Barn Swallows, etc...
This message is from: Jon Mary Ofjord [EMAIL PROTECTED] Steve White wrote:Shame on you. Don't you know it's good luck to have a swallow nest in your barn. O.K., O.K.Luck, schmuck, the birds ARE nesting in the barn, but NOT above the stalls on top of the lights. If I had let them nest on the light fixtures, I would have had fried swallows when I turned on the lights. In case anyone wondered how I discouraged them, I just knocked down the mud they brought in each day for about a week and they finally gave up that site. They started a new (two, actually) nest site in the rafters on the cross piece. As long as we don't get mites, lice or whatever, they are welcome. Sounds like popular opinion goes with leaving the swallows stay, so stay they will. Thanks for all your input. ;-) Mary O. North Coast Equestrian Center Grand Marais, MN
Re: Horse Abuse
This message is from: Jon Mary Ofjord [EMAIL PROTECTED] At 03:58 PM 6/14/00 -0700, you wrote: This message is from: Donna Tauscher [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi List Hope it's OK to vent here. I just contacted the Sheriff's department to report a starving mare and her filly I saw in a pen not far from my house . Donna Good for You! Is there a Hooved Animal Rescue in your state? You can probably find it on the net. Maybe they can help you or the local Humane Society. It's very difficult to get help in this area. Has anyone tried talking to the owners? Some people just don't know how to keep horses. Good luck to you. Mary O.
Unusual Stubben saddle
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] There is a lovely, very pale Stubben on E-Bay right now. I have never seen anything like it. Looks like it's for the circus or a special event. Finding a bridle to match it might be impossible! Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Art Fjordhorses Moulton . Alabama . USA
Horse Abuse
This message is from: Donna Tauscher [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi List Hope it's OK to vent here. I just contacted the Sheriff's department to report a starving mare and her filly I saw in a pen not far from my house . I didn't know horses could be that thin and still be alive. I found out that this neglect has been ongoing , but I am the first person willing to report it. I'm just sick about it and I can't understand why nobody said anything. She's a brown mare and her filly is a tri-colored paint (very pretty heads) Their feet are so long that they are almost walking on their hocks. I just put some hay in the pen . I asked the dispatcher - She said I wouldn't get in trouble if I did. I'm going out to hug my chubby Fjord mare , Gracie , and say a prayer for the paint filly and her mom. I hope their suffering will end soon. Donna
Re: Mites and Barn Swallows
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] There is an old New England wives tale that if swallows roost in your barn it will not be hit by lightning. Other than the anxiety I go through each year about the wee ones falling out of their nests and becoming cat chow I love watching them fly around in the evening eating all those bugs. I have free range chickens as well and my barn cats never bother the babies ( we call them walnuts on legs when they are newly hatched) but I can testify that chicken lice will bite humans but don't seem inclined to take up permanent residence on us. Never had a problem with them bothering the horses, but worming with Ivermectin generally takes care of the problem if one exists. I have a friend who gives her chickens shots of Ivermectin in the breast to control scaly leg mites. Since we eat our eggs this is not a therapy I care to pursue. We have a much bigger problem with coons and skunks eating eggs and cat food in the barn than with birds. Steve and Amy Robin Groves was raving about your boy today. I'm glad she enjoyed him as much as I did. I hope you get him to some CDE's this year I really enjoyed working with him last year. Vivian Creigh
Re: balanced ride saddle?
