Wow, will be interesting to see what they develop into.
Chiques chicks - my little corner - had to pick hottest day
- Thread starter chiques chicks
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- #42
chiques chicks
Loving the herd life
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I currently have the adults from last year, the rooster in my avatar, hatched by someone else from my eggs and given back because he is mean, and two hens that I hatched.
The other person also has Jen from last year.
I had about 5 hatch under broodies that didn't make it last year as well. Last fall I set up a breeding pen for this project, the three albinos I own plus for hens that *may* carry the gene.
The other person also has Jen from last year.
I had about 5 hatch under broodies that didn't make it last year as well. Last fall I set up a breeding pen for this project, the three albinos I own plus for hens that *may* carry the gene.
- Thread starter
- #43
chiques chicks
Loving the herd life
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2015
- Messages
- 303
- Reaction score
- 291
- Points
- 113
Winter turned into spring feeling like summer!
Too much too fast to keep up! Gardens, lawn, field, trees, arghhhhh!
Got most of the garden planted, really heavy on the squash patch this year. I like them, goats and chickens all eat them, essay to grow.
Electric meeting came today so hopefully can get the goats out to browse. Just need to clear a path for the net. Hope they train to it easily!
For now I've been running the mower through the field and collecting clippings for them. Good mix of grasses with some clover and it's for to five feet tall, so makes great food. It's a little hard on my riding mower, but my tractor died the other year, so it's my only way. Maybe I can rig some sort of tow behind brush cutter foot my lawn tractor, lol.
Too much too fast to keep up! Gardens, lawn, field, trees, arghhhhh!
Got most of the garden planted, really heavy on the squash patch this year. I like them, goats and chickens all eat them, essay to grow.
Electric meeting came today so hopefully can get the goats out to browse. Just need to clear a path for the net. Hope they train to it easily!
For now I've been running the mower through the field and collecting clippings for them. Good mix of grasses with some clover and it's for to five feet tall, so makes great food. It's a little hard on my riding mower, but my tractor died the other year, so it's my only way. Maybe I can rig some sort of tow behind brush cutter foot my lawn tractor, lol.
- Thread starter
- #44
chiques chicks
Loving the herd life
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2015
- Messages
- 303
- Reaction score
- 291
- Points
- 113
Finally got to put up a little electric netting I've had for a few weeks.
My rolls are 164', but i just put up a small section outside their area. I had to add midway posts a lot of places to keep it from sagging on the ground. once I got it up and tested, I opened the gate. The goats wandered out and just hung around the outside of their fence for a bit nibbling on weeds.
I stayed with them to monitor them, I wanted to see if they began to train to it. My older two had been trained to electric by their previous owner and seemed to remember. Finally my little wether who had never seen it before bumped against it. I'm sorry, but it was hilarious! I think he hit it again an hour later, since I saw him sprint into his safe home corral.
They'll learn. Once I'm comfortable the respect it, I'll be putting up more so they can get to the overgrown wooded area on my hill. I've got 4 rolls of this stuff!
My rolls are 164', but i just put up a small section outside their area. I had to add midway posts a lot of places to keep it from sagging on the ground. once I got it up and tested, I opened the gate. The goats wandered out and just hung around the outside of their fence for a bit nibbling on weeds.
I stayed with them to monitor them, I wanted to see if they began to train to it. My older two had been trained to electric by their previous owner and seemed to remember. Finally my little wether who had never seen it before bumped against it. I'm sorry, but it was hilarious! I think he hit it again an hour later, since I saw him sprint into his safe home corral.
They'll learn. Once I'm comfortable the respect it, I'll be putting up more so they can get to the overgrown wooded area on my hill. I've got 4 rolls of this stuff!
- Thread starter
- #45
chiques chicks
Loving the herd life
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2015
- Messages
- 303
- Reaction score
- 291
- Points
- 113
It didn't take long for them to understand the power of the fence. This morning when I left them out in the little grazing area, they respected it, so...
I hopped on the mower and cleared some paths to erect more netting. I put up about 450' around some mixed trees/ weeds/vines/brambles.
I left them out and they started to check it out and eat, then went back to relax. Now I can learn how quickly they can clear an area.
I got my fence from Kencove. It is 4' 14 strand. I did clip the lowest wire, since 3" tend to ground easily. I also added a bunch of intermediate posts to help with sagging. Checked the voltage at the end of the run and still getting 6-7000 volts, I have it hooked to a Paramak Magnum 12 sp I got for free, just needed a dollar panel and battery.
