| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Feb 02 2008 : 04:55:31 AM
 
The Funny Farm barn is housing some of the cutest baby goats around - come see them at www.larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
I have been very sleep deprived but it is all worth it. I think just like last year I will have to come up with a naming contest - Stay tuned.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/larkspurfunnyfarm |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Feb 29 2008 : 6:34:42 PM
Ellery is a pure red like I have never seen before
Rasputain is more of a coco taupe color. He also has some base tone on a dark steel.
Eva is a cream with a dark steel base
Kate is a cream with a very interesting wheat/red swirled in the body with circles around her eyes.
Monty is a wheat cream
Rafael is white with very light gray swirls
The newest kids are pure and I mean pure white. I think their names are going to be Hansel and Gretal. Everywhere they run is it like they are joined at the hips and they look like they are skipping.
However I know that these sweet ones can and will change colors - not drastic but there baby fiber (colored) does change.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Feb 28 2008 : 10:27:52 PM
Grace - Is Rapustain what they call an apricot or maybe a cinnamon? He looks like a light red but maybe it's a brown... Hard to tel from your pic but the knees look reddish.
Michelle - are your LaManchas having pure lamancha kids or are they mixed? I'm looking for LaMancha kids in North or Central TX. I'm in Hillsboro, just north of Waco.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| grace gerber |
Posted - Feb 28 2008 : 3:06:01 PM
Hi Jonni
Thanks for taking a peak at the kids.....
My fingers can hardly control themselves - I can not wait to spin their wonderful locks but most of all my heart sings when I see them so happy and playing in the sun. I am so blessed to call this my life.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Feb 28 2008 : 10:46:03 AM
Oh Grace, I read all of the blogs about the babies (and about your squirrel visitor!). I so enjoy seeing those little ones and my, oh my aren't the colors just gorgeous this time!!!!
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Feb 28 2008 : 07:27:44 AM
I updated the blog site with new pictures of the kids outside. The newest twins are still keeping behind mom but I am wearing them down. I hope to get a clear shot of them soon. Trust me I went thru about 40 pictures trying to get a clear shot of them. Fast little sillies.
Now I am just waiting on one more girl to deliver - this is the one with missing teeth, thin body and generally a very old, old, old girl but still a sweetheart.
Thanks for taking a look..........
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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| frannie |
Posted - Feb 20 2008 : 10:31:09 AM
oh grace i cant wait to see your pics!
love
fran
(http://farmfolks-frannie.blogspot.com/) |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Feb 20 2008 : 09:50:42 AM
FINALLY the next set of twins were born last night at 8:14 and 8:40 pm. A boy and girl, pure white and such wavy fiber. These are Cashgora's and what sweethearts. After everything was said and done they are PERFECT........
I hope to get new pictures of all the babies but I have been up to my eyeballs with fiber orders (GREAT for the farm - puts food in the barns for all the animals) and trying to get chores done before the next storm.
What made this so special to me is that exact time the twins were born is the exact time twelve years ago my husband passed away. It was a great gift for me because this is the first year that I had been alone on the farm with those memories. The universe is so great to give us what we need. I am blessed.
Thanks for letting me share
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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| grace gerber |
Posted - Feb 19 2008 : 4:10:39 PM
Hi Fran
Most of the time folks pull the babies to keep the kids CAE free but you can have the babies nurse and take some for you. What you will have to do is slowly take a little milk and just like us humans the more they nurse the more milk is produced. What I would suggest is to start a schedule of around four times a day after you have seen the baby nurse. Do not take much or baby will be doing without. The reason why milk goat look so huge is because they are only milk twice a day so the milk gets engorged. If you watch the kids they are continually nursing but only a little bit at a time. Also, make sure that they will get feed enough to make that extra milk.
When considering this you also have to have a mother who produces a good quanity of milk. If someone had twins your in - but remember if you are taking milk you must have enough for the kids or supplement them.
Good luck
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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| frannie |
Posted - Feb 19 2008 : 4:02:11 PM
grace, i have been thinking about what you said about milking the angora goat.
i think i would like to try this. what i cant seem to find an answer to is this.
i understand the concept of milking, i have milked the moms when their babies had trouble nursing them, and well, i breast fed 4 babies, so there are some things i understand, but i dont understand if you have to take the baby from the mom if you are gonna milk her.
can she feed her baby and be milked 1 time a day or 2 times a day and still be able to produce fibre?
at what point do you start milking them.
i have a mama right now and her baby was born the night of the iowa caucus, so how long will he nurse. our babies just seem to nurse forever, but i have never tried to get milk from a mama before for us to use.
i dont imagine i will want a lot of milk, but just dont know.
if you know a site that talks about this let me know. you have steered me to some good sites in the past, but all the ones i have tried to find just talk about HOW to milk the goat, and doesnt address these questions.
thanks,
love
fran
(http://farmfolks-frannie.blogspot.com/) |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Feb 12 2008 : 12:50:36 PM
Fran you are never bothering me. I love sharing my life experiences if they will help.
