newton's the goats journal

[newton the goat]

I don't think you need a license, you don't in California at least.

My LGD is just a pup, about 7 months old, and she has never been around the chickens. My older dogs leave the birds alone if they show up by "accident" but the pup has no experience or training with birds. I used to have my chickens and goats in the same field so the older dogs were their protectors too. But since working on getting the dairy license the chickens and goats can't live together so the birds have been moved out of the goat field. I have about 15 birds that don't live in the coop, they sleep in trees and run free everywhere. This rooster was really good with his hens and a good protector, they will miss him.

I'm sorry about your boy... I bet you will miss him too... if you are ever down in Canada or a friend is for whatever reason... I have a few young roos (black copper marans) I could send you home with one they are only a few weeks old but are very friendly little boys... not that they could replace yours.... I hope there won't be similar incidents in the future

 

[newton the goat]

So this morning... my father comes home from helping the dairy farmer up the street with chores (he's the guy giving my grandfather a calf) and as soon as he sets foot in the door I'm imeadiatly handed a list of things I need to buy from tsc. Udder cream for Newton, a calf bottle, and calf starter.... uhh wait what? Apparently I've been hired by the farmer to come in at 6 in the morning to bottle feed all his new born calfs including something called MY Bull calf... I didn't know I had a bull calf.... I know my grandfather has a bull calf, but I know for a fact I never asked for one (didn't even think it was a good idea in the first place *sigh*). Looks like I called it! The bull calf is now my responsibility along with all the other animals. This should be fun... anyone know how to tame a bull calf?

 

[NH homesteader]

Oh dear! Is the bull calf going to be raised for meat? And turned into a steer at some point, I hope?

 

[newton the goat]

Oh dear! Is the bull calf going to be raised for meat? And turned into a steer at some point, I hope?

It will be for meat, and for being turned into a steer....It better be.... and knowing it ain't polled, I might want to see about removing the horns too...

 

[NH homesteader]

Yeah you should find out their plan for it.... Definitely horns are not good! And bulls are not good! What breed?

If you start a thread asking for advice handling him, plenty of cattle people will show up to help you!

 

[samssimonsays]

I just got caught up on the journal and WOW! you are busy! hahaha. Good luck! I have no experience with cows.

 

[newton the goat]

Yeah you should find out their plan for it.... Definitely horns are not good! And bulls are not good! What breed?

If you start a thread asking for advice handling him, plenty of cattle people will show up to help you!

He's just one of the regular black and white dairy cows, other than that... I know nothing else.

I just got caught up on the journal and WOW! you are busy! hahaha. Good luck! I have no experience with cows.

Ya we have been... no breaks so far...

And there may be a possibility that my dad's girlfriend wants to raise honey bees.... another potantial animal to add to our 32 chickens (roos included) which we will be adding 20 more as well as 40 meat birds, 8 turkeys, ten piglets... and last but not least a bull calf....omg... I'm drowning in animals, oh I forgot about goats... newton will be bred again later on this year, her babies will either be sold or raised for meat, the two we have now... well let's just say their fate hasn't been decided yet (I'm pestering my dad to let us keep the doeling at lease ...)
this is getting insane....someone help I'm up to my eyeballs in animals

 

[NH homesteader]

Sounds like a Holstein.

10 piglets??? That's a lot of piglets!

And Newton needs a friend so your dad has to let you keep the doeling.

 

[newton the goat]

Sounds like a Holstein.

10 piglets??? That's a lot of piglets!

And Newton needs a friend so your dad has to let you keep the doeling.

Ya it is a lot of piglets ... we are raising three for our part of the family and the rest either for selling to the butcher or people around us, and dad wants to keep a breeding pair over the winter.... so more hands on training.... with all this work it's hard to get homework done...I'm somehow keeping up with classes but with the wedding Saturday the stress levels are through the roof! My family is all clamoring around (my dad's fiance with a bucket of hot water and bleach) trying to clean the house as fast as possible..... and now with extra animals to take care of, I don't think I'll be getting much sleep anytime soon..

And that's my reasoning too! Plus she is adorable and has a big personality for her size lol.

 

[samssimonsays]

And IF you keep her, you now have TWO does to bring in milk and money for kids and or meat on the table