats since they are still somewhat in transition. In between carrot pieces, I had plenty of time to hug on both of them. Melvin's coat is so think that I am sure he keeps warm, but I look forward to the spring where he can get it tidied up a bit.
Elliot and Oliver are still the perfect examples of goofy calf-ishness and it is so fun to watch them play. I even had the opportunity to take Elliot on a "walk" when we moved them from the Cattle Barn to the Oak Tree Pasture (My favorite pasture on the Farm). As is often the case with our dog Heidi, it wasn't always clear who was walking who. He still sucks on my hand, practically to the point of swallowing it, while Oliver gives him a look that seems to say, "Grow up!" Oliver would be entitled to be a little grumpy since he was neutered (With anethesia, of course) during the vet visit on Tuesday, but he has already made a quick recovery. It hopefully won't be long until he starts to bulk up a bit more, like Elliot who is probably pushing 350-400 pounds now.
Speaking of goofy calves, Whitaker put on a show of puppy dog/cow eyes this week. He still longs to join the human herd, despite the fact that he has a large and diverse bovine herd to hang out with. I saw both photographic evidence in the Main Office as well as lick evidence on his back to indicate that he has been having cattle encounters, but given his choice he still seems to prefer human company. This can be a little daunting when he is barreling down a hill towards you at full bore, but he means well and continues to be a real sweetheart. I suspect that if he had a "Whitaker cam" on his head, we would see a lot more cattle encounters and have a better sense for how he is integrating. Unfortunately, Edwin is still the male equivalent of the "Belle of the Ball" and has largely moved on from his relationship with Whitaker. I did see them together briefly on Monday when Edwin strolled up to Whitaker and they pressed foreheads together. I am not exactly sure what it means as a gesture, but I am choosing to believe it means, "Hi, how are you doing? Would you like to join me in a bale of hay after these humans are gone and you stop giving them the sad puppy cow eyes?" There is some talk of moving Whitaker in with Elliot and Oliver in the hopes that he will be a "big brother" to them before they are all introduced to the main herd. Maybe it will be a case of bovine three's company.
Daisy Duck seemed to be enjoying the wet weather, like all the other ducks and geese. I surprised her at one point as I was walking past the pond and she vigorously protested what she perceived as my having snuck up on her. She darted off into the water and quacked her disapproval. After letting me plead my case, all was well though and I watched her swim around for a while before taking my leave.
Boe and the other bunnies have been moved to the Main Office while maintenance is being done on the Rabbit Barn. They seemed to really enjoy it there and were making the most of their new digs. I am sure that, like all of the animals, they will enjoy and benefit from the proximity to the refrigerator.
One of my last assignments was helping to move Harrison, Moe, and three donkeys to join the main cattle herd in their grazing area. As is often the case, a little food is a powerful motivator and between hay and millet, we were able to get them all moved, albeit occassionally reluctantly. As we called, "Come on Cows" to get them to follow, it was cute to see the main herd respond as well and it was awesome to watch them welcome their comrades back after some R&R for injuries/illness.
The rest of our Farm family were all doing well and on behalf of Coco, Melvin, Blossom, Whitaker, Ramona, Elliot, Edwin, Daisy, Sweetpea, Indigo, Amelinda, Boe, Ady, and Grace, I wish you all a Happy Holidays and a Compassionate New Year.
December 11th, 2010
by Brian Higgins on 12/12/10
I arrived at the Farm a little too early today and sat in my car listening to the sounds of the Farm waking up from 5:45 until about 7. Now that it is cool enough to go outside without being ravaged by mosquitos, it is a peaceful feeling to just sit there and absorb it all. While the primary order of the day was barn cleaning, I had some quality time with many of my friends.
My first visit of the day was with Justin, the pygmy goat. It turns out that he is not as young as everyone thought (He is about a year old), and he will probably not get much bigger than he is now. He is still shy, but I was told he loved carrots and he didn't disappoint. For a piece of carrot he would gladly consent to some petting. When I was out of carrots, he started to check me out and it was really cool when he put his nose to mine briefly. It was the kind of moment that will never happen when I have my camera running.
I am happy to say that the piggies were on their best behavior today and were quite cooperative when it came time to get up and let us clean their barn. Blossom, the adorable little piglet, was in her isolation stall trying to melt me with her sweet eyes. I keep forgetting to bring her a treat when I come up and she isn't shy about reminding me. She is still receiving some treatment for her little pig feet, but hopefully she will be back amongt the rest of the big pigs soon; I think they need a little porcine hell-raiser to round out the bunch.
Coco and Melvin were in the next barn that we cleaned and I relished the chance to give them their special feeds. Coco is a little on the slim side and she needs to be reminded that swim-suit season is over (Although it was a pleasantly balmy day in Orland, contrary to the weather forecast). I hugged on both of them for a bit in between raking sessions and promised that I would come back later with treats.
Recently I have added "chicken time" to my visits. While I love the chickens, I had previously thought that they weren't as approachable as some of the other animals. I have learned that it is just a matter of patience. If I try to pet them I can't, but if I sit down and let them come to me, their natural curiousity will allow us to have some time together. One of the chickens (I am sorry I don't know her name), even let me hold her in my lap for a while. If you've never held a chicken and felt their warm body and soft feathers, you are missing out.
As promised, I came back with some "prescription" treats for Coco and Melvin. I always love watching them come up to me when I approach the barn. Since they do this even when I don't have treats (And before I started bringing them treats), it always feels special. It's a wonderful feeling to have that connection with these amazing, furry friends. Coco and Melvin gobbled up the grapes and carrot chunks I had brought and it was clear that neither of them had lost any of their appetite. I had to coach Melvin a little of chivalry after he tried to butt Coco out of the way, and he acknowledged the error of his ways. I like to imagine Coco as Melvin's girl and he needs to treat her nicely. After hugs and kisses, I needed to get ready to hit the road for an appointment in San Francisco.
I couldn't leave, however, without visiting with Elliot and Oliver. They are still very tight with each other as evidenced by the lick marks on each other's sides and the fact that they are never far apart. When I approached them, Oliver came to see me first and checked me out before giving me some licks. He has become a lot bolder in the last month and it is good to see him coming out of his shell more and more. As soon as Elliot decided to take a break from stuffing his face with fresh hay, he also said, "Hello" is his own special way. I am glad to say that he still likes to suck on my hand and arms. I am sure he will stop doing this at some point, but I love those special moments with him. He gave me lots of licks on the face and put his head on my shoulder. Time with him is a treasure.
There was an element of sad news during this visit. Fritz the cow had passed away. Since the Farm is focused on life, I would like to briefly reflect on my experiences with Fritz during his. When I met him, he was the biggest cow I have ever seen. His shoulders were well above my head. I never knew cows could get that big. The day that I met him was also the day that my wife met him. She had always been afraid of cows and I was intrigued as to what her reaction would be. Fritz's handsome face and gentle demeanor won her over in a flash. Her fear of cows was forever fortgotten in one brief visit. I know that Fritz has had this same experience many times, winning over hearts as a noble ambassador and he will be sorely missed. I am proud to say that I know one of the biggest cows in Cow Heaven.
