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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2014 14:44:07 GMT -5
Anyone partiularily like goats (and sheep?) Thanks to Wally's references, we now have a couple of whether goats, now helping with brush and blackberry over growth during my recovery from those last three surgeries (with one left to go.) We plan for a small Nigerian Dwarf dairy goat herd, and some sheep (I prefer the goats, however like sheep as well,) when we get properly fenced, seemingly an impossible task for someone crippled. However so does restoring this old house, and yet we proceed!)
Managed to repair and replace kitchen sink, and repair a destroyed waste water drain in the daylight basement wall. Electrical system needs work, then refinishing kitchen cabinets, counter, floor, ceiling and finish building the pantry. Then on to the main bathroom. So much pain, so little funds -- one must do everything by themselves, painfully, slowly and patiently.
And life goes on...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2014 19:05:48 GMT -5
glad to hear it dennis i would love to have goats they are hardy little fellows, but alas i am in the city and just don't have a big enough yard for them...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2014 23:26:59 GMT -5
Well, Wally, it seems as if it is just you and I are interested in commenting on these or any goats! One of these two, is a cream colored Saanens and Angora cross, the other typical multicolored French Alpine. In the three weeks since we got the goats, they have eaten an unbelievable amount of brush and weeds. Just now they favor maple leaves, and we are overgrown with maple volunteer starts. Both goats now weigh about 75 lbs each and they sell now for $2.00 per pound live weight, meaning they are worth more now than when we bought them.
Many immigrants prefer goat over any other meat source, driving their value up. Our next goat investment will be a pregnant doe, if we can manage it. In the meantime i have all i can handle restoring "this old house."
Thanks for your comment, Wally. Some find they can even keep dwarf or pygmy goats in their city back yards. While the pygmies are indeed smaller, the Nigerian Dwarf dairy goat gives much more milk (naturally homogenized, too!) and that's the news from "down on the farm." Oh yes, today the VA took molds of my ears so that I do not have to live in as much silence with tinitis any longer. Guess the LASIX drug to help with swollen feet and ankles compounds that problem. At least my legs and feet are no longer seeping out fluid. Getting old, ugh! Ain't for sissies! Bye now!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2014 12:25:58 GMT -5
what i found so hard to find was a person that would sell thier goats for meat most would only sell if your using them as brush goats or pack animals...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2014 14:17:06 GMT -5
what i found so hard to find was a person that would sell thier goats for meat most would only sell if your using them as brush goats or pack animals... Well, like it or not, the most common meat eaten over the entire world is goat meat. The Boors breed has been imported for the simple reason of using them to increase the meatiness of the offspring. Interesting study. Smile, from Nigerian Dwarf dairy goat to the large meaty Boor goat, South African Pygmy to add to the interest.
When our daughter proved lactose intolerant we found she could handle goat milk. For us the economics of raising, milking and caring for goats, made sense, so we began, even found it profitable until a neighbor's pack of dogs killed off our registered herd one night. Even a small herd can defend itself against coyotes but not against wolves or dogs. We lost 18 that night, out of 24, with the remaing 6 badly wounded. Right before the Mount St. Helen's major eruption.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2014 11:49:02 GMT -5
(Singing)"high on a hill lives a lowly goatherd... " smile... Just about have them tamed enough to take them off tether when outside with them. Problem is nearby are rhodies and azaleas both of which are toxic for goats. I have a number of chores to attempt this Labor Day holiday while Katie has driven 60 miles to the south to be with both her daughters, who live there, for a "girls" day. So, might just be "High on a hill lives a lonely goatherd," for today. Tomorrow will bring another trip to the VA clinic for more medical care.
Wishing all well...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2014 22:10:05 GMT -5
The goats are taming well, very well in fact. Warm day, I laid down in the grass for a short nap. Soon had a goat lying next to me on either side, one even resting his head on me, so I seem to get along fine with animals. Kinda fun, and can they ever eat! Well, back to work.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 12:09:07 GMT -5
you should upload a picture of them or a picture of the yard they are grooming...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2014 22:38:22 GMT -5
Okay, Wally, we'll have to see about that. Goats and dogs safely penned in tonight. Pack of coyotes raising a ruckus and community dogs are joining into the cacophony! Goats tamer than ever today, came and laid down at my feet to chew their cuds as I sat for a few moments to rest. Neat little "beasts." They can sure go through the maple leaves, nettles, thistles, and black berry vines. Keeps me busy just pruning up the leftovers. They've devoured about 3000 square feet since we got them! And they do a great and neat job of fertilizing, too! Put bells on them this week, pitched a little different from each other so we can tell them apart by sound.
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Post by curlywurlysammagee on Sept 22, 2014 0:42:56 GMT -5
Hi Dennis, I see you mentioned blackberries, they make wonderful jam and are yum eaten fresh. Maybe save some bushes or train them on an espalier system safe from the goats.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2014 22:35:34 GMT -5
Hi Dennis, I see you mentioned blackberries, they make wonderful jam and are yum eaten fresh. Maybe save some bushes or train them on an espalier system safe from the goats. Agreed, blackberries make good pies, fresh, canned and frozen eating as well as wine. However in this country they grow wild, three varieties of 'em, and acre upon acre is a bit much! Hence the goats.
