Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Stacykins]

We have 3 pygmy / dwarf goats, even on rations they go through at least a bale of hay a week, the good green hay at that. We supplement with a mineral block also, they get grain when we can afford it, usually to help fatten for winter. Ours are not nice, they are fixed but they still do boy things and we can't let them out because they eat everything. Basically pain in the butt useless lawn ornaments. They don't hurt chickens though.

Are they wasting a lot of hay? I give mine all they can eat, and a small square bale of hay lasts my five Nigerians two weeks usually. And there is almost nothing for them to browse on at all. They do get some grain every evening, too.

 

[Folly's place]

Anyone order the red broilers from Ideal? I just lost my mind and ordered 25 for next week. The last of the summer group leave tomorrow, so I must be missing the already! Hope they grow up fast! Mary

 

[fuzzybutt love]

We have 3 pygmy / dwarf goats, even on rations they go through at least a bale of hay a week,
Quote:Originally Posted by Stacykins
Are they wasting a lot of hay? I give mine all they can eat, and a small square bale of hay lasts my five Nigerians two weeks usually. And there is almost nothing for them to browse on at all. They do get some grain every evening, too.

Yes, whether we put it in a deep bowl or throw it on the ground, they fight and kick it all over. We started out making a little lean-to and putting in the whole bale, but between the fighting and kicking, and using of it to itch and sleep in, we have come down to doling it out in daily rations. But even if it's doled out and you make sure it's not wasted, it does get eaten, they are very competitive and will eat until they pop! We didn't have this problem with only one goat, but he was lonely.

 

[Opa]

I was just sitting in the house relaxing when I received a phone call. It was Hope. She was in the garden and wanted me to bring buckets down to put the tomatoes in. I had intended to wait until the garden dried up before picking but she had gone to the garden to check and when she saw so many beautiful romas lying on the ground she couldn't leave them.

My tomato plants grew so large that the rows inter-meshed and grew to the top of a 5' cow panel fence and back down to the ground. As a result the only effective method to harvest was for me to hold the plants up while Hope crawled underneath. Needless to say, when we were done she was quite dirty.

We wound up with 2 milk crates full of romas, 1 crate of beefsteak, and a 3 gallon pail of cherry tomatoes. So I now know what I will be doing tomorrow. Canning tomatoes. The plants are still absolutely loaded so I guess I am going to be a canning fool.

 

[Stacykins]

Yes, whether we put it in a deep bowl or throw it on the ground, they fight and kick it all over. We started out making a little lean-to and putting in the whole bale, but between the fighting and kicking, and using of it to itch and sleep in, we have come down to doling it out in daily rations. But even if it's doled out and you make sure it's not wasted, it does get eaten, they are very competitive and will eat until they pop! We didn't have this problem with only one goat, but he was lonely.

A hay net or simple hay rack might help. It keeps it off the ground, so they don't walk all over it. Some will still get wasted, since when they pull down a mouthful, a bit still falls. But likely a lot less than if it is fed off the ground directly or close to it.

That is good that you got your solo goat some goat friends, a herd animal kept alone just doesn't do well.

 

[RaZ]

I sent out a few PMs. I hope I didn't spam ya'll.
Or if you want details, please PM me.

 

[gladahmae]

It rained last night, and my splash marans chick is sneezing again.

Poor little girl. Looks like it's time to get the Tylan out again.

No action in the incubator yet today. I'm having a horrible time getting my humidity over 52% though. So far I've filled both of the places in the tray that the incubator comes with, AND added 2 babyfood jars with a sponge cut in half, so each jar has half a sponge. AND I put another WHOLE sponge under one of the vent holes so I can add water that way without opening the lid. The babyfood jars dried out in 36 hours. Bone. Dry. I don't get it!

 

[Mom 2em All]

I sent out a few PMs. I hope I didn't spam ya'll.
Or if you want details, please PM me.

you skipped me! I care and want to know!

 

[RaZ]

you skipped me! I care and want to know!

Of course I skipped you.
You told the wedding party that I was a criminal!

 

[RBahmer]

Robin,

I sat in the run last evening and watched the eight chicks mill about on the four by eight floor. You had asked about feathers on legs of the Marans. We have five marans, three are predominantly black with some white; two are more of a slate blue with no sharp color division lines. The bluish ones have black legs/feet and, I think one of those has feathers on legs. Bryan says both of them do. Hey... I'll try to send pictures of them.

And to think that I sometimes fear that technology has passED me by.


Hi there,..how are u this mornin?

Yaaa Bob. If they have dark legs then they are out of my black rooster ( Big Boy) and one of my blue hens with featherd legg. Big boys legs are clean so it would have to be the hens. If they have light colored legs then they are out of my Cuckoo Marans.