Window-shopping Wednesday

Part of the fun of beginning the homestead project is that I get to pretend like I can invest in all my favorite heritage livestock and crops. Every Wednesday I allow myself a little time to window-shop and pretend like I can actually get the things I want! The best part is that, in window-shopping, money is really no object!

 This is Celestial Jata from CelestialFarms.net. Isn't she gorgeous? She's a Dexter cow, which means she is a great dual-purpose cow who is perfect for a small homestead. Celestial Farms has some gorgeous cattle for sale on their webpage, but this one really jumped out at me. Maybe it's that beautiful face of hers? Celestial Jata is offered for sale right now.

Dexters are a rare, but recovering breed of cattle. They are basically half-size cows and some of them carry the C2 gene, which means that people like me can drink their milk! (It affects the casein, which is protein in milk people are allergic to.)




Some would say it is redundant to have a cow AND goats. Probably. BUT, drakefamilyfarms.com has some beautiful little goats.

These two little girls are 2010 Nubians. I like nubians quite a lot, they are beautiful, have amazing personalities, and they have really great butter-fat content in their milk, which makes it delicious.

Out of all the kids on the Drake Family Farms page I picked out these two doelings (though, this being a year later they are probably first fresheners having their own kids this year.

Goats can be trouble, they are smart and curious and get into mischief in ways we can't even imagine. They also have the unique quality of being able to be a friend. I've loved every goat I've owned and would do it again in a heartbeat.

These doelings were marked as currently for sale.




Ah, my favorite piggies are available! New litters are arriving at homegrownacres.com. I need one, or two, maybe three. Three for sure-- two to eat and a gilt to keep and breed.... sigh.

I wonder if Santa ever delivers pigs?

There are all sorts of beautiful heritage pigs available at Home Grown Acres. They are taking reservations for piglets right now and have beautiful photos of their new piglets on their facebook page.



Well, there's the end to this week's window shopping. I'm already looking forward to next week!

It May Be Winter...

It may be winter right now, though I wouldn't call Southern Arizona's weather truly winter, but technically it is, so I'll let that rest.

I think with the holidays and everything, we are distracted this time of year and don't take advantage of the fact that now is the perfect time to be thinking about spring. Here is a great checklist of things to get done before the last frost.

Have you ordered your spring pig yet? Spring pigs are the more affordable way to own pigs, as pastures green and the world flourishes. However, piglets sell quickly, especially if you want a heritage breed. Now is the time to reserve that special future ham. Can't own a pig where you are? Look into pig shares! Also, a trick that I'm tempted to try is potbellied pigs. Pigs are not allowed here, but potbellied pigs are, as I suppose the city considers them to be pets. Potbellied pigs can get quite large, and can make good eating.


Where to get a heritage pig:
http://homegrownacres.com/
http://www.mbfarviewfarm.com/Baby-Pigs-For-Sale.htm
http://www.nigeriansandicelandics.com/Pigs.html
http://www.heritage-pigs-for-sale.info/


Plan your garden. I should actually have my cold-weather garden in right now, but I don't, so I'm planning the what whens and wheres of planting for early spring (February here). Now is a great time to check out books and sites that are specific to your area.  Mary Irish's Arizona Gardener's Guide is a favorite read for me and it's good for more than just vegetables. Now is also the time to check out seedsavers.org. Another great garden resource for those with limited space is Squarefoot Gardening.

Research poultry breeds and types and where they can be found. If you, like me, plan on incubating, then find breeders and hatching eggs which you can set now. Local eggs will have a better hatch rate than those that are shipped, but shipped eggs allow a better range of eggs, especially in the case of heritage breeds. Make sure to note which breeds do well in which climates and take into account whether they will be for eggs or for pets. Some of the cutest chickens just don't lay as well as others. Before you set to ordering chicks or eggs, make sure you check town or city ordinances for where you live. For example, I can have up to 24 chickens here, but I am not permitted to have a rooster.

