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09/22/11, 12:47 PM
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aka RamblinRoseRanc :)
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Morristown, TN
Posts: 5,066
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A lil' vent
Ack.
Feedin' EVERYTHING and getting not much of anything at this point.
One goat in milk with a six month old doeling. Milk production slacked off in the last week or so (I think it has to do with the change in the alfalfa pellets. These are a bit dustier but are 50lbs for 11.30 vs 40lbs for 11.99) and i'm only getting a quart a day or less (yes, with TWO milkings). Trying to come up with an idea on how we could manage to not be without milk and still breed mama and daughter this fall. A third goat that is in milk is the only thing I can come up with. Anyone want some fixin' to lay henlets (lol) for a good goat? 
Two pens with layers. One is a barn stall with birds from several months old (still not old enough to lay) and eight layers that're three years old or less. Got my first egg from them in well over a month yesterday. Didn't expect an egg so I didn't have anything to put it in while I finished chores in that pen. Put it in my pocket. Bent over to get waterer and made pocket omlette. Killed cell phone in process.
Other pen has a dozen RIRs- 11 layers and one roo. Still getting six or so eggs a day from these guys, but it's slacked off quite a bit.
Rabbits are too new, haven't bred them yet. REALLY need to.
Three new auction hens (well, they've been in quarantine for two weeks) who aren't laying (husband's purchase, btw) that are fixin' to go in with group.
Pen of Littles- think they're fayoumi- whatever they are, they're young.
Garden is still putting out a few little peppers a week and squash is comin' on.
Pig pen is ready but haven't found pigs yet.
Sure seems like a lot of work for little return at the moment.
Anyone else?
__________________
" It's better to ride even if you get thrown, than to wind up just wishin' ya had."
Chris Ledoux 
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09/22/11, 12:59 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,624
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We got very little from the garden and trees this year because of the drought. No rain in so long the grass is all dead and we're paying twice what we did last year for hay.
We're getting about six eggs a day from about 13 hens. We'd probably get more if it weren't for the snakes, but six is plenty for us.
I sold most of the goats last spring, and have been glad that I did. I am only milking one, who accidentally got bred for Christmas Day, and has started to slack off on her milk. Getting not quite a quart now each milking.
Do you have the doeling running with her dam? Is she taking the milk? If so, you might at least separate them at night to get the morning's milk.
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09/22/11, 01:49 PM
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WV , hilltop dweller
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 3,559
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My investments are all walking around on two legs going "gobble,gobble"....Thanksgiving is coming!!
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" As needs-MUST!!"--- in other words..a gal does what a gal has too!
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09/22/11, 03:50 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 841
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It's been a heck of a season for me. First, Hubby has been working in Africa since mid May so I have been farming on my own plus working a full time job. That's strike one. Then hubby decided it would be fabulous to get a few pigs to raise for pork. He reserved the piglets before he left and they arrived the end of June. Cute little buggers but ask me how much I like them now  Hate them, can't wait for them to be bacon and pork chops. I told hubby "no way, no how, ain't never happening again....NO PIGS!". Strike two! Also, another idea of his was to get pheasants. Another " not happening again!!!". We were lucky compared to others in the U.S. We had plenty of rain so my garden was awesome and continues to be. Now, if I could just keep the weeds from growing faster then the veggies, I'd be set.
My nubian girls have been great with milk. I am just milking two of the 8 does I have right now but since it is just me, that is more then enough milk (plus I feed it to the pigs so they will grow fast and go away lol) Turkey's are doing great and will be processed on the 22nd of November for our Thanksgiving customers. 15 turkeys, all already pre-sold. I have two little bottle calves, jersey-mix heifers, that I got when they were 1 week old. Sweet, sweet, sweet. I am just starting to slowly wean them.
My laying hens have been pretty steady on laying and I get about a dozen a day out of 16 birds. I sell the extras. I put 50 meat chickens in the freezer the beginning of spring so we are set on chicken.
