Saturday, February 20, 2010

butter, Wheatens, Chinese Bush Clover

Proverb - "Life is never as sweet as butter unless you milk it for all it's worth."

I practiced making goat cheeses last year, this year, I'm aiming for goat butter. Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats. The two does that are due to deliver sooner than later - Cali and Clara up front. June was recently bred. SweetPea is not.

On the AllThingsGoatBlog, I was reading about Chinese Bush Clover -

Parasites are an ongoing concern for goats and there’s good news on that front. The Agricultural Research Service reports that Chinese bush clover (Sericea lespedeza) is effective in controlling intestinal parasites, particularly barber pole worm.

The forage plant disrupts the reproductive cycle of parasites in the ruminant’s digestive tract. It can be added to the diet by planting or supplementing normal feeding with a bush clover dry hay or pellet.


I ordered some seed through CannonValleyNursery. Apparently, wild birds like it too and I've always been a Wildlife Backyard Gardener. Of course, I'm glad that we moved here last year, but regrettably left behind many, many bushes, flowers, trees, and vines that attract wildlife at our other home, sure hope the new folks appreciate them.
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Salmon Faverolle Hen, Doothi


Wheaten Marans Hens


Wheaten Marans Roo, Duffy. He has 6 girls.


"Boys, I threw the bread out for the birds."


MilkDud and Pappy


I fixed some Eggs and Bacon, and Eggs and Waffles, Candy


"bad girl Toot" she's not to be standing in feed dishes


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I took the following photo's around town yesterday.




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15 comments:

Louise said...

I love your goats. They have so much personality.

Callie Brady said...

That goat in the feeder is just too funny! LOL

Goat butter... that will be an interesting post for sure.

Great photos!

Anonymous said...

Great pics! Toot in the feeder is funny.

Kelly said...

Holy Cow Joanna, or should I say Holy Goat. You guys have SNOW. I can't believe this. We have naked pasture right now. The sheep are actually grazing in Feb. I have a question about the goat butter. Do you have a seperator? That is on my wish list, as in I wish I had the money but don't. The goat in the dish is just a joy. Thanks for the pictures.
Kelly

Callie Brady said...

PS: I'm glad you liked the resize video. I was afraid people might be offended, but I thought knowing how to resize test would be a neat thing to know. I didn't want to be pushy.

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Oh wow! Those snow drifts are deep! Great photos! I lovfe Pappy. What a cutie!

Your Wheatens are beautiful, especially that roo!
What are the red rings around their legs?


~Lisa

Foothills Poultry said...

What a difference an hour's drive is. It was 60 degrees down here today and will be warmer tomorrow.

I hope all the expecting goaties do well.

~~Matt~~

IsobelleGoLightly said...

I always love your photos Auntie J! Pappy is the most adorable-ist goat! He looks like he is yelling "HI!" in that one photo!

Anonymous said...

I also read about the Bush Clover and in the process of looking for a Supplier of Hay or Feed with Bush Clover. Also checking to see if Bush Clover will grow here.

Melodie said...

I am going to order some of that seed too! I am curious,have you ever bred SweetPea since her C-Section,if not do you plan on it?You know our SweetPea had the same situation and I am interested in what your take is on it.I am thinking at least a year off....more do you think or never...the vet said she could but..

thecrazysheeplady said...

That's interesting about the clover. Thanks for sharing. I'll definitely look into that! Your goats are a mess ;-). Great pics.

AJ-OAKS said...

Your goats are sooo cute. Great names! And that rooster, he is very handsome. Those colors are so vibrant. My eyes got big when I saw the pic of the vehicle with all that snow! Those last two pics are just beautiful.

Ruth Trowbridge said...

Thanks for the herb tip, they are always so valuable. Love your pictures too, you sure have a knack. Peace

Boozy Tooth said...

OH MY GOODNESS!!! The snow and ice and drifts. It's everywhere! Today it's finally sunny and warm here in North Florida, but the forecast is for cold again toward the middle of the week. F it!

I love the photo of Toot in the feed buckets. What a naughty girl. I like naughty girls. I relate to them. I think that's why I love YOU so much. We're all a bit on the naughty side, aren't we?

But one question that demands an immediate answer please.... WHERE'S FRANKLIN???

Anonymous said...

Good Lord! That van is buried in the snow!! How crazy is that.

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal