Update from the Zoo 9/24

[Shannon]

I hate my camera! It was a little cloudy today, so I took 45 pictures of the animals today. Katie was actually outside, so I got some really nice shots of her. The baby zebra was out, and it was cloudy, so I got some decent ones of him. I even got some really cool ones of the hippos, and of course all the baby animals I could find. I got some awesome ones of Shasta and Maggie too. Then, when I take a look at all the pictures I had so far, they all just disappear! I was all excited that I finally had some nice picture of Katie and the zebras to show you all, and then they're gone! Technology...

However, I did taqke some more pictures of the horses, and I'm still happy with some of them. Befre I get to the rest of the update, here they are:

Here's Maggie, a grey Shire:



And Shasta, a gold champagne American Cream Draft (Look at her eyes...that's why I love champagne!)






And Banshee, a draft mule:



Tar, a Mammoth Jackstock jennet:


And finally Pippen...he's not a horse;) He's an Arapawa Island goat. He thinks he's a horse, though



And on to the update. Katie's mom, Bibi, is (hopefully) 5 months pregnant now, but we won't know for sure until we get the bloodwork done. If she is pregnant, Katie will have to leave before summer gets here. The baby zebra has a name: Clayton. Hs naming rights were auctioned off at Zoobilee, so that's why it took so long. He's over a month old now! And he's so adoreable, and getting so big. May, the Scotch Highland calf, has been shipped out. I didn't know she was leaving last week, so I was a little sad to see her gone today She was so sweet, unlike her mom I also noticed today that Banshee has picked up the hobby of wood chewing It's not like she's locked up all day, she's out all night and has access to outside all day. Maybe she thinks she's starving, and the fence is food If you llok at her picture, she's not exactly skinny That's about all for this week. Not really much to update. That will all change when January/February comes along ;D

[Shannon]

Gah, let me try to fix those pictures...

Okay, I have no clue what's going on with those. They look the right way in Photobucket, but on here's they're sideways...but the other two pictures of
Shasta are right. They were all sodeways, then I rotated all of them, and only half of them show up right. I did the exact same thing for them all...If anyone can tell me why, I'd appreciate it ;D Pictures just aren't liking me today


Or maybe I've gone completely insane...now they show up the right way!

[twnpnds]

Thanks again Shannon for the update and for the pics. Don't cha just love technology? Especially when it seems to test your own smarts? LOL. About Banshee and her wood chewing. While this can be caused by a diet deficiency, it is usually caused by boredom. Equines are grazing animals and by nature move around a lot and use their mouths a lot.(grazing) Feeding 3 or 4 small meals a day and/or providing hay 24/7 can sometimes help this behavior. A ball or old rubber boot can give her something to play with thus giving her something else to do. There are toys available that you put treats in. These are great stimulation toys that engage the mind as well as the body. Is she able to groom one of the horses or the donkey over the fence? Our mule is able to groom the neighbor's mares over the fence. (llamas don't groom each other so they don't appreciate it from him) He would go nuts if he didn't have someone to groom. Does anyone work her or take her for long walks? They like a change of scenery too. Just a few tips that might help Banshee. Here's a tip for your photos. To make them smaller and faster downloading for us dial ups, use the clickable thumbnail option on photobucket. They will be smaller but we can click on them and enlarge them.

[Shannon]

Thanks for the suggestions. I figured it was out of boredom. She can groom Shasta and Maggie over the fence, and Pippen if she wanted to. Also, all the animals are out together at night, so there are the mini donkeys, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, etc. as well as the horses and the donkey. We have a jollyball, but it's flat (I think Tar had something to do with that...though I may have been Banshee;)) Could it be that she likes the paint? The fences were just painted last weekend...As far as I know, this has just started, though maybe I just never noticed it before.

As for the pictures...I'll try to figure that one out tomorrow. I got Maggie's first one to be a thumbnail ,but it's not clickable. I know what a pain it is with a dialup connection

[Meghan]

any pics of ze zba?

[Shannon]

Then, when I take a look at all the pictures I had so far, they all just disappear! I was all excited that I finally had some nice picture of Katie and the zebras to show you all, and then they're gone!

I'll try to get some next week.

[twnpnds]

It's possible that Banshee likes the new paint. Actually it's probably because it's something new. They like to use their mouths when testing something new. She may also be feeling a little stressed out over something. Sounds like you need some new balls. She needs one in her paddock. Might help take her mind off the fence and whatever else is bothering her.

It says clickable thumbnails on photobucket. Think it's the 3rd or 4th one down. Also says recommended. I so wish for DSL. It's not available here. Sigh......