As I mentioned previously I made a kidding schedule and the does laughed.  They weren't coming into noticeable heats, refused the buck I picked out for them, or didn't take when they were bred.  In short, they were upholding the doe code of honor even before kidding season! 

Thankfully they seem to have finally settled down and while it will be a while before we know for certain that the breedings that occurred this past week took, I am prayerfully  optimistic.  I have committed my herd for Linear Appraisal this year and it is going to be cutting it close for Levana and Bristol to have kidded in time.   If this breeding with Mr. Incredible didn't take they will both be pregnant does come LA time.

I have updated the kidding schedule page and have opted to note Day 147 since that is my herds average gestation.   Although like always I will start kidding watch on day 142.  This year we have 5 does due to kid in May, so even if the does let me off the hook for the "Doe Code of Honor" I will still spend the month of May looking like I haven't slept in years!

Looking forward to seeing the kids of 2015!

According to the Chinese calendar  this is the "Year of the Goat".  So Happy Year of the Goat!  May your bucks make you proud and your does be abundant producers!

It isn't very often that I post about the little flock of chickens we have here on the ranch.  But today I expanded Junior's harem by two and thought I'd share some pictures of our current flock.   Junior is our very handsome rooster.   He is good with the hens and  has not caused us any trouble either, other than he likes to hang out in the doe barn during bad weather and at night.

They are all free range and this flock seems to be more adverse than previous flocks for staying in the coop at night, preferring to roost in the trees or the doe barn, which we do our best to discourage.  They are a mix of breeds, including Anericaunas, Orpingtons, Wyondote and Rhode Island Red because, just like with my goats, I enjoy a variety of color in my pastures.   We should start seeing some eggs from them pretty soon, if of course we can find them.  

I have been practicing grass based dairying since I first got into goats in 2007.   I do provide my goats with minerals, and alfalfa pellets and during bad weather a bit of grass hay.   Today I came across an article that really goes into depth on the benefits to everyone involved with goats are given the opportunity to browse.

The younger the goat the greater the success in transitioning them from a life of leisure to a life of having to rustle up their own grub.  And a pampered goat isn't going to get out there unless they don't have an alternative.   Also the younger the goat the more likely they will develop the rumen necessary to process that forage into tasty and healthier milk.  

So take a moment to read up on this at the Goat Dairy Library.

I have always used Bio-Tracking for my CAE testing in the past, and have tested later in the year so that I didn't have to worry about shipping while keeping the contents cool.   Since I did the testing earlier this year  I decided to try the labs at OSU.   Friendly and prompt service when I dropped the vials off and they had the results back to  me in less than 6 hours!   Oh and the results - all NEGATIVE as usual.  :) 

On Sunday, Sept 14th at 2pm we will be hosting a blood drawing clinic for anyone that would like to learn how to draw blood for testing.   The clinic will be held at Wags Ranch and will involve drawing every goat over six months of age in my entire herd for their annual testing through BioTracking.   Sarah McCraw of Mac's Rainbow will be doing the drawing and I will be doing the holding.   While it is possible to do the blood draw as a single person operation we have found that is much easier to have two people involved.  If you are interested in attending please let me know ahead of time. 

Last weekend I picked up a buckling from the Tahoma herd up in WA.  I liked Qwillerian but then I came across a chance to acquire Finnius in trade for Qwill and I jumped at it.   

Finnius looks like a buck we had several years ago - Poppy Patch Rio the Rebel, except that Finnius has a little flashier markings and blue-eyes.   

The does seemed to approve of him and so far he has been a fairly cooperative little guy to deal with.   We are looking forward to adding his outstanding genetics to our herd.

This morning the Albany Democrat Herald showcased our "ranch" on the front page with a headline below the picture at left of "Loving life on the ranch".   The article and pictures took up 3/4 of the front page and continued onto an additional page.

I was expecting a small story in the community section and was shocked when a co-worker told me we made the front page.     The article came about because we were featured in Farm & Ranch Living magazine.   You can read the Democrat Herald story for yourself on their website.

Overall it was a very nice article.  The only thing I would like to correct (other than that goats kid, not lamb) is that it gives the impression that all of our animals are rescues.  While we do have a lot of rescues here, our goats are most certainly not rescues and they are all registered  finely pedigreed animals. 

Confetti kidded around noon today with a single buck kid that looks very much like his sire.  He has blue eyes and appears to be polled like his dam.

He may possibly be available as a herd-sire, but only after more evaluation.  For right now I can tell you that he is VERY wide in the rear, much like his grand-father Basil. 

Confetti is being a very good mom and I'm sure he will thrive with all of her affection and milk  lavished on him.