Hi my name is Crazy Farmgirl and I'm addicted to GOATS!!
 

Obviously I have found the right group...Goat Addicts Anonymous!!:happy2: Right?

I have been a member for a while now just haven't posted, been reading and getting a "feel" for the group....I must say it a wonderful one. I think I'll stay a while.

A little background on me...I live in the middle of nowhere in a very small community in northeast lower Michigan. I grew up on a farm and most of life has revolved around animals(some 2 legged). I am a single mother of 3 boys (oldest is 19 and twins are 16) when my grandmother took sick the boys and I moved in to care for her, after she passed we stayed and are now farming on the homestead that my great grandparents started in 1894. The farm had not had animals here since the early 80's so it has been a great labor to get things up and running but it has been the most rewarding labor! The Goats, Pigs, Horses and Cows are all grass/forage fed, we do all our own hay and lease another 400 acres for hay. The chickens are "controlled free range" I have a huge coop on skids with a fenced yard that is moved with a tractor around the pastures after the other animals move out. All the animals are raised as naturally as possible, I spend alot of time on pasture management so they get the best I can produce.

The Animals:
The Goaties...I have a mixed bag heard of 30 Alpine, Nubian and Boer. Some are fullblood and some crosses. I milk for myself and do limited herdshares and sell for meat. I like the boer crossed with my dairy girls as I get great dual purpose animals. This year I finally was able to aquire some very nice registered girls and a buck so hopefully they will take our herd to another level. I sell alot to 4H kids and help with the groups on nutrition and care. I am hopelessly addicted to these beautiful creatures....they are my weakness!! If I can't be located chances are I'm out in the goat pasture hanging with my girls.

The Cows...I have a herd of 35 Hereford and Hereford X's. I calve year round and sell mostly locally as freezer beef and very few for breeding.

Pigs...I raise out 7-10 a year that are also sold locally for butcher.

Horses....I'm down to 5 this winter as the drought raved my hay crop! I love to trail ride and play around barrel racing for fun.

Chickens...100 layers (Isa Browns) I sell the eggs on farm and at farm market on weekends. I also raise 200-400 meat birds a year in several groups through the year, we process here I built a chicken plucker and have a small building dedicated to butchering.

I think that's it....wait there are also 3 dogs(2 inside/1 barn guardian) and 4 absolutely obnoxious geese that will be butcher next weekend (note to self geese are beautiful evil pooping machines!)

Thanks for taking the time to read my book and hope to be able to enjoy all that is the Goat Family!!

I'll post pics soon....have to go through tons of pics!!

Hi Crazy Farmgirl! Welcome and I hope to learn a lot of things from you too! It sounds like you have quite a group there..bet they all keep you busy.

welcome, It sounds like you'll fit right in here.

I'll have what she's having..
jim

Mam, all you need is a camera crew and you could make a movie.
1@ 19 and 2@ 16 and enough to fill Noah's Ark.
Really?
Is there an S on your chest?
Loved your post, very inspiring , I'll pass it on.
jim

Welcome to a wonderful community! Great bunch of people here....and I can't wait to see pictures!

Big Warm Hug! :) Welcome!

Welcome! Sounds like you'll fit right in. Can't wait to see pics.

You've come to the right place but what took you so long to post & join in on the conversations!
Sounds like you are a busy, busy woman. I don't know how you handle all that you have & I'm tired already just reading everything you take care of.

I too am in North eastern Michigan, between Standish & West Branch. Are we somewhat neighbors?

Welcome and congrats to what sounds like a great farm life!

Glad you finally posted, Crazy Farmgirl!

I am sorry, but you have come to the absolute WRONG place for Goat Addicts Anonymous. This place is completely inhabited by *Goat Enablers*! In fact, I believe that there used to be a Goat Addicts Anonymous, but it dissolved when all of the therapists were talked into getting goats. :D

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Backfourty..I am about 50 miles north of you.

I am busy but loving life!

Wow, that's a lot of critters! It's great that you're farming land that's been in the family so long. My ancestors sold all the land before I was born. :(

Welcome to the forum :)

Welcome to the forum! :)

50 miles is nothing out where we live. I go that far to Bay City every couple weeks for groceries & such.

So, Crazy Farm Girl; what do you do in your spare time? Welcome

I wish I lived that close to Backfourty :(
I'm jealous.

Actually I am partners with my dad in a lawn care business, which helps support my animal addiction and also provides all the free compost material a girl could dream of. I raise a huge garden every year, provides enough canned, dried, frozen and root cellar stored veggies for my family and my parents (they live next door) to last all winter and then some, I sell or give away extras every year. I also do a lot of hunting and fishing. Never a dull moment!!

I'm in Manton. Welcome to the forum!

Was going to say maybe you are closer to me, till I googled it. lol. Yall really are on the east side. Way east side.

Hey you and backfourty are from my neck of the woods where I grew up. Welcome and enjoy.

So who do you have helping you do all this? Just hubby and kids? I love your life! I understand the whole having to resurrect a farm from the ground. Right in the middle of doing that myself! What kind of pastures do you have? Just native, or did you seed them in your own mix?

So where did you grow up here & do you still have family here?

Sorry Crazy farmgirl, for the thread highjack.

Goodness..."and a partridge in a pear tree, " lol!

Welcome!

No hubby, have a boyfriend w who is here a lot. Most work is done by me and the twins (oldest son moved out a few months ago). My parents live next door (1/2 mile away) and my dad comes to help sometimes but him and I don't see eye to eye on many things.

The pastures were native grasses but I have plowed and seeded many, I do intensive rotational grazing. Hay fields are slowly being planted to produce higher quality hay. It has been a long expensive road but things are getting better.

Welcome! I must admit, I'm jealous-you are living my dream!!

You are where I imagine myself being in 5 years or so. Do you remember what your pasture mix was/is?