Fall Prep for Winter

Fall always feels like a time to take stock, clean up, and prepare for what’s ahead. Now that the temperatures have dropped a little, we can finally get some outside projects done without melting in the heat, and we’re taking full advantage of it. Cooler days make it a perfect time to tackle upgrades, deep cleaning, and planning for the year to come.

Our vet recently came out for annual herd testing, and we’re thrilled to say everyone is looking great. The goats have tested negative for CAE, CL, Johne’s, Brucellosis, and TB, and we’re just waiting on the Q fever results and final paperwork to officially wrap things up. It’s always reassuring to know the herd is healthy heading into the cooler months and kidding season.

We’ve also been working on a deep clean of the goat pens, our first one using hydrated lime. While we keep up with regular cleaning, two years in the same space naturally leads to some buildup, so this is part of a new fall routine we plan to continue each year. It’s nice to have everything fresh, and it gives us a chance to reset pens before winter bedding goes in.

As part of cleaning, we trimmed back a dead tree. The goats were more than happy to help with that. They had the entire tree stripped of all leaves in no time. (Sound up for the video)

Over in the rabbitry, we’re building new cages with improved ventilation in preparation for next summer’s heat. The upgrades will give everyone more space and airflow. Especially important as we get ready to welcome the Giant Chinchilla rabbits soon. All the rabbits will benefit from the upgrade, and we’re excited to see the new setup come together. Two of our Mini Rex does are also bred and due November 12th, so timing the new cages just right has been part of the juggling act.