Fingers crossed

 When feeding the girls this morning I was checking them over, feeling their tummy's, rubbing them down and checking for any signs of near labor.  Since I didn't suspect they were pregnant until recently I have NO IDEA how far along they are.  I can remember in August and september signs of them being in heat but thats the last I recall.  Therefor I'm going off of September sometime.  Anyways Buttercup has a but of slimy wetness, I'm really hoping she just sat in something for now.  Its to cold for a baby to come this week! Either way I"ll be running to the store tomorrow and gathering all the supplies I need. I'm hoping the thrift store has a lot of sweaters left with zippers.  Any suggestions of size for kids? I have a feeling there are going to be long days the next few weeks!

Hell has frozen over...

And landed in Minnesota! 

We have had a very cold busy day around here!  Bill was put down this morning due to an injury. Which saved him from the freezing -18*s but made Rosie loose her snuggle partner.  To improvise I gave the girls jackets. It did take a bit of trial and air though.  I learned regular ACU tops will come right off if they are not covered by another jacket with a draw string and the waist.  You can see with Buttercup here this was prior to me learning this, notice how loose it is at the "waist".  

Buttercup

I went outside around 9 p.m. tonight to double check on them, the temp right now is -18 windchill has to be somewhere around -40's.  When I got out there buttercup was topless.  So I added a fleece that had a snitch at the waist, which should fix the problem.  Right now both girls have two layers added an ACU top with a jacket over.  

Rosie and Buttercup

I keep bringing buckets of hot water out for them.  Rosie seems to enjoy the fresh water over the main water bucket (which is heated).   Right now we're just trying to make it through tomorrow, they say it will start to warm up then!

 

  Rosie seems to be missing Billy too, they've been together for over a year now, she will not leave the gate, and keeps calling for him.  When we got Billy the people told us he'd need to be re-dehorned, I didn't think it would be a big deal I saw the paste at the store.  The more I learned about it I realized it couldn't be done anymore, since he was older.  The only way would be to have a vet put him to sleep and surgically remove it, since a piece of skull would need to come off too.  I had noticed his horns growing in but figured they'd turn back out. Yesterday, I went out to feed them and he was bleeding.  The horn had been growing in  and down the top of his head had split open. He didn't seem to be in pain, but we didn't want an infection to set in either. Nor did we want him to get to the point of pain.  This morning Billy was taken to the butch and we should be eating Billy Burgers this weekend. . . hey come on now this is a farm! What does goat taste like?  Not a clue I'll fill you in later, I was told though he's going to be more gamey tasting since he was not a wether. We'll see I don't have anything to compare it to yet. . . Any of you want some meat to let me know there is going to be well over 100 lbs! 

The Chickens have three heat lights going constantly and seem to be okay.  Baloo and Lady are nice and cozy in the laundry room, and the kitties have been banished to the basement since one of them hasn't figured out the litter-box up here. Causing way more laundry than I'd like. 

  Speaking of kitties, funny story...

    Sarah's, Thing 1, likes to dominate Micah's, Thing 2.  Lot's of "wrestling" Eye-roll I think one of them will be neutered in the near future!

   Overall, were just trying to stay warm and inside! Brian should be off the next few days so if he can just make it through tonight he should be good. The trains don't stop for anything apparently!

  Thats all for tonight I want to get this house picked back up before I head to bed. 

Jen Hatmaker - Brave Moms Raise Brave Kids

Jen Hatmaker - Brave Moms Raise Brave Kids

fast catch up

So it's been awhile since I've been on here.  Life is still crazy there was a balancing act that was hard to figure out!  We took the girls down to once a day milking in september, and that seemed to help me balance family and animals. Since then we've had a sick billy, I got to give my first shot to a goat.  He's much better now.
   As for the girls, I think their expecting.  I didn't think that they were at first but now after reading more about the breeding processes I'm 99% sure Rosie is at the very least.
  Early fall I was grossed out that Billy would stick his face in the girls urine stream, come to find out that's a sign mating is near. GROSS!
  Brian and I have also had may discussions on where we want to go with the goats.  After talking with my grandpa, (and really really really not wanting to take his advice) we're going to be selling billy and artificially inseminating from now on. (still not sure who will actually do it, crossing my fingers it will be Brian!)
   As for the babies, We'll be selling the males for meat and keeping the girls. (Time to start spreading the word, send goat eaters my why!).  We've done some research and it's pretty apparent Minnesota has a high population of ethnic groups that like the meat.
  I keep saying it will be a few years before I can eat one, we'll have to get away from the pet mentality.  ALthough if one pisses me off enough who knows.
  We're down to 9 chickens, luckily the dogs are not the cause of them dying.  They seemed to have some illness.  I switched their feed to a medicated one for a few months and that has seemed to do the trick.  We were just talking about how many chicks we are going to order this spring.  THe kids are excited Micah remembered that they start off in boxes in the kitchen!
  Thats a fast catch up and I hope to be a lot better in the future. I'm off to see why the dogs have been barking for 30 minutes.
******* Anyone out there with any suggestions for birthing send it my way.  I'm starting to make a list of supplies.  I'll have to get them soon too because if they are the kidding should be in a few weeks!