michickenwrangler
Loving the herd life
OK, been going through a rough patch lately. Lost my husband to a heart attack last year. Began dating last summer, found a wonderful man and he and I have decided to start a life together. Well, last winter I found out I was pregnant. The pregnancy was difficult, I was sick most of the time. Then at the end of March, I miscarried. Been going through lots of stress and emotional turmoil. Then found out I'm losing my job. I'm short-handing now because that's not what THIS thread is about (plenty on BYC already).
So ... DBF and I decided to start a fiber farm. We already have chickens and horses and a dog, he's really into alternative energy and put together a wind turbine and built solar panels to reduce our electric.
I bought 4 Angora goats yesterday and we'll be bringing them home next Sunday. In the meantime, the adventures of getting property ready for the goats. We have an old woodshed we're converting to a goat barn. I've bought cattle panels, a "kennel gate" and I'm going to get hay tomorrow. DBF got a trailer load of pallets from the shop where he works as well as a truckload of 1 x 6 lumber. He's out working on the roof of the shed now as I type. So, gotta pick up hay tomorrow. Need to stop at TSC for goat grain, mineral block and holder as well as some other odds and ends.
Getting 3 wethers and a doe, all already shorn, all white all about 4-5 yrs old. Not the best age for prime fleece, but a nice start to the herd. They're friendly but not tame. I've been playing around on a small loom, learning how to weave. My daughter and DBF's daughter love it because they now have an estimable collection of hand-woven bracelets and belts.
I used to own LaManchas and used them for milk. I get my milk now from a cowshare in an organic dairy herd. But I do have experience with goats. DD is also in the 4-H goat club and the 4-H leaders are thrilled that we're getting fiber goats. There are 2 goat clubs in the county, one for "pet goats" and the other for "working goats". We're part of the working goat club: goats with a purpose, meat, milk or mohair.
So begins the adventures here at White Cedar Farm ...
So ... DBF and I decided to start a fiber farm. We already have chickens and horses and a dog, he's really into alternative energy and put together a wind turbine and built solar panels to reduce our electric.
I bought 4 Angora goats yesterday and we'll be bringing them home next Sunday. In the meantime, the adventures of getting property ready for the goats. We have an old woodshed we're converting to a goat barn. I've bought cattle panels, a "kennel gate" and I'm going to get hay tomorrow. DBF got a trailer load of pallets from the shop where he works as well as a truckload of 1 x 6 lumber. He's out working on the roof of the shed now as I type. So, gotta pick up hay tomorrow. Need to stop at TSC for goat grain, mineral block and holder as well as some other odds and ends.
Getting 3 wethers and a doe, all already shorn, all white all about 4-5 yrs old. Not the best age for prime fleece, but a nice start to the herd. They're friendly but not tame. I've been playing around on a small loom, learning how to weave. My daughter and DBF's daughter love it because they now have an estimable collection of hand-woven bracelets and belts.
I used to own LaManchas and used them for milk. I get my milk now from a cowshare in an organic dairy herd. But I do have experience with goats. DD is also in the 4-H goat club and the 4-H leaders are thrilled that we're getting fiber goats. There are 2 goat clubs in the county, one for "pet goats" and the other for "working goats". We're part of the working goat club: goats with a purpose, meat, milk or mohair.
So begins the adventures here at White Cedar Farm ...