Chickens in the rain

Being new to chickens, I have read alot about how to care for them.  Everyone has their own experiences and what works best for them.  Bottom line is that animals are versatile for the most part and will function just fine usually with what type shelter they are provided.  However, there are some ways to improve [...]

The wetter the better–not!

One summer we took our daughter and son to Colorado on vacation when they were in middle school and high school.  We went river rafting and bought shirts to mark the event that said “the wetter the better”, which for river rafting is true.  However, in October in Texas  it is not. The rain has [...]

Livestock barns and bad weather

Well, finally, in our neck of the woods (we don’t really have “woods” here) it is raining.  It has rained all day.  We have small trees and a few big trees, big shrubs and right now tall sunflowers that need to be mowed down, but no woods, really.  I don’t really wish for woods; they [...]

Keeping a clean barn: 5 things to do

The alpacas and chickens love the barn, especially when the ceiling fans are on during a hot day.  They lounge on the dirt floor and enjoy the cool  Hopefully you are keeping the barn clean for them. 
Here are 5 things to do  to help keep it that way.
1.  Remove any manure (in my case, alpacas) [...]

Alpacas and teeth

Alpacas don’t have many teeth, a row of bottom teeth; none on the top.  However, the males will develop “fighting teeth” at the back, upper and lower.  These are razor sharp and must be dealt with.
Preferred options are having the vet do it, cutting off the sharp points or sawing them off with an OB [...]