Livestock

48 articles

Oh Mama! (Kidding Prep)

T-Minus 10 days and counting, and I can't imagine how much bigger Mama might get between now and her sweet babies joining us! We've spent the month of April doing our best to pull everything together for the arrival of our very first kids (and births!) on the farm. We're nervous and excited, worried and trusting, exhausted and inspired. We've…
April 27, 2016

Goat Pregnancy Watch! Day 111

As you might recall, on Day 86 I wrote about our wonderings as to whether or not Mama was actually pregnant and finally deciding that yes, in fact, she must have at least two kids in there! Well, now that we're about a month out from her estimated/official Kidding Day (May 7th at 145 days), she's really starting to pop!…
April 3, 2016

Goat Pregnancy Watch! Day 86

I've been driving myself a bit crazy trying to figure out if Mama is pregnant...reading a bunch of articles, constantly checking for signs of heat, watching her belly...all in the hope that she will, in fact, give us at least one (but maybe more!) kid in May! I am so giddy about the potential for having our very first babies…
March 9, 2016
Akuna – LGD Update

Akuna – LGD Update

Despite all of my angst around this big, white, fluffy, livestock guardian dog (LGD) of ours (between her escapes, her seemingly endless heat cycle, and the necessity for our newly installed electric fencing), I just have to say that... She is doing so well! She has calmed around the chickens and the goats and is so very gentle (though sometimes…
February 28, 2016
It had to be done…

It had to be done…

Despite our walks around the perimeter of the property... and our verbal warnings... Despite welcoming her back warmly when she returned on her own (positive reinforcement)... and locking her in her kennel when we had to go searching for her (negative consequences)... Despite her gentle way with our chickens... and the great strides she has made in learning to be calm…
February 15, 2016
The Mobile Vet

The Mobile Vet

Our nine year old husky mix, Mika, has been struggling with her health for years now, but we hit a really bad spell last week and were quite worried that we were finally looking at "the beginning of the end". Keeping in mind her challenges (ongoing bad arthritis in her back legs and hips in addition to her very upset…
February 13, 2016