This message is from: Karen McCarthy [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Bushnell's [EMAIL PROTECTED] ...does anyone know of a balanced ride saddle in this region? (I want to know) Ruthie I do know that Ailene Oakwright up in (down in?) Sandpoint, has a really nice Balanced Ride saddle that she bought new. I don't really want to get back on the saddle subject either, but suffice to say, the best thing you can do for you and your horse, is to get a saddle made up. Try out a variety of seats avail, and more importantly, place and fit the bare tree on as many fjordy backs as you can. The saddlemaker should allow you to take home a few trees, or show up at his shop so he can place them and then mark corrections on them, so that when they are sent out to the treemaker, they are almost perfect.Things that I like to look for in a saddle are: -Hermann Oak tanned leather -All rawhide covered tree -Must weigh in around 30 lbs. -Round or semi-round skirts -A split in the rear jockey, so that it will not dig into top of back -free swinging fenders (stirrup leathers)w/ twists on the end, so that you can actually ride without pain/and or putting a silly broomstick thru the stirrups.. -Placement of the fenders s/b right near the girth, so that there is a straight line from hip thru the heel. -stirrups: forget narrow 'contest'style stirrups,they kill on longish rides. Idid find some awesome 2 Visalia cast aluminium stirrups. Never have to search for a dropped stirrup again! I am always looking at saddles, it's one of my things. I really like the saddles being made out of Paisley,OR by Len Babb. Start at $1800. email privately for info.if you want. Karen Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
Fjords for Sale
This message is from: Sherle Monheim [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Everyone! Sure hope everyone's Summer is going well. We have decided to sell some of our Fjords. An 8 year old mare, bred back to our Stallion Bodil, has had harness on and line driven, also has had someone sitting on her back. Also have for sale two filly's out of our Stallion Bodil, both very nice and excellent conformation, one will be available in about two weeks and the other in about 8 weeks. Anyone interested can e-mail me privately or phone (715) 479-1552. Thanks Sherle in Wisconsin where its raining again..
Re: Barn Swallows
This message is from: Lori Puster [EMAIL PROTECTED] Swallows eat their weight in mosquitos and flys on a regular basis. Would that I had more of them. Lori P.
Fw: Buying a Fjord
This message is from: griet vandenbroucke [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Oorspronkelijk bericht- Van: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Aan: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Datum: 11 juni 2000 6:31 Onderwerp: Buying a Fjord This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Everyone, Does anyone out there have my new best friend? I love this question!!! Griet
Re: Barn Swallows
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Whoa, if turkey mites are like chicken mites they take bites out of you that leave forever blood marks. I had never raised chickens before coming here. Never knew they had mites. Suddenly the mites exploded, (like the human population is doing) and I found myself being bitten like mad after picking up what I thought were speckled eggs. Poor me and chickens. I got out a magnifying glass and the horrible creatures were scooting about my midriff. A jump in the shower and clothes in the washer kills them. So now there is a semi annual shake and bake, oil, and chlorine spray exercise. Jean Jean Gayle Aberdeen, WA [Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 TO 1949 ] http://www.techline.com/~jgayle Barnes Noble Book Stores -Original Message- From: Marsha Jo Hannah [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Cc: Marsha Jo Hannah [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 8:12 PM Subject: Re: Barn Swallows This message is from: Marsha Jo Hannah [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jon Mary Ofjord [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Do you allow barn swallows to nest in the barn? We just put up our new barn (If you build it, they will come) and almost immediately a couple barn swallows started putting up a nest [...] I have heard that the birds can carry lice that can fall onto horses and cause problems, not to mention the droppings on everything. [...] I realize the birds do a great service by eating insects, but does that benefit outweigh the potential problems? A couple of weeks ago, my husband and his buddy went turkey hunting. In the process of plucking the bird, both guys ended up with turkey lice crawling around on them. The buddy (a professor of fish and wildlife at OSU) said that bird lice won't bite a mammal---they just give you the willies, crawling around on you. I suspect that they might cause an equine to rub itself, but that's about it. Barns seem to be irresistable to swallows. I tend to knock down nests that are in inconvenient places (like over doors), or put up 1/2 netting to make such areas inaccessable. Otherwise, the swallows are welcome. I like watching them dip and swoop, and I like the reduction in bugs (like mosquitos) that they cause. For comparison, go look up all the diseases that mosquitos can carry Marsha Jo HannahMurphy must have been a horseman-- [EMAIL PROTECTED] anything that can go wrong, will! 15 mi SW of Roseburg, Oregon
Feed
This message is from: Louise Cooke [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Everyone, We recently had a visit from the nutrition expert from Buckeye feeds in Bermuda. He recommended Grow and Win for the Fjords. He said it gave them the nutrients they need in the way of minerals and vitamins without overheating or overfattening them. Does anyone else use this or heard of it? Louise Cooke Bermuda Riding for the Disabled.
