​With temps like this in the shade what do you do to keep your critters cool? Here we freeze milk jugs and put in the water tanks as well as change out the water mid day or a few times a day to give cooler water. I also go out and spray everyone's living space down some and them too depending on needs. Chickens not so much but pigs and horses yes. The birds also get frozen fruit and veggies and the pigs get frozen chickens or something of the sort. As for me, I'm hiding in my bedroom with my doggies as much as I can between trips outside since it's a cool 78 degrees.

In my area it is very common for goats to be deficient in copper. Why is this important you ask? Copper helps keep down parasite load, improves fertility, helps skin and coat just to name a few reasons. How do you know if your goat needs copper? Your goats coat may become coarse and have a copper tinge in color. Another sign is the fishtail. The tail hairs split in a Y shape. The most common way to bolus is with a plastic tool called a bolus gun that you place the capsule in and shoot it down the goats throat. Sounds simple right? NOT! It's very hard if working alone and personally I don't find it a pleasant experience. Some goats need this every quarter or so, some twice a year and most only every 10-12 months. Our herd is fairly large and many times I am working alone so needless to say I dread this chore. That is until I got a bight idea to stuff them in bananas! Do goats even like bananas? YES! It's kind of like crack to them.  I keep the peal on until I feed that piece and after I feed the peel as that is their favorite part. They nearly run my over for their copper now! I do have a few picky critters that will only eat it if I am on the other side of the gate. I guess they feel like they are being naughty ;) Also just a couple I have to bolus the traditional way. But doing a couple this way sure beats fighting a whole herd especially the stinky bucks. Try it. You'll be so glad you did. I did my whole herd in less than 10 minutes on today! Here Penny and Quarter and begging for more! Even after they got 2 doses. I buy kid doses since most of my herd are mini breeds so the larger goats do get a double dose. I have read it's best to do this bolus with an empty stomach but have you ever tried to stop a goat from eating? Hahaha nice try. The idea is so that the bolus doesn't get pushed threw the system before it can settle in the walls to be time released. I don't find much difference in results either way. Anyway happy bolusing! I hope this helps your chores go a little faster next time you have to do it. Need to know where to buy copper bolus? I keep a fairly large supply since it's not easily available near me. I sell them for $1.00/Capsule.