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CrownofThorns
Lovin' The Homestead
Ah lol. I have seen star wars but I wasn't sure why the reference to it. 
Crown of Thorns Journal- Wood Cook Stove Challange
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- #32
CrownofThorns
Lovin' The Homestead
My poor goats. I think I should start calling them lab rats rather then goats. I'm always trying something new out on them. 
The past 4 days it has been free choice kelp.
After finding out how high Redmonds Animal Salt was in heavy metals back around November I knew I couldn't give it to my animals, not when it was in an inorganic form and without any way to chelate those heavy metals. I also knew that they needed more minerals then just the mineral salt. So I began 2-3 months of HEAVY research. The first thing I researched while I was trying to find the best goat minerals was what could I give them NOW that I would be ok with. A lot of people recommended kelp, and after some research I bought a 50lb bag of Thorvin Animal Kelp. At first I gave them just small amounts, and not near often enough. But after one of my bucks died from what sounded like either Johne's or mineral deficiency I panicked and started giving them a lot. A quart yogurt cup full every couple of days. Within 2 weeks I noticed some interesting changes.
My doe Winterdust, who I had never been able to pin point an exact heat in, went into raring heat. So I bred her to my remaining buck. When I had bred him to two of my other girls a few months before, he had had a lot of false mounts, and took FOREVER to actually breed them 3 times. Later I found out that was a symptom of selenium deficiency. But when I bred him to Winterdust after 2 weeks of kelp, he had No problems whatsoever and did the deed 5 times in a couple of minutes. His behavior also changed towards the doe. Before he had been rough and kind of mean, but this time he was really gentle and sweet.
All of my goats just seemed to be in better health. After a couple weeks I did some research on how much I should give them every day. Thorvin recommends 1/2 oz a day for a goat, so I figured that out, and if I remember correctly I think it equaled 2 and a quarter tsp. So I fed them that much 6 days a week ever since. It's been 3 months now.
I kept doing more and more research on various mineral brands and I was not pleased with what I found. Most had too much salt, too little copper, to much this or that etc. Plus they were all inorganic minerals, which means they are not utilized by the body as well and can actually be stored in the body in deposits, and much of them also ended up on the ground. Being a whole foodist I really wanted to provide their minerals in whole food form. I did it for my husband and I, why not for my goats? So for the last 3 months I have been experimenting a lot, trying to find out what works the best for my goats. Especially since there is so little information out there it has been difficult for me.
After doing research on the barley grass, I found out that between the barley grass and the kelp that is about 90% of their mineral needs right there. I just need to supplement a few more things. So while I'm preparing to get the barley grass fodder system going, I'm also planning for the day when I don't have to mix up 10 different herbs into their grain every day, which leads to my current experiment. feeding kelp free choice.
For the last 4 days I have been giving the goats 2 C of kelp free choice every day. I also have been adding in other herbs for whatever needs they have. For instance on the first day, Tuesday, I gave them two heaping tbs of Kop-Sel (the herbal copper and selenium formula I bought from Fir Meadow since I still have two does that have fishtails) in with the kelp. I noticed one of the does that still has a fish tail eating the kelp ravenously that day. Wednesday I put in the same amount of wheat grass powder, which is kind of my barley grass replacement for minerals right now. I didn't notice anyone particularly eating a lot of it, but it was all gone in short order. Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow I am adding in the same amount of Hoegger's Herbal Dewormer since a few of them are beginning to lose color in their eyelids. Today all of them were eating it as much as possible. I think all 2 C were gone within 20 minutes.
I have read over and over how when I first give them the kelp they will eat a lot of it, and then once their deficiencies are gone then they will eat it at a much slower rate. I'm giving them 2 C a day because I want to be able to monitor exactly when they slow down. By giving the herbs this way has also enabled me to stop giving them any grain, which I really needed to stop because 3 of my does are over conditioned. But with spring coming on I have noticed all of them losing a little weight.
I have noticed one interesting change. They all are much friendlier! My goats are pretty friendly, but as the winter has gone on they have become somewhat skittish since while it was cold out I spent very little time with them. Just enough time to feed and water them. Maybe a pat or two on the head. I haven't yet begun spending a lot of time with them, yet this morning only my super skittish doe ran away from me when I caught them all to check their eyelids and give them some TLC, and even my little buckling begged me to pet him. He's usually really shy about ME touching HIM, but not shy about HIM touching ME.
I'm kind of excited to see what this extra kelp does. I've been having some issues with pregnancies in my does and I'm hoping that between the Kop-Sel and the extra kelp that perhaps those issues will go away!
Also I think. I'm not positive, but this morning I attempted to feel Winterdusts' udder. She is one of my more skittish girls and has not been bred for 3 years, so my touching her udder was not something she liked. But I *think* I felt a bit of an udder developing!!!!
So far most of my does have not been able to maintain a pregnancy or give birth, you can read the problem I had with two of them here . So this is really exciting to me. I want baby Nigies so bad! And the milk too! The lady we have a herd share with for cows milk is selling all her cows except for one for her personal use so we don't know how much longer we'll be able to get milk.