Re: Feeding grain Barn Swallows
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Steve, one pair means the beginning of a migration. I have starlings here and they multiply and I assume that the young come back to familiar territory until territory runs out. They do a lot of damage to the roof liner and I am forever rescuing babies who fall between the walls. I like starlings as they are meat eaters, but I do not like the growing numbers. I am buying a noisy varmint eradicator that has cleaned out the attic of rats and mice, including bats, and then see if that will drive them out. It will drive the horses out I am sure. My mother used to hang a piece of fur from her porch ceiling and swore it kept the swallows out. Jean Gayle Aberdeen, WA [Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 TO 1949 ] http://www.techline.com/~jgayle Barnes Noble Book Stores -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 8:11 PM Subject: Re: Feeding grain Barn Swallows This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mary, UGH! I wouldn't feed it to my horses! I've actually have fed quite a bit of this (to the thoroughbreds, not the fjords) and have been very happy with it. It's good stuff. Purina suggests feeding 1/2% of body weight to mature, idle horses, so a 1000 lb horse would eat 5 pounds? Plus hay,of course. Don't compare this with grain. Grain has mostly carbohydrate as the energy source. Strategy uses fat with less carbohydrate. That is why the lbs./body weight is higher. If I were to put one of the fjords in heavy training I would prefer them to be on Strategy than grain. Much less problems with it. I knocked down the nest every day for about a week Shame on you. Don't you know it's good luck to have a swallow nest in your barn. This spring a pair were trying to build a nest in our barn and seemed to be having a bit of trouble getting it to hold. So, I took a small piece of wood and nailed it to one of the rafters to create a ledge. They had it built in no time then. We're glad to have the pretty little birds especially since they are the mosquitoes worst enemy. I wouldn't worry much about any health risks. Hi Jon! Steve White Waterloo, Nebraska USA
Re: Barn Swallows
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Denise - sure hope they don't take MY hair :)
balanced ride saddle?
This message is from: Bushnell's [EMAIL PROTECTED] I know we've been around the corral many times on the saddle subject, in fact I just looked into the archives to see what we said, but I still have a question, or questions, I'd like answered. I simply cannot take my Hereford saddle well any longer! I'd like a balanced ride (I think) as have been often told they're more comfortable. Of course we're limited here in NW MT in what's available. We were thinking of having one made but that's risky too. Has anyone on the list had experience with a FRED HOOK saddle? (Gene wants to know) and does anyone know of a balanced ride saddle in this region? (I want to know) You can e-mail me privately if you'd rather not get the saddle subject going again =) but I need help! It's gotten so it's downright painful riding downhill. (it's all up or down here) thanks for any advice, Ruthie
Re: fjordhorse-digest V2000 #164
This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] Denise, That sounds like a feed that I would use here if I could get it..a hay pellet. There is a local hay/grain pellet mix made here that I was using (and many still do esp. for older horse with poor teeth) but the grain was contaminated with wild buckwheat seed and many horses were having problems, as the wild buckwheat has a toxin that accumulates in the liver. There was no proof that this was the cause of the problems but I stopped feeding it just to be safe. I really miss it,tho, and we have no other hay pellets available at a reasonable price. Supposedly that local grown grain used in these pellets has now been cleaned better and no longer has the Buckwheat seed but I haven't gone back to it. Used to be you would get a bag of local oats and there would be so much black seed in it that you could readily see it: speckled with black all the way through. The black seeds weren't visible in the pellets unless you soaked them, and inspected it so many just kept on using it, refusing to believe there was a problem. The local vets weren't getting involved as the grower had a lot of political power and there was no proof that it was the cause of the problems. Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, with light rain and cooler temperatures but 21 3/4 hours of possible sunlight: It doesn't even get dark now! when i said something like stategy i meant a pelleted basic food. i really feed a stable mix from a local miller near sacramento. elk grove milling company. it is mostly grass hay and a little alfalfa with vits and minerals. it's a good basic feed. then if a person wants to supplemnt they go from there. Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Feeding grain Barn Swallows
