Michigan

[NovaAman]

What a busy day today. Got poop picked thru, had to take shoes to my idiot niece, she wore slippers to school because she "didn't know it was going to be wet out". HELLO! You do not wear slippers to school! Got all the birdies fed, watered, treated, and as bad as this is going to sound, I got my house cleaned big time! Just half reared it for the last few weeks. Even got the fish tank cleaned. I deserve a coffee from an expensive coffee joint.

I fed the chicklets crushed peas. I hope I haven't jumped the gun on it. Lol. Mama Demon wasn't so bad today. I guess cuz I came bearing good treats. Lol. I am going to enjoy the sunshine now...

oh wait, I mean I am going to enjoy a warm shower and pretend I am at a spa.

 

[NovaAman]

 


She obviously doesn't know you like we do.  That should be, "Bio student by day, chicken groper by night."

:Lau

 

[fuzzybutt love]

NovaAman I highly recommend the "poultry health handbook" by i think gail damerow? It has diagnostic charts, info on everything from hatching to doing you own autopsy. It was written by a vet, and has the meds recommended by vets. (off lable too) There is a review of this book floating around somewhere on BYC. I borrow it from the library sometimes when there are too many questions on here
I follow pretty much the same diet as you. I do cook with butter (I figure it is a natural product) and i eat sweets, though i cook them myself. I was wondering: in your research, is if ok to eat a fair amount of sweets if they are homemade? I am curious about your research since thus far all i get when i mention this stuff around here is

But i have gotten my DH into the habit of eating plenty of veggies. If we haven't had them in a while he asks...

Pleasant surprise to have some folks with similar interests to talk to!

 

[uchytil]

So today we still had decent weather and I decided to split about half cord of cherry for the upcoming sugar harvest. I don't burn wood except for my syrup so I split with a maul. While I was wacking away the roos, Frick and Frack were making a gawd-awful racket and the hens were chiming in as well. I think the neighbors cows heard it and decided to starting crying as well - sounded like weaning calves blowing in the wind. I sure hope thew sap flows good this year what with the wacky winter and no snow pack so far.

 

[Farmerboy16]

Can't really tell much about her confo or udder from the pictures. That said, regardless of how well she's built, that's a really high price for a first freshener family milk cow. Like, almost twice what most are listed for. If they won't come down considerably I'd keep looking. Possibly keep looking either way depending on her udder, confo and temperament.

Thanks Olive, I did think that it was a bit high. I had called them and will call again tonight when her husband gets home. I will ask to see what is the lowest price that they can let her go. I found another one, but is farther. Here is the ad- http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/grd/2839142908.html I had emailed the owner, and here is what he replied- Hi Daron, She was born 3/31/07, which makes her just under 5 years old, so the calf she's pregnant with now should be her fourth. Breeding date was November 24th, which would put her due date in August. We were using a third party breeder most of last year. It wasn't working well for us, as our whole herd was not settling until I finally started doing my own breeding in the fall. That has left us with a bunch of dry cows and a big hole in our production that I can only fill by swapping out a few of the cows, which is the reason for the sale. The one calf she's had on our farm went exceptionally easy, so I wouldn't have any concerns there. Labor was just about nonexistent; she just plopped it out and was done. I picked her out of an Amish farmer's herd (down in Nappanee) where he basically gave me the pick of his herd (guessing approx 250 cows), so she's not a cull cow by any means. I paid 1200 for her last February. She's got good teat length and great manners in the milking stanchion. We run a small herdshare dairy, feeding all grass and milking once a day. I kept a calf on her for 6 months this year, so I can't say exactly how well she produces. She is a smaller cow though -- roughly 750lbs. Grass diets typically result in a 40% reduction in production over a conventional grain diet, and once-a-day milking reduces production about 20%. After I weaned her calf, she peaked at 19lbs, but that was 6 months into her lactation on all-grass and once-a-day. I would guess that she should be able to produce at least 40lbs daily under conventional management. I had her screened for Johnes disease before we purchased her (which we have done will all of our cows), and the test did come back negative. She has had no mastitis, high somatic counts, or any health issues whatsoever during the time we've had her, and to my knowledge had none at her previous dairy either. The cow is for $900, and I am sure that it will cost around $100.00 in fuel to drive 93 miles to his place, and still would be a great deal compare to the prices of other cows. What do you think? It will boil down to what my dad think and says on this.

 

[Olive Hill]

Get pictures on the second one. If she has a good udder and confo I'd definitely drive to get her. She's also much closer to the average going price (actually a little low) and comes from a herd where the guy (appears) to know what he's doing. Might still be worth it to pay for a pre-purchase Johnnes test and ask to see cell count records.

ETA: When you go to see her ask to have her in the stanchion and felt all over, squeeze her teats, rub her down everywhere. Watch to see if she fidgets if she has to stand there for a bit. If she does, how bad is it? How impatient is she? He says she's good, but he's experienced. It can be a different ballgame when you get her home and start milking when she's not in a herd environment. Test her out.

 

[NovaAman]

homemade using natural products... Not like buying it already made in a package with the added preservative for extended shelf life... I think a cookie shouldn't have a 6 month shelf life... My favorite cookies to make are no bakes and peanut butter. I like oatmeal also, but.... I found that I can make pancakes and muffins using the same recipe, so it cuts down on storage of to many different ingredients. But when it comes to cake... I don't do it. Lack of control I love cake...LOVE CAKE!
I do use sugar. I love sweets too. But if I actually bake something, I just try and use natural stuff. Everything in moderation really. I will not use splenda, equal, nutrasweet.... I avoid seasonings with msg... Try for organic if possible. Raw sugar where I can...

 

[RaZ]

She obviously doesn't know you like we do. That should be, "Bio student by day, chicken groper by night."

I'll have you know that I do my groping in the day time.

Fllbbbttt.

 

[Farmerboy16]

Get pictures on the second one. If she has a good udder and confo I'd definitely drive to get her. She's also much closer to the average going price (actually a little low) and comes from a herd where the guy (appears) to know what he's doing. Might still be worth it to pay for a pre-purchase Johnnes test and ask to see cell count records.

Ok, Thanks. I will send off an email to him for some pictures. I gotta ask him if she is still producing milk.

 

[1muttsfan]

One of the girls I work with has been to Tannery Creek, she says the meat is very good (although they didn't love the chicken). I would also check out Green Leaf Farms in Charlevoix, grass-fed beef, free-range poultry, and organic vegetables.