ETA: I'm thinking about giving them their herbal wormer free choice. Has anyone done this or have any opinions on it?
The past 4 days it has been free choice kelp.
After finding out how high Redmonds Animal Salt was in heavy metals back around November I knew I couldn't give it to my animals, not when it was in an inorganic form and without any way to chelate those heavy metals. I also knew that they needed more minerals then just the mineral salt. So I began 2-3 months of HEAVY research. The first thing I researched while I was trying to find the best goat minerals was what could I give them NOW that I would be ok with. A lot of people recommended kelp, and after some research I bought a 50lb bag of Thorvin Animal Kelp. At first I gave them just small amounts, and not near often enough. But after one of my bucks died from what sounded like either Johne's or mineral deficiency I panicked and started giving them a lot. A quart yogurt cup full every couple of days. Within 2 weeks I noticed some interesting changes.
My doe Winterdust, who I had never been able to pin point an exact heat in, went into raring heat. So I bred her to my remaining buck. When I had bred him to two of my other girls a few months before, he had had a lot of false mounts, and took FOREVER to actually breed them 3 times. Later I found out that was a symptom of selenium deficiency. But when I bred him to Winterdust after 2 weeks of kelp, he had No problems whatsoever and did the deed 5 times in a couple of minutes. His behavior also changed towards the doe. Before he had been rough and kind of mean, but this time he was really gentle and sweet.
All of my goats just seemed to be in better health. After a couple weeks I did some research on how much I should give them every day. Thorvin recommends 1/2 oz a day for a goat, so I figured that out, and if I remember correctly I think it equaled 2 and a quarter tsp. So I fed them that much 6 days a week ever since. It's been 3 months now.
I kept doing more and more research on various mineral brands and I was not pleased with what I found. Most had too much salt, too little copper, to much this or that etc. Plus they were all inorganic minerals, which means they are not utilized by the body as well and can actually be stored in the body in deposits, and much of them also ended up on the ground. Being a whole foodist I really wanted to provide their minerals in whole food form. I did it for my husband and I, why not for my goats? So for the last 3 months I have been experimenting a lot, trying to find out what works the best for my goats. Especially since there is so little information out there it has been difficult for me.
After doing research on the barley grass, I found out that between the barley grass and the kelp that is about 90% of their mineral needs right there. I just need to supplement a few more things. So while I'm preparing to get the barley grass fodder system going, I'm also planning for the day when I don't have to mix up 10 different herbs into their grain every day, which leads to my current experiment. feeding kelp free choice.
For the last 4 days I have been giving the goats 2 C of kelp free choice every day. I also have been adding in other herbs for whatever needs they have. For instance on the first day, Tuesday, I gave them two heaping tbs of Kop-Sel (the herbal copper and selenium formula I bought from Fir Meadow since I still have two does that have fishtails) in with the kelp. I noticed one of the does that still has a fish tail eating the kelp ravenously that day. Wednesday I put in the same amount of wheat grass powder, which is kind of my barley grass replacement for minerals right now. I didn't notice anyone particularly eating a lot of it, but it was all gone in short order. Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow I am adding in the same amount of Hoegger's Herbal Dewormer since a few of them are beginning to lose color in their eyelids. Today all of them were eating it as much as possible. I think all 2 C were gone within 20 minutes.
I have read over and over how when I first give them the kelp they will eat a lot of it, and then once their deficiencies are gone then they will eat it at a much slower rate. I'm giving them 2 C a day because I want to be able to monitor exactly when they slow down. By giving the herbs this way has also enabled me to stop giving them any grain, which I really needed to stop because 3 of my does are over conditioned. But with spring coming on I have noticed all of them losing a little weight.
I have noticed one interesting change. They all are much friendlier! My goats are pretty friendly, but as the winter has gone on they have become somewhat skittish since while it was cold out I spent very little time with them. Just enough time to feed and water them. Maybe a pat or two on the head. I haven't yet begun spending a lot of time with them, yet this morning only my super skittish doe ran away from me when I caught them all to check their eyelids and give them some TLC, and even my little buckling begged me to pet him. He's usually really shy about ME touching HIM, but not shy about HIM touching ME.
I'm kind of excited to see what this extra kelp does. I've been having some issues with pregnancies in my does and I'm hoping that between the Kop-Sel and the extra kelp that perhaps those issues will go away!
Also I think. I'm not positive, but this morning I attempted to feel Winterdusts' udder. She is one of my more skittish girls and has not been bred for 3 years, so my touching her udder was not something she liked. But I *think* I felt a bit of an udder developing!!!!
So far most of my does have not been able to maintain a pregnancy or give birth, you can read the problem I had with two of them here . So this is really exciting to me. I want baby Nigies so bad! And the milk too! The lady we have a herd share with for cows milk is selling all her cows except for one for her personal use so we don't know how much longer we'll be able to get milk.
ETA: I'm thinking about giving them their herbal wormer free choice. Has anyone done this or have any opinions on it?
- Thread starter
- #33
CrownofThorns
Lovin' The Homestead
I just double checked Winterdust this morning. She id DEFINITELY developing an udder!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm SO excited!
