It's been approximately a year since I spent any time updating our site or writing a blog. Mostly I had been posting on my social media sites. But I really want to get back into using our website!
In the past year we have expanded our goat herd. Belle gave birth to triplet bucklings. And we also purchased 3 Boar goats. In the photo is Clara Belles daughter from 2022, Chip our buck 2023 and Marsha 2023.
We also added a cow to our pastures. We have lovingly named him Melvin. He will be used for beef next winter. Melvin was purchased from a local dairy, and had a bit of a rough start when we got him home. Young calves are extremely fragile and thanks to our Vets at North Country Veterinarian Services we were able to get him sorted our and fixed up and thriving again. Melvin can often be seen out with our goats or more recently in the horse pasture as we are training him to be in with the horses.
Speaking of the horses, both girls were Diagnosed with Lyme Disease. Thankfully Meridas numbers were low but Hemis were quite high. Last year Hemi was treated for Lyme as well. This year I decided to treat them a with a more holistic approach than with antibiotics. That's a whole nother post on its own. Once I finish their "treatment" I will be re testing their numbers to see how they are doing!
Hemi had most of the summer off because she wasn't quite herself. We did make an appearance in the Parish 4th of July Parade and we did get to run at Atkinsons Green Knolls at their second show. Merida was on and off this year, due to her fooling around and being injured multiple times. And when we were in shape to show, the shows were cancled due to poor air quality. But over all Merida had a great year and she has come a long ways in her training.
Any free time I had this summer was spent, re building fence in our back pasture. And I am thrilled to say it's done! The old fence needed to come down the posts were broke and the fence was no longer hot. The New fence was put up we went with hot cote fence from Ramm fencing and I am thrilled. We also took down trees and expanded the area in which the horses could graze. We hired Double J escavation to come in and dozer the ground. And then I planted a special pasture blend , waited about 2 months, and now the girls finally get to go out there. Our fence was a huge updated that needed to happen and it was definitely worth all the work to have this piece of mind.
We also had a major preditor problem that started right up in February, we had several foxes stalking our place and they did manage to take a few of our hens. So we had to regroup, re fence chicken runs and re build the flock. Thankfully before the Fox had grabbed the girls I did have eggs in the incubator as well as an order in with MurrayMcMurray hatchery. We are now back up to operating level and cannot wait to update our NPIP status in the spring and get back to offering hatching eggs and chicks for sale.
There's so much more to update you all on. But I'll save it for next time! I hope you enjoyed this little catch up on the farm! And as always if you have any questions please ask I'm super happy to answer.
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