C&D Farming..oh what a life!

[Jesusfreak101]

not only funny but totally true. My humans kids let the goat kids out while i was milking i kept having to guard the teats and push the off the stand the brats kept trying to steal my milk or is it the reverse mmm lol

 

[farmerjan]

Why don't you use a simple wormer like piperzine for the pigs and put it in some milk for them? I have never given wormer shots to pigs in all the years I had them. You can also use Ivomec pour on for the pigs which will take care of both worming and any lice that they might get. It takes care of most worms. And the lice will seem to appear out of thin air..... didn't have any for probably a year or more then all of a sudden had 3 brood sows with lice and I had to be careful of what I used due to them being pregnant. Also, chasing any around that might be pregnant, could cause them to abort if they get really upset..... and you have to be careful of what you use. Did you see worms in their manure or anything that made you think they had worms? We ran the brood sows on pasture and I seldom wormed anyway.

The kids need to not see their mommas again if you want the weaning to go well. They are done, and both need to n ot be able to get to the other.

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

My only thought on the milk stand can you house the kids in the goat pen and the mama's in the barn?

i think the kids ...might be able to fit through the cattle panel squares? I could try that tomorrow and see? I don5 want to do it tonight...have to make cheese and ge5 to bed early, so I don’t need to be chasing goat kids...

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Lol do you have another panel of so tie it to the first just off set it so it cuts the squares in half and tuh tad instant kid proof lol don't ask how I know that.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

I am kinda of jealous of your cheese making lol my giant goat is just producing enough for the humans and goats to drink all together nothing extra. But there are five of us who drink it might be part of the issue.

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

@farmerjan ...I was told by the V’s on here, that when a pig scratches hair off, it’s due to worms....they said it’s the only reason they would ever ever do that? No, I did not see any worms. But, shortly after getting new pigs, all my pigs started scratching like crazy. The people we bought the pigs from told us to give shots...so, that what we did....I looked it up, and it said what we used was saf3 for pregnant mini pigs. But, I think, now that you said this...I like your way of deworming better!! We have to give iron shots to piglets, but I think the piglets will be easier? Not so crazy? Ok, cutting piglet teeth...did you do that? We have to since these are mini pigs...any advice?

As for the goat kids. They can’t see the moms?? How can I make that possible? It’s finally nice outside...so, I have to lock these kids inside? How long does this horrible process take? I was sooooo rattled this morning....9 goats bawling. I tried to play with the kids. They all wanted me to just hold them at once. Sugar just climbs on my head like crazy. The moms pile drive through the goat gate and take off for the barn. I took the kids on walks, to try to distract them. Willy and Roxy did great...they love a walk. Walter threw himself on the ground like he was dying. He’s very dramatic. What a clown. The twins did ok, but I was so spent by their turns that I just gave up. I spent four hours with the goats this morning. Going back out as soon as I finish typing, because milking takes forever, because the new Milker is still not here, and I’m getting a ton of milk.
I suppose we could move the milk stand to the other side of the barn, by the mini pigs. But, the goats will still be able to see each other...about 100 yards away unless everybody is locked up tight?

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

Ok, we moved the goat stand into the goat pen, with the moms. I suppose I’m going to just keep the kids closed up in the barn, even though it’s nice weather...ugh. I don’t think they really ate anything today. I put out the dewormer pellets...I really need them to eat them before they go stale! The feeders didn’t look like they ate much.The moms weren’t very interested in feed when I was out there, but perhaps they will gobble it down tonight...after the kids stop bawling. Chris gets verrrry frustratEd with milking because Busty always fusses and tips the bowl....it’s covered with a diaper, but you lose some. He said it’s a waste of time. So, we’re going through the process....we think, to sell the cheese. I got all the info, and filled out the internet forms, just didn’t hit send. Chris wants to know...how much...in a Rinky dink town can you charge for goat cheese? Our farmer friend said you can get $14-$16 per lb in Ohio....well...no one here would pay anywhere near that price for cheese. We wouldn’t, and we know how much effort goes into it!! So, how much is reasonable? A friend wants to buy some tomorrow.....if she likes it...she wants us to fill out the forms and then she’ll sell it in her store. We haven’t made it yet. I’ve asked her what kind she wanted..,she said just try the farmer cheese, whatever we think tastes good?? Huh?? We’re hesitant to do anything with it, we don’t know what to charge, don’t know what to make...and she’s supppper laid back...so, every time I ask her a question, she just says...whatever... Ok, here’s where I’m asking...no, begging you all for advice?? . @rachels.haven , @B&B Happy goats , @Jesusfreak101 , @Mini Horses .....anyone??