With hubby gone, I am the chief Bush-hogger, grass-cutter, livestock caregiver, garden harvester (and preserver), and whatever else comes up. I have three horses who I wave at because I've been too busy to ride. Once the pigs and turkeys are gone, I want a VACATION! 
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09/22/11, 03:53 PM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Alvin, Tx
Posts: 1,881
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I read on another board of someone adding calf manna to increase milk production. Just a thought.
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09/23/11, 09:09 AM
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aka RamblinRoseRanc :)
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Morristown, TN
Posts: 5,066
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mary,tx
We got very little from the garden and trees this year because of the drought. No rain in so long the grass is all dead and we're paying twice what we did last year for hay.
We're getting about six eggs a day from about 13 hens. We'd probably get more if it weren't for the snakes, but six is plenty for us.
I sold most of the goats last spring, and have been glad that I did. I am only milking one, who accidentally got bred for Christmas Day, and has started to slack off on her milk. Getting not quite a quart now each milking.
Do you have the doeling running with her dam? Is she taking the milk? If so, you might at least separate them at night to get the morning's milk.
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They're together but I tape mom's teats after each milking, so yeah- that's all there is 
__________________
" It's better to ride even if you get thrown, than to wind up just wishin' ya had."
Chris Ledoux
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09/23/11, 09:10 AM
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aka RamblinRoseRanc :)
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Morristown, TN
Posts: 5,066
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bee
My investments are all walking around on two legs going "gobble,gobble"....Thanksgiving is coming!!
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I've heard that even though they bring a good sale price that turkeys are hard to raise... sounds like they may have a 'self destruct' button
__________________
" It's better to ride even if you get thrown, than to wind up just wishin' ya had."
Chris Ledoux
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09/23/11, 09:11 AM
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aka RamblinRoseRanc :)
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Morristown, TN
Posts: 5,066
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hiddensprings
It's been a heck of a season for me. First, Hubby has been working in Africa since mid May so I have been farming on my own plus working a full time job. That's strike one. Then hubby decided it would be fabulous to get a few pigs to raise for pork. He reserved the piglets before he left and they arrived the end of June. Cute little buggers but ask me how much I like them now Hate them, can't wait for them to be bacon and pork chops. I told hubby "no way, no how, ain't never happening again....NO PIGS!". Strike two! Also, another idea of his was to get pheasants. Another " not happening again!!!". We were lucky compared to others in the U.S. We had plenty of rain so my garden was awesome and continues to be. Now, if I could just keep the weeds from growing faster then the veggies, I'd be set.
My nubian girls have been great with milk. I am just milking two of the 8 does I have right now but since it is just me, that is more then enough milk (plus I feed it to the pigs so they will grow fast and go away lol) Turkey's are doing great and will be processed on the 22nd of November for our Thanksgiving customers. 15 turkeys, all already pre-sold. I have two little bottle calves, jersey-mix heifers, that I got when they were 1 week old. Sweet, sweet, sweet. I am just starting to slowly wean them.
My laying hens have been pretty steady on laying and I get about a dozen a day out of 16 birds. I sell the extras. I put 50 meat chickens in the freezer the beginning of spring so we are set on chicken.
With hubby gone, I am the chief Bush-hogger, grass-cutter, livestock caregiver, garden harvester (and preserver), and whatever else comes up. I have three horses who I wave at because I've been too busy to ride. Once the pigs and turkeys are gone, I want a VACATION! |
Girl- sounds like once the pigs and turkeys are gone that would BE a vacation, lol!
__________________
" It's better to ride even if you get thrown, than to wind up just wishin' ya had."
Chris Ledoux
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09/23/11, 09:12 AM
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aka RamblinRoseRanc :)
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Morristown, TN
Posts: 5,066
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DaniR1968
I read on another board of someone adding calf manna to increase milk production. Just a thought.
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I'll check into that- TSC and Co-op both carry calf manna.
__________________
" It's better to ride even if you get thrown, than to wind up just wishin' ya had."
