Feb, 2017...Kidding Season is here! I have just finished up phase one of what will be a long-drawn out kidding season! I am so thankful phase one went so well. We have had one heck of a winter here in Eastern Oregon. I was born and raised here and have never remembered this much snow here EVER. And it has stuck for quite some time. We have continued to get alot of precipitation. The barns and pens are very wet and muddy currently. Initially, during the kidding; the ground was frozen solid with below freezing temps. I felt so lucky that the girls as they kidded gave me good indicators to when birth was close so I could get them in the barn. My nursery barn has never been so crowded for so long! I'm beyond thankful that no kids perished in the freezing temps. This crop is such a friendly cute bunch of kids too.
May, 2016...It's been an incredibly busy Spring. However, I am really happy with the kids from this year's crop. The customers have been fantastic and from all over the U.S., which is really truly rewarding to me. A big thanks to all the customers this year; you make the hard work worthwhile! Show season is here and the clipping has started! Mom, the boys, and I are looking forward to the upcoming Wine Country Classic in the Tri Cities, Washington June 11th.
February, 2016...It's kidding season again! Many of our does bred about the same time last Fall, so I am sure all the girls will want to kid at once too! I am really excited about the breeding line-up for this year. I hope our customers will like the kids as much as we do. This is my record high for number of kidding does this Spring. I'm looking forward to seeing what first line 50/50 crosses I get out of the standard does. I also have several first fresheners too. It is rewarding to see how they milk and how well their udders develop. As always, mom and I crave the show season. Unfortunately a couple of our regular shows are cancelled this year, but we are keeping an open mind about the possibility of traveling a little further to make some new shows. At least the gas prices are cooperating for such travel! Stay tuned.
November, 2015...Where did the year go? Kidding season was successful and new babies made their way to new homes; some even as far away as Nebraska! Mom, the boys, and I had a fantastic show season and really had so much fun. I really enjoy traveling with my mom. Breeding Season is in full swing and we have good news from Biotracking that our does are settling in nicely. So....now....I'm using my time to update the website after many many months of neglect! Hold on tight and enjoy my updates. I've added some goats, sold some, and see promise for a prosperous 2016 kidding season!
June, 2013...It's been a busy busy Spring! My maternity leave is about to come to a close and it will be back to work. Kidding season has almost come to an end as well. Caleb and I enjoyed attending the Wine Country Classic MDGA Show in Kennewick. This was our very first official MDGA show and it was a blast! We had so much fun, learned bunches, and met many more fantastic members of the registry. The MDGA is proving to be a group of warm and inviting families.
April 30th, 2013...New Baby "Asa" arrived April 30th at 9lbs 2oz's and 21 inches long!!! The C-section went well and everyone is back at the homestead happy, healthy, and blessed!
April, 2013...Kidding season is here! We have been blessed with boys and more boys! 5 total and one doeling. All are healthy and mommas are doing well. We are dam-raising the kids, but able to milk off enough from the does so that Jerrod can make some yummy cheeses. Four does are still left to kid. The kidding pens are ready, the girls are up to date on their vaccinations and worming, and are confirmed bred by blood testing from Biotracking. The does I bought late in the season last Fall will obviously kid later in the season, so stay tuned through the next few months!
With a new baby on board and limited time to milk and bottle feed; we are allowing all our nannies to dam-raise their babies. To further explore our dairy genetics, we are milking some of our new addition does to document their milking abilities, taste and quality of milk, and dispositions while on the stantion. With this said, we have had all kidded does on the stanchion. First time freshner, Loretta, is even able to give us additional milk beyond what her twins consume; (even upward to a quart a day). She, so far, has been easy to milk and stanchion train.
Lord willing and the creek don't rise; a goal I have is to attend 2nd Annual All Breed Goat Club Mini Dairy Show in Washington on June 8th. I have not decided whether or not to take goats yet, but if nothing else plan to attend to gain experience and meet new members. Umatilla County Fair is held August 6th-10th. We will have goats exhibited at that event.
With a new baby on board and limited time to milk and bottle feed; we are allowing all our nannies to dam-raise their babies. To further explore our dairy genetics, we are milking some of our new addition does to document their milking abilities, taste and quality of milk, and dispositions while on the stantion. With this said, we have had all kidded does on the stanchion. First time freshner, Loretta, is even able to give us additional milk beyond what her twins consume; (even upward to a quart a day). She, so far, has been easy to milk and stanchion train.
Lord willing and the creek don't rise; a goal I have is to attend 2nd Annual All Breed Goat Club Mini Dairy Show in Washington on June 8th. I have not decided whether or not to take goats yet, but if nothing else plan to attend to gain experience and meet new members. Umatilla County Fair is held August 6th-10th. We will have goats exhibited at that event.
