Thingamajig: Diatomaceous Earth Shaker!

This was The S/O's brilliant idea! For $1.00 at Target in their bargain bin area, this martini shaker makes the best DE applicator to the goats I ever could have hoped for.

I place one cup of food grade DE in the shaker along with two drops of Tea Tree Oil, two Drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil, put cap it and shake like crazy to mix.  

For Kids, I would use one drop  each. For treating, rather then preventing lice/mites, I would use three drops each.

I do not have to wear protective gear or worry about it getting in the lungs of the goat as the holes are inside a protective rim that I put down against the goat's spine and dispense from head to tail.

Thingamajig: Baby Rectal Thermometer

I love this tiny rectal thermometer for our Nigerian Goatlings!


It is defiantly a lot safer then a regular sized thermometer. And please, NEVER EVER use a glass mercury thermometer on your critters! 

I like the small probe tip and the large display with back-lighting, which makes it quick and easy to read so I can get this act over with as soon as possible for both our sakes; the goat's and mine.   I made certain I got one that beeps when the reading is complete as well.

Thingamajig & Remedy: CHEMICAL FREE TRAP for those HORRID BUGS!

Mosquitoes are HORRID HORRID HORRID after all this rain... Going to try these traps around the goatlings' Sleepy Goat Inn. I feel so bad for them. Their ears are covered in bites.

I did some internet research and decided to go with this recipe: 

 

Items needed:         

• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar
• 1 tsp of yeast 
• 1 16-24 oz plastic bottle

Directions:

1. Cut the top portion of the plastic bottle off as neatly as possible in a straight cut around. 
2. Place the funnel part, upside down, into the other half of the bottle, taping them together if desired. I used black duct tape. 
3. Mix brown sugar with 1/4 cup hot water, stir, let the sugar disolve and then add 1/4 cup cold water. Pour into prepared bottle.
4. Add the yeast. Give a little slosh to mix. It creates carbon dioxide, which attracts mosquitoes. 
5. Wrap the bottle with something black, leaving the top uncovered, and place it outside in an area away from your normal gathering area. (Mosquitoes are drawn to the color black or white.)

I started with one, and then I have put out approximately 3 more bottles, on consecutive days. I will most likely put out a few more before the week is over. 

I've been using this for 4 days now... I can actually stand outside near the goatling's shed and tarp without having 5 mosquitoes instantly on my legs...   

It is recommended that you change the solution every 2 weeks for continuous control. I will most likely change mine out weekly. I am in no short supply of yeast nor sugar.

 

UPDATE: Here it is... FULL OF BUGS..... And those nasty biting gnats seem to be attracted to it too! Heck, it even got about 3 yellow jackets that were swarming the first day I put them out.