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That looks so pretty!

I keep about twenty dairy cows. Not a huge herd, but more than enough to keep me busy. Most of the year they’re out grazing. I split the pasture into a few sections and rotate them so the grass has a chance to grow back. In winter, when grass is short, I feed hay and silage, and throw in some...

That sounds terrible, I’m really sorry to hear that. I hope your son is doing better now, and how is he these days?

Welcome, Amy! Glad you’re here.

I just use a 16% goat grain and good hay. Bit of alfalfa for the does. Loose minerals always out. Works fine here in the cold.

Two goats on an acre should be alright if you manage it a bit. They do like weeds and brush more than grass, but if they stay in one spot too long, they’ll eat everything down, grass included. Rotating them or giving the pasture breaks helps a lot. Throwing in some hay now and then also keeps...

Same setup here. I leave grass hay out all the time, and give a bit of alfalfa to the pregnant doe. Grain at about 2 percent of body weight works well so far. I also keep loose goat minerals out, with copper and selenium. Salt blocks don’t really cover it. You’re doing fine. Just watch body...

I use a small cat harness on mine. Adjustable ones work best as they grow. Just let them get used to it in the yard first.:weee

They’re fun to have but they get big fast. Even a Highland will eat a lot more than you expect, so make sure you’ve got plenty of space and hay. Holsteins especially can be hard to keep as “pets” since they’re really bred for production. Also think about fencing, vet care, and how you’ll...

Good hay’s usually green, leafy, and has a nice fresh smell. If it’s bleached or dusty, it’s probably older or not stored great, so I wouldn’t feed a ton of it. “Horse quality” just means it’s clean and not full of weeds, sheep do fine on it. Cheap hay can be tempting, but I’d rather pay a bit...

Yeah, I’ve crushed eggshells for the hens before and they eat them right up. Cheap way to get a bit more calcium back into them. I wouldn’t overthink it—just dry them out, crush them good, and mix in with the feed. Works fine.

I’ve thought about the same thing. Bulk does save money, but I never found one mix that worked well for every animal. Goats and rabbits both need their own feed. Chickens will usually do fine picking through goat feed, and pigs aren’t that picky either, but it’s not ideal long term. What I...

Yeah, a few things can hurt goats. Azaleas, rhododendrons, yew, wilted cherry leaves, nightshade… those are the main ones. Most goats won’t touch them, but if I see them in the pasture I just fence or pull them to be safe.

Sweet gum leaves in small amounts are usually fine, but I would be careful with daisies and other weeds since some can be toxic. Goats will try almost anything, so it is good you are checking. If you are not sure about a plant, it is safer to fence it off or have it identified before letting...

For us, sturdy fencing and locking animals up at night have been the biggest help. A livestock guardian dog has also made a real difference, especially with stray dogs and foxes. I know some people use donkeys or even llamas with good results too. In the end, it depends on what you’re dealing...

You’ll want to keep it pretty simple for 7-month-old Babydolls since they’re future breeders, not market lambs. A good quality orchard grass or orchard/fescue mix works well and keeps protein moderate. If you go with orchard/alfalfa, make sure it’s not too rich. maybe mix it in gradually or feed...