Wing It Ranch

[Auntiejessi3]

After collecting my meager amount of milk from Daisy, I'm ready to make cheese! I went a little overboard on Amazon and got a bunch of cheese making supplies. I'll update sometime this weekend with the result!

Also, good news. Jail worked and my little broody pullet has come to her senses and is back with the flock.

Unlike milk production, egg production is insane. I got a record breaking 16 eggs yesterday. I sold 11 dozen eggs this week! I read an article that egg prices are at an all-time low... my customers are still paying me $6/ doz but I also didn't raise my price when we had the egg shortage last year so no one has complained.

Very nice! I've been charging $4/doz for a couple years now, it pays all the ladies bills and then some so I figure wth. Some folks around me charge up to $8 Can't wait for cheese pics

 

[thistlewick]

I sell mine to a local farm store for $4 a doz and they resell for whatever they resell for, I have no idea lol This week I will have 17 dozen to sell I am up to my ears in eggs.

WING IT I cannot WAIT for the cheese pics!!!!!!! This is something I also wanted to do so I am watching with baited breath So glad you're going ahead with it!!!

 

[WingItRanch]

I did it! There was a moment where things were looking a little sketchy. The consistency was that of cottage cheese... but I put it back in the cheese cloth and hung it out for another 2 hrs and then stuck it in the fridge. The goal was chevre.

I asked my partner if he wanted it sweet or savory and he said savory so I added salt and a little bit of italian seasoning.Turned out delicious! The consistency is right now.

 

[WingItRanch]

Breakfast!! (No eggs because our sink is broken and wanted less dishes haha)

 

[thistlewick]

That's fantastic!! Did you use vinegar??

 

[WingItRanch]

That's fantastic!! Did you use vinegar??

Nope! Citric acid dissolved in water. I read vinegar can leave a different taste.

 

[thistlewick]

I watched a video where someone used pickle juice citric acid sounds neutral - so glad it came out so good!!

 

[WingItRanch]

I'm going to be completely honest here. I'm struggling! I think I've put entirely too much on my plate.. the chickens are easy but the goats and Livestock Guardian Dog are maybe a touch too far for someone who works full time with multiple irons in the fire. I'm gone from home about 11 hrs per day so I have to jam caring for all the animals, milking Daisy, my normal chores and errands, and a side hobby that I do with my partner.

Somethings gotta give. Can't give up my career.

My thought on getting any livestock is they have to have a job.
Chickens = eggs & meat
Goats= land clearing & dairy
LGD= protecting the goats.

Well, I'm barely getting any milk from Daisy and I can't let them out of goat pen to clear more land until Beau is with them. I can't put Beau with them until he's trained not to harass the goats. He's chased them in the past and recently he showed possessiveness for baby Titus and wouldn't let Daisy or Maggie near the kid. So he's separated and now I have to do short supervised training sessions.

I'm just exhausted from so many chores and starting to burn out. I literally milk Daisy with a headlamp in the mornings because I have to leave so early for work. I absolutely love the goats but I'm starting to see this is going to have to be a hobby for when I'm retired.

I guess I just needed to talk it out. Not sure what I'm going to do. I have a work trip coming up and I had to hire a pet sitter for only 6 days and she's charging $400... considering rehoming the goats and Beau. I've never rehomed an animal in my life! Always stuck with whatever animal I've brought home through good and bad. Feeling a lot of guilt for even considering...

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I'm going to be completely honest here. I'm struggling! I think I've put entirely too much on my plate.. the chickens are easy but the goats and Livestock Guardian Dog are maybe a touch too far for someone who works full time with multiple irons in the fire. I'm gone from home about 11 hrs per day so I have to jam caring for all the animals, milking Daisy, my normal chores and errands, and a side hobby that I do with my partner.

Somethings gotta give. Can't give up my career.

My thought on getting any livestock is they have to have a job.
Chickens = eggs & meat
Goats= land clearing & dairy
LGD= protecting the goats.

Well, I'm barely getting any milk from Daisy and I can't let them out of goat pen to clear more land until Beau is with them. I can't put Beau with them until he's trained not to harass the goats. He's chased them in the past and recently he showed possessiveness for baby Titus and wouldn't let Daisy or Maggie near the kid. So he's separated and now I have to do short supervised training sessions.

I'm just exhausted from so many chores and starting to burn out. I literally milk Daisy with a headlamp in the mornings because I have to leave so early for work. I absolutely love the goats but I'm starting to see this is going to have to be a hobby for when I'm retired.

I guess I just needed to talk it out. Not sure what I'm going to do. I have a work trip coming up and I had to hire a pet sitter for only 6 days and she's charging $400... considering rehoming the goats and Beau. I've never rehomed an animal in my life! Always stuck with whatever animal I've brought home through good and bad. Feeling a lot of guilt for even considering...

I am a firm believer in a good work/ life balance (and yes, sometimes critters can become a lot of work). While I completely understand the guilt, you have to do what's best for you and your partner first, because if your not happy your critters will ultimately be the ones that "suffer" in a manor of speaking.

 

[Strawberry74]

I'm going to be completely honest here. I'm struggling! I think I've put entirely too much on my plate.. the chickens are easy but the goats and Livestock Guardian Dog are maybe a touch too far for someone who works full time with multiple irons in the fire. I'm gone from home about 11 hrs per day so I have to jam caring for all the animals, milking Daisy, my normal chores and errands, and a side hobby that I do with my partner.

Somethings gotta give. Can't give up my career.

My thought on getting any livestock is they have to have a job.
Chickens = eggs & meat
Goats= land clearing & dairy
LGD= protecting the goats.

Well, I'm barely getting any milk from Daisy and I can't let them out of goat pen to clear more land until Beau is with them. I can't put Beau with them until he's trained not to harass the goats. He's chased them in the past and recently he showed possessiveness for baby Titus and wouldn't let Daisy or Maggie near the kid. So he's separated and now I have to do short supervised training sessions.

I'm just exhausted from so many chores and starting to burn out. I literally milk Daisy with a headlamp in the mornings because I have to leave so early for work. I absolutely love the goats but I'm starting to see this is going to have to be a hobby for when I'm retired.

I guess I just needed to talk it out. Not sure what I'm going to do. I have a work trip coming up and I had to hire a pet sitter for only 6 days and she's charging $400... considering rehoming the goats and Beau. I've never rehomed an animal in my life! Always stuck with whatever animal I've brought home through good and bad. Feeling a lot of guilt for even considering...

I am sorry you are feeling overwhelmed. I have been there and sometimes still am at times. We always call chores around the farm "privileges" because a lot of people don't get the opportunity to have and share their lives with farm animals. However, when privileges start to feel like chores then sometimes you have to make some changes to get the life balance back.

I also have a very hard time rehoming because I feel like I am breaking a promise to love them and keep them safe.

Are the goats in danger of daytime predators if they are out clearing land when you aren't home? I was just curious if you rehome Beau and that is one less "chore" on your plate, if you can keep the goats and see if that changes how you feel about keeping them? If you also stopped milking Daisy, maybe breed her again someday down the road when you feel less overwhelmed, they could still be useful for ground clearing if they are safe and still serve a planned purpose.

Maybe start with just one tough decision so you aren't making stress decisions that could lead to regret. It also might be a little less hard on you heart and feelings of guilt. Just a thought.