The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: ballingall on December 29, 2012, 11:40:07 am
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Hello!
So what has everyone learnt or achieved this year? Even the most experienced goatkeeper can learn new stuff, so what has it been for you?
For me, I have learnt all about Laproscopic AI this year, and seen it done- fingers crossed it works!
Also have learnt much more about choropitic (sp?) mange :-[ out of necessity.
What about you?
Beth
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Oh, I've also leaned to give milking and foot trimming demonstrations.... And more about publicity materials/signs as well
Beth
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how to make goats milk soap and cheese :thumbsup:
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I don't keep goats yet, but i have learned how friendly they are, even if they are a bit big for cuddles!!!
Also have learned fresh goats milk is nothing like the shop stuff and would definitely want a milking goat when i finally get land!!!
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ive learnt that i am now forgetting more than i know.
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I don't keep goats yet, but i have learned how friendly they are, even if they are a bit big for cuddles!!!
Also have learned fresh goats milk is nothing like the shop stuff and would definitely want a milking goat when i finally get land!!!
my Daisy (Saanen) loves a cuddle and will happily lie beside me with her head on my lap :goat:
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I have learned that I can farm this place on my own, with help from my neighbours, as I have done a full year now :thumbsup:
Oh, and just learning to weave of course :D
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I have learned ro relax and enjoy my goats - not every worst-case-scenario in the book will occur! Last autumn I worried that I might miss the signs of them being in season (bboks say some are only in for a few hours...) - this year I just waited for the obvious trumpeting and calmly arranged a meeting with the male of choice. I also worried that they weren't getting enough to eat/minerals etc - Brinicombes solved that.
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I have learned that I can farm this place on my own, with help from my neighbours, as I have done a full year now :thumbsup:
Oh, and just learning to weave of course :D
thats just excellent. im jolly glad to hear it. big up yourself missus. :thumbsup:
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We had our first ever home birth of anything (except chicks) a beautiful single goat baby. Totally gobsmacked by the whole affair so have hopefully put both goats in kid and also bought two ewes who are also hopefully pregnant. Can't wait for April 2013.
I have learned to be very grateful for what we've got :thumbsup:
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I have learnt to shear properly, just hope I can remember again when the time comes. Livestock keeping is a whole big learning curve from dealing with lambing/kidding problems, administering mess, routine maintenance to just enjoying and understanding your livestock psychology and what makes them tick.
I just wish I could learn how to work less (proper job) and spend more time making small holding pay its way. Maybe one day I will find a nice bloke who wants to share the joy and commitment.
Here's hoping for a drier and healthier new year :fc: :excited:
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thats just excellent. im jolly glad to hear it. big up yourself missus
thank you :)
I just wish I could learn how to work less (proper job) and spend more time making small holding pay its way
Me too :) I hope you find your bloke.
I have learned to be very grateful for what we've got
That's a pretty good thing to have learned, I am trying to remember it too :thumbsup:
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I've learnt lots about kidding and my children and I watched as Puffin gave birth to Sixpence (with some assistance from me) - amazing experience.
I've learnt that I can build a business out of very few acres and goats and that I've really enjoyed watching Its Baaath Time grow. That I can cope with all sorts of emergencies and that even though the lows are pretty low, the highs really make up for it all :)
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I have learnt that there is always someone on here willing to help out in a crisis and no matter how much you know or how much experiance you have you never stop learning !
I have also learnt from experiance you always have space for another goat shed if you do really need it lol
Away from goats I have learnt not to belive a single word that british telecom staff say to you !!!!!
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I have learned how to depend on friends to help with my goats. I have also learned to accept the help without resenting them for being ble to do what I want to do.
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An important lesson MGoM- and it means you still keep your goats, so it has to be worth it.
I've also learnt my OH has a great knack for getting taken to hospital just when I am needed with the goats and can't go with him. :innocent:
Beth
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I have also done laprascopic AI :fc: , but chickened out when asked if I wanted to have a look down those tubes :o .... I could never be a vet!
Ahemmm, and I also contibuted to the probable nation-wide rise in car insurance permiums.... as I learned that flooded roads and cars don't like each other... and generally the cars loose (but it is covered by insurance :relief: ), and seeing all these pictures of floating cars on the internet... I was not alone!
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Have learned that when you send a message saying "we are not here Saturday" the message will be ignored, the people will turn up anyway, and expect civility, you will have to re-arrange all your plans to fit round them . :rant:
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I have also done laprascopic AI :fc: , but chickened out when asked if I wanted to have a look down those tubes :o .... I could never be a vet!
I would have looked. I once had to have a colonoscopy (I don't recommend it) and was asked if I would like to look down the tube. I therefore claim to be one of the few people who have looked up their own bum.
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Isn't that how you got your bad neck ?
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I have also done laprascopic AI :fc: , but chickened out when asked if I wanted to have a look down those tubes :o .... I could never be a vet!
I would have looked. I once had to have a colonoscopy (I don't recommend it) and was asked if I would like to look down the tube. I therefore claim to be one of the few people who have looked up their own bum.
:o Oh no..... not my cup of tea at all... I cannot do blood, vomit and other bodiliy fluids at the best of times (I did manage to handle the children when they were small, but when the dog is sick - no way)... I had to stop watching ER and CSI, because there was just too much of it... as I said never could have been a doctor or nurse (animal or human)...
PS.: I learned to inject animals, but have to steel myself to do it... still likely to pass out when I get jagged :-[
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Isn't that how you got your bad neck ?
Could be. :roflanim:
Anke, I've worked in care so have cleaned up snot, sick and sh**, dressed infected wounds, picked noses (using a cotton bud), and watched as yards and yards of green slimy ribbon gauze was pulled from a hole in my dad's leg (it wasn't green when it went in) and could do the job myself. The only thing I struggle with is phlegm - when someone is coughing it up, I'm reaching for the nearest bucket.
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I don't do needles in people, I have always been the same . I am fine once it's in but no way can I watch it go in
I can quite happily inject any animal even using the big microchipping needles
human blood I can deal with but anything else can clean upin an emergency but nearly gag
I can clean anything up after any animal though
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Sadley I have learnt that there are a large number of goats on the "Giveaway" section of Angloinfo.com . I have learnt that despite the OH wanting to get some goats the cost of secure fencing around the veg plot is too much.
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I have learned that things don't always go to plan and how to pick myself up, dust myself off and keep moving forward x
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I think things rarely go to plan, but yours is a good way to look at it.
Needles? I can stick them in people or animals. Not sure if I coud stick them in myself though.