A Few More Things

John and I have managed to clear out a great amount of lumber from the goat barn. Only a small bit left to move. What's left before we can have the goats? Well, John will need to build the feeding stanchion - shouldn't take more than a day; we need to put up a single gated fence to separate our yard and the goat's yard; I need to lime and straw the earthen barn floor, stock up on hay and feed; establish an emergency kit, stock up on basic supplies (hoof trimmers, brushes, water buckets). Then, we can finally go pick up our kids and bring them home!!!

Expecting

Everyday I think to myself: somewhere out there, is my goat kid; still in it's mamma's belly. Growing closer to being ready to be born. End of March should be the time. It's so close, yet so far away. I feel so lucky for what is about to happen.

The Countdown Is On

Waiting is so hard to do. I have found an instate dairy goat farm who sells goat kids for a relatively reasonable price. It's not too far away from us; I don't relish the idea of making a couple kids ride in the back of a van for five or six hours. There is a place here in town that has a sign up in their yard advertising that they sell goats and kids; however the condition of their property and the animals that I spied is keeping me from being able to use them as a source for my herd. It would be more convenient to buy very local, but in the long run, I will likely be sorry about that choice. I have been in contact with a woman from Hillside Farm in Glen Mills, PA. She is going to contact me after January when the kids are born to let me know what she has available. Her herd includes Alpine, La Mancha, Toggenburg, Saanen and Recorded Grade dairy goats, so I may not even have the option of my choice breeds: Saanens and Nubians. I definitely don't want a LaMancha, although that is Asa's favorite breed. It's definitely harder than I thought it would be to obtain the goats.

Boer Goats in my Future?

I am considering raising meat goats in addition to dairy goats. I am mulling over: Can I raise goats myself from kids fully knowing that they will be led to slaughter one day and then be able to just hand them over? I am really on the fence about that. I'd like to be able to have an income from this goat venture, and that could be one way to do it.

This is a picture of a Boer goat. They are raised for meat. As you may be able to tell, they are much chunkier than a dairy goat.

Only thinking about it right now.

Brushing Up

I am really getting excited, because I know that it won't be much longer before my first goaties will be here.



I've been taking the time to sit and read through some of my goat books again. I've read all of them over and over many times. But each time I read them, I seem to learn something new. As things are beginning to change over from abstract concepts, many points actually mean something to me, and I am able to get some really great information that I can use.

I have gone from thinking that I absolutely had to have a pasture for the goats to being okay with feeding them hay and grain rations. I still will work to have a decent pasture - but I am going to stop stressing out over getting the pasture up and running immediately. I look at it as being a nice addition to the hay and grain rations. For now, I can work to improve my skills at pasture management and use our tiny pasture (a bit over an acre) as we are able.

This is one of the books that I am reading right now. It is a very informative and interesting book. I really recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about dairy goats.

Pasture Grass

Apparently there's more to a pasture than simply a fenced-in open parcel of land. I went to the Small Farm Expo this summer in the Poconos. There, I sat in on a lecture about maintaining a pasture. What I learned blew my mind. I just simply did not realize the extent to which folks go to have a quality pasture for their animals to feed from. I know that I have been naive - but I didn't know just how much so. I am ashamed! But, better find this out now than after I have goats to feed. I walked into the lecture with a hundred questions, and I walked out with ten thousand questions. Now I am trying to learn more about growing quality grasses, the best time to grow, and how to best maintain the pasture.
I don't have to pasture them, but I would like to if I am able. True, I only have about an acre and a half on which to put them - so it would be limited. But, better some than none, I think. I think that it would be quite an accomplishment for me to grow a nice pasture that I can use to sustain my goats on - if only in part.

Wheeeee!

I'm still a bit unsure about this machine, but am determined to master it.

Figuring out the Garden Tractor

I am taking a spin on the tractor to try to get comfy with it. I've never ridden on one of these things. First I drive around without using the blades. Driving in the different gears; going forward and in reverse. It was fun, but I still need some more practice. I cut some of the pasture and some of our yard. I want to get a cart to attach to the rear so we can haul things around the grounds. Like plants or branches, or garbage or gardening equipment. Fun!