Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[Mini Horses]

Kiko are about 250=300 here, depending on ages, sex, etc. There's an awesome buck for sale in NC...500 but the horns look like a longhorn bull! Wowser! Yeah, supposed to be more parasite resistant but, for ME, I'd go back to a good Boer. Partly because I raised them but, they have a huge body and if looking for meat, well -- Then, the horns are not so enormous & spread out. It's all just a personal preference.

My Saanen buck is looking so cute. I wasn't sure with a name and thought "Snowman", yeah white! But he is developing this huge lock of curls on top of his head and reminds me of a goat I once saw at a TX auction, named Romeo. I prefer that name and it is now that. It's a little more masculine, too. (Glad I hadn't sent his reg papers in yet - LOL) I am so hoping those curls continue to grow well. His dad had some. The one in TX had horns & was a teaser -- had had a vasectomy -- just a love. This one is a bottle baby & loves everyone...runs to you when he sees you. Hope he's ready for action this Fall!!! Will be 10 mos in Sept and I plan to use him!

Mr B -- my older guy, large mini-nub, will be used for 3 mini-nub does....one his daughter...but all registered. Some of the ladies for Romeo are Saanen/Nub mixes--dtrs of Mr. B.


I'm behind the numbers you have, FEM -- but pushing it! Sometimes things just "happen". I'm looking at breeding 11 and two of those GENERALLY trips. It will be interesting.

Yep, most of mine are white. Mr B is black, so there is some b/w....and three mini nub does carry crème, so I do have chocolates & some tan/white from them. It's a crap shoot! I may need to find another mini nub buck next year if I keep these 2 5-gen doelings from 2018. A breeding trade would be my preference! Good luck with that!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

No doubt this heat is cramping everyone's style! Cutting into a lot of outside work time.... But, this too will pass!

@Mini Horses - Boers are undoubtedly awesome meat producers - but just too challenging to keep 'em healthy here. I've known several experienced goat folks who have tried and failed. At my place it would be an exercise in futility for sure!Boer x Kiko seem to do a lot better than straight Boer. But, I'm not giving up my dairy does! Just trying to fill the market demands a little more easily, even though I've never had any trouble selling extra goats. Just have to actually place an ad and feel like catching 'em. Too hot right now.

I'm going to pay close attention to what my planned crosses throw and make some decisions based on that. I'll have quite a few FF's so that should be fun! Might put Chester and his gals together asap for December babies. But, again, not counting my babies before they're here cuz the pygmy doe is one I planned on culling for non-production, but I'm too soft.

I should also cull a few more chickens. Again - it's too hot! I've got some older hens that just aren't producing well anymore and I've got some young'uns finally to replace 'em. Looks like most of my newest hatchlings are pullets. YaY! why can't my goats do that?

Gonna head outside in a bit to dump hot water and refill with cool water. I wouldn't want to drink that hot water either.

 

[NH Homesteader]

I like kikos better because I have access to acres of brush and trees and boers are not as adventurous with their eating lol.

Yay pullets! I have 4 pullets I think, lol. Better than none.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Well, so much for breeding plans. I've got some folks on the way to get Lil Spot (Small Kinder buck). Guess I'll spread out the ladies he was going to enjoy between a couple of the other bucks.

These people bought the two small milking does I had earlier this year. He should cross well with them. Technically, he's a Kinder, but leaning a little more to the Pygmy side. He's one of the cutest babies I ever raised. So colorful and full of personality. But, he ticked me off this morning, lol. He didn't mind being caught and he didn't mind too much being led. But he didn't want to stay in the dog kennel so he just popped the gate open - twice. Obviously I need to work on goat-proofing that gate, lol.

I'm down to only 5 bucks - whatever will I do, lol. Back to the breeding plan drawing board!

 

[NH Homesteader]

Lol less bucks is probably good. Causes happier bucks, lol

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Yep, it'll hopefully make separating and breeding lot easier. I'm thinking about just penning does and bucks together and not worrying about trying to catch them when they're in heat and moving one or the other parties to a convenient meeting place...all that stuff. I'd like to put a few together now for December babies. It's so hot though...wonder if bucks sperm count goes down in the heat. It does in most other mammals....

 

[Mini Horses]

wonder if bucks sperm count goes down in the heat. It does in most other mammals....

You know it does to some degree. But they are so fertile it won't make much difference! It takes what, a couple seconds, and they may only service 3 not 23 in a day? Now, the does may not cycle as well. There's that too.

You always a/c in the barn options. Soft music.

My does were by the bucks today, they all walked to the fence & said hello but, there was no blubbering and squatting or wagging! they all went on without a sign of any sex now or later. Not even a look back! Buck went to the shed.

I have had does bred in Jul & Aug, just not often. Buck was running with them 24/7. Moonlight and all that...

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Remembering back to when I raised only pygmies - I had kids born every single month of the year - so I guess it's not really much of an issue. But, pygmies cycle year round - period. I know some people say the Nubians do too - but I haven't really noticed it as much. So, I was actually considering putting Chester and a couple ladies together - OR - turning him out with the does as a heat indicator. Hardly a chance of him doing much damage except to the little does I want him to breed anyway. I've seen a little tail wagging in the bigger does - but not serious fence hugging or buck-teasing at this point. But, the bucks are sure smelling ready...

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I need to get busy with this separating and configuring bucks and does. I'd like to get a few does bred for Christmas time birthing and a few more for Spring Break time deliveries. Need to figure out who to put where. I guess I need to have the small-ish bucks (Chester) where I can see what's going on - cuz I expect he'll need a boost, lol!

Today I'm taking my trailer to my friends house for hay. She said to just leave it and come back and pick it up when somebody figures out how to get hay into it. I have the livestock cage on top of the lowboy so the hay guys are freaking out about that. Surely they can figure out how to get a 5 x 6 bale into a six foot wide trailer. Just turn it so the narrow part goes through the 6 foot gate. I'm not sure why they are telling her it wouldn't work. Geeze - do ya need a woman to show you how to do it? Just turn the stupid bale where the 5 foot part goes through the 6 foot wide door. Geeze... I might only get two on there like that but I'll make another trip.

I guess if worse comes to worse I can take my tractor over there. I'd push that bale up to the door and use the FEL to give it a good lift and shove and I' know it'd go right on in. Men!

 

[NH Homesteader]

Lol show 'em how to do it!