Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[frustratedearthmother]

All that said -- I am "toying" with the idea of 2 lambs on a field of heavy grass for 3- 6 months & butcher. That or feed out a couple bucklings in that field...freezer meat & $$ saved?

I say go for it! I had a lamb a few years ago that I would rotate through some of my smaller pens. It worked out well and sure tasted good after that first frost when the grass stopped growing.

 

[sumi]

FEM you're doing amazing with the sales! Great reduction on the feed bill and less work for you = win, win. I liked to keep animals only as long as needed, pigs until butcher time, which was only a few months, a sheep until ditto. The hens had more freedom, but I sold extra roosters and most of their eggs, which paid for their feed and put some money in my pocket, so it worked out well.

 

[NH Homesteader]

You sold goats!! Yay! You sold nearly as many goats as I currently have, lol.

 

[baymule]

Congrats on the sales. Either that guy is really hungry or he is buying to resell to customers. As already said, keep his number! LOL

Sorry that your Dad is not feeling well. The antibiotics should get him right again in a few days.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I did sell goats!! And if he comes back next week I'll sell some more. Pretty sure he will do some reselling. I don't mind - I set my price pretty good if they buy multiples. Works for me and works for him. I hate doing this so the fewer time I have to deal with it the better, lol.

The bucks I know will be meat. The wether is invited to a nice father's day dinner. That's ok - that's what I was gonna do with him too. (not father's day dinner necessarily- but he was gonna be food) The other guys might make a 4th of July dinner somewhere. I'd rather that than worry that they're being mistreated somewhere.

But, he's a nice guy and even told us how to make authentic Carnitas. Yummy!

I am totally guilty of running this place with my heart - not my head. However, now that I'm seriously thinking about how things will be when I retire I know I have to cut that feed bill! Reducing the goats certainly helps - now I've got to work on the pigs. It will help that my buyer will take three barrows next week, but I have to cut further. Need to get pics and list two pregnant females. DH needs to finish the lights on the trailer- or I guess I could do it myself...ugh. Then I need to make an appointment for two of the boars to go to the processor.

 

[NH Homesteader]

Woohoo! Good for you, it's hard but must be nice to know there's less work and less feed ahead of you!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Woohoo! Good for you, it's hard but must be nice to know there's less work and less feed ahead of you!

So true!

 

[Mini Horses]

It worked out well and sure tasted good after that first frost when the grass stopped growing

Betcha whatever I put out there will too!

now that I'm seriously thinking about how things will be when I retire I know I have to cut that feed bill!

Those sales will help. I put myself on a "cash" only budget. And making myself look at every spend. I'm getting so psyched that I have to not allow me to be obsessed!

Yeah, I'm working HARD at analyzing what is being fed, how & production from that feed. Minis, well they are just here. At their ages they are dwindling their herd size.

I was SO GOOD...bought the RIRs but passed on the younger group of Delawares. Not because of bad reports here -- he says his have been friendly & docile (no hatchery birds -- from breeders) but, just didn't want to take on the extra work load right now. The RIRs are beauties and I will keep them separate to set & sell, chicks/hatching eggs, etc. He had other buyers waiting for me to say no...feel good about that. I wish I had pens & coops like his. Ideas for reovations.

Will take off tomorrow to get all settled in -- do some pen work and then feel ok with it all. That fox has to GO! He hasn't gotten anything more but is still hanging around. Son says he sees him nightly. Will do something with it soon. SSS rules. DS has one of my guns as of tonight....for next sighting.

We got a heavy rain tonight.....of course drove thru going to get chickens & back into it coming home! …… stopped now but heck of a shower. I would love to SHARE with all who need it. Usually happens after I water the garden, like this AM.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

eah, I'm working HARD at analyzing what is being fed, how & production from that feed

That's what I am in the midst of. I feed differently in the winter than in the summer, so in the midst of dropping some things out of their feed.

I think hay availability may be an issue. I talked to the guy I usually get my hay from and he's not sure he will bale the field I always get my hay from. He sold all his equipment but said he might look for someone to bale it. That'll mean the price will be HIGH. Most balers around here charge $25.00 per round bale to bale it. I only paid $20 a bale last year... YIKES.

Might be selling more goats...

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I found some hay. It's probably not what I really want to stock up on, but I'm gonna pick up a couple of bales anyway. IF it's ok, I'll get more - but mostly I'm just getting it cuz I might not find any more at this price. It is last year's growth that was cut this year, so I know it's weedy - but I also know it's not sprayed with herbicide. I'll definitely keep looking for more and it'll turn up eventually, but it might be pricey. We've probably got a good bit of rain headed our direction during this next week. There's a little something-something in the gulf....no rotation so probably not likely it'll develop into anything else....but of course it could. Anyway, supposed to get real rainy over the weekend and early next week. If things go right, this rain should help get the grass growing....and if things go right-er it'll dry up again and they'll be making hay like crazy!