Things Are Changing

For those that have been reading for awhile may remember my mentioning we have been and were attempting to change directions on the farm. Trying to get back to our original farm goals.
For newcomers a brief rewind would be that years ago when we moved to the farm our original plan was to simply raise the foods we wished to eat and become as self-sufficient as we possibly could. We became sidetracked early on when the better half felt we could supplement the farm income by raising a commercial meat goat herd and I became obsessed with raising every breed of goat in existence.
Fast-forward to present, we are close to having things sorted out. Though we love the SA Boer goat breed, raising 150 head of meat goats was not as profitable as we had hoped and much, much more work than I could handle alone. We had downsized to all but 5 of the Boer herd. I had also downsized and sorted out my dairy and fiber herds a couple of years ago so I could bring back a small flock of sheep to the farm. We were slowly getting back to basics.
Yesterday we sold the 2 remaining Boer does from the meat herd. Leaving only Jim’s favorite, our ABGA registered herdsire Breezy Hill Axle.

We were planning on keeping Axle to breed our dairy does.
The crossbred offspring could be sold for either meat or dairy kids or terminal sales.
Not too long ago Jim hesitatingly mentioned he might consider selling Axle if the right person/farm would come along. I don’t think either one of us expected or thought the right person would ever come along. Never thought the big guy would really part with Axle to be honest. It took us a couple of years, a bit of traveling and cost a pretty penny to locate a herdsire of Axle’s quality.
Surprisingly and unexpectedly someone did come along. Axle soon will be leaving the farm, literally going to greener pastures with a large (very large) show and commercial meat herd. Axle will be doing the job he was meant to do, herdsire and breed. And is very possible the new owners may show him.

House Goat Update

The set of twin SA Boers bucklings that were born on Jan. 12th have out grown diapers, the playpen and they are almost too large for their cage. They have been growing at a very rapid rate. They weighed 6 lbs. at birth, 13 lbs. at week 1, now at week 6 weigh 30 and 31 lbs.
When the weather turned spring like in the 40-60 range I put them on the screened in porch. Then mother nature threw a curve ball, it snowed and is 18 degrees.
They are back in the house for a short period. This for some odd reason is their favorite place to curl up and relax.

Hope everyone has a blessed day.

Twins

After a 2 week period of stressing and guessing when... Buffy kidded this morning at 7:30. We are the proud parents of 2 healthy boys.

Here they are, 2 hours old, all cleaned off, warmed up and ready to meet the world.

At breeding we normally put the girls in with the buck for a 2 week period of time. So kidding dates are never set in stone around here, there is a 2 week window, give or take. That is the worst part...not knowing exactly when.

I can now relax until spring.

Meet Buffy

At only a few hours old Buffy came to live in the house due to being disowned by her mother and the inclimate weather of winter. She spent her first 3 months in the house, bottle fed, diapered, brushed, and pampered, constantly at my side. She wasn't the first and she won't be the last goat to have the housegoat title, but she is the most unique.

We started noticing that Buffy was interested in putting her mouth on everything I touched. The lids to the feed cans, once I replaced them after feeding she would walk up and try to put her mouth on it. The kitchen drawers and cabinets, if I was working in the kitchen she would follow behind and put her mouth on the handles. She stood extremely still when I opened and closed the screen door and stared. I thought was rather odd at first, as if she was afraid to walk through the door in or out. She continued to observe everything I did with such intensity.

When Buffy was old enough, the weather was nice enough and basically diapers didn't fit her anymore, Buffy took her place out in the pen with the other pets. It is always so hard to turn my babies out. I always feel like I am damaging them, betraying them, losing them. Yes I know they are goats and they are suppose to be outside.

I took her aside and explained how things were. That she could not live in the house any longer. That the goat berries were too much, the others needed her to be a playmate, new babies would soon be arriving and needed me just a little bit more than she.

Her first day out seemed to be going so very smoothly, she was out and about with the others. She wasn't any where to be seen which lead me to believe she was enjoying herself.

Deciding to finish up the laundry, I carry the clothes in from the clothes line, open the screen door, walk through the living room... there is Buffy sitting in the better half's recliner.

What?!

Back out she goes, close the screen door, purposely check twice. Go about the daily routine, keeping an eye on her. A few minutes later, no Buffy to be seen, as a matter of fact where are Thelma and Louise, hummm...

I go to the house, goat berry trail up the porch steps. Screen door wide open. Buffy in the recliner, Thelma had her head stuck in the dog food bag, Louise eating dog food from the bowl.

How?!

Buffy has proven her ability to open feed cans, kitchen cabinets and the screen door. Using her mouth. You betcha...have witnesses! I knew no one would believe me, so with each visitor to the farm we allow Buffy to open the door for him or her. I indulge her occasionally, let her open the door and come in for very short supervised visit.

This is a daily exercise for Buf. First thing out at playtime, at a dead run she heads straight for the porch, to open the screen door.

"Who's that tramping over my bridge?"

I knew it, I just knew it!

I would jinx things if I even muttered the words... it's been too quiet around here. Life on the farm has been amazingly peaceful and still as of late. It has made me uneasy at times.

