Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Homestead Happenings...


Spring is SUCH a busy time around the homestead!

The bees are buzzing....


The hens are brooding...

The broilers are, ahem, "broiling"...

The kids are here and the milk is flowing...

And the garden (and weeds) are growing!

What's happening on your homestead?

Saturday, March 29, 2014

(Updated) Sold


Indigo Creek Emma - SOLD



Emma is a 2 1/2 year old Nigerian Dwarf registered with the NDGA.  She is currently IN MILK.  She is about 1 month fresh, so she has 9 months of milk left!  This is her second freshening and is producing almost 2 quarts per day -- that's just under a half a gallon/day!  She is very cooperative on the milk stand and is used to being milked with a milking machine. 

She is a great milker, but is not the best mother.  She protects her babies and accepts them as her own, but for some reason will not nurse them, so her future kids will have to be bottle babies.  I prefer to have all kids dam raised--bottle babies are just too time consuming for my crazy life right now, so that is the only reason I am offering her for sale.  I just can't breed her again, knowing that I won't have the time to bottle raise her babies.  She consistently produces gorgeous kids.  She's had twins for each of her kiddings. I have a beautiful daughter of hers from her first kidding on site. 

I will dearly miss all her delicious ORGANIC milk!  Yes, she has only been feed organic grain and hay.  

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to meet her. 

Emma's Pedigree:
  • Sire: Indigo Creek Ace of Hearts (NDGA 06626M)
    • SS: Moon Spinner's Blue Shin (D-49471)
    • SD: Indigo Creek Faith (NDGA 14787F)
  • Dam: Indigo Creek Tia (NDGA 14790F)
    • SS: Sire: Irish Luck Farms Shamrock (NDGA 05747M)
    • SD: Irish Luck Farms Ella (NDGA 13048F)

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

How to Get Great Tasting Goat Milk!

When people hear that I raise dairy goats and actually drink their milk (gasp),  raw (double gasp), they squish up their nose and ask, "How does it taste?".  And I say "Like milk!"


Here's how I ensure that I get great tasting, heathy milk from my goats:


1.  Clean the udder before milking.
Even though there are a lot of udder cleaners on the market, I just use antibacterial wipes. I thoroughly clean her udder, teats and of course, my hands.  The teats should be dry before you start to milk. 

2.  Milk 8-10 squirts into a strip cup. 


If there is any bacteria in the teat, this will flush it out.  Inspect the milk you just extracted -- it shouldn't have any lumps, flakes or anything else in it.  This is also a great way to be sure your goat, and her udder are nice and healthy.  Healthy goats = healthy milk!


3.  Milk into squeaky clean equipment.


I LOOOOOVE my Henry Milker!  And I think the goats love it too! It's a manual pump and keeps the milk completely sealed.  No more hair or hay in the milk.  No more hooves in the bucket. No more tired hands!  It's a fraction of the price of a fancy electric milking machine and its easy to keep clean. No matter what equipment you use to milk, make sure it's very, very clean.


4.  Use a teat dip.


I use Fight Bac udder spray after milking. Just spray the teats after milking and it helps protect it from bacteria and reduces the chances of your doe developing mastitis.  Again, healthy goat = delicious milk.


5.  Strain the milk.

I use the filters that are specifically used for straining milk.  I tried just using paper coffee filters, but found that our goat's milk was higher in butterfat, so it took forever to strain.  Sometimes I wonder if this is really necessary  with the Henry Milker, as nothing can really fall into the milk, but I like to be doubly sure that my milk is squeaky clean. 


6.  Chill the milk Immediately.

This is a very important step.  The faster you get that milk chilled, the better it will taste. Many people like to set it in the sink with ice and water, but, I don't have an automatic ice maker so I never have enough ice.  So, I put it in the freezer and try not to forget it before it freezes.


7.  Do not house bucks with does.


Well, let's face it... bucks stink.  I think Nigerians may be the worst offenders because the girls cycle year round, they stink year round.  Whereas the large dairy breeds only go into rut in the fall, they only stink for a few months out of the year.


8.  Watch their diet.


Some foods/forage will change the flavor of the milk.  I definitely do not give them kitchen scraps of onions, broccoli, garlic, etc. 


