NH Homesteader- turkeys!

[Latestarter]

Babs, you'll be keeping milking records I presume... When the girls get to the point that their production starts dropping off, that's the time to re-home them. The new owner can still get several good years out of them yet. So 1 doe might need to go at 6 years while another might be 7 or even 8. You'll be able to show the new owner the documented production so they'll know that the age number is just that... a number, and the goat is still very healthy and still able to produce.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

That is great about the goats; hope that it works out and that they get a good home. I sold a bunch last year that were just PITAs, happy to see them gone. I just can't decide at what age I want to replace them. If I wait too long then nobody else will want them either but if I sell too soon then I have goats that aren't at their peak in production. I have been struggling with this conundrum for quite a few years.

I would think you keep x amount of doelings back each year. They generally hit max production in their 3rd to 4th freshening.
If you breed at 2 years sell them at 6 years of age. 5 years might be a little better if you want a quick sale. You are keeping them slightly past their prime and still able to sell to smaller, homestead type farms. That is assuming they are bred yearly- after the second year.
This also gives you a better idea on who you want to keep replacements from.

Selling them a little younger would probably be best bet. Not many are looking for an 8 year old milker. Not worth time and $ for most at that age.

 

[babsbag]

@Latestarter, I will be keeping records on each doe once I get milk meters installed, and they aren't cheap. Since the milk goes directly to a bulk tank there is no way to know how much each doe produces without either the meters or hand milking, and that won't happen. As @Goat Whisperer pointed out, knowing which does are the best producer lets me know which kids to keep so it is imperative to keep records.

 

[Latestarter]

Was just thinking there may be the occasional excellent milker through to 7-8 years... though I understand that would not be routine or "normal"... Sorry NHH... didn't mean to hijack your thread...

 

[babsbag]

There may very well be excellent milkers that old, and also a once excellent milker can still produce excellent future milkers for me or for her new owners. I just know that I can't keep them all past their prime. I have a fairly old herd so I need to get a plan in place soon.

 

[NH homesteader]

No not hijacking, I started it! Lol

Our power finally came back on at 3:30. I didn't sleep much before that so I am exhausted. Waiting for the person to get here to see the goats, should be in a half hour or so.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Glad to hear your power is back on! We are in cold temps here for the rest of the week. Hope you find a good home for the goats!

 

[Bruce]

Babs, you'll be keeping milking records I presume... When the girls get to the point that their production starts dropping off, that's the time to re-home them. The new owner can still get several good years out of them yet. So 1 doe might need to go at 6 years while another might be 7 or even 8. You'll be able to show the new owner the documented production so they'll know that the age number is just that... a number, and the goat is still very healthy and still able to produce.

Makes sense to me. Consider the poor laying battery hens. When they slow down, they are out. The big egg factories want those girls pumping out an egg pretty much every day. But when they slow down to 'only' maybe 4 a week (I'm making up the numbers) - bubye! But that kind of production would likely make many a backyard chicken owner happy. Why wouldn't it be the same with @babsbag's goat dairy and a family that doesn't need and can't use more milk than an older girl will put out and would LIKE a pet goat or two even after they stop producing?

 

[NH homesteader]

Well my two goats are gone. And then there were 4. Sad, but the people seemed super nice and they have a son who does most of the goat chores. He has trouble in school and his dad said the animals are calming to him.

So my buckling is temporarily living with the doe I would like him to breed but he's young and immature so I think it'll take a bit. Will be getting a second buck soon.

Oh and I see a lot of people around here selling does in milk. You can charge more for them plus you keep the babies. Beginning homesteaders like this. I bought one last year and learned how to milk without having to jump right in to kidding. Now I'm trying to breed her. I lucked out though, and bought her on her 2nd freshening. They were downsizing for health issues. Score for me!

 

[Mike CHS]

We have met several people that want a doe still in milk (including us). We have a reserve on a beautiful Alpine from a breeder we met at a show last summer. The doe is due to have her kid in about a month but we will get the doe and her kid as well.