Wow! We have just purchased, over the weekend, a PHENOMENAL new buck! His name is Adam (altho he has a much longer REAL name) CRI HLAR - Copper Creek "Adam". What a beautiful young buck! He is going to be put in with 4 of my girls, hoping to add some serious bone and "mass" to the herd.
We also were blessed to be allowed to purchase a beautiful doeling: Heavens Lil’ Acres “Mesha” This is a doeling that is going to also be bringing some serious size to our herd.
I feel very honored that Heaven's Lil Acres, Graham, WA, was willing to allow us to bring these two beautiful boer goats home!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
The First Time
This past week has been an interesting one for us. We determined it was time to take our wethers to the butcher. So, Jim did what he needed to do in order to get the boys in the condition they needed to be in to take them in (translation available for those that need it). Then we gave one of the wethers to a friend of ours that owns a Mexican Restaurant, knowing that he'd know exactly how to cook it, and also because we wanted to see what he thought.
Well, let me tell you, it was terrific! It was so tender - it just melted in your mouth. We had it Colorado style, so it was a little spicier than I would have liked, but it was excellent nonetheless.
On Monday I took the other two carcasses in to the butcher and we're just waiting for the meat in white packages to be returned.
We have one more boy that is going in today. He's an older guy and we've decided to turn him into hamburger, pepperoni and jerky. We'll see how it goes. We may also have some sausage done, just so we can try it. I made some phone calls, but nobody seems to know much about how a goat that is 20 months old tastes, so I guess we'll find out.
We are down to only two does from our 2008 kids left to sell - and nobody else. As we begin into the 2009 kidding season, we're making some more serious decisions about the kids that we get. We're not keeping them "just because" or "maybe they will ..." The fact is, we want to raise high quality show animals, as well as high quality market animals - and the two offer some fairly clearly lines. If the animal that we have is not show, it's for market - the emotional attachment has to be removed or we're never going to get where I want to be.
Amd lastly, we're now to breeding season for 2009 kids! Capriole's GD Excursion is in with all the girls and we'll pull him out at the end of the month and then figure out if anybody comes back into heat. At least this way I'll have a pretty good idea as to when to expect kids (much better than our 2008 kids!)
Until the next time!
Well, let me tell you, it was terrific! It was so tender - it just melted in your mouth. We had it Colorado style, so it was a little spicier than I would have liked, but it was excellent nonetheless.
On Monday I took the other two carcasses in to the butcher and we're just waiting for the meat in white packages to be returned.
We have one more boy that is going in today. He's an older guy and we've decided to turn him into hamburger, pepperoni and jerky. We'll see how it goes. We may also have some sausage done, just so we can try it. I made some phone calls, but nobody seems to know much about how a goat that is 20 months old tastes, so I guess we'll find out.
We are down to only two does from our 2008 kids left to sell - and nobody else. As we begin into the 2009 kidding season, we're making some more serious decisions about the kids that we get. We're not keeping them "just because" or "maybe they will ..." The fact is, we want to raise high quality show animals, as well as high quality market animals - and the two offer some fairly clearly lines. If the animal that we have is not show, it's for market - the emotional attachment has to be removed or we're never going to get where I want to be.
Amd lastly, we're now to breeding season for 2009 kids! Capriole's GD Excursion is in with all the girls and we'll pull him out at the end of the month and then figure out if anybody comes back into heat. At least this way I'll have a pretty good idea as to when to expect kids (much better than our 2008 kids!)
Until the next time!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The Saddest Day Of All
On June 14, 2008 I lost my very best friend to a tragic accident on Hwy. 42 in Coquille, Oregon.
Crystal Renee Barrett was driving to Coos Bay and a tree fell on her car. That's the accident, and something that I will always remember, but that is NOT who Kristi was.
Kristi was the one that always had a smile and a positive word to share. Kristi was the one that I could call for no reason at all and yet talk to for hours.
I have known Kristi for more than 24 years and while we could go for long periods without talking, we never drifted apart.
