The Chodove People

This last week has been a pretty busy one around The CHARM Farm!

On Sunday we were asked if we would take in a day old foal that was not being accepted by her mom. We gladly agreed. We spent most of the day Monday rearranging the barn so that when she arrived she would be able to stay with the other horses and have some company. We were gonna give her one of the mini-barn/sheds of her own, but decided she would probably do better with the others.

All day Monday we told the kids we were building a stall in the barn for piglets. They were pretty excited asking questions and wondering if they would be able to hold them. I showed them pictures on the internet of the different colors and kinds and they all said what they wanted.

That evening when Jerry arrived, the kids and I were just finishing up chores in the barn. I told them they had to stay behind a certain spot in the alley way so that they didn't get bitten or in the way. You know how little pigs have sharp teeth and everything. They all stood very still, eager to see their first piglets arriving.

Jerry brought the foal in a large rubbermate type tub, covered with a blanket. We all brought the tub into the alleyway and opened up her stall door. When Jerry took the blanket off, DOMA stood up. The look on the kids faces was priceless. It was total shock, like "THAT ISN'T A PIGLET!". It took a minute before the shock wore off and the smiles and giddiness arrived. Totally priceless!

Since Monday, we have been bottle feeding DOMA every two hours and it is just today that it will start going to three hours inbetween. She is a wonderful little girl who makes the cutest little whinny sounds when we come into the barn. Her legs have strengthened and she stands nice and tall now. All the kids have taken a turn at feeding her, including Greg's son Ty who came out for a visit.

Doma, is short for Domazlice, where the CHODOVE museum is. The CHODOVE people were/are a very significant part of Bohemian/Czech history and so we wanted to name her as such.

Harem has taken quite a liking to Doma. She is in the stall next to her along with Glider and although Glider spends most of the day nearest her, Harem spends the nights near her watching over her I am sure!

Mariah has been watching her intently from across the alley way. We are hoping that once her own foal is born and has had a chance at getting the colostrum milk (very important for baby) she will accept Doma has her own as well. If not we will keep bottle feeding Doma until she can be weened.

The big girls (Belgians) are now used to seeing Paulette walking by them a few times a night and no longer have to come over to see what the flashlight is all about. They are also curious as to why Paulette smells like a mommy horse all the time, but they have not changed their disposition at all.

All is well on The CHARM Farm!