down sizing

I have decided to take the Long horns to the butcher. they cost too much to feed. And we will enjoy the steaks and roast.. I hate to do it but that is what they are for.
And I may find a home for the horse , She is a big pet and I will not ride her.. Don't want to hurt myself.

Sick, no fun

Christmas day I woke with laryngitis, But I felt fine. I used zicam to be on the safe side.  After two days I ran out of zicam but because I still felt fine, I didn't go buy more. Bad move.. After one day I had a runny nose and felt bad.. I bought some more zicam but I so not feel well.

Goat are doing well. They don't care how I feel, as long as they get to eat.  Count down to March and new kids.

cold weather is here, brrr

I guess winter is here. All the goats have heavy coats now and all the forage is gone. Hay is how the only feed they will get.
Feb will be the big month for kids to be born..
Not much to do now but feed and keep everyone healthy.
The weather man just said we might get snow on Sat but not much.

Does

I put 10 does in with Gab and went to Church... Came home and there were two extra does. I got one out but the other ran from me. Today,I went out and 4 extra does. These are 7 month olds that I wasn't going to breed until Spring. I guess they have other ideas.
Teens, what to do with them....

Breeding Day

I have 10 does in with my handsome buck, Gab. He is sooo happy. I love to watch him, running from doe to doe. After awhile , he flooped down and was resting. A doe walks up and starts rubbing on him and up he goes... He will be pooped aftera  few days.

It's Friday

I found a new feed product called chaffhaye and I am going to buy some bags of it and see how the goats and other like it. So road trip today.
They are enjoying the new area I fenced it and are getting fatter. Even the long horn mom has filled out. Also feeding lespedeza hay and they like it.
Cooler this am, Fall is here.

Beautiful Day

Loving this weather. Great sleeping for me.
I bought some lespedeza round bales and the goats love it. I am going to get some chaffhaye this week and see how that goes
Finished fencing a new area and let the goats in and they are happy. more forage  and this might last a couple of months.
Sowd rape, hairy vetch and a rye mix in the power line area. This should be up and reasy to eat in a month. Yea. 
So pooped... Praise the Lord for my life and family

14 Oct 10

Rainning which is great for the seeds I threw out yesterday. I found rape, hairy vetch and a rye mix. Hope his does well.. Also fencing in another 10 acre and the goats are thrilled. Lot of forage to eat. They are good for another month or so with this area.
Nov I will put 12 does with the buck and hope for twins and triplets in 5 months. Then later put the remainng does  with the buck in the Spring. This may or maynot work. If it doesn't work in Feb I will try again in May or June.
So pooped these days.

cooler weather

This weather seems to agree with everyone. All of critters got out the other day. The horse learned how to underdo the gate.  i wasn't home and all goats, horse, donkeys and long horns got out. The goats ate the leaves on my rose bushes, flowers on my mums.. They got out the next day and then I fixed a chain. So they are contained again. I will hear the gate bang when they try to undo it. they are not happy with me.

Tues, Sept 28, 2010

Worked on the fence again. It is almost finished.. The goats were getting out and I didn't know. But no more. Should have another two areas fence in two weeks. Yea...

Sept 26

Wow, I can't believe 2 weeks have passed.  
I went to Fairfax, VA to visit son's family. Great time but hate the drive.
I had a young man watching the goats, all seemed well. Then I found out a week later the goats had gotten out of the electric fence. He didn't tell me. I worked on the fence this week because I knew it had brush and weeds growing on it. Now I really have to go test the power all over the fence. Gad.....
Rain later today, Praise God, it is soooo dry

Monday, 9.13.10

Times flies these days. My knee is slowing me down and it is swollen because I didn't slow down. The price you pay...
My new buck, Samuel, is almost tamed. He will eat out of my hand and let me pet him.. Hilda the doe, still will not let me near, She is 3 yr old, so will take longer.
Beautiful day...

Labor Day

Lazy day, worked on a spread sheet to keep up with goat care. Now to fill it out. I have a sheet for each month.
The newest does and buck are doing well. I am excited about them.