Kristi was Tanner's mom, and he was the light of her life! There wasn't anything that she wouldn't do for him ... and there's nothing he wouldn't have done for her. They came to Port Angeles every year during Tanner's spring break and we would spend time just hanging out, going to the Olympic Game Farm, trying to get to Hurricane Ridge, and we planned to go to Victoria next year, after Tanner got his passport.
I learned a lot from Kristi while she was alive, and I've learned the most important lesson about life since her death ... you need to tell the people you care about, that you do. You never know when your time is ... and to live each day as if it were your last is not a "cliche", but rather something that we should all do.
I will miss her forever ... she was the sister that I would have chosen if I could have .. but more than that, she was the woman that I admired over all others.
Kristi left behind so many people who loved her and whom she loved. Mark, the love of her life; Marilyn, her mom; Debbie, her sister and serious partner in crime; Julie, her childhood friend that went with her everywhere when they were growing up; Julie's kids, who knew her as "Aunt Kristi"; my kids, who also knew her as Aunt Kristi (and none of these kids ever questioned HOW was she their aunt); Jim, (Tanner's dad) whom she stayed friends with from the beginning to the end; Ryan, her nephew, whom she spoke of so lovingly, even when telling the stories about him doing the things he shouldn't have; and all of you other friends and relatives, that I don't have enough time or space to mention. I can tell you that everyone that was loved by Kristi knew it - she made sure of it!
Yesterday, July 11, was Kristi's 43rd birthday - and today we're honoring her with a bbq ... and hopefully every year from hereon out, we will continue the tradition!
The world is a little lonelier now ... but there is a star that shines brighter, and we all have another angel watching over us!
I love you and I miss you Kristi!!!
Crystal Renee Barrett was driving to Coos Bay and a tree fell on her car. That's the accident, and something that I will always remember, but that is NOT who Kristi was.
Kristi was the one that always had a smile and a positive word to share. Kristi was the one that I could call for no reason at all and yet talk to for hours.
I have known Kristi for more than 24 years and while we could go for long periods without talking, we never drifted apart.
Kristi was Tanner's mom, and he was the light of her life! There wasn't anything that she wouldn't do for him ... and there's nothing he wouldn't have done for her. They came to Port Angeles every year during Tanner's spring break and we would spend time just hanging out, going to the Olympic Game Farm, trying to get to Hurricane Ridge, and we planned to go to Victoria next year, after Tanner got his passport.
I learned a lot from Kristi while she was alive, and I've learned the most important lesson about life since her death ... you need to tell the people you care about, that you do. You never know when your time is ... and to live each day as if it were your last is not a "cliche", but rather something that we should all do.
I will miss her forever ... she was the sister that I would have chosen if I could have .. but more than that, she was the woman that I admired over all others.
Kristi left behind so many people who loved her and whom she loved. Mark, the love of her life; Marilyn, her mom; Debbie, her sister and serious partner in crime; Julie, her childhood friend that went with her everywhere when they were growing up; Julie's kids, who knew her as "Aunt Kristi"; my kids, who also knew her as Aunt Kristi (and none of these kids ever questioned HOW was she their aunt); Jim, (Tanner's dad) whom she stayed friends with from the beginning to the end; Ryan, her nephew, whom she spoke of so lovingly, even when telling the stories about him doing the things he shouldn't have; and all of you other friends and relatives, that I don't have enough time or space to mention. I can tell you that everyone that was loved by Kristi knew it - she made sure of it!
Yesterday, July 11, was Kristi's 43rd birthday - and today we're honoring her with a bbq ... and hopefully every year from hereon out, we will continue the tradition!
The world is a little lonelier now ... but there is a star that shines brighter, and we all have another angel watching over us!
I love you and I miss you Kristi!!!
The Long and Sad Story
It's been a tough summer. We have lost a couple of our girls this summer, and in both cases, we're not completely sure why.
We lost Bluebonnet the first part of June for some unknown reason.
Then Parker's Gourmet Cinnamon, who was due to deliver her boer goat kids on July 2 died two weeks before her due date. We found her outside, just laying around, and she didn't want to get up. We tried all of her favorite treats, but she just wasn't interested.
