I am researching some fun ideas on how to create a "play place" for my goats. During my search, I found this adorable video!
http://youtu.be/mu31o9zzHQs
http://youtu.be/mu31o9zzHQs
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As we receive questions or learn from our own mistakes, we will post our discussions here! Have a question? Send us an email on the "Contact Us" page and we will blog our reply for all to see!
I am researching some fun ideas on how to create a "play place" for my goats. During my search, I found this adorable video!
http://youtu.be/mu31o9zzHQs
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We had our veterinarian come to the farm for a visit on December 16, 2014, for annual rabies vaccinations and to do an ultrasound on Rosie. We are excited to say that Rosie is carrying one baby, and it is estimated to be 70-75 days along. We are hoping Zelda will be bred soon so we can prepare for a late summer/fall kidding! We are still very new to owning goats, so it was great to learn how to check our small herd for worms by looking at their eyes, discussing different vaccinations that are necessary in our area for goats, and to prepare ourselves for Rosie's first kidding.
We can't wait to see the offspring Chief and Rosie will produce, as it will be the first kid produced from both goats. We want you to know all about us, ask questions, and find answers, so we are starting a blog! A little intro: Jessie grew up on a farm, showing and raising Shorthorn beef cattle, showing horses, and raising miniature horses. When she began dating Jacob years ago she warned him that if he had any concerns with a life surrounded by animals, he had better get out now! Jacob quickly learned the joys of farm life and supported Jessie's dream to one day own a herd of Myotonic goats. Neither of us had any experience or knowledge when it came to raising goats. Everything that we have learned thus far is by means of trial and error, and by the help of fellow breeders. Myotonic goats are not an ornament for our family, although their fainting tendencies provide a constant outlet of laughter. We enjoy the daily tasks of taking care of our goats and continuing to see their individual personalities develop - they have become a huge part of our life!
One of the scariest parts of raising a new type of livestock involved kidding. Having helped birth countless ponies, horses, and cows, you would think we would be pros! Each type of animal has their own traits that were difficult to identify at first - detecting heat cycles, determining an appropriate age for a doe to be bred, what is that awful smell coming from my buck?! It all comes down to your will to learn. For us this learning process is fun... we enjoy learning new things about every type of livestock and it gives us a sense of accomplishment when we think about how far we have come. For example, when I smell that "new buck smell" on a young male coming of age its exciting! That means he's learning his purpose in the herd... just don't let the smell get on your clothes! There are a lot of opinions and debates as far as the appropriate age for a doe to be bred. The general rule is one year old, as they are still developing and growing and it can negatively impact their growth if they are bred before they have fully developed; and if they are not fully mature they could have extreme complications in birth that can kill the kid(s). Some people think does should be closer to 2 years old before being bred, but my rule of thumb is 1. I will blog in the future about kidding practices and helpful hints for breeding. The purpose of today's blog is to let all those reading know that it is okay to start off unsure of what you are doing, BUT you must have the will to learn and be able to constantly adapt and change your lifestyle to ensure the safety of your herd! |
Carolina Tuggum Farms
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March 2015
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