| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| magnoliakathy |
Posted - Mar 31 2015 : 1:19:30 PM
Sweet old Buttercup was sitting on a ceramic egg and the geese started laying, so I gave her 4 goose eggs. She hatched 2 yesterday, if the other two don't hatch by this evening I will remove them. I will leave Buttercup and the goslings together until they get a good covering of feathers and then try to acclimate them to the grown geese.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| magnoliakathy |
Posted - Apr 02 2015 : 3:44:49 PM
We take ours at early as 6 months, I look to see if they are as big as my older goats. Some take a little longer. We band the boys, as soon as, I can feel both cords on the testicles (usually before 1 month), this keeps the gamey taste down or not at all. I am sure a meat-type goat will have more meat than our Nigies but if I can't sell them, I can't feed all of them, so off to the slaughter house. That may sound cruel, but I have to be sure and keep my does in excellent shape for good milk production and healthy kids, so they get the best food and it isn't cheap.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
| Marilyn Hartman Sullivan |
Posted - Apr 02 2015 : 1:36:00 PM
Carole -- I would bet that the "horse people" will make good and sure that they are okay. Where I live, in SE PA, horse money talks plenty loud. I had to leave my poor old horsie out in Washington State when I moved here four years ago. Not only would he have been brrrr-cold in these east coast winters, but he would certainly have received a cold shoulder from some of the rich horses around here! ha ha ha Poor old Image was a cow pony, round-em-up kind of fellow. He was more barrel racing than dressage, and I just don't think he would have fit in here. I have never understood why people would move out to the country and then try to keep it all citified. Personally, I would much rather have chickens as neighbors than a whole lot of people I've known.
Kathryn -- How old does a goat have to be before they are ready to slaughter? I have always assumed that you raise a different breed for eating than you would for milk - is that true? Goats fascinate me, but I don't have the room. I would love to see pix of your adoptive mommy-bird.
Farmgirl #6318
"Where there's a will -- there's probably a family fight." |
| magnoliakathy |
Posted - Apr 02 2015 : 12:52:24 PM
Buttercup has 3 goslings now. DH wants to leave the last egg with her until Sunday, just in case. One of the little guys was standing in the water pan this morning, when I went down for morning chores. I have a ceramic bunny dish, that I am going to put a rock and some water in, so there is more water to splash around in. I know this will not keep the geese out of the water pan, but water birds need lots of water.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
| hudsonsinaf |
Posted - Apr 01 2015 : 2:24:04 PM
Did Buttercups other two goslings hatch? So very neat!
~ Shannon
http://hudson-everydayblessings.blogspot.com/ |
| magnoliakathy |
Posted - Apr 01 2015 : 2:00:20 PM
Yes, we do raise some of our animals for food. We take goat wethers to a local packing for slaughter and processing. Costs $60 each goat, we get about 12-1 pound packages of ground goat back, on average. Extra roosters, ducks, geese, and old non-laying hens get butchered here and canned here. We sell some of our eggs to friends and neighbors. We have 3.5 acres, 2 of those are devoted to the critters, their housing and pens, and our vegetable garden. This is a "hobby farm" in the state of Texas you have to have 10+ acres for a "real" farm
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
| cajungal |
Posted - Apr 01 2015 : 07:52:51 AM
I love it! What a good mom Buttercup is.
Catherine
Sister #76 (2005)
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt.
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| ceridwen |
Posted - Mar 31 2015 : 4:49:23 PM
Kathryn, from goats to geese, seems like you have quite the farm. Do you raise animals for food? I live in a small country village and presently have 5 chickens that I call my "girls". Wish I could have more farm animals but the village trustee is already having a fit with chickens. It makes me laugh because I'm from the city and in Montreal you are allowed to have chickens. I move out in the country and they want nothing to do with chickens or any other farm animals. Even outside the village, they are attempting to change the law and make it that only cats and dogs are allowed. Not sure what that will do with the various horse farms we have around here. Oh well ....
Carole
Farmgirl Sister 3610 - Nov 7/2011
http://www.carolesquiltingetc.com
http://www.fibrejunction.com |
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