Maine

[lazy gardener]

The girls stuffed their crops with sprouts today. it was nice to see them so filled up. Even low girl on the totem pole had her fill. I'd like to think that we're over the worst of the winter. Oh the naievete of that thought!

 

[Widget]

I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking of names!! I really like the name Serendipity for one, and I'm still thinking of a name for the other. You've got it easier since you're after wethers. I'm looking at the teat size, how much milk the parents/grandparents produce (Hope, the woman there, has been telling me which goats I should get my kids from!), and price. So I'm thinking a first freshener like May or Stella should be the dam... Of course, I'm last on the reservation list for doelings, haha. I'm just so excited! And her updates are awesome. I'm very glad I picked this farm. She's going to teach me how to trim hooves this week, heh.

I have yet to visit. Perhaps once the weather warms up a bit. If I had to go on just looks for the mom I like Stella, Moonspot and Greta. Mine are getting de-budded. One of my new goats, also named Stella, has horns and they are already probing to be a pain. They are not long nor is she aggressive with them but they do catch on things like the handles on the 2 gallon pails I use for grain and water.

Hoof trimming is really easy with goats. They do not always cooperate of course but the trimming itself is not that complicated.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Hoof trimming is really easy with goats. They do not always cooperate of course but the trimming itself is not that complicated.

I agree but disagree. With my larger goats it is definitely a 2 person job. If my goats are separated (meaning one is still in the pen) they are inconsolable and it makes it that much harder. So both are out and while one gets trimmed the other is... pulling my underwear out of my pants, eating my gloves, eating my hair, jumping on me, head butting BF...

So I wouldn't say "really easy" - I'd say it's challenging to do the act fully but easy to trim the actual toenails, once you get in there and get at them.

 

[buckabucka]

The girls stuffed their crops with sprouts today.  it was nice to see them so filled up.  Even low girl on the totem pole had her fill.  I'd like to think that we're over the worst of the winter.  Oh the naievete of that thought! 

I'm thinking that too, naive or not!
I also did some cleaning/frozen poop scraping today. Cross-beak had her beak trimmed, and I managed to slip her a little scrambled egg while no one else was looking. She's still mid-molt and always ravenous.
I think I have a lavender Ameraucana with sour crop. She's acting a little off, -does not eat scratch and drinks a lot of water. Her crop feels squishy, not hard. The last time I dealt with sour crop was with a lavender also, but this is a different one this time. I think tomorrow I will pick up a syringe at the pharmacy and do the kefir/monistat treatment. It worked well last time.

Great skiing today! Felt like spring.

 

[Jazor]

My two wether kids are coming from Sunflower Farm Creamery in Cumberland. She has a great website with lots of info on her goats especially if you are interested in having one for milk production.

My experience has been a positive one with the Dwarfs. They are smart, cute and tend to be full of mischief like any good goat is. Perfect size too. They easily fit in the back of a mini van for transport. Easy do-it -yourself hoof trimming every 6-8 weeks. Most vaccines are do-it-yourself too. Only one that is not is the rabies vaccine. Feeding is simple. Mostly hay, prefer 2nd cut but mine get what the horses get so that means 1st cut. I do give mine grain but not much. I have been doing some research since I have not had youngsters before so I learned a few things. Free choice baking soda to help with too much gas in the rumen, goat minerals (essentially a salt/mineral mixture with what a goat needs) and ammonium chloride to prevent urinary crystals in the wethers. Sounds like quite a bit but none of the extras are really expensive.

Wow, that farm is 16 minutes down the road from my driveway. How have I not heard of this before? I'll be visiting there this month, and if they've got any kids still available I just may put down a deposit. Sounds as though they sell out extremely quickly, though, so my hopes aren't high.

Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[Widget]

Wow, that farm is 16 minutes down the road from my driveway. How have I not heard of this before? I'll be visiting there this month, and if they've got any kids still available I just may put down a deposit. Sounds as though they sell out extremely quickly, though, so my hopes aren't high.

Thanks for the recommendation!

You can always go on a waiting list. They may have more than expected or someone may change their mind.

At this rate we could have a BYC new goat owners meet and greet there.

 

[lazy gardener]

Chickens are just a gate way animal to the hard core stuff!

 

[mlowen]

It was beautiful at my house, today! Chickens had liquid water all day! I brought in wood, built 4 interior storm windows for my sunroom, and then decided to go full tilt into "crazy chicken lady" territory by vacuuming the thick layer of dust off the surfaces in the coop. When I blow my nose after being in there, it's black...I thought it can't be good for the chickens to be breathing it, either. It's really pretty futile--they are constantly kicking up dust from the leaves & shavings & dirt on the floor--but I felt like I had accomplished something when I was done.

 

[Frizz-Elle]

@ Widget- I really wish I knew how old she was... But she a craigslist birdie. I took her in . Her feathers around her face seem yellowish... :-/ I have never caught her in the act of eating her own egg...but eat the whole thing??? She is white with gray speckles....so the yellow is apparent. Could be a senior citizen I guess......oh well.

 

[Widget]

@ Widget- I really wish I knew how old she was... But she a craigslist birdie. I took her in . Her feathers around her face seem yellowish... :-/ I have never caught her in the act of eating her own egg...but eat the whole thing??? She is white with gray speckles....so the yellow is apparent. Could be a senior citizen I guess......oh well.

She could very well be an egg eater. Hard to tell with no other evidence. If she is a more senior chicken she is at least still useful for insect control and just the plain entertainment of owning chickens.