Sunday, beautiful day

Well, I have lost a doe. I looked for her Fri and Sat and no sign of her. She was having problems with parasites and I had wormer her several times. She was doing better. And the other goats do not tell me much.
My new does are fitting in nicely.

Friday

Knee is much better and doc says I can do anything, just be careful.

Went out this am and can't find one doe. I walked to the pond area but didn't see her. I will go check again later and see if she is back.

8 new goats

Phews I have 7 new does and a new buck. All are red or black and good tone. Can't wait to have kids next yr. 
Surgery today , so I will be laid up for a week or so.

Long day

6 new does, beautiful colors. Brown to black..I will breed them in the Spring to a black buck whose father is reddish. Should have some great kids.

cleaning the barn

I found a great way to clean my barn. Use my leaf blower to blow poop.. But the dust was horrible. I wore a mask but my hair and face were covered with dust... Showered and clean now..

Today, Tues 8/24/10

I am having surgery on Monday to clean up my knee.. Yea and yuck..

Goats are cool, so spoiled... the county extension agent was here and he wanted to know if this was a hobby or a business? I think a little of both. I love my goats and I guess I treat them more like pets. Uggggg

Sunday, 22nd

My truck is almost ready. yea... Timing belt, front axile, lots of screws, etc, that were rusted. And heating fan, hand brake.. Now I have some rust areas to fix.
Going to mix up DE and minerals for the goats. They love it and I have been forgetting.

going to a class to learn the Famache tech. And other things about parasites. looking forward to it. I love to learn.
Rooster crowing at the side door. Crazy !!!!

Friday

I will get my truck back next week and I can pick up my new goats. And I bought 3 new does and I will pick them up next Friday. Can't wait to see them.

Rain and more rain, so lovely

I love a rainy day. It is so peaceful . The animals don't like the rain. the goats stay in the barn until they get hungry.
I gave the two house dogs a bath and put on clean sheets. I would take a nap but an energy man is coming.
then I have to make more formula for the baby goats. I am cutting tme back but I still run out.

News and Record Aug 18

There is an article in the paper today on meat goats and the pictures are my goats. Great article..
I spent the day in Raleigh with my grands and friends from HS.. We went to the Cheesecake factory and had a super good lunch. then I took my leftover to my son and came home...
Still too hot..
Tomorrow a man is coming to look at my timber. I wish the price is right. But I don't think so.
Drove through several rain showers and now it is supposed to rain here. We still need the rain...

better

Finally I feel better.
I have these 8 wks old kids and they are getting their heads stuck in the fence. I have a hard time getting the head out because of the horns. this is driving me crazy....

not well

I am not feeling any better. So more chilling...

way too tired

I am fighting getting sick and I have no energy. So glad the goats are all well....I can watch them and enjoy.

New ole truck, Green Jean

Finally foud a replacement truck for my wrecked Toyota,. Another Toyota 1997,T 100, 6 cyl, 3.4 liters engine. with 167,000, a shell and a tow pkg  Needs some work but mostly great.

Aug 11, 2010

I can not believe this heat.... The animals sit around. They know how to stay cool. Walk slow and chew your chud.
I will stay in the house ad work

way too hot

My two helpers were here this am and we cleaned out half of the barn.  i was soaked and they were pooped from shoveling goat poop. It was way too hot to do much.
I am clean and staying in the house. 
Tomorrow I am going out at 6am to finsh some things.
the goats are lying around chilling...

Hot days and no energy

I am tired of sweating at 8 am. I am going to clean out the barn in the am with my two boys helpers.
I have two does that I had to use chemical wormers, they got thin overnight, or so it seems. One is doing better than the other.
I bought two new does and I am very impressed by them. I will breed them in the Spring with my new buck.
I have to take some bucks to the meat market. One looks good but no one wants him. He is 75% Kiko
I had a car wreck and lost my truck . Trying to find a replacement is driving me crazy. And fighting with insurance. Plus going to doc over my knee that hit the dase. It is stiff and hard to work the way I need to.
Got to hit the sack so I can get up early to beat some heat

July 24, 2010

So much has happen.. I have two new kids and the mom wouldn't nurse them, so I have bottled feed them
My truck was totaled a week ago and I am trying to find another truck.
And the weather is soo hot., almost 100'.
New paper is coming on Monday to check out my goats.  fun..
2 grandsons coming on Monday to spend the night
2 news does coming.
busy day..

two new bucklins

a Doe had two little white bucks last Monday., She will not nurse them and I got tired of tying her.So bottle babies.

