Ducks

In the production animal class I'm taking, we are raising ducks and chickens. The chickens haven't hatched yet, but we got the ducks several weekends ago. Well on the first weekend, (which was several weekends ago) I got to take them home. Everything was going great and then on Saturday all hell broke loose.

The ducks had been totally fine on Thursday, and Friday. Saturday I got up really early for work, refilled their food and water and went on my way. Tony left the house shortly after me at about 8a.m. He also refilled their water and went on his way. I got home at about 4:15 to find that one of the ducks was dead.

Up until this point both ducks had been alert and quacking and walking around. I of course immediately burst into tears, while checking to see if the little duck really was dead, then Tony came home minutes later, I cried some more, then I tried to get a hold of my teachers to see what they wanted me to do with the duck.

After talking to two of my teachers on the phone, crying to both of them, it was decided to wrap up the little ducky and put her in the fridge. Monday there would be a necropsy done on her.

So needless to say the rest of my weekend wasn't very exciting. I was then paranoid that the other duck would die and checked on her about a million times a day. She got lots of attention and play time and I'm glad she is still alive.

MOO COWS!

The last two weekends and past week have been super busy ones. Two weekends ago I worked on Saturday, and then on Sunday, Tony and I ventured out to his family farm and we helped plow a field, while his Dad and uncle took out the soybeans. I rode along for a little bit, but since the tractor is only meant for one person, my legs kept falling asleep. Tony taught me how to drive the 4-wheeler instead so I would still have something to do. That was so much fun to do! I got to tear around the field lots.

This past week a new quarter of classes started up! I am taking 4 classes for a total of 13 credits. I'm taking Advanced Clinical Procedures, Exotic Animals and Pocket Pets, Equine, and Production Animals. I am really excited to be taking the last two classes, because when I'm done with school I really want to work with large animals. There's already tons of homework, and big projects to get started on, so I've been keeping busy with that. I also work 20 hours a week so I don't have a lot of spare time. I'm going to do really well in these classes tough, and as of right now I am only 8 1/2 months away from graduation....but I'm not counting down the days or anything! :)

Cutest pug sisters ever!

This past weekend I worked again on Saturday, and then on Sunday, just like the past weekend, Tony and I headed back out to the farm. This time we took the dogs with. They get a lot of pent up energy being in an apartment all the time. They needed room to run and wear themselves out! Tony helped his Dad and uncle with stuff and I watched over the dogs, and said hi to the cows. I love cows with a passion! I think they are the cutest large animal there is. I took a ton on pictures too. The dogs barked at them, tried to make friends, Cloe ended up getting licked by one.

Cloe is chewing on a delicious stick!



Silly Allis

So after letting them run around like chickens with their heads cut off I decided that a visit to the cows was needed. The dogs once they noticed the cows wouldn't stop barking, but that didn't stop the calves from coming over and saying hi to me.

One calf also wanted to investigate Cloe.

It touched its nose to Cloe's nose, and licked her. Cloe then barked and the calf took off running.

Ok ok I will stop boring you with all my pictures of cows. I just can't help myself, they are just so darn cute! So after the calf liked Cloe, we ventured to the other side of the barn. Cloe got so excited to see even more cows, that she somehow squeezed through the square holes in the fence and went flying into the pasture. This is when she discovered that the cows do not want to play with her. They are not giant dogs to chase. She was trying to get the calves to chase her, one of the mama cows was trying to charge her and stop Cloe with her hooves, and the whole time I'm screaming at Cloe to come back to the fence so I can grab her. Cloe finally came close enough in her terror and I grabbed her collar and pulled her back threw the fence. The stupid dog scared that crap out of me and there was no way I was going into the pasture to get her.

Other than that the weekend was great, and now a new week of school has started. I am sure I will have more to write about from next weekend as Tony and I will be helping with the corn harvest. Until then...try not to miss me too much!