It's Freezing Degrees Outside!!

There is much happening here at Goat Feathers Farm! With all these cold temps and no water heaters to be found at the local Southern States or Tractor Supply, the job has fallen on me to carry warm water to the animals about 4 times per day (dearest husband helps in the evenings when he gets home from work). A thirsty chicken is in serious danger of choking. A thirsty goat is in danger of ruining its rumen, which is of great concern when you are a goat, particularly when it is cold, as a healthy rumen serves to keep your body temperature up.

Needless to say, we have had NO eggs from the chickens lately. I decided to go ahead and deworm them last month since they were rarely laying. Now, we are getting NOTHING and several of them have decided to molt...while it is 20 degrees at night. I don't understand it, but it seems to be working for them. lol. Perhaps this will mean that everyone will be set to lay a lot in the spring. We did not get one egg from any of the Easter Eggers that we bought in September (they weren't old enough), but I am interested in seeing their egg colors.

On the homeschooling front, we are basically done with the Kindergarten books for this year. Yes, my 4.5 year old and my 5.5 year old are done with K and are ready to move on to first grade work. I haven't decided yet if it would be best to thrown in the towel for this year, or just keep going. We probably will keep right on trucking, and I have already ordered their next math books, and I have the First Grade Reading Curriculum that I plan to use, thanks to my mother-in-law, who found the first and second grade editions for a great deal!

NOW, for the latest and best "farm news" - one of our goats is very, VERY pregnant! Surprise! We were sure that she was bred to kid in April, like our other girls, but just this past week or so, she has really BALLOONED out there and is now making a nice looking udder. I am very excited for her, and nervous, too. I am not entirely prepared for this situation, but I am rereading all the pertinent information and gathering gloves, iodine, dental floss, scissors and the like for the impending event. She has an appointment at the vet's office on Wednesday morning. I hope she doesn't go before then!!!

Here are so pictures of her in her enlarged state. She is such a sweetie. I hope everything goes ok with her. I'd hate to lose her or her kids, as they are sure to be beautiful! Without further ado....MOTHER OREO!