If you plan on ordering chicks online, then now is the time to pick out a hatchery. Here are a few that I know of:
http://www.idealpoultry.com/
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html
http://www.mthealthy.com/
http://www.cacklehatchery.com/
http://www.welphatchery.com/
http://www.healthychicksandmore.com/


Now is a great time to plan if you intend to buy a goat. Most baby goats will start arriving in the spring. Most breeders will allow pre-purchasing. In fact, in this area the early bird really does get the worm.

Once you  know if you are going to be owning any new animals in the future it is time to plan what kind of facilities you need to develop to keep your additions. Become aware of needs such as shade, water, predator protection, etc. This is essential. We lost our whole first flock of fourteen hens, three ducks, and a goose, to a coyote jumping over our back fence, and we live in the city. Don't assume that your livestock will be safe.

Depending on where you live now is also a good time to look into cattle or sheep. Dexter cattle make great family milkers on a budget.

Mostly, do your homework and know what you are getting into before you jump into livestock ownership. There can be a very steep learning curve for new owners.

Recovering Goat Breed: Nigerian Dwarf

Snow 1/2 Saanen 1/2 Nigerian Dwarf,  3 months old

I tend to lean towards the more critically endangered breeds of animals, but in the case of Nigerian Dwarf goats I have actually owned this breed. Also, with goats, I have one of my rare quirks. I grew up with goats when I was little and have been friends with them. Though I am no vegetarian I have yet to eat goat. So, I lean towards the dairy breeds.

Clover 1/2 La Mancha 1/2 Nigerian Dwarf, 2 months

 Nigerians are great goats for the backyard homesteader, in that they are smaller than the standard dairy goat-- they're the 'Mini-Me' goat. They don't need as much feed as the larger breeds and they still produce a good amount of milk, not as much as the larger breeds, but significant for their size, and it's high in butter-fat, so it's forgiving, which is important in an animal that browses.

Storm 1/4 Saanen 3/4 Nigerian Dwarf, yearling milker

As goats are browse (not graze) animals, they have to be penned away from anything you value. Rose bushes are a particular favorite. We fed our goats a high-quality alfalfa hay, with free access to it, they could browse in our backyard. Our dairy goats were supplemented with sweet feed during milking time. We also provided a loose mineral for them (NOT a block).

For us, without wooded pasture, and in an area where greenery takes its toll on water bills, it wasn't cost effective for us to keep our goats. We may go that direction again, but it is a lot of work, as goats are intelligent, curious, and have prodigious jumping abilities. My only two feet at the shoulders baby goat was found on top of the neighbor's eight foot cement block wall.

Nigerian goats as purebreds are great, as I said, for pets or homesteading. My personal preference is for the cross-breeds, which allow the breed characteristics of my favorite goats. Mini-Oberhasli goats are particularly beautiful. Nubian crosses are not a good choice for a small backyard as they are more vocal, though they do handle the weather well. I have owned Saanen-Nigerian and La Mancha-Nigerian does and loved them all.
The purchase price of a goat can range wildly. In purchasing goats it's really important to ask questions. If you want a milk goat, then I suggest that you do not get a baby goat or first freshener, which is what a doe after her first kidding is called. Also, before you buy a goat you should know the following things:

Lightning 1/4 Saanen 3/4 Nigerian Dwarf, yearling milker

Where are you going to keep them? It must be solid and secure, probably with electric fencing involved.

How are you going to breed them to keep the milk coming every year?

What are you going to do with kids after they are born? Do you intend to sell them? Eat them? Let them nurse (which will reduce how much milk you get)?

Are you willing to commit to milking every morning and every night at the same time with no vacations?

Do want a goat for milk alone or do you want to show and breed for sales? Unregistered goats are less expensive to buy while purebred and well bred goats may be a better investment for someone who wants to own goats seriously.

Read up on goat diseases such as CL and CAE. Don't buy a goat without knowing what they are and if the herd you are buying from is clean.

Resources and must-reads for people considering owning a goat:

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/index.htm
homesteadingtoday.com