Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[frustratedearthmother]

Mom (Luna) is Kinder (a little heavy on the Nubian side). Luna's mom is Cameo (pure Nubian) Luna's dad is Kinder buck, which makes Luna technically still Kinder. Luna and Conan had a date and this little guy is the result.

 

[NH Homesteader]

I thought kinder, but wasn't sure! Conan did a good job so far!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Conan did a good job so far!

I have to say his kids, thankfully, look better than him. Can't ask for more than that I guess.

I really, really like that little spotted buckling that he and Cameo produced. And, I'm anxious to see if his kids have the same parasite resistance that he has. So, far I'm only doing coccidia prevention and the older babies are really growing well - especially since they are living in a swamp.

Cameo's babies, even being 3 weeks younger than Lucy's, are pretty well caught up to them in size. Of course Cameo is Nubian and Lucy is Kinder so there is a size difference in the mama's too. But, I'm happy with the way they all are growing.

Hope this last cold snap was IT for our cold weather. Now if we could just stay dry!

 

[sumi]

Mom and baby are both beautiful! And that looks like a Pic of the Week, FEM <hint... hint>

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I can take a hint, lol!

 

[NH Homesteader]

Hope you avoid more rain for a while, ugh! We are about to join you in mud pit land when our snow melts, but it's short lived here. I can't imagine...

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Sheesh, I hope so too. Yesterday and even today are fairly nice with some sun...cold but sunny. Love it! But, it looks like for the next week we only have one day that may have sun and that's Sunday. Might be butcher day.

I keep wrestling with butchering that little Nigi-ish buckling. I definitely want him off of my feed bill but I'm afraid there's just not much to him. I doubt we'd get more than a couple meals out of him. Kind of debating on banding him and tossing him out in the pasture and just letting him grow a bit more... I dunno.

Probably going to try to get another smallish pig done. I've got a couple young boars that need to go. I could butcher one this weekend, and while he's resting in the cooler I can re-work my freezer. Sounds like a win-win!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I've been doing some reading and researching today. Ya'll know that with DH retiring I need to make some changes 'round here. The plan has been, since I got into Kikos, to eat more goat meat. The last two bucklings born to Kinder mothers are going to be my experimental 'meat crop.' I think I'm not even going to disbud them. That will make it mandatory that I eat 'em (or sell 'em) but either way that takes away the temptation to ever let them become permanent residents.

I do think I will band them so that they can pasture with the herd and stay on their mama's until "the day." Some of the stuff I've been reading indicates that the best bang for your money is to NOT wean them and feed them out - but to let them stay with their mama's and butcher at 4 - 6 months. Since they will do most of their growing during the summer (on pasture) they won't be eating much feed. I only feed once a day in the summer as opposed to twice this time of year and if the pasture can provide a portion of their feed then it makes sense to butcher at that age. I'm thinking 6 months for these guys since they do have a touch of pygmy - so September or October maybe. It will definitely depend on how fast they grow.

I've only butchered the occasional goat and they've been small breeds. This is uncharted territory for me. Yay - a new adventure in farming!

 

[NH Homesteader]

Woohoo! Looking forward to hearing all about it! I noticed when I weaned kids this year they really slowed down growing so that makes sense. I also intend to leave horns on anything I'm going to butcher, makes you want to move them along!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I noticed when I weaned kids this year they really slowed down growing so that makes sense.

It totally does make sense - weaning stresses them and they stop growing and then have to play catch-up. I'll be giving it a try.