Re: cold weather babies....
This message is from: Karen McCarthy [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi List, with the best laid plans, I have had mares foal in and out of stalls, once in the open doorway (!), a mud bog, on D.G. sand, on grass, on straw and on shavings (kiln dried fir) - all with no ill effects. The babies were fine. 'Course it helps if mom is in fine shape and is current on her shots etc. As far as foal vigor goes, I think its very rare indeed that a fjord foal comes into this world unprepared for the worst weather. They are the fluffiest little greaseballs (lanolin) I have ever been around. I think it is our own human notions of whats comfortable for *us* that get in the way sometimes. We try to make things too cushy, forgetting the reality of where these horses originated from. kmac _ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
Re: cold weather babies
This message is from: sara faull [EMAIL PROTECTED] wow... thanks for all the great info... we are getting in some unexpected winter midwifery practice... 8 sheep we got about 3 months ago are all pregnant!! they had been in with a little jacob ram lamb but the guy we got them from swore that he was too small and too young to cause any trouble... we did think they were getting a little plump... the first was born last night so we have out all the heat lamps and are bedding them deep. spring must be just around the corner... sara Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. Click Here
Re: cold weather babies....
This message is from: Deb Williams [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi all, I have used sawdust course without problems in the distant past. however my references from The Complete Book of Foaling says to avoid this if at all possible. it sites the presence of klebsiella bacteria. (this is a nasty bug for people) I had been using course planner sawdust from kiln dried wood rather than the green sawdust from mills cutting raw lumber. Our first is due the end of February. Last year Rosie foaled 2 weeks early with no bag prior. I'm watching her like a hawk this year. She started being picky about hay 3 days ago and only has some congestion on her belly infront of her udder. that's what last year was like. I'll be watching the emails for your delivery news. Debi Williams Williams Hill Fjords Waterford, Pa Home of Tolgar,Tanja, Rosie, Belle,Hilda and Beckett and 3 on the way. - Original Message - From: GAIL RUSSELL To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 10:35 AM Subject: Re: cold weather babies This message is from: GAIL RUSSELL [EMAIL PROTECTED] Rice straw works...if you can get it, of course. Are chips/shavings safe? I thought I remembered something about not using them at foaling? Stevensville, MT Gail Russell Forestville CA [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: cold weather babies....
This message is from: rlg_creations [EMAIL PROTECTED] Gee Amy, that is hard to imagine.LOL!!! Reena and Gustav 24° Michigan This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Actually, you should try wheat straw - we had very little problem with ours trying to eat that. I guess it's not very tasty even to a fjord! Amy --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.323 / Virus Database: 180 - Release Date: 2/8/2002
Re: cold weather babies....
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 2/11/2002 8:01:06 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: One time I had some oat hay which pretty much looked like straw but with seed heads, and they ate that eagerly. Actually, you should try wheat straw - we had very little problem with ours trying to eat that. I guess it's not very tasty even to a fjord! Amy Amy Evers Dun Lookin' Fjords Redmond, OR Fjord [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: cold weather babies....
This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] Well, I used barley straw, not so tasty! One time I had some oat hay which pretty much looked like straw but with seed heads, and they ate that eagerly. I think to be safe, grass hay instead of straw would be best? Jean, some straws are not as tasty as others so they do not eat it. yes, last year I bedded Ori's stall with oat straw ... nice and thick. put her in it for the night, left her plenty of hay and water and went inside. When I came out in the morning, I thought the wind had blown the majority of the straw out of her stall. It turns out she had eaten it. She colic'd for 3 days. It was NOT fun. Jean in Fairbanksk, Alaska, 0 degrees (F) and 2 new sparkly snow! Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: cold weather babies....
This message is from: GAIL RUSSELL [EMAIL PROTECTED] Rice straw works...if you can get it, of course. Are chips/shavings safe? I thought I remembered something about not using them at foaling? I ended up using chips to bed her stall with, a nice thick layer. Her foal was due the first of April and it was very cold. The chips worked well, the stall was easy to clean and they didn't get eaten! I could also haul the bags home easily in my van and didn't have to take the truck to town. But I've heard there can be a downside to the ch ips too. Sarah Stevensville, MT Gail Russell Forestville CA [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: cold weather babies....
