Ragdollcatlady's Just a Little Patch of Weeds Farm journal

[ragdollcatlady]

Thanks H&R and Babs,

I know we did our best for him, but seeing my 19 year old feel that pain and still insist on comforting his old friend in those last minutes, was even more heartbreaking than letting go of our sick little friend. I don't really have any words that help ease that pain for him.

Today one of my nicest coworkers went through almost the same thing. She had worked so hard to tame a feral that lived out back and Carmen was finally letting her really pet her. She caught Carmen today to see what was wrong with her mouth. She tested positive for leukemia and had sores in her mouth. We all felt bad, but this was her favorite person, so we all knew that she really belonged to her.

We had a storm today, thunder, lightning, hail, rain in torrents!!! I love this weather, but not having to rescue the animals from puddles. It is sunny out right now, but more clouds in the distance, we need more rain!

 

[ragdollcatlady]

4H fair is tomorrow. We are bringing the 2 market wethers and Hazelnuttzycakes to see how they stack up. Shaving them was not much fun, but they do look really nice all cleaned up!!!! Hazel is sleek and shiny even under her coat, and the boys are just nicely balanced. Truth be told, we are really raising them more like dairy goats, I am giving them alfalfa with their meat goat grain because I really, truly believe it is healthier. I know we might get docked for hay bellies, but we can cut the hay back(and trade most of it for alfalfa pellets) before the county fair. I can't in good conscience raise them with almost no hay. Even (or maybe especially since) they are destined for food, I want them to be healthy while they are here. It matters to me.

We forgot to wash the chickens! I guess we will see how bad they are looking tomorrow to see if we can still bring them. They were good a week ago....

I have someone that wants to come see the last little girl goat I have for sale right now....but I don't wanna sell her!!! I am liking her more and more. I hope Little Italy kids soon with some more girls! (Like more goats will really solve my problem right???? )

 

[ragdollcatlady]

I am sending out another order for lavender sebastopol goose eggs. I finally made back the money I spent on my new gander!!!

And I almost have DH convinced that I need another incubator....

My fantail pigeons are sitting on eggs! I was thinking that I might have gotten 2 males, but there are finally eggs in there.

 

[BlessedWithGoats]

Sorry for your recent losses @ragdollcatlady!
Congrats on the goose and pigeon eggs!

 

[ragdollcatlady]

Thanks Blessedwithgoats!

Here is a pic of my baby goose...

and a pic of the one rooster I kept out of my baby salmons this last year. He is darker than most of my others and I plan on using him in my mahogany project for now.

 

[babsbag]

When you run out of girl goats I could send you a few Alpines. I think you need some more upright ears

 

[BlessedWithGoats]

Aww! Cute little goose!
Nice colors on you rooster! I have one Americauna (sp?) rooster, 3 Americauna hens, 1 barred rock hen, and 1 bsl hen... the bsl I got last Spring, and the other 5 I got this spring! I had a fav. rooster that would sit on my shoulder, but sadly, he didn't make it through the winter.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

I have trouble with the Faverolles and the heat here. They are much better suited to cold weather as they have dense heavy feathering.

Babs....are you trying to add to my addiction???? (blink, blink) I am afraid I haven't even collected the last of 2 my long eared babies from you and you are trying to add another breed? LOL! It is probably a good thing we live so far apart..... goat addicts encouraging each other is a terrible thing!!!!

Today was the first day of the 4H fair. Only DS showed poultry today and came away with a third in showmanship, and 2 first place ribbons for his bantam chocolate orpingtons! Our 4H poultry kids did really well in both showmanship and ribbons won by their birds.

Our meat goats weighed in today. Hazelnutzzycakes went to see if DS wants to show her (if we can). She was RavioliAnnas baby from last year. She weighed in at a whopping 93 lbs!!! She is only 9 months old and considering we have NOT been graining her and she had a major setback with the dog attack that drastically slowed her down, I think she is doing pretty awesome!!! DS's other goat looks pretty nice shaved up too. Buddy weighed in at 72lbs and DDs goat, AJ, weighed in at 83 lb. not too shabby! For the county fair, they have to be a minimum of 60 lb to sell at all. Maximum payweight is 105 lbs. We are good on weights. Our friend in the project that bought her goats a little younger, is worried that they might not make weight. If they can get 20 lbs in 8 weeks they will be OK. I think they can do it.

The meat goats show tomorrow. DS is doing small animal round robin. DD volunteered to judge the small animal round robin! The poultry superintendent vouched for DD knowing more than enough to be a good judge, citing all the first place showmanship and round robin contests she has won.

Yesterday I came home to both the market wethers in the front yard! They had jumped the 6 foot fence again!I hope they stay put tonight at the fairgrounds!!!!! I do not like the new rule that the animals have to stay overnight, which is why we did not take the dairy goats.

 

[BlessedWithGoats]

Congrats on the awesome job at the 4H fair! Would love to see a pic of the chocolate orpingtons if you wanted to share one!

 

[CochinBrahmaLover=)]

Congrats! Adorable gosling and lovely rooster