| Author |
Barnyard Buddies:  All Things Sheep and Goats  |
|
Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 01 2008 : 09:34:43 AM
|
Here is my new baby doe. well actually she is 8 months old. She is a nigerian/angora chocolate doe. She was bottle fed so she is sooo sweet. I just love her. it is a good thing too because when we started back home it started snowing and got worse so we stopped over night at a motel and got home a day later than we planned but we got home safe. She is just a doll. Hope you like her too...
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/ |
 |
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2008 : 10:07:24 AM
|
She is a beauty, Beverley. Will her wool stay this color? I love it. I don't know much about angora goats, but might like to see some more now. She is just beautiful. Have fun with her.
Kris |
|
|
|
marcy jo
True Blue Farmgirl
453 Posts
Marcy
Wawaka
Indiana
USA
453 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2008 : 10:18:03 AM
|
Hi! My name is Marcy and I just picked up on this subject. I bought my first lamb a Babydoll Southdown this fall. I know very little about raising sheep and where I can sell his wool or get it milled for me to use. Can anyone offer me any suggestions??
Marcy #257
When I stand before God at the end of my life I hope that I would not have a bit of talent left and could say “I used everything You gave me”.(erma bombeck) |
|
|
|
grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2008 : 10:30:44 AM
|
Beverly -What a cutie!!!! You just want to give her a big huge. I can not wait to hear more about her.. Your heart just got a new string.
Hi Marcy, welcome and I love Babydoll Southdowns - raised them for many years and they are my favorite sheep... Since you only have the one I would recommend maybe a set of hand cards and doing it yourself. If that does not excite you then I would contact my local spinning guild, shops, or extention office and see if there is someone local who would process it for you - you might even get to barter for the service. I do that alot with folks around here... If you where closer I would offer to let you use my big machines and do it yourself. Great learning experience. Are you planning to get more? If so then a set of cards is how to start first and then move on from there. For one fleece most mills have a minium so you will have to probably go with another farmgirl to get the work done. Good Luck and please let us know how we can help and also join in on the questions. Would love to see a picture if you have a chance - love those faces...
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
|
|
|
|
Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2008 : 11:37:12 AM
|
Awwww, a little redhead! Cute as a button. Gosh, you girls have some snow already! We're still in a fog here. I'll take the fog as long as possible even though it's dreary. Well, Grace answered that question. Golly. Congrats on the kids Grace.
Welcome to the chat Marcy. Grace gave you some good suggestions.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2008 : 1:09:49 PM
|
It's snowing here in Ga. still. It comes and goes. But when it comes, it's heavy.
Why do animals eat more when the weather is like this? It seems like I've given my goats and calves 2 bales of hay already today and it's just 4:00. And it's supposed to get really cold later, too.
Hello marcy. Is your lamb a male or female? They are so cute.
Kris |
|
|
|
Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2008 : 3:27:37 PM
|
My goats eat more in the cold weather because they burn more energy staying warm. So in the winter they always look a little heavier and eat more and then they slim down in the warmer months.
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/ |
|
|
|
Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
|
|
Keeper of the Past
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Sarita
Battle Creek
Michigan
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2008 : 07:51:04 AM
|
Beverley, your little red girl is beautiful! What a baby. I love her color, do you think it will change?
Macy, Babydolls are so cute. I have never spun their wool so I look forward to your post and what you end up doing with the wool. I agree with Grace, maybe you can get someone to help you work up the first fleece and you will be able to knit, crochet, felt, hook or something for yourself. The object you make always means more to me when I know it came from one of my animals.
We got our first tracking snow on Saturday but it really got cold and windy on Sunday and the sheep really ate the hay. I also grain my sheep during the cold times but you have to make sure that you don't over feed a pregnant ewe and her lamb gets too big for her to have without problems. (that is always a difficult time for me because the wool is also getting so thick.)
Grace, I am waiting to see the pictures of your new baby. They are so cute! Hope all is well with your birthing so far. I won't start until March unless one of the girls went visiting and I didn't know it!
