Goat Caps

made by Mitzi Miers. They're darling.

Hoochie and the gang

a fun visit to Apple Hill Farm

in Banner Elk, NC

http://applehillfarmnc.com/ 

http://applehillfarmnc.com/ 

History Apple Hill Farm started in 2002 with 2 pregnant female alpacas and one young male alpaca. We are now home to 22 alpacas. In addition to alpacas, we have added horses (some of ours, and some who board), llamas, goats, donkeys, chickens, dogs and cats. We strongly believe that animals need a purpose, so every animal on the farm has a stated job or position. Our animals are treated with great care, respect and love.

The animals have their own unique ways of welcoming visitors to Apple Hill. Jack and Maw, our full sized donkeys, bray loudly and then snort to herald arrivals. Hannah, our quarter horse mare, bops her lips together to beg for carrots and treats, and July Moon, our friendliest alpaca, will lay at your feet so you can feel her fiber.

Our passion is empowering people to develop a new and deeper connection with animals.
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I brought two Nigerian Dwarf doelings to Lee Ann in exchange for
http://www.flgfarms.com/flg-bath--body-products.html

which supplied me with Christmas gifts for family and friends.



http://www.flgfarms.com/ 



 

Jane "Lee" Rankin

is the owner of Apple Hill Farm
and author of this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Cookin-Up-Storm-2nd-ED/dp/0965738728


Alpacas are native to Peru, Bolivia and Chile. For the last 20 or so years, alpacas have been living on farms and ranches all over the United States. Alpacas are raised for two main purposes: their beautiful fiber and their market value as breeding livestock. There are 22 different natural fiber colors, from black, to grey, to white and all shades of brown. Alpacas have the most natural fiber colors of any animal used for fiber in the world! Alpacas are sheared once a year to harvest around 5-8 pounds of fiber per animal. The fibers are soft and have a hollow core. When spun and knit into sweaters, scarves or socks, the fibers provide insulation without being hot and do not hold moisture or odor. On top of that, they have a luxurious softness! Alpaca fiber is also considered to be hypoallergenic because it does not contain lanolin (found in wool), or other allergens.



me - girl, you can slow down on the hair gel



Sandy Henderson of
http://buttermilkacrestn.blogspot.com/ 

 



Ferg visits with the donkeys, Chip and Buckaroo

headed to the Apple Hill Store

http://applehillfarmnc.com/store/cart.php

 

There are fiber goats, meat goats, and dairy goats.

Below are meat goats, and
BooneDocksWilcox has  dairy goats

I found this video online
 

Apple Hill Farm Animal Tour in Banner Elk, NC by MountainTVGuide

first-freshening udders

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/udder.htm

The proper term for a goat's mammary glands are called her "udder". It is not properly called a "milk sack" though is is sometimes referred to as her "bag". It is most polite to say "udder".

When a doe's udder starts to form for the first time, or an already formed udder starts filling with milk, this is called "making her udder". When her udder really starts seriously filling with milk, this is called "bagging up".

What to look for in a Good udder - Udders need to have good "attachments", that mean how the udder attaches to the body. The udder should be held up high and tight to the body and not hang down and sag. A sagging udder will not get any better and will only get worse. You do not want a sagging udder because an udder that hangs low will not hold up to many years of milking, will be difficult to milk because it hangs lower than the milk pail, and most importantly, risks damage (I have seen a low hanging udder get ripped open from getting caught on a protruding object, leading to the need for a total mastectomy)

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