Animals and Chores

Life has felt pretty crazy in the past few months. Jeremy and I jumped into cows and meat chickens, but then our goats turned into a whole lot of extra work and money. Now everyone seems to be healthy and slowing down. We don't have meat chickens anymore (they're all in the freezer). We don't have any bottle babies anymore. So chore time takes about 10 minutes now and the boys can do it by themselves.

Black Mastitis

So I'm trying to figure out what happened. We were going along just fine. Gideon was able to take care of the animals and everyone was good, healthy, and we didn't have any problems. I think we were a bit complacent.

Stalling

Or, alternately called, The New Birthing Suites!

Moving Animals

I kind of figured moving the goats over was going to be interesting. They did fine, but it was a little difficult getting the goats into the truck. And then, of course, they also didn't want to get out of the truck either. Goats.

Goatlings on the Farm

I love having goatlings, they are absolutely the best! They are so cute and sweet, and they frolick everywhere they go.

Failings

Well, we've had some unexpected developments around our homestead.

The goats dried up.

Wanna meet our goats?

Hey! I figured out how to record video on my camera, so I decided to show y'all the babies. They are getting so big now! (Mostly because they are greedy and try to take all of our milk!)

Milk-Maiding

Every morning, I get up, gather my supplies, change into my dirty jeans and ratty shirt, and head outside. Sometimes I take Gideon, if Jeremy isn't here, or Eowyn if Jeremy is here.

So....Raw Milk

You know how I was worried about drinking raw goat milk?

Milking Prep

I am getting quite uncomfortable. I'm getting a little nervous. Ok, I am freaking out. OH MY GOODNESS. I'm going to start milking a couple of goats in the very near future.

Our Second Kidding!

This one was easier and harder than Sissy's. When the vet came back out to check the goats' TB tests, we opened up the barn to find Pippy on the floor with a very swollen hind end. We both said, "oh, she's about to kid!" This was on Thursday.

The New Nubians

Sissy's boy, and also the only buckling. He was the first born too. The kids love him, he's a sweetie. They call him Gregor.

Our First Kidding

Is it normal to feel so raw and ragged after a goat kidding? I am exhausted, elated, and worn thin. I feel as if I've been through all the emotions of labor and delivery, but without the expected rest afterward, or the baby to sit around and nurse.

Putting Down a Floor & Moving Goats in

It's funny how fast and busy those weeks off are, isn't it? Jeremy took a week of vacation time to get some homestead work done because we were getting behind. He's working his regular full-time job, and working at Spring Lake Family Farms a lot to get that business up and running. It's going so well, but the homestead work was getting pushed to the wayside. And we needed to play catch up because we have babies coming!

Milk Fever & Mistakes

I noticed the goats' milk sacks had filled up about 2 and half weeks ago, and I also noticed that Sissy had diarrhea, but thought it would resolve itself. Since I know how irregular I am when pregnant. But then one day I went out to feed them, and Sissy was down. And she didn't get up to eat the food I brought out. I knew something was wrong then. Goats eat when there is food. So I started calling for help.

A Hay Feeder that Jeremy Built

Jeremy's been building again. This time... I'm not going to say it's ugly, but it is pretty funny looking. He wanted to build a quick hay feeder for the goats since we were getting the billy that week. His agenda was to build something the goats could not knock over. And, well, they can't knock this thing over!

Goat Ed.

Honestly y'all, I'm still trying to process what all happened today. And I'm trying to figure out how to tell about it. It was awful, terrifying, horrifying, and soooo embarrassing all at the same time.

We got the billy today.

Around the Farm ~ Spring

I took a week off after Easter. I wish I could say I did something huge, but I didn't. I just rested. Read a book. And slept quite a bit. So, I figured I'd start back with a little up-date with the happenings around the farm yard! (And by the way, doesn't our front yard look like the perfect place for a milk cow? We'll have goat milk, I know, but...BUTTER. Not anytime soon, one day, I'd really like to make some of my own butter.)

A Goat Milking Stand that Jeremy Built

When Jeremy clipped the goats' hooves by straddling said goats and bending over said goats' back-end, he decided it was time to build a milking stand.

I'm not really sure why.

How to Deal with an Introvert Goat

Poor Pippy. She's an introvert goat.