| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Nov 10 2009 : 08:34:52 AM
I found ANOTHER baby goat yesterday. That's THREE in just a few days, and Number 41 since January.    Its seems like every time I turn around there is another kid! I've got goats COMING OUT MY EARS!
This one is a white and cream colored girl. I was so EXCITED that it was a girl! My first reaction was "OMGOSH!!!! ANOTHER BABY!!! WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE!!!!" (she's #41 since JANUARY) My next thought was "PLEASE BE A GIRL!!! PLEASE BE A GIRL!!!!" God must have heard me 'cuase she was! YEAH! 
I have no idea what I'm going to do with all these goats. My husband is really giving me a hard time about it. I've advertised and advertised to sell my wethers, but all anybody wants is girls. Can't say I blame them, but I have USE for the girls. The wethers are just cute and funny and take up space! Once I sell those boys, THEN I will consider selling some girls. I just have to decide who I can part with and who I CAN'T. That'll take some SERIOUS thinking too.
When I found that kid yesterday, I threw my hands in the air and practically yelled at the sky!! I asked God if HE'S blessing me, or if Satan's CURSING me, but so far I haven't heard back from him (LOL!! We have a lot of conversations he and I, and I've discovered that I can ask all the questions I want, but he'll answer back when he's darn good and ready. I guess he's not ready yet, 'cause I'm still waiting... sigh...)
I'm beginning to think he's getting us ready for some VERY hard times. I wasn't planning on breeding ANY animals this year, and I did NOT breed the goats at all! They took that upon themselves. (I swear I have a buck with wings like a beetle. He hides them under his fur!). I'm now pretty sure all those ewes I didn't want to breed are going to have lambs next Spring as well. I had three young Jacob bucks that I was not able to band (they sucked those little things up every time I tried!), then they got bigger and faster and I couldn't catch them! They were jumping on EVERYBODY the past few weeks. My husband finally butchered them, along with a few older wethers, this past weekend. (which made me sad, but it HAD to be done.)
With the way this country is headed, I'm not so sure all these "Surprises" are a bad thing. Aside from the twinge in my heart when I think about certain things, at least I know for certain MY family certainly won't be lacking for food -- ONE WAY or THE OTHER! ~~~ Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Nov 14 2009 : 09:37:28 AM
If I were more "Literate" on the computer, I'd do it in a heartbeat, but, I'm lucky I can get on HERE! I have thought about it though. My sister-in-law has a blog called Pink pomegranate (GORGEOUS!!!!!!) so she would probably help me get one started if I asked.
My family tells me I should write a BOOK, but there are SO MANY on the market right now about the trials and tribulations of farm life. I think anything I write would just get lost in the flood, but we'll see what happens.
One thing I know for certain is, I wouldn't trade this life for ANYTHING!!! It is an aswered prayer from an 8yr old third grade girl many, many moons ago!!!! Thank you God for being so GOOD to me!! I'll take it all--- the good, the bad, the UGLY, and...... oh yeah, all the POOP too, if need be. Which, well, let's face it, this IS a farm!!!! Happy Saturday Ladies! Farmgirl sister hugs~~~ Tracy
PS. Yes Brenda, I DO have new chicks. Almost a WHOLE day old now, at least from what I can gather. Mama is VERY proud and so far hasn't lost a single one!
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| LakeOntarioFarmgirl |
Posted - Nov 14 2009 : 05:26:16 AM
Tracy you should write a blog!
And, I see that you have new chicks now too!!!