June 3, 2010

I can not believe it is June. I am still waiting on some does to have their kids.

may 22, 2010

I sold my first kids this week. It was sad and happy. they went to a super farm....I am excited that they will have a great life.
I know I have 5 does pregnant and due this month or next.

aren't I cute

Patches, largest does

Wendy, new long horn calf

Chewbaca, buck from Judy

Madison, best of 8 kids..Mother Flossie

Jack, brother to Jill, mother Sug

May 14, 2010

Sick all morning but went out and checked everyone. Then back to the couch.
I have some does that are pregnant and I do not know when they will deliver.  It is hard to plan anything away from here.
Better tonight. I went out to say good night and they look at me , like why are you bothering us. Funny.

May 10, 2010

Busy time, trying to clean up front yard.. then I was out with goats and one doe is bagging up and she is sway backed... Maybe soon. She wouldnt' nurse her kid in Dec and I hope she will nurse this one or ones. I will work hard with her.l
My kittens like to walk on the keyboard and I have to fight them to see the screen..
The little buck were practicing their skills. They don't mind which sex th eother kid is. Cute.

May 7, 2010

I am excited I have sold 4 kids, Yea.  my first sale.. These are my best. the  others are good but I am so proud of these.

May 3, 2010

I think several of my goats have bloat, they look like they will explode.. i read about treatment and one was to give veggie oil. I had a huge tin of olive oil , so I pour some in a long pan... We will see what happens.
Rainy day , so nice.

April 29, 2010

My little Peter Pan I think, should be called Wendy.  I do not see the parts that would make it a male.. So funny. Two donkeys leaving tomorrow, one killed two kids, so she had to go.

April 24, 2010

I have two grandson coming this Sat and my house is a mess. Just thinking of cleaning makes me tired.
And the goats are needing me and the kittens. Ug....

April 23, 2010

My days are busy now with feeding the kittens. I have tried to introduce solids but they are just not ready. They are males, what more do I need to say.
I let the goats in the back yard and they are keeping the grass down. I need to tie some out in the front yard to get some weeds.

April 22, 2010

Got up late,8am.. So now I am behind... Fed the kittens and they are meowing again. I have to get them to eat some dry food. Now to check the goats and then feed myself.
rainy day , cool this am but everything looks so fresh with the rain cleaning off the pollen .
Now to face the day...
No dairy, no wheat, no sugar, no eggs-this is hard to find something to eat for breakfast.

April 19, 2010

What a day!!! I fed the 5 kittens and then went out and fed the goats. I had to check the one doe whose leg was bitten by my terrier.  Then I made my broccoli salad for my circle dinner. . Then I went back and check on the little doe.
Went to see a doc and she said, no wheat, no dairy, no sugar.... Soo got to try this and see if I can get better.
Then home fed kittens and went out to check on little doe. Couldn't find her anywhere. Finally I saw the mom and another kid looking at this old truck . There she was, under it, right in the middle. Finally got her out and clean up her leg.
I just had time to get my salad and off I went.
Home, checked on little doe, her name is Callie. Inside and fed kittens.  Now I am ready for bed....

april 16, 2010

I didn't have to pay taxes, yea....
A friend called and she had 5 killens whos momma was killed. they are cute but a pain to feed.
Today a found a doe dead. She might have goten bitten by a snake. Sad. but a fact of life when you are raising animals.

April 14, 2010

Good news I do not have to pay any taxes this year.  Start up is good. But I have to make money some year.
Went out and shoveled hay to the critters. They talk to me a lot. I am learning their voices. Some grate on your ears.
I am sweating though, and it is really cool this am..

April 12, 2010

The end to a beautiful day. All my does have delivered, and now it is fun to watch the new kids jumping around. I have been letting them in the back yard to eat the weeds. They have so much fun...
I still have 8 -4 month old kids, all 75% kiko. I think I have 3 sold and then the others will go to the meat market.