We checked her for injuries and there was nothing present that we could see, but you could tell she was in distress. When we got her moved, we saw that she had either begun to lose her plug, or she may have started into labor. We checked her, and saw that she had lost all of her ligaments, but she had not dilated at all. We started giving her water (using a turkey baster) and offering her food. She drank a lot, but wasn't interested in food.
We discussed what our options were: 1) we could continue to try to get her moving (and save her); 2) we could euthanize her and try to save her babies. We opted for the first choice,for now. At some point we called the vet and she provided me with some electrolytes, as well as penicillin (she thought it would be better than the LA-200 that I used with another doe after we checked her.) While Cinnamon seemed to be doing better, she still wasn't doing "good".
The vet finally came out around 5:30pm and we decided to give her some fluids via IV and Oxytocin to get her labor going again (it was quite obvious at some point that she was in labor, but not progressing). As soon as we got the IV in, she died. The decision was made to immediately open her up and try to save her babies.
I'm sorry to say that we couldn't save any of them. She had four beautiful babies, two boys and two girls. All of whom were gorgeous. It was a tough day for everyone.
Hayley asked for permission to watch the vet try to save the babies, and we decided that if she wanted to, she could. She came back in the house after they found the babies were also gone and said that it was very interesting (she said she started to say cool, but thought that was just rude!) and that she was glad that she'd watched.
I want to thank Heather at Sequim Animal Clinic for EVERYTHING that she did to help us to save our goats.
We have decided that if this were to happen again that we would probably have to seriously consider all aspects and maybe euthanize the doe sooner to try to save kids.
We lost Bluebonnet the first part of June for some unknown reason.
Then Parker's Gourmet Cinnamon, who was due to deliver her boer goat kids on July 2 died two weeks before her due date. We found her outside, just laying around, and she didn't want to get up. We tried all of her favorite treats, but she just wasn't interested.
We checked her for injuries and there was nothing present that we could see, but you could tell she was in distress. When we got her moved, we saw that she had either begun to lose her plug, or she may have started into labor. We checked her, and saw that she had lost all of her ligaments, but she had not dilated at all. We started giving her water (using a turkey baster) and offering her food. She drank a lot, but wasn't interested in food.
We discussed what our options were: 1) we could continue to try to get her moving (and save her); 2) we could euthanize her and try to save her babies. We opted for the first choice,for now. At some point we called the vet and she provided me with some electrolytes, as well as penicillin (she thought it would be better than the LA-200 that I used with another doe after we checked her.) While Cinnamon seemed to be doing better, she still wasn't doing "good".
The vet finally came out around 5:30pm and we decided to give her some fluids via IV and Oxytocin to get her labor going again (it was quite obvious at some point that she was in labor, but not progressing). As soon as we got the IV in, she died. The decision was made to immediately open her up and try to save her babies.
I'm sorry to say that we couldn't save any of them. She had four beautiful babies, two boys and two girls. All of whom were gorgeous. It was a tough day for everyone.
Hayley asked for permission to watch the vet try to save the babies, and we decided that if she wanted to, she could. She came back in the house after they found the babies were also gone and said that it was very interesting (she said she started to say cool, but thought that was just rude!) and that she was glad that she'd watched.
I want to thank Heather at Sequim Animal Clinic for EVERYTHING that she did to help us to save our goats.
We have decided that if this were to happen again that we would probably have to seriously consider all aspects and maybe euthanize the doe sooner to try to save kids.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Finally!
Okay, we finally have kids! We have two new doelings out of Jitterbug (doe) and Showdown (Cabernet Creek Farm buck). These two doelings were each almost 8 lbs. Unfortunately, we lost a buckling due to not being aware of the fact that he was in the wrong position and Jitter just labored too long (he was bigger than the girls).
For those that may not know, I travel a good part of my job, and unfortunately, this is one of those times. So, I was on the cell phone with Jim coaching him through what to do (as if I'm the expert) and then we finally resorted to call my Goat Mentor and having her come over to help. By the time she got there, Jim had managed to remove the buckling and it was a matter of watching and waiting for the doelings.
I understand that the doelings are very cute (but have you EVER seen an ugly baby?) I'm just waiting on photos from those that are at home and working to do clean up and such!