So far, so good. I just check them frequently.
I hopped on the mower and cleared some paths to erect more netting. I put up about 450' around some mixed trees/ weeds/vines/brambles.
I left them out and they started to check it out and eat, then went back to relax. Now I can learn how quickly they can clear an area.
I got my fence from Kencove. It is 4' 14 strand. I did clip the lowest wire, since 3" tend to ground easily. I also added a bunch of intermediate posts to help with sagging. Checked the voltage at the end of the run and still getting 6-7000 volts, I have it hooked to a Paramak Magnum 12 sp I got for free, just needed a dollar panel and battery.
So far, so good. I just check them frequently.
- Thread starter
- #46
chiques chicks
Loving the herd life
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2015
- Messages
- 303
- Reaction score
- 291
- Points
- 113
They enjoy their new browse, now to get them to explore!
First couple days the stupid goats went to the closest browse, just some weeds. Finally today I went out with them and led them around the entire fence line. They followed me like ducklings. When we got to the good stuff, blackberry, poison ivy, Virginia creeper they stopped and started eating. I eventually started to leave and they followed me back to the pen!
They aren't starving, I have them one flake off hay between the of them the days ago and over half of it remains. Maybe I'm just not seeing them explore, although I've been around all week.
Silly goats!
A few pictures, everyone likes pictures!
First couple days the stupid goats went to the closest browse, just some weeds. Finally today I went out with them and led them around the entire fence line. They followed me like ducklings. When we got to the good stuff, blackberry, poison ivy, Virginia creeper they stopped and started eating. I eventually started to leave and they followed me back to the pen!
They aren't starving, I have them one flake off hay between the of them the days ago and over half of it remains. Maybe I'm just not seeing them explore, although I've been around all week.
Silly goats!
A few pictures, everyone likes pictures!
- Thread starter
- #47
chiques chicks
Loving the herd life
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2015
- Messages
- 303
- Reaction score
- 291
- Points
- 113
It's been about a week with netting up. The net I got is orange, so very visible.
Two nights ago we got hard rain. One spot i had the net stretched tight, a post pulled out and fell, grounding the system. By chance, I had also forgotten to close the gate their pen .
Yesterday morning I went out to say hi and walk the fence line. I came upon the downed section, and there were the goats, happily browsing in the enclosed area. They didn't even try to cross the net.
I actually only ever saw one get zapped, twice, while the others were nearby, but it must have been enough tell them " avoid".
The power of psychological training.
Two nights ago we got hard rain. One spot i had the net stretched tight, a post pulled out and fell, grounding the system. By chance, I had also forgotten to close the gate their pen .
Yesterday morning I went out to say hi and walk the fence line. I came upon the downed section, and there were the goats, happily browsing in the enclosed area. They didn't even try to cross the net.
I actually only ever saw one get zapped, twice, while the others were nearby, but it must have been enough tell them " avoid".
The power of psychological training.
- Thread starter
- #48
chiques chicks
Loving the herd life
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2015
- Messages
- 303
- Reaction score
- 291
- Points
- 113
Moved the net yesterday to some new browse.
- Thread starter
- #49
chiques chicks
Loving the herd life
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2015
- Messages
- 303
- Reaction score
- 291
- Points
- 113
I had to pick the hottest day to move the browse area. 4-160' nets, heat index at 105° .
They had taken their last area from this
To this
In three weeks. I give them about 1000sq.ft. for three goats.
So it needed done.
Halfway through, a thunderstorm came through, but I just kept working. At least it cooled me down-slightly.
It was interesting watching the rain roll across the valley as it approached, raining on the road but not yet on me. Yet. And in a rare occurrence, I haven't found any ticks on me!
The goats, of course, are enjoying their fresh browse.
I unfortunately must go to my real job for a shift this evening. The goats can eat and relax. And I wonder why no one I work with understand me.
They had taken their last area from this
To this
In three weeks. I give them about 1000sq.ft. for three goats.
So it needed done.
Halfway through, a thunderstorm came through, but I just kept working. At least it cooled me down-slightly.
It was interesting watching the rain roll across the valley as it approached, raining on the road but not yet on me. Yet. And in a rare occurrence, I haven't found any ticks on me!
The goats, of course, are enjoying their fresh browse.
I unfortunately must go to my real job for a shift this evening. The goats can eat and relax. And I wonder why no one I work with understand me.
