I have Lamancha goats and chickens and am interesting in adding pigs. Everything we have read about Guinea Hogs sounds great to us. Also, our neighbors have some and they work well on our type of land. However, I am put off by the amount of inbreeding in every pedigree I look at. I...
We have Lamanchas and are in TN, so the cold isn't a huge issue, but I can't imagine their ears ever getting frostbite. Everything is so close to their head.
Ears on goats look funny to me now - like they have something extra hanging off their heads! It's all what you are used to.
My first...
I don't yet have pigs and am thinking about it. I have goats and chickens and would not have "singles" of either of those; they need their herd/flock. However, I've found a few things saying that single pigs do very well. Do they need a buddy? Or not?
Thanks!
I also thought the doe determined the number of eggs released, so thanks for confirming this.
We had 8 doelings and 7 bucklings. We were heavy on bucklings until the last mama to kid saved us with triplet doelings! :celebrate Also, the buck (sire) was polled and all the mamas are...
I have 5 LM does, all bred by the same buck - who we had visit our farm and run with the does for a month. The does all kidded within 5 days of each other. Every single one had triplets!
Of these does,
1 routinely has triplets - had twins once - so I was not surprised about her
1 has...
The reason I worm right after kidding is that the stress of the birthing gives worms an advantage and worm loads can explode very quickly after kidding. I almost lost a doe last year because I waited until day 2 to worm her. During pregnancy, her worm loads were in the low range. If you don't...
The only things no one has mentioned that I find essential are:
1. Hibiclens or other surgical scrub to clean your hands and arms before going in, if you need to do that.
2. a stiff drink for after :lol:
and just a few more comments-
I love the puppy pads - usually go through about 2-3 per...
Hi - I have 5 LM does. One freshened today (with triplets - yay!) and the other four are due any time now. I have one doe, a 3rd timer, whose udder is very full on one side and barely full at all on the other. In past years, I have had does whose udders get uneven after kidding, and I know to...
Last year I had a doe with triplets who kidded the first kid fine, but then was obviously very uncomfortable, pawing HARD at the ground, at her newborn kid, getting up and down, etc., but no progress. After about 1 1/2 - 2 hours of this, I cleaned up and "went in" to pull kid #2. Once I pulled...
A few things. I recommend buying a hobble (from any goat supply) for a goat who is not used to being milked. They can still move with it on, but it discouages them. If you have the luxury, a (temporary) helper to hold her in place while you figure out how to milk may make it easier. Also...
Welcome SouthernStarDowns! I'm about an hour south of Nashville. I have 3 does and sold all 6 of my babies this year, although 2 are still here for a few more weeks. Although I have already made my breeding plans for this fall, I am curious about your buck. What is his name, and is he...
Okay, thanks.
Having taken castor oil myself to induce labor (it worked! it was gross too!) I just wondered about that part.
GOOD NEWS! Janis seems to have turned the corner today. She is eating grass, drinking (YAY!), walking more comfortably and bossing around her herdmates as usual. Her...
Strangely, she is eating. We're only giving her grass or hay. No grain, no legumes. When the kids nurse, she is burping up cud and chewing.
I'll pick up some scour guard though, thanks. I have probios and vits.
I'm confused about the oil drench. I've read that elsewhere, but I thought you...
Thanks, I did find the DiMethox this morning at our coop, so gave that too. So far, have tries 3 stores (co-op and 2 TSCs) for the antitoxin. None even carry the antitoxin. TSC is supposed to carry the actual vaccine (antitoxoid), but they are out of it.
I don't have banamine, but I'll try...
Okay, my herd queen who is usually healthy as a horse kidded 6 days ago. Today, she had a clumpy poop and within 2 hours, she was down with copious bloody diarrhea. laying down while she pooped - NOT normal. Temp is 104.5. She wouldn't eat or drink anything, so. . .
drenched her with...