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I got up at 3 am to check on her, nothing. But when I went out at 7:30 am: mushy ligaments, restlessness, huge bag, staring off into space and not interested in hay. Won't be long now ... :caf

I send my mammals out, but I've done chickens at home. The butcher still rolls his eyes when I give my goats tearful good-byes and hugs. The thing I hate the most about it, is that they KNOW when they get there. I know they can smell the blood and the holding pen is dark and scary. I would like...

Icelandics also give decent milk. Sheep milk is higher in butterfat than cow or goat. It is traditionally used for roquefort and manchego cheeses and can be used for feta, romano and cacciota.

The Older Does-state theme (two came with those, didn't like what Okie's owners were calling her --Olive-- so I changed it to Oklahoma to go with the theme Maryland, Carolina and Oklahoma Bucks- Trapper John (yes, from M*A*S*H. Had another named Radar at the time) Morado (Spanish for purple...

The 4-H leader said that timing is critical with AI and said that he's done the does at 3am before. He has a vasectomy buck to help detect the onset of estrus. He's also retired and can spend all day watching goats if needed.

:welcome Good to see more Michigan members on here. Goat shares ARE legal in Michigan (although sales for pet consumption are illegal). Aged cheeses are also OK for farmer's markets, must be aged for 60 days. I haven't been to Shaftsburg, but I've been through Perry and down M-52 that way...

Does she really need one while in the pasture or her stall? I would take the halter in the evening, wash it and let it dry overnight. My horse doesn't wear a halter in the pasture. The pony only began wearing one recently because at the boarding stable, the owner put her in with the minis and...

Day 152 ... One of my Saanen does was due Friday, but still no kid. Her bag is quite big, her ligaments are *maybe* a *tad* loose. No mucous. She is getting up and laying down fairly frequently but no other signs. Just getting nervous and restless. Meanwhile, the doe that is due April 17th...

I don't know. My property is partly zoned residential, partly industrial (whenever the neighbors complain about the goats or roosters, we threaten to put in a power plant). I am also the widow of a war veteran (yes, that is a real break). I don't pay much :D You could always call your township...

Hydrogen peroxide is an approved cleaner (I believe at 30% concentration, NOT what you buy at the pharmacy, that's only 3%). The organic dairy I'm affiliated with uses that for their cleaning. Look into that. Vacuum sealer for the cheese? Again, dairy belt dweller here. For a few years I...

Seeing your signature says that you are on 5 acres, that really is not enough land for what you plan on doing. I live in the "dairy belt" of Michigan and am familiar with our state's regulations. Granted, California may be different, but I'm sure some of the things are the same. a) Separate...

Our 4-H leader does it. He's up in Lupton. He does it mostly for his Boers, but I know he has some Saanen straws too. Some of the teenage members are doing their 4H project this year on AI and he's doing a demo for them. Not sure when that will be, but he did tell all of them at the Feb meeting...

Bumping this thread since we have some more Michigan members. What's everyone's spring/summer plans? Mine's the usual gardening/horseback riding/tending to goats & children. Stacykins, I plan to be in your neck of the woods Memorial Day weekend, I usually do the Grand Island Endurance Ride...

Lavender oil is supposed to be good for calming. I would try to find a trainer to take her on, although given her size, many probably will say that they can't ride her. However, I am 5'2" and ride my daughter's 12hh pony quite often (once her in her pony saddle which was quite uncomfortable)...

Same here. We did have a long dry spell in northern Michigan, but it wouldn't have been so bad if ranchers from Oklahoma and Texas weren't driving up here to get hay. They were driving from farm to farm in semi-trucks, filling them, and driving back south and west. At one point hay was up to $12...

:thumbsup Good work.

I spin on a drop spindle too. I have a Louet and a "something" that I ordered from Amazon (it was SUPPOSED to be another Louet) that is small and light and I can spin super-fine wool on it. I started last May and have been really pleased with my progress. Plus when I was spinning wool in the...

Just keep heaving her up there; she'll eventually get tired of it and hop up on her own. Don't get frustrated, don't yell and scream. Just heft her up and go on with your routine. She'll get the idea. It may take a few weeks, be patient. Note, this is not fun when doing this with 150lb 32" tall...

What? It's not your profile pic yet? It's a priceless photograph :)

Some milking equipment cleaners are midly acidic to cut "milkstone", the calcium in the milk building up and also minerals from hard water. I have used vinegar with decent results. I worked at a McDonald's for 6 yrs and I was the main "shake machine tech" and had to clean and santitize the...