Jim did give Jitter a shot of Antibiotic as he did have to go in and push the buckling back (he thought there were two feet and a nose, but instead it was three feet.) Anyway, he is giving LA-200 for the next 4 days to keep mom from getting sick from having the germs introduced.
I'm so proud of Jim and Hayley - they both stuck it out - Hayley wasn't going to miss goat labor and delivery for anything. While I was on the phone and the first one was delivered, Hayley said, "Wow, that's cool!" - and being the mom ... THAT is cool. I want her to understand and to be so enthralled with these animals that no matter what is happening, she's excited to participate.
Well, this proud mama is off for now ... and hopefully Jitterbug is getting the grain and warm water that I promised her when she delivered.
For those that may not know, I travel a good part of my job, and unfortunately, this is one of those times. So, I was on the cell phone with Jim coaching him through what to do (as if I'm the expert) and then we finally resorted to call my Goat Mentor and having her come over to help. By the time she got there, Jim had managed to remove the buckling and it was a matter of watching and waiting for the doelings.
I understand that the doelings are very cute (but have you EVER seen an ugly baby?) I'm just waiting on photos from those that are at home and working to do clean up and such!
Jim did give Jitter a shot of Antibiotic as he did have to go in and push the buckling back (he thought there were two feet and a nose, but instead it was three feet.) Anyway, he is giving LA-200 for the next 4 days to keep mom from getting sick from having the germs introduced.
I'm so proud of Jim and Hayley - they both stuck it out - Hayley wasn't going to miss goat labor and delivery for anything. While I was on the phone and the first one was delivered, Hayley said, "Wow, that's cool!" - and being the mom ... THAT is cool. I want her to understand and to be so enthralled with these animals that no matter what is happening, she's excited to participate.
Well, this proud mama is off for now ... and hopefully Jitterbug is getting the grain and warm water that I promised her when she delivered.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Close doesn't count!
Well, as you know, we picked up three new does the first of the month (thankfully we got through Snoqualmie Pass before the snow began and just kept coming. Anyway, as those of you who have been following this blog, know that I made some serious errors in knowing WHEN my original does are due to kid. So, one of these new does that we got, she was OBVIOUSLY in heat (hanging through the fence - calling the boys - shaking her tail) and I decided that I was going to see what would happen if I paid attention.
Well, let me tell you! We let Showdown in with her and he immediately bred her! Then he continued to chase her - we watched them for a little while and it finally became obvious that she was bred (we can discuss this at another place and time!) Anyway, she then was just following him around (different than him chasing her) and leaning on him (Oooh, I love you ... Oooh, baby!)
After about two hours, I went out and was watching and you knew the party was over - he was at one end of the yard and she was off doing her own thing. Another afternoon delight that ended without speaking!
So, while we're STILL waiting on these boer goat kids from the fall breeding, I know that on July 2 (or thereabouts) we should find ourselves with more kids!
My daughter is doing 4-H this year with her Boer Goats at the Clallam County Fair! We are very excited as we await the arrival of these kids - she's anxious to see which kid is going to be going to the fair with her.
She is also the owner of one of the boer goat does that we're waiting for kids on, and she's anxious to see if she's got any kids that are worth something that she wants to show.
So, still we wait ... but we're a lot smarter than we were before!
Well, let me tell you! We let Showdown in with her and he immediately bred her! Then he continued to chase her - we watched them for a little while and it finally became obvious that she was bred (we can discuss this at another place and time!) Anyway, she then was just following him around (different than him chasing her) and leaning on him (Oooh, I love you ... Oooh, baby!)
After about two hours, I went out and was watching and you knew the party was over - he was at one end of the yard and she was off doing her own thing. Another afternoon delight that ended without speaking!
So, while we're STILL waiting on these boer goat kids from the fall breeding, I know that on July 2 (or thereabouts) we should find ourselves with more kids!
My daughter is doing 4-H this year with her Boer Goats at the Clallam County Fair! We are very excited as we await the arrival of these kids - she's anxious to see which kid is going to be going to the fair with her.
