What's with your user name? And what about that avatar?

[tntchix]

We're supposed to get pigs next since we are such good chicken mama's according to him. Pass. Way too easy to get attached to those adorable piglets and then turn them into bacon? Nope.

Hands are full with our chicken adventure, thank you very much.

 

[islandgirl82]

Yeah...we had ours as piglets...raised them until they were about 9 months old then took them in. Granted, it was fabulous meat but I won't do it again. I need to wait until my kids are a little older and have a better understanding of why we'd raise our own animals for meat. Gardens and a laying flock have been a great starting point to get them connected to where our food and medicine comes from and maybe in the not so distant future we'll get a freezer flock but for now, we're all set.

 

[tntchix]

I'm still working on the garden part of the equation. I kill everything I grow except chickens. Somehow, I lucked out there.

 

[islandgirl82]

Start with self-seeding crops you can't get rid of even if you try...just keep them in containers/raised beds so they don't take over. I have a dear friend who wanted a pet (this was a several years ago) but knowing how she is, I had to talk her into starting with a plant that's next to impossible to kill...like a cactus. She finally worked up to getting a cat after she was able to keep a few plants alive for a couple of years and I'm happy to say she hasn't killed her cat either.

 

[tntchix]

Start with self-seeding crops you can't get rid of even if you try...just keep them in containers/raised beds so they don't take over. I have a dear friend who wanted a pet (this was a several years ago) but knowing how she is, I had to talk her into starting with a plant that's next to impossible to kill...like a cactus. She finally worked up to getting a cat after she was able to keep a few plant alive for a couple of years and I'm happy to say she hasn't killed her cat either.

well that's good. You can kill a cactus, I've done it.

i did successfully grow a sweet potato vine that is growing beautifully without my help in a pot on my deck after transplanting.

It was an experiment with store bought vs organic sw potatoes. The store bought ones took all spring and summer to even sprout a leaf and then took off and grew straight up toward ceiling. Organic ones grew all over the kitchen island.



Strangest thing I ever saw.

 

[tntchix]

Sorry, @hennible I hijacked the thread.

Please forgive me.

 

[Bean789]

Sorry, @hennible I hijacked the thread.

Please forgive me.

LOL I was so enjoying the reading! Yep, a bit off topic, but funny and informative.

 

[hennible]

A Holstien produces appx 9 gallons per day...  Jerseys .... 5 to six gallons per day.....  Even the miniature cows make two to three gallons per day

All cows goats sheep ... have to be milked twice a day sometimes three times per day....  Even a Nigerian dwarf goat which is a dairy goat that comes to about knee height produces up to a half a gallon per day.... 

Fresh goats milk is NOTHING like the stuff you get in the store.  Also for goats milk if you dont keep a buck on the premisis it makes for a milder taste on the milk.  You can do AI for breeding or take your goat to visit the buck or billie.  I was one of those who disliked goats milk till I tasted it fresh from a good goat dairy farm.

So all that considering expect to learn how to make Cheese, Cream and butter....  Yep from goat milk too. 

You have to freshen the goat or cow every year....  breed for a baby once born they get to feed off the colostrum momma makes for about a day or two then they are removed and fed off a bottle then bucket from then on.  In Dairy's boys are raised up for veal.

Its a lot of work....  even with a milking machine...    unless you want fore arms like Popeye.... LOL.

deb

Oh I know Deb I've had fresh goat's milk it reminds me of hazelnuts.... I've milked a Holstein before they produce a lot of milk. My girlfriend owns a Jersey cow she only produces about 2 gallons a day give or take and if you don't want to milk keep the calf around and let it nurse. You can let the calf feed until it's old enough to be weaned and take over the milking then, then you don't have to mess around with bottles definitely helpful if you're okay with not having milk for a while... It's also beneficial to have a couple dairy cows so you don't have to breed them every year to keep your milk production up just cycle through them... One girl calves one year and then takes a break the next...
I love goats but you just can't beat fresh Jersey milk I just took a litre of cream off of a gallon form my girlfriend, amazing stuff... Blossom is a very creamy cow.
My friends cousin had a dexter Jersey cross that through calves for 18 years! And is still alive at 21 today... Very well cared for animal.
There would still be too much milk though and I'd have to learn how to make cheese and yogurt which would be great! You can freeze milk too...
Obviously I really like milk

Sorry, @hennible
 I hijacked the thread.   Please forgive me.

Hijack away

 

[tntchix]

Hijack away

Maybe I should add that to my profile *inadvertent thread hijacker*

 

[hennible]

Lol