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Goats Update!

Monday, April 22, 2024

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Well hello there! 

I got a bit distracted with some trivial things, but I'm back to regular farm content! 

We got goats! 

It was a goal of ours for 2024 to get a dairy goat herd, and we did. We have four Nigerian dwarf goats. One is in milk (purple collar). She is named Dakota, and we also have her two babies (the black, white, and tan ones). They are Phil and Lil. I know...I know...Phil is a wether. Then the tan one is Cynthia! 

We plan to breed Cynthia for a fall kidding to get her back in milk production then we will have two does in milk. 

We are currently weaning Dakota's kids from her and milking her twice a day. Learning the milking machine has been a little challenging since we don't have a milk stand yet. Dakota has been coming into the house to get milked, but she really doesn't seem to mind it. And eventually we will have all the proper equipment. 

We would like to add a few more milk does to the herd, but I am thinking we might do a mixed herd of Nigerian Dwarves and Nubians. It's been tons of fun having these baby goats around, and I cannot wait to have some more! 

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Farm Fact Friday: Chickens and Hunting

Friday, February 9, 2024

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 Hey! It's Farm Fact Friday! 

We're on a little bit of a chicken learning kick over here, so I hope y'all are ready for some chicken facts through all of February. 

Did you know that chickens are omnivores?

A lot of people believe they are herbivores or vegetarians, but they actually love to hunt and eat insects, toads, frogs, and even mice! Chickens are excellent hunters! 

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Farming and Predators

Monday, February 5, 2024

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In the past few weeks we have lost three chickens. One to Great Horned Owls, one to old age, and one to her neurological disorder. 

I have cried over every single one of these. 

But we have further predator proofed our pen with red motion activated strobes to keep out birds of prey that hunt at night, so we can better protect our animals. 

Part of farming is predation. Our goal is to lose no animals to this, but it does happen and the best we can do is reconfigure our pens and systems to ensure that it doesn't happen again. 

There are multiple things you can do to protect your property from predators. I've included a little list below! 

  • Livestock Guardian Dogs
  • Donkeys
  • Motion Sensored Lights
  • Bird Nets over chicken coops
  • No climb fencing (keeps coyotes out as long as they can't dig underneath)
  • Electric fencing
  • Fake Owls 
  • Fake Crows
  • Wacky Wavy Inflatable Arm Man

Follow us on social media, click here!

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Farm Fact Friday: Farmer's Markets

Friday, January 26, 2024

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There are a ton of misconceptions revolving around farming, especially when it comes to factory farming versus smaller local farms. Some animal rights activists would have everyone believing that all farms are mistreating, abusing, and otherwise harming animals in the name of profits. And while that may be true at some farms, especially when you get to the corporate factory farming level where the profit is the main concern over the animals wellbeing. 

However, the majority of small farmers do care tremendously about their animals because that is their source of income. If they did not care for them and use best practices to ensure their safety, longevity, and health then they would be minimizing their own incomes. 

When you support local small farmers you are supporting your community and ensuring that the majority of the profits are going to the farmers doing this work and caring for these animals whereas when you support factory farming far less is going to the people who are actually working the land or tending the animals. 

Shopping at farmer's markets means your produce, meat, or animal products will be fresher, likely better cared for, and will support your immediate community. 

Follow us online for more farm facts, animal husbandry, and cute farm pics! Click here!  

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The Animals of MandR Farms

Monday, January 22, 2024

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On our farm we have quite a few animals and are preparing to add some more in the coming year. Let's do a run down of who we currently have on the farm and what types are coming this year! 

Horses: PopTart, Pep, Disco, Bash, Sandman, Zorro, & Sierra

Donkeys: Melvin, Raya, Dora, & possibly Kaytie (she's currently on loan to a petting zoo program!)

Potbelly Pig: Daisy

Dogs: Nala, Stark, Ruby, Bella, Duchess, Bobby, & Izzy

Cats: Myrtle, Loki, & Wanda

Guinea Pig: Fred

Ferret: Iris

Roosters: Chanticleer & Olive Oil

Chickens: Bryce, Taylor S., Taylor L., Blondie, TayTay, Becky, Jolene, Geraldine, Dylan, Matilda, Mrs. Trunchbull, Lissy Doll, Miss Honey, Dorothy, Sunny, Dean, Gretchen, Friar Tanya Tucker, Fancy, Stephanie, Rico, Pikachu, PikaTwo then a bunch of assorted ones that I don't know the names yet because we just took them in a few weeks ago. But total we have 38 hens. 

Ducks: Mav, Huey, Duey, Jasper, Kenneth, Mama Duck, Peppermint Patty

And we are hoping to add this year: some milk goats, two sheep, and honeybees! 

It's quite a lot, but we love it!

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Our Sick Chicken: Betty

Monday, January 15, 2024

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 The other morning we went out to feed in the morning and noticed that one of our hens was not walking. We picked her up to make sure she was not visibly injured, and she was not. However, she does not seem to be able to balance which is indicative of a few things. 

This is Betty. 

She is a buff orpington of unknown exact age as we got her with a group of seven adult hens. The other buff orpington in the group has already died. And a few times we have wondered about Betty as she will act strange for a few days then start hopping about normally again. 

We brought her inside over the past few days where she did not eat or drink or use the bathroom for over 24 hours. We were getting pretty worried about her.

Last night we gave her a soak in warm epson salt water covering both her legs and cloaca. She actually seemed to really enjoy it, and after she went back to her "hospital" she started drinking water! This was a huge step for us with her, and then several hours after her epson salt bath she pooped! 

We will continue doing the soaks until she gets well, and if she doesn't then we will decide what to do for her next steps after assessing her quality of life. 

We often get bashed online for being a farm which is why R had previously taken us off social media. But we want to use our farm to sell things and make it profitable as well as teach about small farm life, so we rejoined. And hopefully as we share about the care we provide for our animals, like bringing a sick hen into our house and ensuring that she is comfortable and treated hopefully that will bring awareness that not all farming is bad. We hope to bring awareness that small local farms should be supported over factory farming. 

Follow us on social media for more. 

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Farm Fact Friday: Top 3 Agriculture Products

Friday, January 12, 2024

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Last week we shared that agriculture is the world and United States' largest employer. It felt fitting that this week we shared what subindustries within agriculture were the top three farm products in the US. 

The United States's top three agricultural products are cattle, corn, and soybeans. 

Our small farm currently does not produce any of these things, but we hope to add milk cows soon! 

Make sure to follow us on social media for more fun farm things. Click here to get the links. 

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