She is also the owner of one of the boer goat does that we're waiting for kids on, and she's anxious to see if she's got any kids that are worth something that she wants to show.
So, still we wait ... but we're a lot smarter than we were before!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Thank Goodness For Friends!
Okay, I've finally admitted it ... I didn't know what I was doing when I did it, but now that I've done it, I'm not sure what I did!
This all has to do with breeding boer goat does last fall. We have raised llamas for more than 5 years, and for those of you that don't know, llamas don't have heat cycles. They are induced ovulators, meaning that it requires the act of breeding for the girls to ovulate (get pregnant.)
Well, we were just plain ignorant as it relates to breeding boer goats, and never thought to pay attention to WHEN the goats bred - but rather, without thinking - assumed that when we put the buck in with the does, that 150 days later we'd have babies. Well, okay, maybe not ALL of them in 150 days, poor Buddy would need some rest between calls. But, as we have learned, that is most definitely NOT the case.
I have a very dear friend and co-worker that used to raise dairy goats (she says it's been a lifetime ago), but she's the closest person that I know that come and let me know if I've even GOT a bred doe - YEAH!!! We will have babies!!! Now, it's a matter of when.
Bootsie, Hayley's doe, is definitely bred, definitely bagging up (although she's not filling up yet) so the assumption is that she's got a couple of weeks to go.
Sam, my big paint doe, is definitely bred and probably due about the same time as Bootsie.
And all the other girls that I thought were bred, probably are. But, the timing is still the question.
I think, if this is something that is true, that although Buddy was in with the girls for awhile, until we brought Showdown onto the property, he probably was only playing with the girls. BUT, when he realized that there was a new guy in town, it seems he went to work - and if Jeanette's right, most of these does are due in the exact same time frame.
So, while my patience level has dropped - and my "is it ever going to happen" questions are pathetic ... it seems it will ... and next year, we'll KNOW when they're due to kid ...
Thank God for friends!
This all has to do with breeding boer goat does last fall. We have raised llamas for more than 5 years, and for those of you that don't know, llamas don't have heat cycles. They are induced ovulators, meaning that it requires the act of breeding for the girls to ovulate (get pregnant.)
Well, we were just plain ignorant as it relates to breeding boer goats, and never thought to pay attention to WHEN the goats bred - but rather, without thinking - assumed that when we put the buck in with the does, that 150 days later we'd have babies. Well, okay, maybe not ALL of them in 150 days, poor Buddy would need some rest between calls. But, as we have learned, that is most definitely NOT the case.
I have a very dear friend and co-worker that used to raise dairy goats (she says it's been a lifetime ago), but she's the closest person that I know that come and let me know if I've even GOT a bred doe - YEAH!!! We will have babies!!! Now, it's a matter of when.
Bootsie, Hayley's doe, is definitely bred, definitely bagging up (although she's not filling up yet) so the assumption is that she's got a couple of weeks to go.
Sam, my big paint doe, is definitely bred and probably due about the same time as Bootsie.
And all the other girls that I thought were bred, probably are. But, the timing is still the question.
I think, if this is something that is true, that although Buddy was in with the girls for awhile, until we brought Showdown onto the property, he probably was only playing with the girls. BUT, when he realized that there was a new guy in town, it seems he went to work - and if Jeanette's right, most of these does are due in the exact same time frame.
So, while my patience level has dropped - and my "is it ever going to happen" questions are pathetic ... it seems it will ... and next year, we'll KNOW when they're due to kid ...
Thank God for friends!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Nameless No More
Okay, so now our beautiful new buck has a name: Capriole's GD Excursion! To quote, it's difficult to come up with "ex" names. I think it's appropriate, because it's quite an excursion from the southeast corner of Washington State to the Northwest corner! He's coming home on February 8!!
We have also gone over to Cle Elum to pickup the two girls that we had purchased from Lookout Mountain Boers! Unfortunately for my husband, I had had my eye on a third, but had decided that I just couldn't afford to get one more - but once I got to actually see her, I just couldn't resist! So, as Patti told me, we got one of each from her: Traditional, Paint, RED!