After what I've gone through with Cammie and Wind, thinking that maybe I wasn't going to get any babies this year... Now I know I will! She is Due April 26th. And best of all, she was bred by my last buck before he died, so these babies will be registrable. Any babies born after these cannot be registered because my little buckling cannot. I really need to get another buck. I found one that I want but he's $400.
After what I've gone through with Cammie and Wind, thinking that maybe I wasn't going to get any babies this year... Now I know I will! She is Due April 26th. And best of all, she was bred by my last buck before he died, so these babies will be registrable. Any babies born after these cannot be registered because my little buckling cannot. I really need to get another buck. I found one that I want but he's $400.
Bubblingbrooks
Made in Alaska
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So, how long is that bag of Kelp lasting you?
The price of it knocked me over when I saw it, but we are having troubles with copper deficiencies and inability to breed as well.
They are getting bolused this week as a result.
The price of it knocked me over when I saw it, but we are having troubles with copper deficiencies and inability to breed as well.
They are getting bolused this week as a result.
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- #35
CrownofThorns
Lovin' The Homestead
On the dose that Thorvin recommends I figured it would last me just under a year. I think it will be a little less then that because of their deficiency, but it might also be longer once they are no longer deficient because Thorvin came up with those figures based on how much the goats ate free choice, and those were standard sized goats. So my Nigies may eat less then the 1/2 oz later.
I cannot say enough good about the Kop-Sel formula I bought from Fir Meadow. Kelp was slowly helping my copper issues, but very slowly. It would have taken MONTHS maybe even a year for their fishtails to go away. I bought the Kop-Sel and within 2 weeks of starting them on that, the two that I could easily get to eat it no longer had fishtails at all at the end of 2 weeks. The two that I have been having a hard time getting them to eat it still have them, but now that I am doing the mixture like I am, I am hoping that it will soon clear up.
ETA: In my opinion the kelp is worth every penny. A lot of people have said they have tried other brands and it wasn't as effective. Thorvin appears to be the best affordable animal kelp on the market.
ETA2: I just remembered that I also calculated that before my bucks died, and I sold a buckling that I thought at the time was unneeded. So I now have 3 animals less then when I calculated. I currently have 4 does and 1 buckling.
I cannot say enough good about the Kop-Sel formula I bought from Fir Meadow. Kelp was slowly helping my copper issues, but very slowly. It would have taken MONTHS maybe even a year for their fishtails to go away. I bought the Kop-Sel and within 2 weeks of starting them on that, the two that I could easily get to eat it no longer had fishtails at all at the end of 2 weeks. The two that I have been having a hard time getting them to eat it still have them, but now that I am doing the mixture like I am, I am hoping that it will soon clear up.
ETA: In my opinion the kelp is worth every penny. A lot of people have said they have tried other brands and it wasn't as effective. Thorvin appears to be the best affordable animal kelp on the market.
ETA2: I just remembered that I also calculated that before my bucks died, and I sold a buckling that I thought at the time was unneeded. So I now have 3 animals less then when I calculated. I currently have 4 does and 1 buckling.
Javamama
Almost Self-Reliant
I think I might have told you about the FirMeadow herbs, but I can't remember. Anyway - it's great to see another fan of her stuff, and to hear how well it's working for you. I went heavy on the kop-sel and kelp for my goats during their last few weeks of pregnancy and they breezed through it and the babies were so vigorous right away. (and now they are huge at 6 weeks old!) They are loving the kelp. I have to be stingy with it because I only have 4 pounds until I find a better way to buy it.
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- #37
CrownofThorns
Lovin' The Homestead
Yeah, I've had a lot of people recommend Fir Meadow to me and I love Kat's products. I went through and started reading all the past posts in the Totally Natural Goats Yahoo group and found a lot of great info. I can't wait for Kat to finish her book. I'm buying it as soon as it comes out!
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- #39
CrownofThorns
Lovin' The Homestead
I need some help and some ideas.
I need to bake some bread tomorrow and I am almost out of Hard White Wheat. I have a couple cups, but not enough to make 1 loaf of bread. I have plenty of soft white wheat though. I also have a package of gluten, so I'm wondering if adding a bunch of gluten would be enough (or even worth it?) to make a proper loaf of bread?
Also I'm looking for your favorite soaked flour bread recipe since I really need to start sprouting all our grains.
I need to bake some bread tomorrow and I am almost out of Hard White Wheat. I have a couple cups, but not enough to make 1 loaf of bread. I have plenty of soft white wheat though. I also have a package of gluten, so I'm wondering if adding a bunch of gluten would be enough (or even worth it?) to make a proper loaf of bread?
Also I'm looking for your favorite soaked flour bread recipe since I really need to start sprouting all our grains.
Bubblingbrooks
Made in Alaska
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If you have soft wheat, then you certainly do not need to add gluten to it. The soft wheat makes a fabulous bread on its own.CrownofThorns said:
When I do make bread, I make the 24 hour no knead bread.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/08mini.html
Its fabulous, soaked, and also gives you a bit of that sour dough tastes without it being over powering.
