April 2011

Failing Animal Husbandry 101

Dino working on kid's pen

April started off full of prenatal preparations for Cinnamon's up-coming change to 'Cinnamommy'. Dino has been busy at the barn building the kidding pen and milking stand, and I've been researching goat birthing in preparation for the big day.



Feta + Cinnamon doing some quality control

midwifery station



milking stand

There are different schools of thought regarding rearing kids, much the same for humans... We're going for bottle rearing rather than letting the kids suckle. Let me be clear that the kids still receive their own mother's milk - you milk the doe and then feed the kids from a bottle. Clearly this represents WAY more work as you're feeding those kids 3-4 per day, but it should make the weaning process much easier as the purpose of dairy goats on our farm, apart from how cute they are, is to have milk. If you are planning on keeping dairy goats I highly recommend the book 'Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats' by Jerry Belanger as well as http://fiascofarm.com/ which is a fabulous on line resource for all things goaty. Cinnamon's due date was April 17th, so in preparation for my trial by fire midwifery I'd cut my nails and shaved her butt - ya well that's life on the farm. The 17th came and went, and no babies. Another week, then another, and well I guess she really was just FAT and not pregnant!!! I've heard down the valley grape vine that there are several other 'hysterical pregnancies' around for goats and cows so not feeling too bad about it. I just reckon we're extra prepared for next year's breeding season!

The Boys Arrive

As we didn't end up with kids, we offered to 'kid sit' a few of our friend's male kids. The reality of the dairy industry is you generally don't keep the boys - well you keep them, but in the freezer. Regardless of where they will end up it's our job to give  them a good life whatever the length.

the boys arrive

the kids settling in That Potato Wants Out Time to plant those potatoes - the first veggie we get in the ground. I wasn't going to plant Russian Blues this year as I seem to be their only fan, but some of last years were so keen to grow they were sprouting right out of the potato sack they were stored in.  

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