9.  Store your milk in glass containers.


Monday, March 24, 2014

Bye, Bye, Babies!

Emmas babies have found a new home! It was a little sad going into the barn this morning and not hearing their sweet little bleats, anxiously waiting for their bottles. Be good babies for your new mommy! I'll miss you!

Friday, March 21, 2014

Resolutions Update

Recently I posted about how my goal this year was to learn how to disbud the kids.  I'm happy to report that we all survived my first disbudding experience.

The little buckling's buds started popping out at only three days old.  With hubby in tow for moral support, I got through it.  It was nerve racking at first, but luckily it was over quickly and no one seems worse for the wear.

An important note, however, is that when I received my Reinhart X-30 disbudding iron, the directions were very clear that the iron should only be applied for a count of 3 - 5 seconds and NOT the 10-12 seconds as recommended in the video I linked to.  Most all the videos and research I came across said it should be applied for at least a 10 count, but erring on the side of caution I decided to follow the directions for my specific iron.  Then it's "fingers crossed" that I did a good job and no scurs develop.

The little girls buds started appearing at about 9 days old.  This time, with no assistance, I did it all by myself! Phew!  The disbudding box did a great job of holding her securely so that I could concentrate on doing a good job. Glad I got that experience under my belt!


I'm baaaaack....

I've been wanting to add so much info here, but my computer's "s" key stopped working and I couldn't log on to blogger!  Computer is all better now, so let's catch up! (By the way, we are on Facebook now--search Eden Hollow Farm!)

The babies are growing like crazy and are in that super fun bouncy stage which makes them a riot to watch!





Saturday, February 22, 2014

Awwww.....


Emma's Babies!

She had a girl -- black with 1 white spot (and maybe blue eyes)



And a boy -- tricolor (sorry about the slightly gory pic)


I'm happy to report, everybody is doing well.  True to form, mom looks after her babies but just won't nurse them.  Crazy girl!  So I'm milking her out, putting it in bottles and giving it to the babies.  They are starting to get the idea that mom is (unfortunately) not their source of food, but instead, that I am.

So after sleeping on it (sort of... feedings every 4 hours make it difficult to really get some restful sleep), I've decided to offer the babies up for sale as well. It's always so hard to make the call as to who stays and who goes.  I wish I could keep them all!  Emma's doeling is $300, the boy is $200 intact or $100 as a wether.  I will consider a generous discount if all three go together!


Friday, February 21, 2014

For Sale: Indigo Creek Emma - $450

It is with a heavy heart, that I make the decision to offer up Emma for sale.



Emma will be sold IN MILK after she kids on or about 2/26.  This will be her second kidding.  She is a great milker, but is not a good mother.  If you want lots of milk and like to raise bottle babies, this may be the goat for you.  I prefer to have all kids dam raised, so she is not a good fit for me, but I will dearly miss all her delicious ORGANIC milk!  Yes, she has only been feed organic grain and pesticide free hay.  

Her kids may be for sale as well but I will evaluate the situation and make a decision once she kids (as bottle babies or weaned).   Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to visit!

Emma's Pedigree:
  • Sire: Indigo Creek Ace of Hearts (NDGA 06626M)
    • SS: Moon Spinner's Blue Shin (D-49471)
    • SD: Indigo Creek Faith (NDGA 14787F)
  • Dam: Indigo Creek Tia (NDGA 14790F)
    • SS: Sire: Irish Luck Farms Shamrock (NDGA 05747M)
    • SD: Irish Luck Farms Ella (NDGA 13048F)

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Getting Ready for Kidding!

Miss Emma is due to kid around February 26th, so that means its time to get the kidding kit ready!

I use a tool box for my kidding kit. Its sturdy enough for the barn and keeps everything handy, clean and well organized.  I also have the phone number for the vet inside the cover of the box.

Here's what I keep in my kit...



