Aquaponics – I have found that I need a settling tank between the fish tank and the sump tank. Without this solids are pumped into the grow beds and silts in the gravel. Once the flow of water through the gravel is slowed or in some cases stopped the water flows over the side. This loss of water will drain the sump and has the potential to damage the pump. It took me about 3 hours of washing gravel from half the grow beds. I plan to build a green house and move the entire system into it. I will be adding a settling tank at this time.
The water heater has been working very well. We have had several days with single digit temperatures and the lowest I have seen the water temperature has been 53 degrees. I believe the tilapia should be doing fine but I have not taken the cover off to verify this. I don’t want to stress the fish anymore than needed.
Rosco the Goose – Three weeks ago I found Rosco staggering around near the water jugs. It was early on a Saturday so the vet was still open. This vet was not familiar with geese but said Rosco was definitely in trouble. Along with being unable to stand without tipping over he also had severe diarrhea and a fever. He guessed that the problem was viral so we went home with a week’s worth of tetracycline.
Rosco got better after about two days of this treatment. After completing the course antibiotics I returned him to the pen with the other birds. Exactly one week later I found him lying in the mud, again unable to stand. This time it was late on Saturday and the vet was already closed. Going through my animal medicine chest and searching the internet to see what I might be able to do for him, I found that I had some Tylan 200. This a strong antibiotic designed for cattle. Several goose forums suggested that it could be used on geese with good results. Afraid he might not make it through the night if I didn’t try something I gave him the suggested dose of Tylan. Within a few hours he was showing signs of improvement. By Sunday morning he was back to normal. I gave him a dose each day for the first three days and then I skipped a day since at least one forum said Tylan should be given every 48 hours. The week passed and Rosco was doing fine and I had planned to return him to the flock Sunday morning. Saturday night he relapsed again. Further research on the internet led me to think maybe he had a case of gap worms or some other form of parasite. Sunday morning found us at our local Tractor Supply buying a dewormer.
Monday, not seeing any improvement in fact it looked like he was getting worse, Lisa remembered talking to Mother and Father Goose at the Renaissance Festival in Georgia a couple of years ago. She called the number on the website http://www.thegoosesmother.com/id30.html and spoke to Father Goose (Allen). He was very helpful and gave us the number to a Dr at the University if GA. After talking to this Dr and going over what has been tried so far, the symptoms and living conditions he believes Rosco has eaten something and is suffering from something like botulism. So tomorrow he goes to our other vet who will call the Dr at the University and together they will try to find the cause and a solution to Rocco’s problem.
Everyone else on the farm is doing well. Marla hasn’t had her calf yet. Some days I’m not even sure she is pregnant others she looks like she is going to pop. During this last cold spell she was acting a little odd and I was sure she was going do have the calf. I found myself checking on her every couple of hours expecting to find a very cold wet calf each time I went out. I was thankful that she didn’t have the calf then. Hopefully she doesn’t wait until the next cold snap.
Bees – I still have 3 hives. I thought I lost the smaller of the three during the cold snap but this weekend he temperature got up into the 60’s and the bees were flying and hitting the sugar water I put out for them. Bees were coming and going from all three hives. If the weak hive makes it until spring I will be surprised but so fat it is hanging in there.