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
The people who make a difference in your life are NOT the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care. |
Edited by - Keeper of the Past on Dec 02 2008 10:07:00 AM |
|
|
|
Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2008 : 08:03:28 AM
|
I hope her coloring stays what it is but I have no idea really if it will. She is 8 months old now so I guess I will just have to wait and see. She was a bottle baby so she is so sweet!!! I feed grain in the winter too and where she came from she only got hay so she is liking it here. She is kinda skinny if you ask me for the winter anyway. So she is liking the grain alot. Talk about a heart string is right. she has a bunch of them right now....
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/ |
|
|
|
Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2008 : 08:14:39 AM
|
Sarita, do you do body scoring feeling the backbone of the ewes? It works fairly well with long wool. We shoot for a body score of 3+ (out of 5) on our ewes right before delivery because we know those lambs are going to milk them down to a 2 quickly. The shearing pre-delivery usually tells the story quite well but until then the body scoring works well.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
|
|
|
Keeper of the Past
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Sarita
Battle Creek
Michigan
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2008 : 10:05:40 AM
|
Jami, I am constantly feeling of the back bone. But I don't put a number to it. Can you direct me to the scale you use?
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
The people who make a difference in your life are NOT the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care. |
|
|
|
Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
|
|
Keeper of the Past
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Sarita
Battle Creek
Michigan
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2008 : 11:29:45 AM
|
Thanks Jami, I just read and have pretty much been using it except I didn't know the numbers but just how fat I wanted my ewes. I have the shrearing done a few weeks before lambing and I always worry that the heavy coat of wool has masked the true story.
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
The people who make a difference in your life are NOT the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care. |
|
|
|
Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2008 : 12:02:12 PM
|
I know what you mean exactly....you do your own kind of scoring in a way, right? We too see how we're really doing at shearing time. It is fun to practice the scoring and see the correlation between your "feel" and the real story at shearing time!
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
|
|
|
grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2008 : 6:53:40 PM
|
Here is a great one for body scoring camelids - we look at their thighs and judge how many fingers can fit between the thighs. Llamas, alpacas and camelids can really be hard to judge by back bones or ribs but their thighs do not lie.
One thing you also might consider is just like humans some animals maintain their weight differently. Age is also a real big factor for those girls who are still breeding. I have my oldest Angora who for the life of my reminds me of Twiggy - but she is well, sound and is just not one to keep much weight. I have another who just looks at grain is ballons up. Don't forget when body scoring to check those teeth - they also will tell you alot of information and also how to keep their weight correct.
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
|
|
|
|
grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2008 : 07:34:43 AM
|
Good Snow Thursday
Here is my question to you all -What do you do for your animals when the power goes out?? We have experienced two days of bone chilling cold and snow - of course we have to lose power. I have
no problem with supplies but how many of you have hand pumps? Barn generators? Solar back up?
Instead of our electric co-op getting better with time it is getting worse. My newest baby had a tiny sweater on during the night. I could not do much for the chickens but they sure where not happy... I know they are spoiled but the poor girls [bleep]ed me out for hours..
So with teeth chattering let me here - How do you keep those critters going when power is gone????
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
|
|
|
|
Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2008 : 07:49:37 AM
|
Grace, we just muddle through. No back up generator, though we've talked about this, we haven't done it and we rely on electricity very much. The only thing solar we have is our electric fence chargers but that is mostly for the horses' benefits (stay off of my woven fence, boys!)
Of course, we don't lamb in winter so it's really not an issue regarding keeping babies warm as we don't have any at that time. Just keeping water flowing is an issue if we have an extended outage--electricity keeps the pump pumping. This is where a generator would be handy or a hand pump? We do keep a backup supply of household water in cans during winter--guess we could tap into that if we had to.
Not very well prepared in this regard really. Thanks for bringing it up, something we need to discuss at our house.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
|
|
|
Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2008 : 08:02:49 AM
|
We do have a hand pump that I use most of the winter to get water for the animals. and usually I have a bowl that is plug in to electricity to keep it from freezing in the winter but if that goes out I have to go out more often and dump the ice and fill it more often. Other than that my goats have their house to go into and the chickens have an igloo or there roosting house to go into. So far I have not lost an animal to the cold weather. They do pretty good and we have some pretty cold weather sometimes. the bunnies I dump their water everyday and give them fresh and so it does freeze up over night but so far they do really well to. They each have their own little house to go into that is filled with hay or straw and that keep them warm. So they have done really well through the winters too.
