| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Mar 29 2007 : 4:47:41 PM
Does anyone have a pattern for a nice goat halter, collar or foot hobbles?
I have a pattern for one of the adjustable rope halters but my goats freaked out when I used one on them. So I'd like to try something more along the lines of a dog collar or horse-type halter...Something that is more comfortable and less scary, but also strong enough to hold them.
I'll be needing a way to restrain my goats while I shear them this weekend. I may end up doing it all by myself, with no shearing table, and no one to help hold them and I'll be doing it with hand shears or scissors. So I'll need to restrain them so I have both hands free... (No electricity in the barn.)
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| frannie |
Posted - Apr 18 2007 : 08:20:45 AM
hi erin,
i just read and answered your email. i have been away from the computer so long i really feel like a newbie on the maryjane site.
i have been trying to play catch up and have also started trying to post a little on my blog.
i never noticed that my girl goats smell, but it is a small herd and as i told you in the post we have always had just one male until recently, so i dont know if that affects how much they smell, but it seems that it would.
if our goats formed a bluegrass band their theme song this spring would be "i'll break out agin tonite"
this year our goats discovered the highway and they are really attracted to the grass in the ditches. they have 16 acreas to roam on and they want to hang out on the highway. so dh started the grueling task of finding out what will better confine the goats.
yea,yea, next year he's gonna find a cure for fire ants
anywho after a couple of attempts and several trips to the hardware store the goats have a huge enclosure that we can put them in when they arent allowed to free range.
they are happier now, cause we temporarily had to confine them in a smaller area and let them out twice a day to browse.
it really seemed to affect them when they were confined.
i cant believe they preferred the highway to the 6 acre pasture and the 10 acre wood lot, but go figure.
anywho enjoy your goat girls and keep us posted on the progress at the farm.
love
fran
(http://farmfolks-frannie.blogspot.com/) |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Apr 17 2007 : 11:01:57 PM
Fran - I sent you an email! And yes, I'm still interested in at least one of the boys, although I'll have to get back with you later this Spring/Summer - the email explains why...
Alee, My girls don't smell that badly. I'm told the boys smell worse, but you get used to it. I did take a nice long shower after shearing them though! They were so sticky from the grease in their fleece.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| frannie |
Posted - Apr 17 2007 : 8:33:06 PM
i hate to admit this, but the goat smell doesnt really bother me.
i love everything about the goats, and maybe it helps that i am an oldster, cause maybe my nose doenst work that well anywho, it probably has more to do with the age of our goats and maybe they werent competing with each other this year.
if we still have so many males next year when more of them are "romantical" maybe it will be more of a problem.
i'll keep ya posted on that one.
love
fran
(http://farmfolks-frannie.blogspot.com/) |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 17 2007 : 1:15:09 PM
Fran-
How do you deal with the smell from the male goats?
Alee |
| frannie |
Posted - Apr 17 2007 : 10:52:51 AM
hi erin!
and welcome to the world of shearing. we actually enjoy it now that we dont put so much pressure on ourselves about it.
originally we bought the expensive shearing set which for many reasons didnt really work for us, so since we only have 8 goats now, thats the most weve ever had we just shear 1-2 per night and take it slow. it really turns into a time for me and dh to chat as it takes both of us to do this.
it is one of the few times that i might drink a beer or a glass of wine.
we turn on our outside white christmas lights and just shear away.
anywho, i have been away for a while and was glad to see your post and an update on the goats.
i still have male goats if you get ready for that route. just let me know.
i think right now we probably have more males than females.
love
fran
(http://farmfolks-frannie.blogspot.com/) |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 10:51:47 AM
I ended just buying some nylon sheep halters with metal rings and buckles. Much easier.
On the smaller doe, I used my big dog's old harness (the body halter) which surprised her a lot - she didn't expect me to be able to control her that way. So she behaved pretty well.
But the harness was too small for the bigger doe.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| Alee |
Posted - Apr 13 2007 : 8:46:48 PM
What medium did you want to make your collars out of? Leather?
Alee |
