North Carolina

[lindz8504]

Lol on the milk thing. We go through 4-6 gallons per week easily. I have gone to the store and gotten milk for the week and been asked if there was a storm coming in they didn't hear about. Lol. My kids are milk hogs..... not to mention cheese and yogurt. It takes a lot to feed a family of 6.

 

[The Howards]

If you only want a gallon a day you should consider a goat. They have excellent milk and require a lot less space than a cow. They also have a really good feet to milk ratio.

Yeah, DH vetoed that too. Just gotta be patient "one day" will come soon.

 

[Tikkijane]

Anybody else SICK of this weather? I swear I work at a grocery store and people go nuts! I mean it's not that serious. Lol. I'm sure you all will agree. I mean does anybody really need 6 gallons of milk? Come on! anyway waiting on Wednesday for taxes and payday. I Got that biopsy then too. I hope its nothing. I keep a happy face but I am worried. Anyway hope you all and your animals fair well in this winter wonderland out there. Stay warm!

I do. We still do about a gallon a day.....

 

[starlingdaly]

Dairy goat > cow for meeee one day. I would love some Nigerian dwarves then I can have a happy little herd but won't need so much space or forage for an equivalent of cows.

 

[doubleatraining]

Dairy goat > cow for meeee one day.

I would love some Nigerian dwarves then I can have a happy little herd but won't need so much space or forage for an equivalent of cows.

Let me know when you are ready for them. I have tons and love their milk!

 

[jtbass2756]

sounds like you wore yourself out......you had too much energy.

LOLOLOLO

No not that much energy.....cabin fever and I had to dig into my energy reserves to get it done... Use a wheelchair most of the time but I can crawl into my small coop and sit on a bar to do most of it.. Now ....down for the count of about 3 days. Getting ready to get another small coop ....have someone to help me and will not get my chicks the end of March...I'm getting a little antsy and trying to figure out how I can manage to dig my footing for the blocks and then dig one for the corner post !!! lolol Got to figure it out!

 

[CricketR4]

Hi all! Its so cold here, I hope everyone is staying warm!

Last week, I made the mistake of unplugging the heated waterer for my chickens, only to have to dig out the extension cord and plug everything back in on Sunday. Can't wait for warmer weather.

On the note of milk, we've been looking into getting a cow, DH can't stand goats milk/cheese, and sheep milk is out of the question as well. I'd love to get a mini, but they are so expensive, so we've been looking into getting a smaller than average size cow that just won't produce 5-6 gallons a day. I'd still like to get either sheep or goats (sheep for the wool and meat, goats for the brush control), or even an alpaca or two. We also want to raise a cow for meat, so we'd have the milk cow, and then raise her offspring for meat. Looking for a more self sustainable life style.

Hope everyone is having a great day!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Hi all! Its so cold here, I hope everyone is staying warm!

Last week, I made the mistake of unplugging the heated waterer for my chickens, only to have to dig out the extension cord and plug everything back in on Sunday. Can't wait for warmer weather.

On the note of milk, we've been looking into getting a cow, DH can't stand goats milk/cheese, and sheep milk is out of the question as well. I'd love to get a mini, but they are so expensive, so we've been looking into getting a smaller than average size cow that just won't produce 5-6 gallons a day. I'd still like to get either sheep or goats (sheep for the wool and meat, goats for the brush control), or even an alpaca or two. We also want to raise a cow for meat, so we'd have the milk cow, and then raise her offspring for meat. Looking for a more self sustainable life style.

Hope everyone is having a great day!

Another option is to find a nurse cow...one that will accept additional calves. Take just what milk you want, then let her use the rest to raise beef for your freezer! That's what my parents did with one of their cows. They grafted two or three extras on her. They only had two girls, so if they had singles, mom would get a dairy bull calf or two to add in, give all the calves to the one, and then just milk the second one. The nurse cow was a Jersey. She was a good mama to all babies!

And yet another option is to get a young female from a beef breed and raise her up to milk. She won't give nearly the amount as a dairy breed, and her offspring will be meatier for freezer fare.

 

[CricketR4]

Another option is to find a nurse cow...one that will accept additional calves. Take just what milk you want, then let her use the rest to raise beef for your freezer! That's what my parents did with one of their cows. They grafted two or three extras on her. They only had two girls, so if they had singles, mom would get a dairy bull calf or two to add in, give all the calves to the one, and then just milk the second one. The nurse cow was a Jersey. She was a good mama to all babies!

And yet another option is to get a young female from a beef breed and raise her up to milk. She won't give nearly the amount as a dairy breed, and her offspring will be meatier for freezer fare.

The nurse cow isn't something we had thought about, but the beef breed we have thought about. There are a few farms near us that have angus, we've been thinking of contacting them for one of their heifers. Another thing to research and think about. It also might make "keeping" the cow easier, since selling extra offspring could offset other costs, like feed for winter, butchering costs, vet bills, etc.

Thanks for the tip! Definitely something I'll be keeping in mind, especially since I'm restricting my kids milk and cheese intake since we can't afford what they would love to be able to drink/eat on a daily basis!

 

[jtbass2756]

Anybody else SICK of this weather? I swear I work at a grocery store and people go nuts!

I mean it's not that serious. Lol. I'm sure you all will agree. I mean does anybody really need 6 gallons of milk? Come on!

anyway waiting on Wednesday for taxes and payday. I Got that biopsy then too. I hope its nothing.

I keep a happy face but I am worried. Anyway hope you all and your animals fair well in this winter wonderland out there. Stay warm!

Yes, I'm way past sick of this weather... My health does not do well with the cold ! LOL I buy all of my groceries and keep the pantry full so I don;t have to run to the store when It threatens to do something weird! LOL We don't drink that much milk so as long as I keep some Lactaid stocked...we're good.. Getting old is the pits! Wanted to find out how about your biopsy....where does that stand? I understand the worry....just something hanging over your head until you finally get it settled and even then....they have to really convince me of the outcome....maybe I'm just a worrier! LOL Everything has always been fine. So far, me and my 4 ladies have faired well. I've got them located in a coop and run that is actually protected under the wing of our shed.. so it has literally 2 roofs and on one side, it has 2 walls to help block the weather. Take care of yourself and I'll keep you in my prayers...