tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post7618195027211624754..comments2023-10-21T16:38:35.007-05:00Comments on Thoughts from Frank and Fern: Barely Enough MilkFrank and Fernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-17085589141929359692015-11-11T20:04:16.175-06:002015-11-11T20:04:16.175-06:00That's my plan, Kathi. I hope to breed two doe...That's my plan, Kathi. I hope to breed two does in May this year instead of July. Then we can have October babies instead of January, which is much better temperature wise. Then our second breeding can be in October for March babies. Thank you for the recommendation.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-8912113004636617832015-11-11T20:01:56.535-06:002015-11-11T20:01:56.535-06:00We have kept some colostrum in the freezer before,...We have kept some colostrum in the freezer before, C.M, but not for a few years. We usually have more than one doe in milk at a time, so if we ever had an orphan, I hope we would have a milk source to feed it. So far, we have never raised any bottle babies, I don't plan on it either. I think the doe would do a much better job than I would at raising a kid. If we did have an orphan or one that needed bottle raising for some reason, I would probably give it away or sell it. Interesting comment that many can learn from. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-13268084777426459952015-11-11T19:57:13.692-06:002015-11-11T19:57:13.692-06:00Hi, Sandra. It's a lot colder where you are. W...Hi, Sandra. It's a lot colder where you are. We have folks around here that don't milk in the winter. The ones that do make cheese and other dairy products make then in the warm months. If I could find a way to make preserved, frozen milk taste better, I'd just store more frozen milk. <br /><br />You've got some very pretty wool products. We tried spinning our own wool a number of years ago. I admire the quality of your yarn. <br /><br />http://www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com/<br /><br />Thank you for your comment.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-80418956069899219672015-11-11T19:49:01.577-06:002015-11-11T19:49:01.577-06:00Hello, Alissa. We are aware of this technique, but...Hello, Alissa. We are aware of this technique, but have never used it. After our unsuccessful weaning techniques this year, it might be something to seriously look into. Thank you for your recommendation, and I hope other livestock owners read this also. Thank you again.<br /><br />Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-18269932574480011872015-11-11T19:45:59.968-06:002015-11-11T19:45:59.968-06:00Hi Everett. I like a wooden baseball bat better th...Hi Everett. I like a wooden baseball bat better than the metal ones. I've just never been able to get used to that 'ping' of a metal bat. And, yes, I have tatooed a few goat heads. It sure felt like a dinger to right field to me. Sometimes it takes a time or two to get their attention. I actually bought a couple of t-ball bats just for that purpose. You get the same effect.<br /><br />Yes, you can make butter and all of the other dairy products from goat milk. It just takes a little bit longer for the cream to rise.<br /><br />As far as the pictures go, Everett, some of the pictures point south and the rest are in the other directions. Everett, thank you for your comments. Take care.<br /><br />Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-26894091591543696222015-11-11T19:39:34.634-06:002015-11-11T19:39:34.634-06:00The website I use for the nutritional posts is thi...The website I use for the nutritional posts is this one, Valerie.<br /><br />http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2799/2<br /><br />I'm glad you find something useful here. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-48702657649440185022015-11-11T18:54:11.052-06:002015-11-11T18:54:11.052-06:00For now, the chickens stay in their pen. Once the ...For now, the chickens stay in their pen. Once the older hens are butchered and we make a few adjustments to their part of the yard, the young hens will be let out in the afternoons to range. Waiting until early afternoon gets them in the habit of laying eggs in the nest boxes instead of out in the grass somewhere. We have only had a problem with hawks once, but that was when the chickens were out free ranging in the yard.<br /><br />Thank you for your questions.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-28426508764429047892015-11-10T14:55:13.149-06:002015-11-10T14:55:13.149-06:00Fern, in the past I've had Nubian does breed s...Fern, in the past I've had Nubian does breed successfully in May and June, but that's about the latest. Sometimes they'll be back in heat in August but definitely by late September. Maybe you could try moving your summer breeding a month or so earlier.Kathihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02252527015193035090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-78444746228740677782015-11-09T22:57:13.841-06:002015-11-09T22:57:13.841-06:00Fern, I recently read in the archives of a youtube...Fern, I recently read in the archives of a youtube homesteader I found, that one exceedingly cold winter (she lives in Canada) they had one billy and two does die for unknown reasons. Before the last doe was euthanized the vet delivered her two little kids by caesarian (spelling?). The mother was too weak to survive. Anyway, the homesteader happened to have some colostrum saved in her freezer which she was able to give to the kids as she bottle fed them and kept them in the house until it warmed up a little. I just wondered if you'd ever considered keeping some colostrum in your freezer in case it was needed in an emergency. I'm not sure if you've prepared to run your freezer during a power outage by solar energy. Thank you both for all the very helpful and interesting articles. CentennielMagnoliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256656771993531467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-64416640616029598512015-11-09T19:43:16.019-06:002015-11-09T19:43:16.019-06:00Having milk year round is a great goal! I am one, ...Having milk year round is a great goal! I am one, that doesn't like to milk in the winter...but I am a lazy milker!Sandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14643387947219993819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-80201110607834837432015-11-09T18:54:44.658-06:002015-11-09T18:54:44.658-06:00Have you ever considered the little nose blabs for...Have you ever considered the little nose blabs for the kids that allow you to wean without having to separate? A friend uses them very successfully for his cattle and I know they make them for sheep/goats but have no personal experience using them. It's a plastic spikey ring and you attach it (painlessly, though it might be annoying at first) into the calf (or kid!) nose. The spikes poke the mothers in the udder when the kids try to nurse and so she refuses to stand still for them. With the calves they're generally weaned within a week and the blabs removed after 2-3 weeks. Does not seem to have a negative effect on nursing with future calves. I know my friend uses EasyWean blabs, but there are several different manufacturers that make them. He's been using the same ones over and over again for several years. Likes them because while the calves can no longer nurse they still have the comfort of being right there with mom. Less crying and distress.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-8057191968502790772015-11-09T17:53:07.996-06:002015-11-09T17:53:07.996-06:00Hi Frank And Fern, You ought to find some "yo...Hi Frank And Fern, You ought to find some "young person" to climb up your antenna pole and and take a few pictures of the homestead from up there!! I have a hard time figuring out how it all looks with random pics. LOL As I was reading your post about figuring out all the breeding times to have milk all the time. We always had only two cows to contend with all the time I was growing up and we never seemed to be out of milk!<br />Do you make butter out of the milk? Or is there not enough butterfat in goats milk? The only goats around here in my day were not very friendly ! The old Billy with a big set of horns would run me right out off the pasture every chance he got. I took to carrying a baseball bat and after clocking him with it once, he would just stand there and watch me instead of chasing me. Must have "ring his bell".<br />Keep up the stories, you have become my first stop of the day when reading about 20 different blogs. Have a happy Thanksgiving!ELittlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14614884616908281632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-59207515108041980332015-11-09T11:38:48.560-06:002015-11-09T11:38:48.560-06:00Fern, I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your b...Fern, I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your blog. I have learned so much. I love how you explain the nutritional values of different foods. I was wondering if you have a recommendation of a particular book that you use? I thought I had seen a list of books you use on the blog at one time, but I couldn't find it.<br />Thanks so much for everything you and Frank teach us.<br />ValerieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03406736141035529563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-26669849711862919442015-11-09T10:37:57.992-06:002015-11-09T10:37:57.992-06:00How do you keep animals from getting to your chick...How do you keep animals from getting to your chickens without a guard dog in with them? Do they stay in their fenced area 100% of the time? Do hawks get to them? <br /><br />Thanks :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com