5th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2014 Hatch-A-Long

[Cynthia12]

I'm glad they finally arrived. Please keep me updated on their progress. Part of the reason I sent so many extras is because I know how bad shipping gets this time of year & was trying to make sure you got some to hatch.

Yes! You sent so many, I have to have some take! Hope I get some of those green ones to take, and I love those big cream ones..that you said are the leghorns? Wow. Nice. I'm excited to see tomorrow night what shows up when I candle. Come on bullseyes.

 

[Myfourladies]

We're debating goats to keep our woods clean of Green Briar, but we get conflicting reports whether goats will eat it or not.

It's unbelievable where we are, where we can't walk through the woods without first blazing a trail, then constantly mowing it to keep it down.. and NOTHING kills it.

Believe me if it is woody, thorny or makes you itch a goat will eat it! We don't have a sprig on poison ivy, green brier or raspberry vine left where the goat was allowed to go. THink about a down sized deer. LOL They won't eat grass so much, but brush and twigs will not survive! LOL

 

[Wunjo]

We're debating goats to keep our woods clean of Green Briar, but we get conflicting reports whether goats will eat it or not.

It's unbelievable where we are, where we can't walk through the woods without first blazing a trail, then constantly mowing it to keep it down.. and NOTHING kills it.

They will keep your woods clean. There are different types. Since all goats will browse on brush, you can make your choices based on availability, among other factors. Avoid using active dairy goats, as constant exposure to heavy brush can cause udder damage. Goats you're raising for their coats, such as cashmere or angora caprines, likely will suffer damage to their hair while performing brush control duties. Pygmies can do the job, but they're smaller so the work takes longer. Small goats can't reach as high when standing on their hind legs to browse. Larger meat goats, like the Boer, do a good job. You also can mix different types and sizes of goats, with the little guys thoroughly cleaning up what the big guys left behind. Whatever type of goat you choose, make sure it is healthy. Check the teeth carefully to ensure they are in good condition and the goat has no apparent dental problems. If you have a large area 5-10 acres I would go with Boer's. You would need less. If you want the little cute Pygmy goats you would need more of them than the Boer's. If it's just an acre or two I would go with the little cute one's. Who doesn't like cute?

We have pygmy's. Word of warning though. We chose not to dehorn our's and last week we lost our very first billy and our very first baby that was born on the farm from them getting gored and not knowing it. Also our room mate got her leg gored by one also. There is a danger risk with goats when it comes to feeding time.

 

[mstricer]

Quote:

 

[Aphrael]

Oh my gosh!! That bitty baby goat is so so soooooo adorable!

 

[SunnySkies]

100% development!

One embryo is laying close to the shell, close enough I could see the black eyespot with just my LED flashlight.

Now....the trick with SFH is getting them to hatch. I always get them to develop, but often they die at lockdown.

 

[SunnySkies]

Just North of Reading, Hamburg. And I cleaned the truck out afterward, may just keep this lil trip to myself will tell DH it was an immaculate conception...

LOL, I've done that. Hubby was away on a business trip. I bought two piglets while he was away. A few days after he came home, he noticed them. I was all, hmm, hogs in the garden...interesting, wonder where they came from...

 

[carriebain]

Out of 24 trader joes eggs I only see 5 or 6 with veining. I'm not positive but I think I see some of the marans eggs developing! I will be so happy, considering they were lost for 8 days. Overall, I won't win the best hatch contest but I'm still happy to see any development!

 

[Myfourladies]

Oh! The goats distracted me! LOL I came home today and there was 2 very cute bantam hens in the bus shed next to our driveway. I think I am going to see if I can lure them into my yard....then into the coop. Hehe. I found them.... they FOLLOWED me home.... that is my story and I am sticking to it.

They are roosting in there and I am not 100% positive were they came from. It is so cold and nasty out for them not to be taken care of.

 

[SoManyHats]

100% development!

One embryo is laying close to the shell, close enough I could see the black eyespot with just my LED flashlight.

Now....the trick with SFH is getting them to hatch. I always get them to develop, but often they die at lockdown.

Yay! Every single egg you gave me that I can see into (some of the Marans are too dark) is developing! It's a good and bad thing!