Chris Ledoux
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09/23/11, 12:36 PM
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Keeper of the Oatney Zoo
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 822
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Molly's milk production has slacked off slightly too, but nothing like that. Where I was getting 2 full quarts + every day, now I'm getting 1 1/2 quarts + every day. But I've been leaving the whether on her at night and separating them in the morning, and I don't think he's taking as much from her now. I have some calf manna - might try top dressing with that and see if it helps her.
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09/23/11, 03:40 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 841
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RamblinRoseRanc
Girl- sounds like once the pigs and turkeys are gone that would BE a vacation, lol!
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I know you are RIGHT about that! 
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09/23/11, 04:12 PM
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II Corinthians 5:7
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia
Posts: 8,102
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Well, I got a rant too, though it is quite rare for me....
The garden produced at least 3 times more than what I thought it would and our freezers (3) are full. I'm milking only two does at the moment and am trying to dry them off for the winter ... golly, still getting a gallon a day by just "relieving" them of the pressure of having too much milk.
Received our guineas and have their light set up from the next-door tool shed. However, that shed has a breaker that keeps tripping; so off we trot every few minutes (24/7) to make sure that light stays on.
Trying to repair the retainer wall, got the trench leveled and it starts raining....that project gets placed on the back burner. Have the wood needed to work on our processing center and cannot even touch it as there has been no time. (Also, we have primrose seeds drying ... in the way of course ... ugh had no idea they would take so long to dry.) Our amaranth dried alright; but harvested them earlier than I should have; so got little for the effort.
Now, it has rained all night and all day; and I'm having to suffer indoors knowing there is so much to do outdoors!
Last edited by motdaugrnds; 09/23/11 at 04:15 PM.
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09/23/11, 11:52 PM
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Udderly Happy!
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,830
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I'd like to rant about the price of feed, the price of hay, the low price of slaughter goats at the sale barn, and the lack of rain..........I think that pretty well covers it all!
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Francismilker
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16
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09/24/11, 01:00 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Oologah Oklahoma
Posts: 3,579
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Quote:
Originally Posted by francismilker
I'd like to rant about the price of feed, the price of hay, the low price of slaughter goats at the sale barn, and the lack of rain..........I think that pretty well covers it all!
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Did you not get any of the rain this week? I can vent but not going to. Because when i do something 10 times worse hits me lol
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09/24/11, 01:28 AM
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Udderly Happy!
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,830
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna1982
Did you not get any of the rain this week? I can vent but not going to. Because when i do something 10 times worse hits me lol
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Yes, over the course of the last two weeks I've gotten .6 inches of rain. That's the only moisture we've gotten in over three months now. The ground soaked it up like a sponge.
__________________
Francismilker
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16
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09/24/11, 03:47 AM
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Disgruntled citizen
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Northeast Michigan zone 4b
Posts: 4,458
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a pic of the older doe's udder and body would help to "try" to see if she might just never be a great milker. What you are feeding (how often) would also help. I always seperated my kids from the adults...... seemed that the moms would slack off production if the kids were there (wether or not the kids could nurse).
Just suggestions
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09/24/11, 10:07 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Oologah Oklahoma
Posts: 3,579
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Quote:
Originally Posted by francismilker
Yes, over the course of the last two weeks I've gotten .6 inches of rain. That's the only moisture we've gotten in over three months now. The ground soaked it up like a sponge.
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I am sorry that's all you got. We had need more here but we got enough to get some new growth so I'm happy.
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09/24/11, 10:22 AM
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II Corinthians 5:7
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia
Posts: 8,102
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Just realized ... some does will not let their milk down...have no idea as to why.
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09/26/11, 03:40 AM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: oregon
Posts: 1,109
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Is the six month doeling still nursing? That'll take a lot of milk. My one doe nursed her kids for 14 mos. through the fence, when I separated them to wean, till I finally got around to fixing that fence problem. Proper regular worming and worming for Liverfluke. It may take a cocktail of wormers to get them out. That increases my does production. About 4 lbs. of alfalfa pellets a day each to keep production up for my girls.
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