As for combining different types of goats I have done it for years however I will remind you just because you think it is a good idea does not mean your goats will agree. I never just put new animals together, feelings get hurt and so runs the possibility of injury. It would be like if you dh brought home another girl - would you be thrilled? Also, some goats no matter how long they live together will never be friends. Then I have had some come on board it is like they are long lost friends. I found also if I do not favor the new one I also have not created that "Mom likes you best" fighting. Most of the time milk goats have had their horns removed so that puts them at a disadvantage. I wish folks would leave horns on because that is the way goats regulate their body temps. You can still get a goat in a milking stand with horns, they do not go around hurtin each other just because they have horns. The practice of removing horns where for factory practices not what goes on a regular farm daily.
The best goat for milking is one who has a proven track record. If you can find out what her mother, grandmother and such produced that is the best way to start. Next, what does the milk bag and teats look like - education is key here - read all you can so you can spot the problems before you bring them home. Dwarfts and strange crosses are not going to give you a sound milker. Consider would you want a tiny angora if you where raising fiber? No because you would never make enough fiber because of the surface size of the animal, same is true for milk. The next is consider what you can afford. This is not the time you want to pinch pennies. You are going to have to pay for quality and down the road it is well worth it. All the love and feed and vet bills are not going to make a poor milker change.
Did you know if you have a great fiber goat that produces a ton of milk you can use her? In other countries they use their cashmere and angoras also for the milk producers and meat production. It is only
in this country that we separate the breeds into single production. In fact, their prized for milk because of their fat content. Also, you will be increasing your financial worth of your animals without increasing your numbers. That would make your dh happy.
As for how many goat you can have I would contact your local county extention agent and see what they have to say. It would depend also on how much feed you wish to bring in.
I wished you were close to but for now we can type away. Take care and love hearing from you.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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| frannie |
Posted - Feb 12 2008 : 10:21:13 AM
i have sooo many questions to ask you, i wish you were my neighbor. i would try not to bug you i would just come over and help ya out so i could learn.
i would really like to have just 1 nigerian dwarf goat for milk, what do you know about keeping different species of goats together. is that verboten? what is your wisdom on that?
also wonder if you have a preference of milk goats.
we currently have 10 angora goats, too many males, and would like to decrease the herd somwhat.
we have 16 acreas, 10 acre woodlot and a 6 acrea native pasture. our county is not an arid part of texas but we dont get as much rainfall as the east texas folks do. we have had a drought for the last 7 years.
how many goats do you think would be optimum for this area. we dont want to have a huge production, i just wonder how to tell if you have too many. (besides when the dh says, we have too many!)
i am with you on the boer goats. we could probably do real well here with boer goats, but i do not want to raise animals that have to be killed to make money. dont get me wrong, i am afraid i am a carnvoure,
and i am very greatful for those who provide that service. i just know i couldnt and it would be a dismal failure on many levels.
anyway, thanks so much for your time, grace, i love reading your post and storiies, i will post a pic today of our little one.
his name is "obaaaaama" nothing political going on here, but he was born on the iowa caucas day and the grandkids thought obaaaama was the perfect name for him. he is a little cutie to us.
love
fran
(http://farmfolks-frannie.blogspot.com/) |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Feb 12 2008 : 09:50:29 AM
Hi Fran
They can change their season - my girl Eboney three years ago lost a baby and turned right around and rebred and she had a second delivery in the same year. I have also had goats come to us with one season and within a couple of months the girls in the barn have a talk with the new goat and then the new goat has a change in season. There has been studies that also with human women who spend day in and day out with the same women can have the periods change. For the past 22 years we had one billy (Thor) who always remained in with the girls. I also think he had alot to do with their schedule. He pasted last year and we used one of our other billies. However his temperment was no where the same as Thor's so I had to drag him out last month because he was pushing and bullying the girls. I was concerned that he was going to hurt the babies because they will want to rebred the moment the girls deliver. Good luck with the babies and please share pictures. I am hoping to get new ones soon.