Have fun! :)
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
If you rest, you rust. Helen Hayes
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Nov 13 2009 : 12:15:01 PM
Glad you got a good laugh over my "telling of it" Brenda. Some days things go SOOO wrong that I either laugh or cry. Oh, the stories I can tell! This one is classic:
One day, this past Summer, I was trying to catch that blasted Billy (and the OTHER two Billys! They ALL got out that day), and my Maremma LGD, Eli, was upset with me. He gets all wigged out when I'm chasing animals and always tries to head me off. That day was no exception. Just as I was about to make a lunge for the buck Eli ran in front of me. I slammed into him, rolled off his back, (he's the size of a small pony), onto the pavement, and right over a freshly laid pile of road apples. I was laughing so hard I could barely get up out of the pile, but had a job to do and I was more determined than ever to catch that stupid buck!!! The dog got a good scolding first! He behaved himself after that and I was able to catch the bucks without further incident. Afterward, I headed straight to the house for a BATH! Not only did I smell like stinky billy's but I was covered in horse poop!!! Just another day on the farm..... (LOL!!!) ~~~ Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| LakeOntarioFarmgirl |
Posted - Nov 12 2009 : 04:22:24 AM
Tracy, You have me laughing so hard!!!!
I'm sorry I shouldn't laugh, because I know it must be frustrating for you, but just the way you tell this.....
and then I have to say that I so want a large farm with lots of animals to take care of, but reading your post I was just nodding my head and thinking "yup that would be me"!!!! It gets crazy enough just taking care of my 2 golden retrievers.
It does sound like you might have the breeding mystery taken care of though!
I'll have to keep watching this post!
Farm girl smiles!
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
| Beverley |
Posted - Nov 11 2009 : 11:50:48 AM
my husband does not help with my sheep or goat either. I had more but I finally found them homes because it is hard to do it all by yourself. so cudos to you for doing it all. My goat I have now is a nigora which is nigerian and angora and I am taking her for breeding soon to an angora buck a friend of mine owns. so hopefully I will have a baby or 2 in the spring. I just love nigerian babies... way too cute. so good luck and have fun with your babies...
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett Beverley with an extra E...
http://bevsdoggies.googlepages.com/ |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Nov 11 2009 : 10:38:09 AM
I figured if I was going to have livestock, and if I was going to breed them, I would have my own breeding stock, including the bucks. When I got my sheep, there were so few "registered" Babydoll breeders in California at the time (a whopping FOUR!!!! And two were selling out, that's how I got MY sheep.), I found it easiest to buy a ram with the ewes. It worked out very well, so I did the same with my goats. Also, I maintane a "Closed Herd/Flock"-- No "outside" animals on the farm, and when an animal leaves HERE, it doesn't come back. I also know for certain the HEALTH and history of the animals I breed. Just for my own Peace of mind.
The thing is, I have NEVER had this happen before, where everyone just takes it upon themselves to breed and get bred! I don't know what happened. Generally that buck behaved himself and I've had him at least four or five years now. I've bred him before, as I have one of the other bucks, and he did well. He actually behaved himself. Last Summer, when I was trying to coordinate some breedings he just went NUTS! When I got the other buck out of the pen, this one would fly over the panels and chase down the girls meant for the other buck. I managed to head him off, but it became an everyday thing with him-- jumping the panels. So, I thought I'd be smart and tie him up in the barn. That seemed to work, BUT, unbeknownst to ME, the GIRLS were seeking out the buck! That's part of how I got so many babies this year. The last few, he HAD to have been sneaking out of the other pen I had him in, 'cause I never saw him with the girls, and I KNOW that none of these babies belong to either of the other two bucks.
As to HOW DO I DO IT? Barely! That's for sure. Actually, I have a routine that I follow pretty closely. I don't worry much about hoof trimming because there is a huge, rough cement slab behind the barn that ALL the animals walk across (horses, sheep and goats), and it helps to sand down those feet. The goats also climb all over a bunch of roofing tiles that also help "file" their hooves. It certainly makes my job easier. When I worm them (which is "as needed," not on "schedule"), I use tubes of horse wormer. It's that SAME THING as goat wormer, only it's cheaper and easier to administer, especially by myself. I give vaccines (again, as needed ONLY), usually the same time I worm, so if I've got a goat locked between my knees (the reason I have SHORT goats!), I just give it the works all at once, and I can do all that by myslef. For the sheep, I usally do everything when I shear them. Yes, I do THAT by myself too, but I have so many now I will probably start saving money NOW to hire someone else to do it in the Srping. I'm sure the sheep will look A LOT better too!!!!