The weather was beautiful - but a tad cold. It was 3F when we arrived at Patti Gylling's house yesterday morning, and it didn't get warmer until after we left and got about 20 miles down the road. BUT, everything about the trip was beautiful. For anyone that has not had the opportunity to drive I-90 up through Snoqualmie Pass, you've got to put this on your "MUST DO" list! The views were breathtaking!
Now that we've added these girls, we have been listening to them fight with my girls all night. It's a slow process as they establish their place within the herd - but I know that it will happen. And with there being three of them, I'm not worried that they'll be bullied too bad. It won't be long before they're all just one big happy family!
We're still waiting on kids, but I'm certain that it's going to happen - I've just accepted the fact that I didn't pay attention to when they were breeding - and that it must have been later than I had expected. BUT, next year - this will NOT be a question!
We have also gone over to Cle Elum to pickup the two girls that we had purchased from Lookout Mountain Boers! Unfortunately for my husband, I had had my eye on a third, but had decided that I just couldn't afford to get one more - but once I got to actually see her, I just couldn't resist! So, as Patti told me, we got one of each from her: Traditional, Paint, RED!
The weather was beautiful - but a tad cold. It was 3F when we arrived at Patti Gylling's house yesterday morning, and it didn't get warmer until after we left and got about 20 miles down the road. BUT, everything about the trip was beautiful. For anyone that has not had the opportunity to drive I-90 up through Snoqualmie Pass, you've got to put this on your "MUST DO" list! The views were breathtaking!
Now that we've added these girls, we have been listening to them fight with my girls all night. It's a slow process as they establish their place within the herd - but I know that it will happen. And with there being three of them, I'm not worried that they'll be bullied too bad. It won't be long before they're all just one big happy family!
We're still waiting on kids, but I'm certain that it's going to happen - I've just accepted the fact that I didn't pay attention to when they were breeding - and that it must have been later than I had expected. BUT, next year - this will NOT be a question!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Can You Spare a Buck?
Well okay, we weren't really looking for a spare buck, instead we were looking for a buck that would compliment our existing herd, as well as bringing in completely new bloodlines.
What we found was a super buck! He's just 10 months old, has no name, but brings with him a whole heap o' good looking lines!
My goal has been to own an animal bred by Capriole Boers and even more, one with Obsession in their background. This guy brings me that line. That's on the dam side, on his sire's side, he brings EGGS! I didn't know if I would get a doe or a buck - but when this buck was presented to me, I couldn't hardly wait to add him to my herd.
This brings our new additions (none of which are here yet) to 2 new does (from Lookout Mountain Boers) and 1 new buck! We are still waiting on our 2008 kids - and as you know if you have paid any attention at all, I am NEVER going to NOT know when my animals are breeding!
As part of my "real" job, I travel around the US promoting the company I work for AGS Internet Services and selling websites and web services to the RV Park & Campground Industry. What I have figured out is that I leave on Sunday for New Orleans for 5 days, and I'm just certain that these girls have all made a note of the fact that I'll be gone, and are waiting until that time. (My husband is SO not pleased with this possibility!)
So, with the new animals coming soon - and the kids coming when they get around to it, we're definitely on our way to being a real goat farm!
What we found was a super buck! He's just 10 months old, has no name, but brings with him a whole heap o' good looking lines!
My goal has been to own an animal bred by Capriole Boers and even more, one with Obsession in their background. This guy brings me that line. That's on the dam side, on his sire's side, he brings EGGS! I didn't know if I would get a doe or a buck - but when this buck was presented to me, I couldn't hardly wait to add him to my herd.
This brings our new additions (none of which are here yet) to 2 new does (from Lookout Mountain Boers) and 1 new buck! We are still waiting on our 2008 kids - and as you know if you have paid any attention at all, I am NEVER going to NOT know when my animals are breeding!
As part of my "real" job, I travel around the US promoting the company I work for AGS Internet Services and selling websites and web services to the RV Park & Campground Industry. What I have figured out is that I leave on Sunday for New Orleans for 5 days, and I'm just certain that these girls have all made a note of the fact that I'll be gone, and are waiting until that time. (My husband is SO not pleased with this possibility!)