Stay well.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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| frannie |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 8:48:21 PM
grace,
i love to hear you talk about your farm and the pics were adorable.
we have a small herd of angoras, and i agree the "baby" time is the best. i think goat kids are about the cutest, and yes cuter than puppies or kittens which i love.
we usually have out babies in january or fabruary, but last year one llone mama had her baby in july. this winter we have only had one baby so far, but the mom's dont look pg and the male is romantic as all get out. do they ever change their breeding time. could we end up with babies in july? what in the heck is this all about.
oh, yea, keep those post and pics coming they are tooooo adorable.
love
fran
(http://farmfolks-frannie.blogspot.com/) |
| doublebow |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 6:29:07 PM
I have dairy goats. LaMancha and Nigerian. I've had goats for 3 yrs but just bought a dairy goat last fall. It was great to have such good quality milk right from my own home. I'm on baby watch right now,too. But I think they like to wait to have those babies til you're not looking! Good luck with that weather you're having. Stay warm! |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 3:20:33 PM
What types of goats? I have raised all kinds of milk goats too and have been really considering bring back milk goats. I would love to see you goats - I think the only goats I would not raise are Boer goats because they are for meat and I do not do that anymore - it just breaks my heart to drive my animals to the butcher.
I wished I had new pictures to share but I have been playing catch up at the farm. I went grocery shopping which I had not done sine Jan 3rd. I was hoping that when I got home there might be new babies but I think my last two are just trying to see how many times I will walk in the barn - every two hours until those last kids are on the ground.
We had 56 degrees on Sunday and it is now snowing sideways again. Maybe when the temp reachs zero those babies will come. I will keep you informed
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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| doublebow |
Posted - Feb 08 2008 : 6:14:19 PM
I enjoyed reading your blog. What sweet babies! I have goats,too, but mine don't have that adorable woolie coat. |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Feb 04 2008 : 6:42:14 PM
Thanks all for checking out the kids - just came in from the barn and I have spent the last two hours trying to get a picture of Maggi's boy. She is determined not to let me. I have named him "Monty" because he is always jumping on her back while she is standing. Reminds me of the Monty Python Show.... Since my dital camera is about 8 years old is hates the cold and we are again having snow and cold. So everytime I get the stupid thing to focus Monty jumps down and hides behind Maggi's legs.
The rest of the kids are jumping around and getting into each others pens to visit and play. I have one girl who keeps pretending like she is starting labor but I know she will wait till it is bitter cold and two in the morning before deciding to do anything. You know just when I am ready to go to bed..........
Well stay warm all and hope to have some new faces by morning.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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| Luzy |
Posted - Feb 04 2008 : 2:35:35 PM
Thanks for the adorable pictures Grace. Your babies are so lucky to have you!! I'm so sorry for your loss, that just tears my heart out, but he knew he was loved for sure. Bless your heart!!! Hugs, Lu
--
May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.
http://luzy.etsy.com- My etsy store! |
| Maryjane Lee |
Posted - Feb 04 2008 : 12:50:40 PM
Grace, your baby goats are DARLING!!! Thanks for sharing!
Hugs, Maryjane Lee
Farmgirl Sister #44
The Beehive Cottage~est. 1971
Sisters on the Fly #595
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| BarefootGoatGirl |
Posted - Feb 03 2008 : 10:39:58 AM
you are so blessed, grace! i just love babies and your descriptions of life on the "funny farm" are amazing.
What we write today slipped into our souls some other day when we were alone and doing nothing.
-Brenda Ueland
http://quilandneedle.blogspot.com/ |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Feb 02 2008 : 9:56:10 PM
They are totally adorable!! I miss having baby goats on our place..there is nothing cuter!!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Farmtopia |
Posted - Feb 02 2008 : 9:52:58 PM
Aww Grace, they are too cute!
~*~Dream all you dreamers~*~
View my work:
www.bigtownfarmer.com
www.pumpkinpatchparlor.etsy.com
And Blogs:
www.bigtownfarmer.blogspot.com
www.queenofcrows.blogspot.com |
| windypines |
Posted - Feb 02 2008 : 2:58:19 PM
Good luck Grace with baby season. Hope everyone left has an easy time, has them during daylight hours, and are good momma's.
Michele |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Feb 02 2008 : 2:56:47 PM
Hi Rohnda
I know what you mean - when my great pry had puppies I could just eat them up they were so wonderful. The way they wiggle and make the tiny sounds. Goat kids are ready to play within hours and are spring loaded. The way they will rub their heads on your check - well it makes life worth living.
I got to tell you I think you little angels are spectacular - I am with you I love using things old and making something new. Love your etsy shop. I will have to place it on my fav's list.
Stay warm and goat kisses.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/larkspurfunnyfarm |
| abbasgurl |
Posted - Feb 02 2008 : 1:02:16 PM
Oh my gooooooodness! And I thought puppies were cute! They are ADORABLE Grace!
Rhonda
I will sing at the top of my lungs, and I will dance even if I'm the only one...
http://www.kattywhompus.etsy.com |
