Exciting News!

There is never a dull moment here in the Barn. 


I know my main focus is about the livestock but here in the Barn we also have family pets that help play a large roll in the daily operations.  These guys help us with the animals and watch over us when we are out doing chores.  I don't know what we would do with out our faithful companions.


Some of you may know that I lost my Chocolate Lab a little over a year ago to cancer.  This was a very rough time for me as I had him since I was 5.  


About 4 years ago Duke was bred with a local silver lab and they produced 10 amazing puppies.  I felt so fortunate to be able to keep one and I now have Gage - Duke's son. 

Duke & Gage - October 2013

Along with Duke & Gage we also have these 2 amazing ladies until about a month ago when Ms. Bailey (yellow lab) went to join Duke in doggie heaven.  Bailey was the oldest of our dogs and she is greatly missed.



 Braizy & Bailey - April 2017

This left us with Gage & Braizy .... UNTIL earlier this week!

On Tuesday night the neighbor girl brought down to the house the cutest silver lab puppy!  She wanted to show us her new baby.  We were all so excited for her and her puppy Nala.  She told us the breeder still had 3 puppies left but they were black,  all the silver ones were spoken for.

Jump forward to Wednesday night .... Our family headed to go look at the puppies.  I wasn't sure if we would get one or if we were just looking.  My dad started asking the breeder questions ... She told us the father was from a local breeder.  We saw pictures - He looked just like Duke & Gage!

She told us his mother was a silver lab .... This seemed really strange and very familiar.  Then she told us the name of the local breeder .... Could it be?  

Yes it was!!!! Duke is a grandfather!  

Meet our newest family member .....

We pick her up today at 4p.  Be watching for pictures.

We still don't have a name but please give us some suggestions.

Take Care

From My Barn to You

Brad~

Halter Breaking to Show

Halter breaking show animals is one of my least favorite things to do but it is the most necessary thing.  If you don't start early and keep working with them you will end up fighting your animal the entire season.    I have found the sooner you get them used to the halter the better your results will be.


We just started this process again with our newest little billy goat and our 2 new heifer calves.  Below are a few tips for you on how we manage to get this process going for a successful result.


1) Before putting the halter on the animal we hang it in their stall where they can smell it and get used to it.  This usually takes a day or two.


2)   Put the animal in a confined pen.  You don't want to chase them through a pasture.


3) Next put the halter on the animal.   Try to do it during a cool time of the day so they don't over heat.  We also try to do this as young as possible.  Our little billy is 2 weeks old and we just started working with him.  The heifer calves are a month old and we have begun with them.


4)  Tie them off to a section of non-wire fence or a post.  They will start to fight the halter and become very vocal with the entire situation.  Don't leave them you don't want them to get hurt.

This is Pickles our newest billy born May 15th.

Two new heifer bottle calves

red Hereford calf - Hennessy

black bald face Angus calf - Coco

You can tell that they are not impressed with the halter at this point.  The first time you do this they will fight it pretty hard.  We stayed right with them until they calmed down.

5)  Once they calm down and stop resisting the halter you will want to reward them.  Most animals it is food.  We also take this opportunity to pet them or rub them down so they get used to being touched.



At this point you will want to repeat the processes above until the animal is completely comfortable with the halter.   With some of our animals that is a day or two, with others it is months.  The key is to remain consistent and not give in.


Hope this help you with your animals.
From My Barn to You
Brad