So, with the new animals coming soon - and the kids coming when they get around to it, we're definitely on our way to being a real goat farm!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Making God Laugh
I've done it again. That's my latest thought. I made a plan, and God got a chuckle. When I planned to have kids the end of December / first of January, God must have decided that I was getting a bit more "out of control" and decided that he was just going to do it HIS way, and now ... here I am ... having waited more than 2 weeks for kids. Now for those that know me, you know I've been THINKING it is any day now. And for those that really know me, you know that I am not the most patient of people. And for my family, yes, I am admitting that my lack of control is beyond frustrating and has now gone all the way to ... "are you sure these boer goats are REALLY pregnant????"
I have spent the past two weeks babying my girls (boer goat does). I have taken them warm water every evening. I have bought them treats (bribery MIGHT work) that are for goats (they smell like licorice - no idea what they really taste like) and my goats love them. I have been scratching necks and backs - and now, I think these girls are just enjoying the pampering so much they've decided that they can forgo delivery for just another day or two ...
And now, it's apparent, I've lost my flippin' mind! I am to the point that I am giving these girls credit for so much more planning than ever could have been possible. BUT, it passes the time, makes me laugh at myself and to be honest, causes me to continue to believe that "it's any time now!" Ahhh... the bliss of lost minds!
As soon as I do have kids, I am going to post new photos to the Llama Ridge Ranch & Boer Goats, Too! website. And from that point on, I might manage to find my mind again.
... off to continue listening to God laugh!
I have spent the past two weeks babying my girls (boer goat does). I have taken them warm water every evening. I have bought them treats (bribery MIGHT work) that are for goats (they smell like licorice - no idea what they really taste like) and my goats love them. I have been scratching necks and backs - and now, I think these girls are just enjoying the pampering so much they've decided that they can forgo delivery for just another day or two ...
And now, it's apparent, I've lost my flippin' mind! I am to the point that I am giving these girls credit for so much more planning than ever could have been possible. BUT, it passes the time, makes me laugh at myself and to be honest, causes me to continue to believe that "it's any time now!" Ahhh... the bliss of lost minds!
As soon as I do have kids, I am going to post new photos to the Llama Ridge Ranch & Boer Goats, Too! website. And from that point on, I might manage to find my mind again.
... off to continue listening to God laugh!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Do you see what I see ... ???
Okay, this is it ... well, okay, that's what I thought LAST night! Tonight I would love to say yup, that is "goo" that I am seeing from my one doe - but well, maybe it's not. Maybe it was just something else OR maybe it was what I thought it was, and now it's gone and I'm waiting for the other "goo" to start. Ohfercriminy, what in the world is it that I'm supposed to be finding, anyway!
But again, while we are waiting, we've been looking at many of the other things that we have heard that we need or at the very least "should have". The most interesting of things is a "kid box" which is the box you put the kid in to disbud them. (I learned last night that disbudding takes place at 10 days or less, and dehorning is after 10 days.) I'm serious, I'm learning a LOT while I wait.
The one sad part of this is that I went to my local feed store to get some iodine for the navels of these kids that I'm sure must be going to be arriving just any time. Now many of you are probably not aware of the fact that you can't buy iodine these days, due to the amount of meth users that apparently use it in their cooking. It's so sad that those things that we need to run our businesses are being banned due to those that find unethical and illegal uses for the products. Thankfully, my feed store knows me, and knows that I have animals, and is more than willing to go and get some for me from some unknown point. But, it's still sad that I can't just grab it off the shelf like I could not so long ago.
For now, I'll go back to my homework and continue to listen ...
But again, while we are waiting, we've been looking at many of the other things that we have heard that we need or at the very least "should have". The most interesting of things is a "kid box" which is the box you put the kid in to disbud them. (I learned last night that disbudding takes place at 10 days or less, and dehorning is after 10 days.) I'm serious, I'm learning a LOT while I wait.
The one sad part of this is that I went to my local feed store to get some iodine for the navels of these kids that I'm sure must be going to be arriving just any time. Now many of you are probably not aware of the fact that you can't buy iodine these days, due to the amount of meth users that apparently use it in their cooking. It's so sad that those things that we need to run our businesses are being banned due to those that find unethical and illegal uses for the products. Thankfully, my feed store knows me, and knows that I have animals, and is more than willing to go and get some for me from some unknown point. But, it's still sad that I can't just grab it off the shelf like I could not so long ago.
