The Poultry Keeper

Welsh Duck · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject:

I'm just astonished that someone could purchase an animal and just leave it. Evil or Very Mad

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 1042 Location: St. Asaph

Well, latest update.......Friend who owns field has been to horse owners house.........no one in, she's still believed to be in the Bristol area.

Has rung her numerous times.............. no reply.

Has spoken to her relative and he has tried to ring her with friend there................call disconnected.

Friend has now informed relative of outstanding rent....currently £150 and has asked him to get papers for horse when he contacts owner or else she will be reported for abandoning him Rolling Eyes

So......... I have been to farm place and bought pony nuts/mollichop, headcollar, lead rope, hoof pick, hoof oil and dandy brush.

I'll separate him whilst feeding him by bringing him down to yard and give him a hay net after . Hopefully he'll be able to finish it before the other three realise as they'll be a couple of acres away Wink

I'll start feeding him tomorrow, just a few mouthfuls initially as he obviously hasn't been fed for ages, I don't want to bring colic on Shocked

debcat · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:30 pm Post subject:

Have you found out his name yet, or thought of a new one?

mollichop shouldn't give him colic as it's just fibre and usually mollases.
start with a handful of ponynuts to begin with
Flaked barley is good for weight gain
you could try soaked sugar beet as well, most horses love it, you just have to make sure it's been soaked for long enough

Good luck

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 1042 Location: St. Asaph

Hi Debcat, thanks for the advice Very Happy

Apparently his name may be CORKIE !!!!!! Sorry for anyone who may have an animal with this name but i don't think i'd stick with it Rolling Eyes

I gave him mug full of pony nuts with some chop Mmmmm smelt lovely with molasses and herbs Laughing

Corkie???? had a quick sniff then tucked in Laughing

He seems a gentle lad. I'll try giving him a brush tomorrow.

I've seen sugar beet in the farm place. How long should it be soaked for please? Rolling Eyes

debcat · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:38 pm Post subject:

I always leave mine 24 hours,
you only need a small bit cos it swells up so much

you can get speedibeet now as well which is useable after about 20 mins

CP · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:07 am Post subject:

Sugar beet smells divine too, mmmm! Very Happy

Good luck with him Dusty. Wink

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 1042 Location: St. Asaph

Just got back from seeing Corkie! He's so nervous around men (Pete, the son of field owner came to keep their three occupied whilst I saw to Corkie).

He is a slow eater, doesn't bolt his food. I tried to run my hand over his legs whilst he was feeding but he's too nervous for me to do it yet.

He did give me a rub with his head and 'licked' my hand.

His hooves are a bit long and i've noticed that the left hind hoof appears to turn in slightly but it doesn't seem to impede him as all 4 horses went careering around the fields after with one or two bucks between them......weather became windy.

Found bucket, lead ropes x 3, headcollars x 2, and brushes dumped by fence by Corkies owner, all soaking wet!

CP, the chop smells fantastic, can't wait to smell the beet Laughing

scottish vamps · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:30 pm Post subject:

i love the smell of beet. i an understand not wanting to call him Corkie. not sure it suits him. that's actually further through then you think my boy still isn't that far. At least he's with someone who really wants to do the best for him. my offer of rugs still stands. Smile

I know quiet a few horses are scared of men, its not uncommon.

Auntie Katie · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 435 Location: Cambridgeshire

I can't believe I've missed all this!! Poor old boy he looks gorgeous. Well Done Dusty for taking him what a lucky boy he's turned out to be. Can't bear to think how different it could have been for him if he hadn't ended up in your friends field.

It doesn't seem that she even feels the slightest bit of guilt about it all. What sort of person just goes away like that, I'm guessing she just assumed your friend or someone else would take over his care. Evil or Very Mad

Have you decided on a new name yet?

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 1042 Location: St. Asaph

Hi AK, no nothing on the name front yet Laughing

He (and the other 3 !!!!) come straight to me, amazing what food and carrots can do Laughing

Tried his new headcollar for size today, having left the label on just in case it had to go back and it spooked him so had a bit of hanging onto lead rope antics Rolling Eyes

He's going to need quite a lot of handling to get some confidence around people as any noise or movement when he's eating distracts him.

The fields are in the middle of no where except for tractors and the odd car it's really quiet Very Happy