Plus we are getting ready for a small herd of Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats once fencing is in place. We have the little barn for alfalfa and hay storage and our little goat milking parlor and loafing shed.
We make our own salami, have a small stainless surge milking machine, small home 2 gallon pasteurizer, cream separator (goat milk comes naturally homogenized) and cheese presses for our own and family's consumption. I have kept my eyes open for such things in the past, and saved them through the years. Don't have much cash, but plenty of knowledge about self reliance on an acreage. Been a "Mother Earth News" subscriber back in my earlier years.
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Post by curlywurlysammagee on Sept 24, 2014 0:06:27 GMT -5
That sounds like paradise. Self sufficiency is an admirable goal and in many aspects can be achieved.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2014 15:20:13 GMT -5
The tamed goats are in their fenced paddock with loafing shed shelter as of last night. I am in the VA Hosp. As of this AM. Fell last week, think it is only bursitis of the hip, however only the X-rays just taken will tell. Asked to see the X-rays, they showed me, even I could see the extensive osteoarthritis so many of you also suffer from, ain't life grand?
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Post by dmmichgood on Sept 30, 2014 15:40:12 GMT -5
That sounds like paradise. Self sufficiency is an admirable goal and in many aspects can be achieved. Ahh, paradise! Until, until you realize all the work involved.
Like the farm work when I was growing up. The kind of "from dawn to dark" kind of work.
There is a reason that the "hippy" communes of the 60's quietly disappeared.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2014 0:58:55 GMT -5
Awww, if an old rebuilt cripple like me can do it, younger people who arn't afraid of a little work can do it. I used to be able to do it and work 50 hours a week away from the place plus driving time and volunteer work. True not so able any more as these evil days draw nigh which a writer of old forewarned about...
BTW, I was right, just bursitis in my right hip joint and extensive osteoarthritis in both hips. Home tonight may have to go get a cortisone shot if it don't heal up on its own with some hip TLC.
No, not talking about hippies afraid of a little hard work! Nice now though to have mechanical advantages, medications and especially some new pain killers! Besides, after every trip to the VA facility, I come home thankful I'm not as bad off as many others, despite being unable for much nowadays! My tiny 2.5 lb "nose" keeps me warned of pending bouts of hypoglycemic danger--he made quite a stir when I was in intensive care last year demanding people come help me and I was unconscious because my blood sugar levels had fallen to 28. The next day a whole "herd" of senior M.D.s and surgeons gathered around my bed not to check on my recovery but to see the little miracle dog and find out more about him. He grew pretty popular on the ward, neat little "Tyke."
The other night he had to wake up Katie again as he could not wake me up, and we believe it is just one more of his life saving episodes. Once when I first went down to visit Katie, and was sleeping in a guest room, he could not wake me, hopped down off the bed, went to Katie's bedroom door and barked up a storm in the middle of the night and brought her to me. She had to force grape sugar and honey into my mouth before I came around. Amazing. Needless to say he is my "buddy" and spends as much time with me as he can, and enjoys a well documented status as a service dog, with VA ID & M.D. certification and "passport." Quite popular on the Airlines, too, makes many more friends than I do!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2014 15:49:22 GMT -5
Just a quick update for those interested. Severe bursitis in right hip worsening. Not getting about much, more treatment required (sigh.)
Ever hear what was put on the hypochondriac's gravestone? "I told you I was sick!".
Got three more goats, two Nigerian dwarf dairy goat doelings and one buckling. Working to tame them all. Cute little rascals. Should have a number of kids by this time next year.
Working on "preparedness" for disasters, too. Canning and such like.
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Post by snow on Oct 23, 2014 16:32:00 GMT -5
Dennis, I have been enjoying reading this thread. I love goats. Had some on the farm when I was growing up. The first time I helped in a birthing all by myself was a nanny and she had three little ones. She never liked one of her kids, I guess she must have caused her more grief in birth. Always had to make sure she would let her nurse etc. I would definitely have some goats if I still lived on an acreage. That and those miniature horses. Oh, and border collies. However, think those days are over for me and I have to make do with a cat and a dog. All the best to you and Kate and hope that hip behaves itself soon. Hard to work through pain and frustrating when you can't get done what needs doing.
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Post by Mary on Oct 23, 2014 18:39:02 GMT -5
Still having kids aye, Dennis. Hadn't thought about it before but guess that is where the word kids for children comes from - behaving like goats.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2014 21:04:11 GMT -5
Just a quick update for those interested. Severe bursitis in right hip worsening. Not getting about much, more treatment required (sigh.)
Ever hear what was put on the hypochondriac's gravestone? "I told you I was sick!".
Got three more goats, two Nigerian dwarf dairy goat doelings and one buckling. Working to tame them all. Cute little rascals. Should have a number of kids by this time next year.
