Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

MK, I'm trying to make a decision to breed or not breed one or both of my does this next cycle. I want the milk, but I can't imagine another mouth to feed and the actual time consumed milking daily. But I want that milk.

And Caramel wants a boyfriend. I know it.

 

[quailtrail]

Brrr!!! The girls were sunbathing all cuddled up when I pulled in the driveway. By the time I get home at night they are in their coop. I noticed one of the Easter Eggers black feathers are turning white????

 

[buckabucka]

One of my olive eggers has white accents around her neck like that, and white eye brows.

Caramel has such a sweet face!

Got a different color egg in the teepee today.

 

[ashandvine]

I'm kind of nice sometimes.... Could this be me?
I will certainly be able to share eggs come spring.

Why... yes! You know, I am pretty sure it is Any time you feel inclined to share please do let me know and I will get a butt or box ready.

And Caramel wants a boyfriend. I know it.

Do you have a La Mancha to cross her with???

I have a muscovy that my son brought in just now that is soaking and icicles are forming on it!!! What a foolish bird. I mean, I know its a duck-like-animal but still this seems a bit kamakaze. SO we brought it in the dry off and then we'll take it out later. Fool bird.

I worked on pens I had been meaning to for a while. Things are nearly ready for the winter. Tin warmers are nearly ready but I still need to get sand in the dust baths. Talk about waiting till the 11th hour.

 

[lazy gardener]

11th hour??? How bout the 12th hour. Hubby gave up all of his Saturday to help me winterize/finish the sun room addition to the coop. We got the front framed, the chicken wire on the front and over the top, covered the whole thing with poly. I still have to make the door and put on the front skirt, get all of the skirting pegged down to the ground, as well as do the mason's twine zig zagged across the whole thing to keep the plastic and tarp from billowing in the wind. Still have to complete the temporary run between the coop and the green house.

Girls had a treat today of a mix of lentil, BOSS, wheat, and barley sprouts. they were gurgling with glee!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I'm trying to locate a BF for her.

Bucka, I'm glad they're using that fine nesting box!

 

[CoopChick719]

I just love how colorful flamepoints are! I like chocolate points, too. Oh goodness, a 23 pound cat?? I would have been worried it would have squashed your son. That's so sweet that they were close though. That's so, so adorable. I hope that when I have kids, they'll bond similarly with whatever pets I might have at the time.

I like the chocolates too. We were a little worried about the squishing and have a near miss on video but all was good. Both my kids could do anything to that cat and he never retaliated. My son was devastated (as was the rest of the family) when we had to put him down due to a kidney blockage & scarring from the surgery of the first kidney blockage. I was very proud of him though...he helped his Dad bury him out behind our house. He was 8 at the time.

Envious on the goat front!! We saw a couple on Craigs List that I believe we would have had if they hadn't both been boys. My husband sounded like a little kid when he called out from the computer room, "Can we get goats?!" They were adorable!! My sister has been thinking about goats. I'm thinking we could share.

MK, I'm trying to make a decision to breed or not breed one or both of my does this next cycle. I want the milk, but I can't imagine another mouth to feed and the actual time consumed milking daily. But I want that milk.

And Caramel wants a boyfriend. I know it.

Awww what a sweet little face she has!! I tried goat milk & absolutely love it!!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

She needs to gain 3 more lbs to be able to be bred. The farm I got her from can breed her when she goes into heat, but the boyfriend would have the same dad she did.

Stay warm, everyone.

 

[buckabucka]

She needs to gain 3 more lbs to be able to be bred. The farm I got her from can breed her when she goes into heat, but the boyfriend would have the same dad she did.

Stay warm, everyone.

Is it not advised to breed two from the same father? Do you still have the other goat with the large ears? (Sorry, I don't know goat breeds). Will the farm only breed back the goat you obtained from them?
I think you should go for it if she gains the weight. Better to have pet goats that give milk, than pet goats that are just pets. Easy for me to say because I wouldn't have to do the milking!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

So I'll call you to come milk when I'm out of town? HAAHA.

I do not have either of the original 2 goats that I started with. But I still have a long earred one (Pippy) who won't make weight until very late in the season - she's always been about 5 lbs lighter than Caramel. Caramel is the no-eared goat that I got when my doe died in the spring. I can get any boy goat to breed her, but I wanted one of the same breed. The farm I got her from was very nice and I had wanted to try them first. They know of two other nearby farms that have that breed and can give me the info. You can line breed to get good traits - and the male comes from a championship line so it's not necessarily a bad thing to inbreed. According to her pedigree, only 15% of her genes would be "inbred" and 6% of that comes from the same father, basically. So to me it doesn't seem like a huge risk, but what do I know?

They do want her to put on another 3 lbs before she's bred, though. She's a hoover, so I don't think that will be a problem.

I deiced all my waterers this morning around 0630. I just went out again 2.5 hours later and everything is frozen solid. Sure is cold here. That wind bites. If I can find my earmuffs I might go string the extension cords to run the heated waterers. Guess I should have done that last weekend.