This message is from: Sarah Nagel [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jean, some straws are not as tasty as others so they do not eat it. Mine helped themselves to some oat straw that I had put down so we could walk over the mud. Both horses impacted on the dry stuff. $$$ Vet bill plus the worry. Jean yes, last year I bedded Ori's stall with oat straw ... nice and thick. put her in it for the night, left her plenty of hay and water and went inside. When I came out in the morning, I thought the wind had blown the majority of the straw out of her stall. It turns out she had eaten it. She colic'd for 3 days. It was NOT fun. In a 3 day period, the vet was out 2 times, and I hauled her in 2 times. We were up with her at night continously. If it weren't for my sis-in-law Teresa being there, I don't know how I would have done it. From what my vet said, many horse owners feed their horses straw as a filler, and he didn't feel the straw could have been a problem. But, heck, anytime you eat almost an entire bale of something in an 8 hour period, it's probably going be trouble! lol Fjords love to eat. That Oat straw was a big problem. Perhaps a coarser straw, not so good smelling wouldn't have been so palatable. I don't know. I ended up using chips to bed her stall with, a nice thick layer. Her foal was due the first of April and it was very cold. The chips worked well, the stall was easy to clean and they didn't get eaten! I could also haul the bags home easily in my van and didn't have to take the truck to town. But I've heard there can be a downside to the ch ips too. Sarah Stevensville, MT
Re: cold weather babies....
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jean, some straws are not as tasty as others so they do not eat it. Mine helped themselves to some oat straw that I had put down so we could walk over the mud. Both horses impacted on the dry stuff. $$$ Vet bill plus the worry. Jean Jean Walters Gayle [Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 To 1949 ] http://users.techline.com/jgayle Send $20 Three Horses Press PO Box 104 Montesano, WA 98563
Re: cold weather babies....
This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jean, I used straw, but had plenty of hay in the stall for my mare to eat. You could also bed them down in clean grass hay to avoid any worries about eating straw. A friend here, who is on the list, has a fjord mare due to foal in March here in Fairbanks, where it can be -40 at night sometimes. She had to have the mare bred early as she was being transported up to Fairbanks in May..but she will have a heated area for foaling. The trick is to make sure the mare is inside when she foals..She has lined up several friends to watch the mare while she is teaching at school. Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, +18 F today and I started to clear the arena with the snowblower. At 03:37 PM 2/10/2002 -0800, you wrote: This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Karen that is a toasty clean stall you prepare but just one word of caution. Fjords eat straw, the mare could overload on it and have more than just birth problems. Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: cold weather babies....
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Karen that is a toasty clean stall you prepare but just one word of caution. Fjords eat straw, the mare could overload on it and have more than just birth problems. Jean Walters Gayle [Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 To 1949 ] http://users.techline.com/jgayle Send $20 Three Horses Press PO Box 104 Montesano, WA 98563
Re: cold weather babies
This message is from: Lori Albrough [EMAIL PROTECTED] sara faull wrote: We are expecting a baby this year in early April, Hi Sara, last year we had a colt born on April 5, I was a bit worried ahead of time because it was still cold here, but he came out with one of the thickest furriest coats I've ever seen, and he was just fine. He was foaled indoors and the stall was well bedded with straw and we were there to help dry him off, perhaps it would have been different if he was born in snow bank or something. But, he had the thickest coat of any foal we've had, the others were all born much later in April or in May, so Mother Nature definitely was on top of the situation. Lori
Re: cold weather babies
This message is from: Deb Williams [EMAIL PROTECTED] Just keep the drafts of them. we use rubber mats on the floor to keep it warmer too. Debi Williams Williams Hill Fjords Waterford, Pa Home of Tolgar,Tanja, Rosie, Belle,Hilda and Beckett - Original Message - From: sara faull [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Friday, February 08, 2002 7:03 PM Subject: cold weather babies This message is from: sara faull [EMAIL PROTECTED] hello everyone out there... I am pretty new to the list. I have been working with fjords for over two years at a non-profit farm up in Maine. My partner and I are beginning to take over the breeding side of the farm and will move it and some of the horses to our own farm this spring-- keeping a partnership with the farm we are on now (perhaps you saw the ad for our stallion Karimann in the Herald). I have been so impressed with the fjords and am excited to use them for all different kinds of things on the farm. We are expecting a baby this year in early April, although there have been many babies born here, this will be the earliest in the season that we have had one... so I wanted to ask if anybody else in the colder climates has any experience or words of wisdom... Maine weather is unpredictable especially in April I have really enjoyed the list so far...Sara Faull MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: Click Here
Re: cold weather babies
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Welcome to the list Sara. I have only brief experience with foals but am sure you will receive some ideas here. Jean Jean Walters Gayle [Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 To 1949 ] http://users.techline.com/jgayle Send $20 Three Horses Press PO Box 104 Montesano, WA 98563
