Jess172 journal: I want to do it all!

[Denim Deb]

There used to be a flock of them on the one road I take to get to the farm. I haven't seen them in quite some time.

 

[Jess172]

It's been a while since I posted but I thought I'd give an update. I'll start with my birds. Still have lots of chickens but ended up with too many roosters so I'll be getting rid of two silkie boys tomorrow. We are now down to 3 quineas. Mystery predator got all but 5 then a neighbor dog got one possibly 2. Can't even get started on the new neighbors dogs. Lets just say its a issue. Had 2 little ducks given to me a while back. Luckily they turned out to be hens which we needed more of. I still had to get rid of 4 drakes recently because there were just too many and they were constantly after the hens. So I decided to try a few meat chickens this year. Got 9 of them and they are only 3 weeks old and huge. Also couldn't resist a few egg layers so I got 3 more Buffy's and 2 barred rock. Then hubby surprised my yesterday with 3 turkeys!
It's been too wet to put out the garden and I feel really behind. Hopefully the rain will stop long enough to let the ground dry up some soon.
We've been working on a barn because I'm planning on getting milk goats this year. Nubians is what I want.
That's all I can think of so far. I'll post more updates as I can.

 

[Denim Deb]

How are things going now?

 

[Jess172]

This summer has really flown by. I processed my meat chickens a few weeks back. I've still got a few Rhode Island Red extra roosters that I need to do but a friend who lives down the road from me wants to come watch/help so she can learn how. I recently took that same friend to a canning class at the local extension office. She wanted me to teach her but I've only been canning a year and felt they could teach it better. She didn't want to go alone so I went and learned a few new tips and tricks. I finally got my goats! I got two does and one buck; Nubians. The does are both in milk so that's been fun. Going to try to make some things with the milk once the kids start school in a few weeks. I'm thinking soap to start with and then maybe cheese. Garden hasn't done well this year. All the rain ended up killing all the crookneck squash and zucchini and most of my cucumbers. Guess I won't be canning any pickles this year :/ I'm canning what tomatoes i have right now. They didn't do near as well as last year but I suppose I should be happy I have enough to can. A local friend lost every one of her Tom plants from the rain.

 

[Denim Deb]

I've lost plants and the weather was so crazy from November to March, I wasn't able to get everything in that I wanted to. One day....

 

[goatgurl]

hi jess172, just read your journal from start to finish and loved it. you have the same chicken addiction that i have, lol. i have rir, hew hamp reds, barred rocks, dark Cornish, silverlaced wyondotte, black and blue marans, Swedish flower and lavender orpingtons. variety is the spice of life, right. yea on the goats, you'll love having them. and remember that the wethers are quite tasty. there are lots of good books on cheese making, a couple of mine are home cheese making by ricki carroll and goats produce too, the udder real thing volume II by mary jane toth. continue your journey, continue to learn to be as self sufficient as you can and God bless

 

[Jess172]

Deb everyone I've talked to said they've had an off year for gardening. Glad to know I'm not the only one.
Goatgurl, if I could go back I think I'd get one or two of every breed in the hatchery magazine. Lol. If only my hubby would let me. So far I'm loving the goats. I'm having a fun time milking and my strainer and pads came in so I was able to taste the clean cold goat milk for the first time today. It was wonderful. Very similar to whole cow milk but a bit thicker and richer.

 

[Jess172]

Deb everyone I've talked to said they've had an off year for gardening. Glad to know I'm not the only one.
Goatgurl, if I could go back I think I'd get one or two of every breed in the hatchery magazine. Lol. If only my hubby would let me. So far I'm loving the goats. I'm having a fun time milking and my strainer and pads came in so I was able to taste the clean cold goat milk for the first time today. It was wonderful. Very similar to whole cow milk but a bit thicker and richer.

 

[goatgurl]

so glad you are enjoying the fresh milk. Nubians are great. i have lamanchas, milk is almost as creamy as the Nubians but they are a lot quieter.

 

[Jess172]

Nubians are quite vocal that's for sure. Any time the see me outside they start hollering at me and want attention. My main milker, Elle, talks to me when she needs to be milked. I swear it sounds just like she's says miiiilk lol