Suggestions?

[Blackbird]

Can I make some suggestions about what to add to the new forum? This is just me, but I would love to possibly see a fiber section for both goats and sheep, obviously some sheep are often a fiber animal, but there are also Angora and Cashmere goats that produce fiber. Fiber sections could go over shearing, combing, skirting, etc.

It would be nice to see a dairy AND meat section in the goat area, as there are various breeds bred for meat, as well as dairy. Dairy sections could go over milking, handling milk, and other obvious lactation questions, and I would think meat would cover processing weights, cuts, etc..

Alot of llamas, equine and goats are used for trail packing and halter training, so that could be something to also consider in those sections.

I think the equine lovers would enjoy a riding section.

Thats all I can think of.

Feel free to add to this if you can think of something everyone..

 

[Nifty]

Amos, you're spot on with some of the things we're already discussing, so keep the ideas coming!

The biggest thing we are struggling with is deciding which areas can be combined for all animals (like manure management) and which ones should probably be specific to each animal (diseases).

Those are two pretty clear examples, but some are a bit less clear: Housing, fencing, milking, fiber, etc.

I tend to like fewer sub-forums, so the more we can find sub forums that apply pretty well across most animals, the better.

 

[wynedot55]

Amos, you're spot on with some of the things we're already discussing, so keep the ideas coming!

The biggest thing we are struggling with is deciding which areas can be combined for all animals (like manure management) and which ones should probably be specific to each animal (diseases).

Those are two pretty clear examples, but some are a bit less clear: Housing, fencing, milking, fiber, etc.

I tend to like fewer sub-forums, so the more we can find sub forums that apply pretty well across most animals, the better.

put all the manure management qs togather.an open up the dieases to all types of livestock.an add a section for sheering sheep an goats.an also a section for the fleece an fibers.lamas will also be included in the fleece an fiber section.since they to can be shorn.

 

[reinbeau]

I also think we need a picture section for each one - I know, I know, we're supposed to be pruning down, but people love to post photos.

 

[Blackbird]

Hmm.

I do like Wyndotte's idea for the disease, manure, fly control etc. areas that can be combined, it would help limit alot of repeats..
I think a fiber section in that for all fiber animals would be a benefit although some fibers are collected differently varying upon fiber types and microns.. I think it would be too much hassle to have one for each animal now that it is mentioned.

Housing and fencing.. Maybe a heading (is that was they are called? I'm thinking of where it says 'sheep', 'goats' and so on) and under it where there can be 'Housing & fencing for Horses', 'Housing & Fencing for Pigs' and so on to cover all the animals and containing info..? Maybe thats too much though.

If there was a heading of something like Other Animal Related Topics, with Milking, Disease, etc under it.. that might work? I'm not sure.

I agree, there are obviously so many affiliated topics that it will take a while to figure it out..

Just trying to generate ideas =]

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I also think we need a picture section for each one - I know, I know, we're supposed to be pruning down, but people love to post photos.

My opinion,
Pictures belong all over depending on what they are pictures of. Not only the different breeds of animals but, are they of babies, adults, fences, milking, a problem (injury, disease, etc.) And if it's just a general type of thing it could go into the "Everything Else......" section of the respective forums.

We love pictues!

 

[kstaven]

Hmm.

I do like Wyndotte's idea for the disease, manure, fly control etc. areas that can be combined, it would help limit alot of repeats..
I think a fiber section in that for all fiber animals would be a benefit although some fibers are collected differently varying upon fiber types and microns.. I think it would be too much hassle to have one for each animal now that it is mentioned.

Housing and fencing.. Maybe a heading (is that was they are called? I'm thinking of where it says 'sheep', 'goats' and so on) and under it where there can be 'Housing & fencing for Horses', 'Housing & Fencing for Pigs' and so on to cover all the animals and containing info..? Maybe thats too much though.

If there was a heading of something like Other Animal Related Topics, with Milking, Disease, etc under it.. that might work? I'm not sure.

I agree, there are obviously so many affiliated topics that it will take a while to figure it out..

Just trying to generate ideas =]

I agree with the suggestions. Keep it simple and not spread it out with an overwhelming number of catagories. We can always split them later if needed. Much like how it was handled on BYC.

 

[Thewife]

Maybe add what kind of critter is being fed, to the "feeding time" headings!

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Maybe add what kind of critter is being fed, to the "feeding time" headings!

I second this and was just going to suggest it. Can you do something like...

Index>>Animal>>Category

example:

Index>>Goat>>Feeding time

If you go through the recent posts at the bottom of the index page unless stated in the post there is no way to know which animal is being talked about--I just looked at a goat one that way.

 

[Nifty]

Great idea regarding "Recent Posts". Adding the animals to each forum title will help that area considerably.