The better half and I were discussing last evening how pleasant life has been. We have downsized the herds over the last couple of years from 157 head to the now 18. No fence jumpers, no heads or horns stuck in the fence, no trouble makers, no fighting over food, shelter or in an attempt to establish their pecking order. I don't have 6 different groups to tend to, only 2, the main herd of does and then Axle in his buck pen. Yeppers, from 157 goats to only 18, at times I don't know how I ever did it.

What normally would take 1-2 hours in just feeding the herd their morning ration now takes roughly 30 minutes. A bale of hay put in the hay feeder will last about 3 days (compared to the previous 6 hours). The water troughs will grow various shades of green algae before the goats can possibly empty them.

This morning about 2 ish. I hear Sadie the guardian dog of the front door, let out a startled yelp and bark. What sounded like a rumble of thunder came across the walk way to the front porch. I peeked out the living room window, wondering if something had fallen and rolled down the ramp. In the soft glow of the security light I see Axle, Buffy and Cookie playing on the wooden walk way. Each taking turns headbutting and attempting to knock and keep the others off their bridge.

OK, so what to do? Do I go back to bed and let them enjoy their late night escape or do I go out in the pitch dark of night to find and fix the opening they escaped from, then gather up a food bribe to put them back in their pen. By walking across the farm to the feed room I would take the chance of waking the entire farm, possibly risking that the 3 escapees will follow and spy the others in the bottom pasture and do what they love to do so much, headbutt and fight through the fence.

I opted to go back to bed and allow them to enjoy the cool fall evening playing in the front yard.

At the crack of dawn with solar lamp in hand I wander out to see what damage had been done.

The 3 midnight marauders had let themselves back into their pen and were sleeping soundly, snuggled together by the open gate.

Fall Baby Walks Have Began

It has been raining quite frequently. We are a bit wet. The remains of Ike dumped about 6 more inches on our already saturated ground. It's all good really, good for the ground, plants, cleans the air, etc.
Even good for the wanna-be pond (the hole that does not ever wanna hold water). It was almost dry then Ike came thru...

I'd say it is a good 3 foot deep. It's not just the rainfall, it's water that collects in the pond, alot of run off from the hills. Those wooden things sticking up are the remains of a dock. Dry rotted legs of a wooden dock built years ago, cut down in fear of the goats falling and killing themselves (yes had one do it a couple years back). I made the better half go out and cut it down with a chain saw after the accident. Someday this will be cleaned up so I don't have to look at it. It's on his to do list.

I have felt sorry for the goats and began putting hay in their feeder so they don't have to venture far to eat. Wouldn't want them to muddy their itty bitty hooves. The temps have dropped also, cooler weather means they eat more hay to keep their body temp up. I had put out a bale yesterday, which they quickly made into cud.

What better way to use the hay feeder when it is empty... a napping spot.

So today I decided to begin our "fall baby walks". This is when mom(me) takes her babies (goats) out for the afternoon to browse. No, they won't go on their own. You see they are spoiled and somewhat lazy. Why go do what goats naturally are to do when Mom will cater to their every need.
I grab a book, a lawn chair, a cool refreshing beverage and set off in search of a shady spot to relax while they browse.
I can see it in their eyes...if they could talk I am sure they would be saying...what is she doing now? Why didn't she fill the hay feeder. Geez she is going to make us walk.

Wondering what I am doing and where I am going.

Deciding that I was not coming back...here they come running.

They decide it is not too bad of an idea and decide to play.

This is what they have to browse and play in.

To the left of us.

To the right of us.

The woods...I don't know if you can see it...there is a spiderweb shining in the sun. It might look like a smudge on the lens, but it is a big web...right above the stump.

Light weight goats. They have had enough and decide to return to house without me.

I have missed spending time with the goats. Other things have kept me busy and I feel like I am neglecting them. Last night I had an overwhelming feeling of guilt, some what of worry that they are doing well. It also may be my empty nest syndrome taking over. Adam called last night, I miss him immensely. He has always said the goats took up where he left off. Not so, but they do fill an emptiness. They are my 4 legged babies.

Decided they need a little face time...

This is Aurora. She has collected cuckaburrs around her face. We will be shearing in the next two weeks. They really need it.
This is mom Bella Mia with Aurora. Jim thinks Bella is pregnant, I am not so sure, but I am watching for tell tale signs.
Bonnie Lass and Fairchild. Mom and daughter.
The boys, The Sundance Kid(black) and Jacob's Chance (white) fighting over a leaf.

This is Maggie, she is Axle's breeding from 2007
This is Tinkerbelle, Maggie's twin sister.

The twins are La Mancha Boer cross. Maggie took the Boer characteristics, Tinker took the La Mancha with Boer colors.

This is Manolito Montoya aka Monty. My 4 yr. old large for his breed Pygmy wether. Last for today, Camel.

She is an accident. Her mother Annie had never been bred in the 4 yrs. we have had her as a pet. I thought she was sterile. Not so and Camel came into the world on the wings of a prayer. Annie couldn't deliver Camel. I had to call our goat midwife to pull Camel. A difficult birth to say the least. At 10 months old Camel is a good foot taller than her mother. I am considering Camel for a future milker. Her father was the purebred Alpine we had for a couple years.

Breezy Hill Axle

Jim's pride and joy.