This message is from: Denise Delgado [EMAIL PROTECTED] dear mary, even if you decided against the swallows, how would you keep them out? it sounds like they are very industrious and crafty. denise, sierra foothills, calif. - Original Message - From: Jon Mary Ofjord [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 9:01 PM Subject: Feeding grain Barn Swallows This message is from: Jon Mary Ofjord [EMAIL PROTECTED] Denise wrote:.like purina strategy. it's not too hot. One of the boarders at our stable has us feed Purina Strategy to her horse. It is listed at 14% crude protien-same as most sweet feeds, along with 6% fat. The first ingredient on the label is Processed grain by-productsjust what the heck is THAT? Plus, the stuff molds quickly if any falls on the stall floor. We have to go in the stall and dig out the moldy stuff on the floor every couple days. UGH! I wouldn't feed it to my horses! Purina suggests feeding 1/2% of body weight to mature, idle horses, so a 1000 lb horse would eat 5 pounds? Plus hay,of course. Our Fjords would look like balloons on those rations. They look like balloons anyhow. Our vet calls them turnips. I have a question for any of you out there who have barns. Do you allow barn swallows to nest in the barn? We just put up our new barn (If you build it, they will come) and almost immediately a couple barn swallows started putting up a nest over one of the lights above the stalls. I knocked down the nest every day for about a week and they have now put up another nest in a less vulnerable area. I have heard that the birds can carry lice that can fall onto horses and cause problems, not to mention the droppings on everything.Is this true, or have the old wives been telling tales again? I realize the birds do a great service by eating insects, but does that benefit outweigh the potential problems? Any advice anyone ...and just where did these birds live before we put up the barn? Mary O. North Coast Equestrian Center Grand Marais, Minnesota
Re: Barn Swallows
This message is from: Denise Delgado [EMAIL PROTECTED] dear linda, when i was a kid, we had a fluffy mutt that had a gorious coat of nice soft black fur. whenever he went outside during the springtime he would be bombarded by jays, both blue jays and mockingbirds. in the early season they would swoop down and steal wads of his fur and then later when the babies came along, he would be attacked if he got too close to a nest. they are fiercesome and protective birds! another note about the swallows. in italy they are considered a good thing. they eat bugs and sound wonderful in the early morning and evening. nature's music denise
Re: Feeding grain Barn Swallows
This message is from: Denise Delgado [EMAIL PROTECTED] addition to swallow chat line.in california, it is illegal to shoot, kill, bother or pester swallows. the fish and game dept will have your head and fine you if yuo get caught. i am not sure about nests on private proeprty though. i know a lot nests around here, and out on the old rail trestles down in the valley, abutting cow pastures and raparian areas. denise - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 8:04 PM Subject: Re: Feeding grain Barn Swallows This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mary, UGH! I wouldn't feed it to my horses! I've actually have fed quite a bit of this (to the thoroughbreds, not the fjords) and have been very happy with it. It's good stuff. Purina suggests feeding 1/2% of body weight to mature, idle horses, so a 1000 lb horse would eat 5 pounds? Plus hay,of course. Don't compare this with grain. Grain has mostly carbohydrate as the energy source. Strategy uses fat with less carbohydrate. That is why the lbs./body weight is higher. If I were to put one of the fjords in heavy training I would prefer them to be on Strategy than grain. Much less problems with it. I knocked down the nest every day for about a week Shame on you. Don't you know it's good luck to have a swallow nest in your barn. This spring a pair were trying to build a nest in our barn and seemed to be having a bit of trouble getting it to hold. So, I took a small piece of wood and nailed it to one of the rafters to create a ledge. They had it built in no time then. We're glad to have the pretty little birds especially since they are the mosquitoes worst enemy. I wouldn't worry much about any health risks. Hi Jon! Steve White Waterloo, Nebraska USA
