NY chicken lover!!!!

[Henicillin]

On behalf of all of us, I propose you go get that goat, so we can enjoy him/her vicariously!

I saw a cute photo of tiny goat kids online, and said, out loud, "oh, they're so cute!" Alan was going into the kitchen at that point, and just said, "I suppose I should start building a goat enclosure now." I replied that I hadn't been suggesting that, but if he really wanted to do so, I wouldn't object.

 

[Cass]

My problem with goats (and it's minor, really) is that goats GIVE BIRTH....which means they can have problems with the birthing process....which means I have to be a midwife to AN ANIMAL....not my idea of a good time, really....oh and to get goats milk they HAVE to give birth. That means you need a billy goat too....does anyone see "chicken math" happening on 4 legs here? Cuz *I* do....and many, if not most, goats give birth to TWINS. Chicken math to the max.

 

[happyhensny]

Went to see Hunger Games this morning. Wow, what a movie. Scary thing is it is close to real life. A lottery (draft) to go fight. Ah, that's another story. Anyway, the books were great and the movie was long and good also. Some tears came out too.

This afternoon DH & I worked on the last 2 raised beds, now have 6! Started pound in locust fence posts for the fencing. I have a roll of old field fencing I may use. Been looking online to see what, if anything, I should plant now under row covers, if I can get to set them up. Not sure how yet.

Will candle my "Easter hatch-a-long" eggs tomorrow because I got some in on last Saturday but the other batch arrived late on Monday.

Goats-I have three and they are funny, fun, easy to care for, mischevious, trouble finding little things. They run and play when I let them out to be with me while I do chores but if I leave the chicken doors open they run eat and eat the feed. If there is a car nearby they like to jump on the hood, trunk or roof

My car was 6 mths old when Pearl jumped on the hood.

They have never butted anyone and 2 are Pygmy mutts and the other is a Nigerian Dwarf. The Nigi isn't as much of a trouble maker as the Pygmies.

Butchering chickens, I think I will go the slaughter house route. I am a bit of a wuss. I will be able to eat them though.

 

[Cass]

Went to see Hunger Games this morning. Wow, what a movie. Scary thing is it is close to real life. A lottery (draft) to go fight. Ah, that's another story. Anyway, the books were great and the movie was long and good also. Some tears came out too.

This afternoon DH & I worked on the last 2 raised beds, now have 6! Started pound in locust fence posts for the fencing. I have a roll of old field fencing I may use. Been looking online to see what, if anything, I should plant now under row covers, if I can get to set them up. Not sure how yet.

Will candle my "Easter hatch-a-long" eggs tomorrow because I got some in on last Saturday but the other batch arrived late on Monday.

Goats-I have three and they are funny, fun, easy to care for, mischevious, trouble finding little things. They run and play when I let them out to be with me while I do chores but if I leave the chicken doors open they run eat and eat the feed. If there is a car nearby they like to jump on the hood, trunk or roof

My car was 6 mths old when Pearl jumped on the hood.

They have never butted anyone and 2 are Pygmy mutts and the other is a Nigerian Dwarf. The Nigi isn't as much of a trouble maker as the Pygmies.

Butchering chickens, I think I will go the slaughter house route. I am a bit of a wuss. I will be able to eat them though.

Do you milk your goats?

And Ray and I can come out and "do the chickens" for ya....all you will have to do is round them all up in a box and supply 180 degree water. Maybe a child to help, if they are interested, if not, we can do it. Way pay someone? Oh, and a very sharp knife. We don't have one sharp enough to make gutting easy....we kinda hack at it til it comes loose.

 

[Henicillin]

Quote:

And Ray and I can come out and "do the chickens" for ya....all you will have to do is round them all up in a box and supply 180 degree water. Maybe a child to help, if they are interested, if not, we can do it. Way pay someone? Oh, and a very sharp knife. We don't have one sharp enough to make gutting easy....we kinda hack at it til it comes loose.

We have one of these knives on standby. Alan used to hunt ducks, and says that this one will suit the purpose perfectly.

http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/mens/mens-workshop/mens-knives/36531.aspx

 

[happyhensny]

Do you milk your goats?

And Ray and I can come out and "do the chickens" for ya....all you will have to do is round them all up in a box and supply 180 degree water. Maybe a child to help, if they are interested, if not, we can do it. Way pay someone? Oh, and a very sharp knife. We don't have one sharp enough to make gutting easy....we kinda hack at it til it comes loose.

No, we haven't miked them yet. I haven't been around does kidding and am a bit nervous about it. We just signed on a new 4H student and her family has a herd of dairy goats.

Can't wait to start chatting with her Mom. They milk, make cheese, and deal with babies. Going to be a fortunate addition to our group. And to think, they only have a couple chickens! Well, I can fix that.

Quote:

We have one of these knives on standby. Alan used to hunt ducks, and says that this one will suit the purpose perfectly.

http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/mens/mens-workshop/mens-knives/36531.aspx

I will check into "sharp knives" I have a few decent knives but nothing great. We have about 30 eggs in the bators now, I am sure there are a bunch of Roos.

 

[Cass]

No, we haven't miked them yet. I haven't been around does kidding and am a bit nervous about it. We just signed on a new 4H student and her family has a herd of dairy goats.

Can't wait to start chatting with her Mom. They milk, make cheese, and deal with babies. Going to be a fortunate addition to our group. And to think, they only have a couple chickens! Well, I can fix that.

I will check into "sharp knives" I have a few decent knives but nothing great. We have about 30 eggs in the bators now, I am sure there are a bunch of Roos.

Just let me know when you need help with "the deed".

My neighbor had pygmy goats. She loved them and sold the kids....but she was a nurse, so very little bothered her with birthin'....I'm not as brave as she is

 

[happyhensny]

Just let me know when you need help with "the deed".

My neighbor had pygmy goats. She loved them and sold the kids....but she was a nurse, so very little bothered her with birthin'....I'm not as brave as she is

I had 3 kids of my own-and a big share of problems so I am a little cautious about the birthin' business... Although, I guess I do have more than a fair share of trouble-shooting experience under my "belt"

 

[featherz]

I had 3 kids of my own-and a big share of problems so I am a little cautious about the birthin' business... Although, I guess I do have more than a fair share of trouble-shooting experience under my "belt"

I would have no problems with the gore o' birthin', but just don't want to take on any additional animals right now. Already have too many cats and a bunch of chickens and that's enough for now! =) One of my neighbors has goats (normal sized) and cows so I pet those each day when I go by on my walk - that's enough.

Also saw the hunger games yesterday - I don't care what some of the 'book fan naysayers' say, I liked it! I think they should have spent more time on just a bit of background on some of the other people, but other than that I think it was great.

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

My oldest woke up at 11pm, then my youngest a couple hours later, and then at 4:30 I hear this pop pop popping sound. It stopped then a minute later pop pop popping started again. We have green carpet. My beagle decided to scratch up a string of it. She was pulling it up then chewing it off. The sound was from when she was pulling on it and she would pause to chew then pull again. I see puking nightmare in my future.

I'd rather have puking than having it get stuck in her digestive tract though.

On to goats. My cousin raises them and makes her own cheese. It's good. 2 yrs ago she lost her billy and thought her season was lost. No babies no milk. I found her a replacement and in return they butchered 11 roos for me. It all worked out well.