New member

[fluffycreatures]

Hi I am a new member. Have belonged to backyard chickens and found this sister appropriate site. I truly have a "backyard herd"! I only have a small acreage but have access to neighbor's pasture for the sheep and goats

I have raised angora rabbits for 25+ years with a retirement goal of a fiber farm. 3 years ago I got colored angora goats and Babydoll sheep imported from US. I also got a female llama and a male suri llama for guards and added a couple of white angora goats I got locally. I tried cashmere goats but they were too big for me to handle and bullied the other animals so didn't keep them. Last year I had my first offspring, lovely ewe lambs so lucked out on that but no colored angora goats! Seems I didn't get the genetics right for color so maybe next generation. There was a new cria llama in the fall. We had a bad winter and so only had one offspring this spring another white angora doeling. This year I added a female alpaca and her cria and some muscovy duclings and silkie chickens. In spring I raise butterflies for school kits and a few releases.

I am a fiber artist so have been adding value to the fiber I harvest to make finished products. Have slowed down production though while I have been learning about the care of the larger animals.

My favorite thing is to look out the window and see everyone grazing or lalling about chewing their cud. It has been a very hot summer and hope we get some cooler weather so I can get back into production. But I sure have been enjoying everyone especially the new chickens, this summer. I find there is constant problem solving to this enterprise. Seems to have been one thing after another especially when I first got them. The newest issue is to try and keep the chickens fed without everyone else eating their food. Otherwise everyone gets along. THe cutest thing to watch is the way the llama is enamoured with the new chickens. Oh yes I have some orange cats (my favorite) to catch the mice and maltese dogs that I used to raise and are getting on now so just pets. Well they are all pets. Hard to be a "farmer" with a backyard full of fiber "pets" lol!
Looking forward to the discussions on this forum.

I live in Canada in the middle of the prairies near Lake Winnipeg.

Blessings to all .
Dianne
Creature Comforts Cottage
(they wouldn't let me post the url but you can just google it if you want to visit the creatures and see the comforts)

 

[Julie_A]

from Southwest Alabama!

 

[BetterHensandGardens]

from Ohio!

 

[elevan]

 

[kstaven]

Welcome from BC.

 

[Ms. Research]

Welcome from New Jersey. I think your retirement plan is very interesting. I envy and commend anyone who works with fiber and makes beautiful things. I used to cross stitch years ago which was a very relaxing hobby. I've been planning to be a future farmer as well and have researched Baby Doll sheep as well. I love their faces. I commend you also on the Angora rabbits. It takes a lot of dedication as a breeder to bring out the best in their fur. I look forward to visiting your website and also reading your posts.

FWIW, I respect you as a farmer as well. Clothes are a necessity and a comfort.

 

[fluffycreatures]

Thanks to everyone for the welcome. And to most recent post from BC I hope you enjoy your visit to my website. And you best that is why God made animals! Babydoll are a neat little sheep but kind of rare in Canada. Where in BC are you?
Dianne

 

[kstaven]

We are just outside Christina lake along the U.S. border. 45 minutes west of Castlegar.

BTW: I added your website link for you.

Kurtis

 

[fluffycreatures]

Thanks for adding the website URL Kurtis. Don't know how you did that but thanks!

I visited your website too. VERY Interesting discussion and option to selling on the raw milk. BTW does Geta give chocolate milk?? lol! I would love a mini Jersey. Are yours mini or regular jerseys? That is great that you found a way to share the raw milk.

I'm going to send my friend to your website. Wish we had something like that locally.

I have been thinking of doing something like a fiber herdshare. But I think it is too complicated to put into effect. At least at this point. Right now the butterflies support the rest of the crew. The others need so much more infrastructure and cost a lot more with less return. I am pretty pokey with making the fiber farm more profitable as I am doing it slowly on a shoesting. I have most of the equipment but am still missing a good carder.
THe bunnies also help with the return because I have had them dfor so long but the others have not yet realized much. Since I don't produce feed & hay myself, I have to buy the hay & feed and rent the pasture so it adds up. And hay seems to cost more than the animals. We also have a long cold winter here so more feed needed than in warmer climates.

You live in a lovely area. BC is a great place to farm. Mind you the climate here produces a great harvest of fiber and there is a good market for winter products . Just need to work harder and faster. .. Ha Ha!

Dianne

 

[kstaven]

I'll take the weather here over the Alberta winter I had to deal with previously. Very unique micro climate in this valley. We are outside enjoying dinner and green grass when everything around this valley is knee deep in snow.

We don't have mini jerseys. Too many issues to deal with.

Hay is extremely expensive here compared to what it is on the prairies.

No chocolate milk from that girl. Not to often you see a black jersey though.

If you ever want some help setting up share structures for anything let me know.