Cashmere Wethers for Sale $75 Each (SALE PENDING 4/5/11)

Wethers are castrated males that will look feminine (small dainty horns, less developed bodies), act feminine (well, as feminine as any goat can manage), and smell feminine (and at the very least NOT at all like intact male bucks). These former boys were born the first two weeks of February and my how they've grown! Standing on the rock so proudly is #36 Lightning Boy (cream white). Hiding behind the hay is #37 Fancy Boy (silver white). Near the fence is #35 Flicker Boy (cream white). And lower on the rocks is #34 Racer Boy (silver white). They will all have white cashmere that can be shed, combed or sheared next spring and would make wonderful fiber-producing friends, pasture ornaments or weedeaters. ________________________________________________________________

Lamb Races are On!

Our Shetlands lambed throughout the month of March. The two eldest have begun to strike out in independence, bolting away from their dams to race and romp freely across the pasture in leaps and bounds. About 10 others are squarely under the control of their mothers for the time being but in a couple of weeks they'll be like a school of fish darting this way and that. Tagging will be this weekend or the next, weather permitting. At that time I'll publish a photo and info list for those interested in purchasing lambs or breeding age ewes.

It's Either Threatened, Watch or Recovering Around Here

This time we're doing threatened breed. Buff Orpintons are commonly known variety of chicken but we do things a little different and ours are going to be ducks which are on ALBC's threatened list. (American Livestock Breeds Conservancy at http://albc-usa.org/) They are yet another hardy "heritage" multi-purpose breed being added to the farm. They should produce a respectable amount of large size eggs in a varity of tints; are a decent weight for the table, and have ornamental quality feathers. The are supposed to be cold and heat tolerant and thrive in confinement or free-range which will offer a lot of flexibility. Why ducks? The largest reason is because I have no desire to deal with roosters for my sake or the kids; and they eat bugs and lay eggs as well as many chickens. Chicken and their eggs are relatively common and inexpensive at the grocer or farmers market but duck is difficult to find. They eggs are more nutritious, less likely to cause allergic reaction, and loftier in baked goods -- but not as frothy for meringues. Most local ducks are overweight Pekins or high-strung Khaki Campbells. Buffs will be somewhat unique for the area. Known as Buff or Orpington or Buff Orpington, the same farm that originated the chickens also bred ducks with similar qualities. They are a lovely light cinnamon beige and creamy color and the male drake has a seal brown head. We have purchased Buff Orpington duck stock this year from Metzer Farms in California. They were hatched today, sexed, shipped, and should arrive at our post office by Wednesday. They will take 8-10 weeks to grow full size and completely feathered. We'll start with 2 drakes and 8 hens. The Highland Cattle and Shetland Sheep are on the recovering list at ALBC. Cashmere goats are most related to Spanish which are on the watch list.

Out of Eve

Early this morning (sometime before 7:30 am) our eldest ewe, Little Eagle Eve, delivered a single white ram lamb. He's very sweet and friendly. He is the spitting image of his dam and is sired by Hidaway Andes Mint.

We don't normally buy alfalfa cubes but they were nearly the same price as cracked corn at the farm store so we're trying a bag. All goats and sheep got a sample cube today. About half thought I was trying to feed them a rock and the other half devoured them straight away.

Should be more lambs arriving about mid-month. Kayla, our kindliest fleeced ewe, is due the 23rd.