Hello to all from Osage

[Ladipyg]

Keeping busy out in the country my friends. Still babysitting some FW cichlids for a friend who will be picking them up in August and taking them back to Phoenix. Then I can get working on my SW set up. Have a woodworking shop in the garage and am going to use new lumber to construct the base of the new stand for the 125 tank. I am then going to cover the stand with old barn wood I have out in the (well) barn. Will try and give it an ole time feel so that it will fit in my farmhouse here.

Right now I have 38 chickens of various breeds, Black Jersey Giants, Light Brahmas, Dark Brahmas, Columbia Wyandottes and 6 rapidly growing Slate Blue Turkeys. All free range, just have to put them up at night...they put themselves up in the coop...I just shut the door until 5:30 am when I let them out again and feed them. They do one heck of a job keeping the bug population down.

I rescued 2 very sick and starving horses in March and they have made a great recovery. I have them on pasture, but also give them grain and flakes of Alfalfa hay twice daily to help fatten them up. So far they have each gained about 150 lbs. About another 100 to 150 more to go. Once they go down so far, it take a fair amount of time to fatten them up again. They were just skin and bones when I got them. I found a great home for the 3 mini horses I had. They ate as much, if not more than the big horses. They run out to great me every morning, especially if I have the grooming kit with me. They just can't wait to be brushed, sprayed with fly repellent, have their hooves cleaned and checked. I have already had a saddle on them and they took it great. Guess I will be doing a little horseback riding down by the Buffalo River.

I planted a small orchard, apples, peaches, cherries, nectarines and I even have a wild plum tree I am working hard to help recover. I have been eating the small, apricot sized plums off of it...they are very tasty. When I go out to pick them I have to be sure to take the shotgun loaded with deer slugs. We have a large population of black bears here and they are addicted to wild plums. I would prefer to back off and let the bear have at it, but a female with cubs doesn't always give you that option. I would shoot over her head first or at her feet to see if I could scare her away.

Well friends, that is what I have been up to here in Arkansas, let me know how you have been and take care....Nina

 

[LatinoHeatCHI]

How are you Nina ;-) remember me??

 

[GINT]

Wow interesting.Why don't you share some pics wit us

 

[pusanpa]

Hi Nina!

 

[Ladipyg]

OK...I will post some pics of the area and animals...hope you like. Yes, I remember all of you and miss you to boot. You may not recognize me though...I lost a lot of weight and now wear size 4 jeans, last time you saw me I was in 18's. I feel better that is for sure!:thumbsup:

 

[Ladipyg]

OK, here are some animal pictures: These are from March when I rescued these horses. There were 5 originally...I found homes for all the Mini's. The Mini Stallion, who I named Boss had his halter on so long, it was so tight, I had to cut it off of him. I couldn't even get a finger between his face and the halter. What a job, he seemed to know I was helping. When I was done he stood perfectly still for like an hour while I cleaned it up and rubbed antibiotics into the sores.

This is one of the mini mares...named her Willow

This is the white mare, she is 7 years old, very sweet. Has gained about 150 lbs since March. Named her Snow. She needed vetting, hooves trimmed, shots, Coggins, and her teeth floated (filed down to make them even)

 

[moon jelly]

:wavehand: NINA! Seems wonderful having life on a farm! Keep us updated Kudos to you for saving the horses!!!!!

 

[Ladipyg]

Here is what the white horse looks like today...quite a change from the rough, unhealthy girl she used to be. She is so friendly, like a big, BIG dog. She even comes when she is called for rubs and scritches. She is 6 years old.

This mare was rescued with her and looked just as bad. I named her Stormy cause her color reminds me of a storm moving in. She is 4 years old.

Here are a couple of pictures of the chickens and turkeys. I have 38 chickens and 6 pairs of Blue Slate Turkeys. The BS turkeys are a Heritage Breed and are considered endangered so I am breeding them to help with their survival. They eat and rest....and since they are not going to be Thanksgiving dinner I think they have a pretty good life.