Re: fjordhorse-digest V2000 #164
This message is from: Denise Delgado [EMAIL PROTECTED] dear jean, when i said something like stategy i meant a pelleted basic food. i really feed a stable mix from a local miller near sacramento. elk grove milling company. it is mostly grass hay and a little alfalfa with vits and minerals. it's a good basic feed. then if a person wants to supplemnt they go from there. i know a lot of horse people around here who use it, with good results. they also make chow for goats, sheep and piggers. it also is weed free so i can use it out in the backcountry. the pelleted stuff makes it easier all around and i am into no fuss/easy, the older i get. i'll go get the tag off a bag i have i the trailer and write back. the scoops i mentioned are the feed scoops you can buy. they are usually metal or green plastic and sort of squarish with a handle. denise in hot, hot, hot (108 today) northern calif. - Original Message - From: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 12:13 PM Subject: Re: fjordhorse-digest V2000 #164 This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] in regards to grain...i don't feed it. just good hay, and a couple of scoops of stable mix like purina strategy. Isn't Purina Strategy a grain mix with fat, etc? What do you mean by a couple of scoops? Sounds like they're getting some pretty high energy concentrate! Jean in Warm and sunny Fairbanks, Alaska, another 80 degree, 21.5+hour day! Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Barn Swallows
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Am enjoying the discussion on barn swallows. We have a pair nesting in our l00 year old dairy barn, in the same spot as last year. Horse tail hairs are hanging from the nest :) This morning the swallows were making a big racket - chirping loudly and flying fast around the barn - I thought it was our kitty, Gracie, walking around that was bothering them -- when I turned the corner of the barn there was a bluejay - in their nest - and the swallows were crazy!! I ran to the nest, waving my arms, hollering - the jay flew off out the door. I, too, wondered about lice and cocciddia (sp??). Last year our Irish Terrier got very sick - he was diagnosed with cocciddia and I was told it comes from bird droppings. He recovered but am concerned about this year. Will pick up the droppings as best I can from under the nest. Anyone know about this?? I, too, enjoy watching the swallows. Last year the 5 babies would line-up on a cable in the barn to roost for the night - so darn cute!!! Linda in MN - PS The other day I found a nest near our house with three bluejay babies -- had noticed an adult in the tree staying close as I looked -- suddenly that mama flew around and pecked me on the head - YIKES Never had that happen in all my 50 years (whoops!! - now you know - :):):) )
RE: Barn Swallows
This message is from: Turcotte, Dianne [EMAIL PROTECTED] The buddy (a professor of fish and wildlife at OSU) said that bird lice won't bite a mammal---they just give you the willies, crawling around on you. This is NOT true. Well, I don't know about bird LICE BUT... Years ago my parents and I were vacationing in a cottage that had a birds nest on the front porch. Soon everyone in the family was itching like crazy! We went to the doctor, and he said that it was bird lice and to remove the birds nest immediately! That fixed the problem. -Dianne in mass
Re: Feeding grain Barn Swallows
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I let the swallows nest. They are bug eaters. It's great in the evening when they follow the horses around the outdoor arena catching the bugs they stir up in the grass. They are truely beautiful in the way they fly between the horse's legs and all around, as close as they can get. Like acrobats of the bird world. Kate in CT mom to Baldur
Re: Belgian Time
This message is from: griet vandenbroucke [EMAIL PROTECTED] Toninght I will not be able to join the chat. I'm leaving at 2 am for Vienna.My boss offered us a trip. Maybe next week. I'm looking forward to it Griet vandenbroucke -Oorspronkelijk bericht- Van: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Aan: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Datum: 8 juni 2000 19:32 Onderwerp: Belgian Time This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 00-06-07 23:14:58 EDT, you write: This message is from: saskia schoofs [EMAIL PROTECTED] Griet, sorry it is at 3 a.m. Belgian time! Saskia HEYmaybe Griet is up at 3 a.m. ! Sometimes I am..LOL Hope you BOTH make it this week, and my increaslingly slow computer lets me on. Lisa Pedersen
