newton's the goats journal

[newton the goat]

Ok here's a big long update thanks to my long time disapearance from this site
I just finished my first ever 4h competition with my overly butch looking heifer calf smurf that I'm borrowing from the farm I work at. I placed 14 out of 19 in the first round and 14 out of twenty in the second which I'm pretty proud of.

My flock of sheep is doing well, Ramsey is going nicely and is still a big suck up

the ladies trust me much more and will follow me around the pasture willingly without any coaxing!

I'm a bit worried about oone of the moms since she constantly lays down, I can't tell if something is wrong or if she is just lazy. She isn't showing a lack of energy appetite or any sort of symptoms like that.
Whatever issue we were having with their health before has straightened itself out and is no longer an issue(honeslty I'm thinking it was because of my step mom giving them sweet feed even after I asked her to stop)
Buddy my bull calf is over 250 lbs now... though he is a suck, his playful habits will soo be dangerous if I don't get control which I've been trying, thing is my dad wants to sell him, which actually may be a good idea especially since he wants to put the money towards a meat calf instead of a Holstein.

And finally one thing after another... I can honestly say I've officially graduated!! And a week after I did I entered into my college course! It's weird being in school in the summer time but honestly it's awesome at the same time! Definitly keeping me busy!

I'm sorry for disapearing, how is everyone? I'm tired waiting for the day I actually get a full nights sleep for once

 

[Bruce]

HI NEWTON!! We miss you When you have the time you can bring us up to date on all the activities.

 

[newton the goat]

Hey Bruce
Good to be back! It's been kinda a bit rough recently and all. We finally got our first crop planted and actually harvested last week! We are working on setting up the second pastured area for the sheep which is great! But it means they need to learn how to follow me to the other side of the property this is going to be fun

 

[Mike CHS]

Hey Bruce
Good to be back! It's been kinda a bit rough recently and all. We finally got our first crop planted and actually harvested last week! We are working on setting up the second pastured area for the sheep which is great! But it means they need to learn how to follow me to the other side of the property this is going to be fun

Do you ever give them any feed? We don't do it often but every several days I go out and call them to me with a bucket and some feed. I put just enough in their troughs that they get a taste but it pays off in the long run. As an example, they were out in a fairly big field of grass that we just opened yesterday and when I looked down at them just before sun tonightset, they were just standing there looking up at the house. It was obvious they couldn't find the gate to get back in so I went down with a bucket of feed and called them to me through the gate they couldn't find. They all got a bit of feed out of my hand but it got them to their bedding area.

 

[newton the goat]

Do you ever give them any feed? We don't do it often but every several days I go out and call them to me with a bucket and some feed. I put just enough in their troughs that they get a taste but it pays off in the long run. As an example, they were out in a fairly big field of grass that we just opened yesterday and when I looked down at them just before sun tonightset, they were just standing there looking up at the house. It was obvious they couldn't find the gate to get back in so I went down with a bucket of feed and called them to me through the gate they couldn't find. They all got a bit of feed out of my hand but it got them to their bedding area.

Ya I do everyonce and a while not often, I'm going to try using that to coax them over across the property to the next feild

 

[CntryBoy777]

Congratulations!!....
I know it seems schooling is still school, but it is good to get to the things ya wish to learn, instead of the boring stuff others want ya to learn. Also, on the placings in the show...tho, I'm sure they deducted points for the hat.......it is sure good to hear from ya and the grass sure looks much better than all the water ya had up there earlier....

 

[newton the goat]

Congratulations!!....
I know it seems schooling is still school, but it is good to get to the things ya wish to learn, instead of the boring stuff others want ya to learn. Also, on the placings in the show...tho, I'm sure they deducted points for the hat.......it is sure good to hear from ya and the grass sure looks much better than all the water ya had up there earlier....

Booo how can they remove points for the hat?? It looks awesome on her !!! And I agree! I'm so happy that the water is gone! Though.... we only have rain showers that last up to 20 mins now... it's not the best for crops but it's better than it pouring and pouring for days like it was before

 

[newton the goat]

I feel like I'm dying.... urgh the past couple days we got over 40 9 ft wooden posts 5ft in the ground with over 500 ft of cattle fencing put up (finally) fixed up the holes in the fence we found with extra wire we had and then coaxed all our animals (sheep, goats, and buddy included) with a bucket of feed and two people following behind to pick up the stragglers, all the way down to the gully on the other side of the property. Since it is the first move, all our girls in the flock are a little stressed out but as we make it a more regular habit; they should steadily be able to make the move without any issues. Buddy now almost 600lbs (ignore my previous weight guess) has decided he is a bush cow

and has taken to eating the leaves off bushes and trees in there, while newton and gruff attempt to find a way out through the fence to my dismay (dumb goats). I'm hoping the sheep will soon become more comfortable with their way of living and soon will take to grazing all over the feild like they did in their first feild. My dad is worried because they are all acting stressed out which he has never seen before but I assured him that they were like this but less friendly when we first got them and that they would settle down soon. The grass in the gully will keep them busy for a few weeks due to it being knee high in some places and super dense all over. It's by far the best on the entire property.

Once the river has calmed down and cleared up a but we will be able to fish fresh water out of there if we wanted so that makes life a bit easier but I think my dad will likely just run a hose down there to give them water daily.

 

[Latestarter]

Thanks for the pics. Honestly, I don't think the animals would have any issues drinking straight from the stream as it is right now.

 

[newton the goat]

Thanks for the pics. Honestly, I don't think the animals would have any issues drinking straight from the stream as it is right now.

Ya true, the cow and the goats (if they hadn't just escaped, dumb goats...) would enjoy it but my sheep seem to be picky with water and won't drink if the water seems a bit murky. .. they will wait for fresh water then drink half the bucket in one go each, so we may try it as an experiment but I have no clue how they will react