This is our first year homeschooling but the plan is to go year round. We only do school work 4 days a week because of my work schedule, so the kids have plenty of down time. We also took all of December off. Besides, summers here in Georgia are too dang hot to be outside so we might as well...
Typically, when my DH or I go hunting we either go early in the morning or layer in the afternoon. The few hours we spend hunting are enjoyable so I count them as entertainment hours. Hours that could have otherwise been spent sleeping or watching tv. Ammo isn't that expensive, less than $30...
If you haven't already, get the book Keeping A Family Cow by Joann something-or-other. I can't remember her last name at the moment, sorry. It has a TON of advice for new cow owners.
I have switched to once a day now that Ariel's production is down a bit. For the past few months I have milked a gallon, let her foster calves have the rest, then separate them. The other day I milked her completely out and only got little over a gallon and a half. So now I milk a gallon in...
Hello from Georgia! I'm along ways from Nebraska, but it will always be home. I grew up in the panhandle and most of my extended family is still there.
I agree with Bee, I would stick with a commercial herd. With a such small herd registered cattle just aren't cost effective. Unless you plan on selling breeding stock you will make more profit with a mixed herd.
If you plan on hand milking, get some of those grip exercise things and start working with them now. Don't just use your whole hand to squeeze the grip things, use two fingers and your thumb, and three fingers and your thumb. I've been milking for 7 months now and my hands STILL start to cramp...
The one I bought is 9 quarts, but there was one smaller and one bigger. I tried to find a picture for you on their website, but couldn't find one like mine.
I used a plastic bucket for awhile, but the lids were too hard to clean. The milk bucket I use I bought at TSC in the pet aisle. :lol: It's stainless steel with no rivets on the inside. I think it coat me around $12. The only problem with it is it doesn't have a lid. I found on old pot lid...
The cows will only be inside for milking, although I suppose it is possible we might have calves in there full-time at some point. I'm thinking of putting a garage door into the butchering room so that we can back the truck into the barn when DH gets a deer to unload it. The doors at top of...
This is what I have so far. Suggestions? Critiques?
Edited to update picture
Edited again to point out that my math stinks. Pretend those little stalls are 3'x5'
We are in the process of building a barn. It is a 30'x30'pole barn and will have a loft. The poles are up and the middle beam for the roof is up. My DH told me today I'd better get busy drawing up where I want everything. So, I need some suggestions. What do you like about your barn? What do you...
The last step in the farmhouse cheddar recipe says to press at 50# for 12 hours. However, I wasn't paying much attention to my start time and 12 hours means it will be done at 2:30 am. What happens if I leave the cheese in the press for a few extra hours?
On another note, DH asked if I was...