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/ |
|
|
|
Keeper of the Past
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Sarita
Battle Creek
Michigan
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2008 : 08:34:05 AM
|
Grace, I don't watch the teeth like I should. I watch the gums closely.
Some of my ewes are skinny and I can't get them to gain for nothing and they are eating what the other girls eat and the other girls are right where I want them. Their wool is healthy looking and they act healthy. Just like some humans! (I'm an easy keeper myself!)
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
The people who make a difference in your life are NOT the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care. |
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2008 : 08:55:50 AM
|
We have well water that of course wouldn't work if power went out. But do have city water faucet in case that happens. Also we have electric fence for goats and cows. I never thought about what would happen if the power was out too long. I would hope they would not get too close to find out it wasn't working!
I check their water every day. Usually the hoses and pipes are frozen in the morning so I have to haul buckets, but it thaws out by evening so I hurry up and fill everything back up then.
And we don't have babies til spring just because of that. But it does seem like all the neighbors cows give birth on the coldest nights and they usually all survive. My calves stayed out the other night and they were covered in frost the next morning. I guess they don't mind the cold.
It's a rainy ole day in Ga. today. Good day to stay in.
Kris |
|
|
|
grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2008 : 09:46:23 AM
|
To give you some of my routine when power is out for a long period.
First I have tons of jugs of water that I store in the house. I also store propane canisters for small stoves for cooking and also melting snow or heating water. I have tons of oil lamps and candles, battery flashlights and have order to crank lights. I have also gathered from thirft stores and arm surplus stores wool blankets which I can use to make coats for little ones, add to the pens to keep the babies off the ground and also to block drafts. I have many buckets to carry, fill and change out when frozen. I have also taught them to eat snow - I know that sounds silly but animals who are housed too much to not use snow... Around here we all learn to make do.. I also rub utter balm to the chickens comb and waddles so I never have to worry about frost bit. I add rice and cooked meat to the dogs meal everyday because they work all night in the freezing cold and snow. I save the bacon grease to also add to their bowls. I purchased shelled organic sunflower seeds for the hens because they are so rich in oils, protein and will keep their bodies running warm as the temp dips.
I would love to hear more of what you winter looks like where you are???
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
|
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2008 : 4:21:00 PM
|
Grace, I'm ankle deep in mud here. Pure mud. I would not mind one bit if I didn't have to get out in it to feed all these animals. I have to feed a few times a day now since they've eaten all the brush out back.
It sounds like you are going all day out there. Do you have any help or is it all you?
That would be a good question. How many of you have help? (We could do that one later.)
Kris |
|
|
|
grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2008 : 5:52:05 PM
|
Kris, Mud how fun - I kidding!! Mud is a trip when trying to do chores. I love it when my boot get stuck and you try and pull your foot up. lose the boot and your balance at the same time.
No help just little old and cranky me!! The snow is still coming and the temp is now almost at zero without wind chill - did I mention we always have wind??? I really do not mind the cold is when you slip on the ice and do those splits that even at age 18 hurt you, or when the Pry thinks snow is another word clotheslining you with their cables. My all time favorite is when you spend two hours in a freezing barn in the dark only to realize you really should have stopped off at the bathroom before you put on all these layers. Life on a farm - who say's it's dull??
Keep those muck boots on and your bottom dry Kris. I am putting in the mouth guard to stop my teeth from chattering as I go outside again. No more hot toddies - it is barn watch!
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
|
|
|
|
Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Dec 05 2008 : 08:44:29 AM
|
I totally agree with all you just said grace. it seems like last year all we had was ice and boy doing those splits is not fun. I don't have too much mud here that goodness. not enough to get my boots stuck in anyway. the spring is always fun time to clean up the hay and poop and yulk from the winter . Like my brother in law said spring cleaning takes on a whole new meaning when you are on a farm. people in the city wash the windows we muck out yulky stuff from the goat houses and such. A whole new meaning!!!!hehehehehe Stay Warm!!!!
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/ |
|
|
|
Barnyard Buddies: All Things Sheep and Goats |
|
All Things Sheep and Goats