For now, I'll go back to my homework and continue to listen ...
Sunday, January 6, 2008
The Chores ...
You know, the thought of having goats and llamas is always a great thought ... in SUMMER! But, winter is a horrible time to have animals. Well, it's horrible if mud isn't your favorite color, if urine isn't your favorite smell and if wet isn't your most comfortable clothing!
We spent the day cleaning out the goat girls' housing. This was done last week, too. And we went to a lot of work trying to figure out the BEST materials to put down to keep them warm and dry ... and I thought we had finally found it ... but that was Thursday! By today, the area was wet and smelled ... so it's time to keep trying.
We had used Stall Dry last week - this week we went with something called Sweet PDZ. The folks at Airport Garden Center in Port Angeles recommended that we try this, so we decided that we'd see if it worked. Hopefully it's better than the Stall Dry.
Oh, and of course, there's the continual waiting. I would have sworn that we would have kids by now ... but that will teach me to swear. But, for all the time that we spend waiting, we're spending it reading up on all the things that we didn't know that we're pretty sure we should know, and really hoping we won't need to know. You know, the "problem" deliveries.
In all of our travels we decided it would be a good idea to pick up some nipples (somebody said that every kid has their own preference, so we got 3 of them) from Clallam Co-op / True Value Hardware. The folks here are so helpful when it comes to finding things - and if they don't have it, most of the time they are more than willing to do some research on the product to see if it's something they can carry. THIS is great customer service!
Okay, so it's back to baby watch!
We spent the day cleaning out the goat girls' housing. This was done last week, too. And we went to a lot of work trying to figure out the BEST materials to put down to keep them warm and dry ... and I thought we had finally found it ... but that was Thursday! By today, the area was wet and smelled ... so it's time to keep trying.
We had used Stall Dry last week - this week we went with something called Sweet PDZ. The folks at Airport Garden Center in Port Angeles recommended that we try this, so we decided that we'd see if it worked. Hopefully it's better than the Stall Dry.
Oh, and of course, there's the continual waiting. I would have sworn that we would have kids by now ... but that will teach me to swear. But, for all the time that we spend waiting, we're spending it reading up on all the things that we didn't know that we're pretty sure we should know, and really hoping we won't need to know. You know, the "problem" deliveries.
In all of our travels we decided it would be a good idea to pick up some nipples (somebody said that every kid has their own preference, so we got 3 of them) from Clallam Co-op / True Value Hardware. The folks here are so helpful when it comes to finding things - and if they don't have it, most of the time they are more than willing to do some research on the product to see if it's something they can carry. THIS is great customer service!
Okay, so it's back to baby watch!
Friday, January 4, 2008
What's New
Well, we have managed to get through the holidays without much fan fare - and unfortunately, without any "kids"! We are waiting not so patiently for the arrival. We currently have 7 does bred and 3 of them should be kidding sometime soon (that translates to, we didn't keep close enough tabs / records on when breeding occurred to know EXACTLY when!) This will definitely change next year.
While we're waiting, we've been working on upgrading the feeders and trying to find new and improved ways to keep goat feet dry in our very "wet" world! For those of you that may be geographically challenged, we are located in the northwest part of Washington state (the Olympic Peninsula) just 16 miles across the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Victoria, British Columbia. Keeping feet dry in this climate is more challenging than trying to corral goats without feed!
Stay tuned, I'll make sure that we get baby boer goat pictures posted as soon as we can!
While we're waiting, we've been working on upgrading the feeders and trying to find new and improved ways to keep goat feet dry in our very "wet" world! For those of you that may be geographically challenged, we are located in the northwest part of Washington state (the Olympic Peninsula) just 16 miles across the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Victoria, British Columbia. Keeping feet dry in this climate is more challenging than trying to corral goats without feed!
Stay tuned, I'll make sure that we get baby boer goat pictures posted as soon as we can!
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