(1) Lamb and kid colostrum powder -- just in case the kid(s) can't get that vital colostrum directly from mom.
(2) Nasal aspirator -- to clean noses and throats immediately after birth
(3) Electrolytes -- just in case kids get scours or aren't thriving
(4) Rubbing alcohol - to clean scissors before trimming or cutting the ambilicle cord
(5) Film bottle with iodine in it - works great to dip the cord in
(6) Surgical scissors - to cut the cord
(7) Dental floss - to tie the cord
(8) Pritchard nipples - just in case the doe can't or won't feed her kids and I have to bottle feed



(9) OB lube - in case I have to "go in" and help with a delivery
(10) Drencher - in case a kid needs to be force fed
(11) Betodyne or Iodine - to disinfect the cord
(12) OB gloves - these are the long ones that go up to your armpit... again, in case I have to "go in"
(13) Stethoscope -- for obvious reasons, but also good to have to check for rumen sounds in a sick goat
(14) Disposable gloves -- cause lets face it, kidding can be messy, and I like to keep it clean!



(15) "Wee Wee Pads" -- these are those disposable pads you put down to house break a puppy.  They are great to put down as the kid is being born.  They are absorant and provide and clean spot for mom to give birth
(16) Garbage bag(s) -- to clean up all the mess after kidding
(17) Towels (not shown) -- to dry off the kid after birth



(18) Small dog sweater -- to keep babies warm in super cold weather
(19) Hairdryer -- to help warm and dry wet kids after birth in very cold weather


Luckily, my girls have never had any kidding problem so I've never had to use a lot of these items.  But I feel better knowing that, God forbid, they ever should have any problems, I'll be ready and able to help!

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Resolutions!

Each year, my new year's resolutions usually involve learning new skills. For example, last year my goal was to learn about bee keeping.  Unfortunately, that skill didn't turn out as successfully as I'd hoped, but that's a post for another day.

This year, my goal is to broaden my goat skills.  Every year, I try to lesson my dependance on the vet and learn more basic vet skills.  Last year, I needed to learn to give my goats their own shots and vaccinations.  I know, I know EVERYBODY gives their goats their own shots, but I'm kinda a wimp in the medical department.  Blood, guts, dead things, sharp pokey needles, etc. are not my strong suit.  But I need to get over it already and concure my fear.  It would also help greatly reduce my costs in maintaing the goats (always a plus)!

So this year's goat goal, is to learn disbudding.  Disbudding, in my opinion has got to be the toughest part of goat keeping.  It seems so completely cruel to me, but I understand and appreciate all the reasons for it.  I just haven't had the guts to hold a nine hundred degree iron to the head of a 3-day old kid, for a long slow count of 10, TWICE--- while they are awake and screeeeeaming!  If you've ever heard a goat kid scream bloody murder, it can be a heart breaking sound.  Even my vet hates to do it. So much so, that he puts the kids under anesthesia in order to prevent any wiggling on behalf of the kid, to lesson the chance of messing it up!

In order to get ready for the upcoming kidding season (beginning next month---yikes!) and learn how to disbud, I of course, re-read all my reference goat keeping books.  I also have been watching videos on you tube.  For something like this, if you don't have someone to show/teach you first hand (which I don't), I figure a video or two (hundred) has got to be the next best thing.  I'm hoping it will also desensitize me to how traumatic and intense my first experience will likely be.  Hopefully it'll be traumatic just for me, and not the goat kid!  I even made my poor husband watch a few videos too, to see if he thought he could help me hold the kids steady.  Lucky for me, he said he was willing to help!  He will be a great source of moral support for me as I learn this intimidating new skill. Here's one video I found especially helpful: http://youtu.be/lnxI5_gi7BI


I've ordered all the necessary equipment from Hoegger Supply.  Obviously I needed a disbudding iron, with a Nigerian sized tip.  I ordered this one: http://hoeggerfarmyard.com/xcart/Rhinehart-X30-Dehorner.html.  I also needed a box used to restrain the kid, often called a disbudding box. I also ordered some blood stop powder.  I'm praying I never have to use that, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

So, wish me luck on learning this new skill!!!  I'll let you know how it goes.
And good luck with your resolutions!






Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Let's go buy some goats!


Reservations now being accepted for the following match-ups....

     Due in February:  Emma x Over the Moon
          Does: $300, Bucks: $200, Wethers: $100
     Due in May: Amber x Over the Moon
          Does: $400, Bucks: $300, Wethers: $100

Discounts available for cash deposits placed on a reserved kid(s), multiple purchases, 4-H'ers, and those enrolled in DHIR testing.