The only thing I have trouble keeping up with is the POOP! But we have a tractor now that has a scoop and, once we get our new fences up and the animals re-situated, that will be easy to remedy as well. Can't WAIT for that to happen!!!!
Good luck with your sweet little furry bundles Channah. Hope they arrive safely! Hugs~~ Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| maggie14 |
Posted - Nov 10 2009 : 10:13:11 PM
Wow!! That is a lot!! How do you do it!?!?!? I can't wait till my goats have there babies!
Hugs,
Channah
If you can dream it, and if you are willing to put forth the work and effort, you can have anything you envision. |
| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - Nov 10 2009 : 4:36:52 PM
This is why I do not keep bucks and rams generaly on my place, way too much trouble, lol.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Nov 10 2009 : 4:23:43 PM
Tracy, my goodness girl. I think you need to move those bucks to another farm far away from yours! Quick! But it's probably too late now. He is a busy boy. And my goats told me when they were ready to breed this time. I guess they know more than I do about all this.
Have fun with those kids. And that is a good idea about the 4-H. I might have to look into that next spring.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Nov 10 2009 : 10:25:17 AM
It's CRAZY here Tina!! Hubby's not much help. He does't like my goats. Not sure why, but he's really not much of an animal person.
I do all my own care, right down to the banding of the boys in both my goats AND my sheep. I have three goat bucks (well, make that FIVE! I kept two of this years boys for future breeding, but they've not bred anybody). One buck is "handi-capped" (thanks to one of my OTHER bucks!), so I'm pretty sure he's not responsible for any of the babies I was not expecting. The other buck is pretty small, and not so feisty. Like his father, he's a gentleman. He's also too short to breed through the panels. That leaves ONE culprit. I'm pretty sure he's responsible for 100% of the babies. He's a "Wham, Bam, thank you Ma'am" kinda guy that runs from one girl to the next as fast as he can! He's also VERY sneaky. He wants you to THINK he never got out and made his rounds, but it's more than obvious that he has! And MANY times, at that. A few of my does have had multiple pregnancies this year and I am SO UPSET about that! It's so hard on them just to have babies ONCE a year, let alone two or three times! But, hopefully the problem is solved. I did build a new pen and put that buck FAR away from my girls. It's made from solid rigid wire panels four feet high and impenatrable to goats. (He's a Nigerian, so he can't scale a fence that tall, and he can't go UNDER it either!)
I do have to say though, that he has blessed me with some very beautiful babies. A pretty even number of both sexes too. I'm learning his "Signature" marks that he leaves on ALL his offspring (One is a dorasal stripe. His solid black son even sported a white stripe at one point!) They are also loaded with personality. But I am SO done with goats this year.
Today I think I have hit on a solution to my problem though. A freind of mine had to get rid of her goats (one of them she got from me) and the lady who came to pick them up this am is a 4-H leader from a nearby town. As my friend and I were talking the thought came to me that, since I'm having a hard time selling them (wethers only), I could DONATE them to her program for kids that can't afford to buy a goat of their own, or just want one for a pet and to learn about the species. It's a win-win situation. I get more space and less work, the goat gets a good home, and a kid gets a goat they might not otherwise have been able to have. Sounds like a perfect solution! Sometimes I'm so smart I SHOCK MYSELF!! (LOL!!!!) We'll see how it all plays out!~ Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| doglady |
Posted - Nov 10 2009 : 09:06:36 AM
My goodness, I would be hog tying those males somewhere far away from the girls. It sounds like you need help from hubby to help you band a lot of the boys to slow things down a bit. You could check out the water too! LOL
You can tell your dog all of your secrets and they'll never say a word!
www.kennelcreations.com |
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