 

[farmerjan]

When a pig would scratch hair off here the first thing I would look for is lice. If you didn't have any problems until you brought others in then that would be my first go to. Kinda funny that all yours started scratching after you got new ones. No we never cut the teeth on the piglets. The needle teeth are sharp, but if the sow has enough teats, and the pigs seem to be satisfied after nursing, they seldom get into fights over the teats. I don't know about these mini-pigs. I just know about our standard size large sows. I strove for litters of 12 pigs. Anything under 8 they got a 2nd chance. If the second litter was not more than 8 or if they didn't raise them, they were sent to butcher and that was it. Seldom had litters over 14. I always counted the number of teats on a gilt before I bred her. She had to have a minimum of 12. NO EXCEPTIONS. That way if she had 12 piglets, they all got a "faucet". Most of mine had 14 - 16 teats.
Also counted the teats on a boar..... minimum of 12 also. It is a heritable trait.
I also always tried to have at least 2 due at the same time so that if one should have too many piglets, or one had any problems with an udder, I could switch some piglets around so they could get a good start. Once they were up and going, the sows would lay down and do their little grunts and there could be a mix mash of pigs on them. Usually I had 3-4 due within a few days of each other so that you could do switching if needed. I never worried about them after the first few days.
I also would not keep a sow that did not take care of her piglets. If she was not careful, and laid on them, paid no attention if they were screaming as she laid down, things like that, she went. I was not there to be a babysitter. I had some boards around the inside walls of the huts they farrowed in, just in case. But I could tell after the first litter if they were going to be careful mothers, and if not, gone. Their job was to raise their pigs. I never used farrowing crates because mine were out on pasture/dirt.
No we also did not regularly give iron because they were out on dirt. If they are housed inside then iron is usually necessary.
AGAIN, I am NOT an expert on mini-pigs or pot bellys or anything like that. We raised Hampshires, Durocs, crosses of them and Berkshires. Had a few Chester Whites but I did not like the ones I had and they were too "needy". Had some red wattles and really liked them and they were very good on pasture.

Others will be better to ask about the goats. I just know that when we wean calves, and lambs, they go into pastures/fields/pens/lots where they have no visuals of the dams, and they hollar for about a week and they get over it. But we don't take them off much before 3 months on the sheep, and the calves are 5-8 months old. The sheep we have to pull the ram lambs because they get sexually active. The lambs are eating good and we don't milk our sheep either. So they dry up and get bred back. The ewe lambs we will leave for 3-6 months unless we put the ram in.

 

[B&B Happy goats]

Ok, we moved the goat stand into the goat pen, with the moms. I suppose I’m going to just keep the kids closed up in the barn, even though it’s nice weather...ugh. I don’t think they really ate anything today. I put out the dewormer pellets...I really need them to eat them before they go stale! The feeders didn’t look like they ate much.The moms weren’t very interested in feed when I was out there, but perhaps they will gobble it down tonight...after the kids stop bawling. Chris gets verrrry frustratEd with milking because Busty always fusses and tips the bowl....it’s covered with a diaper, but you lose some. He said it’s a waste of time. So, we’re going through the process....we think, to sell the cheese. I got all the info, and filled out the internet forms, just didn’t hit send. Chris wants to know...how much...in a Rinky dink town can you charge for goat cheese? Our farmer friend said you can get $14-$16 per lb in Ohio....well...no one here would pay anywhere near that price for cheese. We wouldn’t, and we know how much effort goes into it!! So, how much is reasonable? A friend wants to buy some tomorrow.....if she likes it...she wants us to fill out the forms and then she’ll sell it in her store. We haven’t made it yet. I’ve asked her what kind she wanted..,she said just try the farmer cheese, whatever we think tastes good?? Huh?? We’re hesitant to do anything with it, we don’t know what to charge, don’t know what to make...and she’s supppper laid back...so, every time I ask her a question, she just says...whatever... Ok, here’s where I’m asking...no, begging you all for advice?? . @rachels.haven , @B&B Happy goats , @Jesusfreak101 , @Mini Horses .....anyone??

Why torture yourself and your goats ? If you don't drink the milk, let the goats self wean their kids and stop making yourself crazy....you don't have to do anything other than let the doe's take care of their kids and relax ...enjoy your pets , ...let them be kids, sell the ones you want to sell and don't worry about it....you are trying to do too much right now, concentrate on selling your eggs and building your pig business....
I choose to let ours just live as natural as they can with mom, nonthing beats what nature created....

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

Oh, that sounds wonderful!! So, when I give them Walter next week, do you think he’ll be ok since he’s technically not been weened? Will they just know when it’s time to stop nursing? Can I still. Milk a bit to get a bit of milk for our cereal, etc? Oh Barb...your the best!! I want to run out right now and put them all Together, but, I have to get up early, so...they can stay like that for tonight!! Thanks!!