Working on "preparedness" for disasters, too. Canning and such like. i am slowly working on preps too...never can tell when you might need them....
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Post by curlywurlysammagee on Oct 24, 2014 1:12:04 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about the hip problem and glad you are still out there doing things despite it. Being prepared for natural disasters is a great idea. Down here in NZ a lot of people got caught short in Christchurch earthquakes. Mainly because of " It won't happen to us" A rain barrell(s) is a good idea as well as lots of dried food such as flour, sugar, tea, coffee and porridge. And the means to cook when there is no electricity. Kia kaha
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2014 17:31:54 GMT -5
thanks for the comments, friends. Thought maybe this was kinda just like sending out into cyberspace! Yes, we have rain cisterns rigged diesel and gas motors for power generation, loads of firewood, food stuffs alternative cooking means. We are trying to prepare for an extended "down" period in our life. I have been canning meats as well. Might get tired of it if more than 30 days, but we will be prepared.
We really do like these goats. The little ones have found out how to get into the feeder and away from the restraints of the bigger goats. We can go out now and pick them up, curry them which they seem to really enjoy, and hand feed them the old bread we get for them, along with a very small amount of grain. The little Nigerian dwarf dairy goats are really tiny, and appear to favor being held over just being left alone.
Am to get a steroid shot in my hip at the VA Hosp soon. Med staff really believes it will help and i think i need it too--cannot get about much at all. Glad Katie loves animals as much as I do. We both often wear bib overalls, however at last Monday's stand down where we both volunteered to serve, she as one of the clothes giver-outers, and I as one of the registration hosts, Katie found a camo set of rain pants, and matching jacket that fit her perfectly. She is really cute in it.
Wish others lived nearby. All for now.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2014 12:04:45 GMT -5
Some have expressed comment. Yes, we had a small tornado touch down 12 miles south of us doing a fair amount of damage where it did. Then that storm cell passed almost right over us. We had some heavy winds, which took down a fairly large alder tree, so once bucked up, it will produce more firewood. Otherwise no damage. Thanks for the concern...smile!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2014 22:15:37 GMT -5
the size of our dog pack has just doubled! We have four new puppies weighing about 2-3 ounces each, two male, two female. Only one of the little females appears unlikely to survive. We are doing all we can to save her. She is the smallest and weakest of the litter and the last one to be born. It appears there is one longcoat chihuahua among them, a completely silver grey male. None are any larger than my thumb at its joint to my hand. Tyke weighs 2 lbs and about 12 oz, Dolly, the mother weighs about 3 lbs and 14 oz, Sophie, their last female pup weighs only slightly less than her dam now that she is full grown. They are pretty popular wherever we take them, and lots of fun! Sire is a smooth coat, dam is a long coat.
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Post by snow on Oct 28, 2014 14:28:28 GMT -5
the size of our dog pack has just doubled! We have four new puppies weighing about 2-3 ounces each, two male, two female. Only one of the little females appears unlikely to survive. We are doing all we can to save her. She is the smallest and weakest of the litter and the last one to be born. It appears there is one longcoat chihuahua among them, a completely silver grey male. None are any larger than my thumb at its joint to my hand. Tyke weighs 2 lbs and about 12 oz, Dolly, the mother weighs about 3 lbs and 14 oz, Sophie, their last female pup weighs only slightly less than her dam now that she is full grown. They are pretty popular wherever we take them, and lots of fun! Sire is a smooth coat, dam is a long coat. Aww babies! Sure hope they all make it.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2014 20:49:56 GMT -5
The runt of the litter just died.
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Post by snow on Oct 28, 2014 21:35:18 GMT -5
The runt of the litter just died. That's too bad. Maybe too much wrong and it was best? I always hated losing a puppy when I bred dogs.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2015 23:25:09 GMT -5
Have now sold two of the last litter, and meet tomorrow with a younger couple (she is totally disabled) to begin teaching her how to train service dogs. They are enthused about meeting with us at worship service tomorrow AM and then taking us out to dinner at our favorite Thai restaurant afterwards.
For those interested the double injections into my right hip have made it bearable, however already beginning to wear off, they plan to repeat it in mid Feb. saying each successive treatment ought to bring longer relief, and at least I am able to hobble around, some anyway. Working on this acreage and home is tedious, the end should make it all worth the agony. As each chore gets done we move to the next, knowing we do each one as well as we possibly can do them. Thinking of each kind one with much appreciation.
Someone slaughtered a young beef, and we were given parts others discard, and very thankful to get them--and for a food packager and small freezer!
Working to finish living room repairs, then moving on to the toilet and bath next week.
Come spring we plan to plant a straw bale garden for the first time. Anyone ever done that? Grin, will listen to any comments and advice.
FYI, headed for more repair surgery shortly. Wishing peace to all,
Dennis J.
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Post by Mary on Jan 25, 2015 0:20:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the update. Guess my thought is that the house and land seems a lot with you saying it is tedious. Any thought of selling it and moving to someone smaller?
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