Tag: ice

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Ice

The paddocks are less squelchy underfoot, the wind has dried the ground and the frost hardened the surface so decided to lead the donkeys down to the fallen oak paddock for a run around. The water trough had a 3 inch slab of ice on the top that had to be lifted out – it very heavy and resulted in cold hands! The donkeys started grazing and then had a run around, bucking and chasing each other, falling over and running round again before settling down. The sheep watched and had their own fun and games. A very cold day with strong winds and bright, late, sunshine that developed into a lovely orange sunset.

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Flu Jab

William and Toby had their annual vaccination, they weren’t very enthusiastic about a rather tall vet approaching them but she was very patient; consolation was half an apple each and some hay, the water troughs were frozen and the ice couldn’t be broken so had to be defrosted with hot water. The spring has stopped running into the ditch and the paddocks are very hard underfoot, the grass looks to have wilted which makes poo picking easier. Another cloudy and very cold day with a strong wind and a few snow flurries, the sun shone for half an hour and almost lifted the temperature.

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Icicles

All the water butts have icicles, the ice has forced the stoppers up a little so the water can slowly seep out. The water troughs in the paddock needed de-icing three times during the day and were topped up with hot water at dusk, not sure how long they’ll stay defrosted overnight. Keeping a watering can full of water in the greenhouse for the first water boiling of the day. The donkeys stayed close to their stable, the sheep preferred to stay outside and chew the cud in the frosted grass. Snow in the morning with a raw wind that strengthened in the afternoon.

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Ouessants

The snow lingered in places, very frosty overnight with ice outside the stable which needed salt, the concrete doesn’t get any sun at this time of year. The Ouessants munched their hay happily and poo picking yielded a lot less as it was hidden in the snow. The donkeys had a couple of hours in the square paddock which is still squelchy, the spring in the ditch has stopped running. Emptied more barrow loads of compost onto the hedge, a dry cube of grass cuttings in the centre of the heap has given way to more worm laden compost. A sunny day with light winds, gave the donkeys their mix in daylight.

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Ice

The water troughs in the paddocks are used by the donkeys and the sheep, so when the night has been cold the troughs need to be cleared of ice. This pile of ice is the result of two cold days / nights; it doesn’t melt away in the foggy day with temperatures only just above zero. Occasionally there are rooks and pigeons drinking, garden birds choose the smaller bird baths in the garden. The fish are resting at the bottom of the pond and have stopped eating, the waterfall is still running so there’s enough oxygen for them. A warmer day with some sunshine.