"Sprinkling on alfalfa leaves sounds like it might work--maybe try spritzing with a little water so the bits stick together a bit?
Here, we give them each a little treat in the mornings: sunflower seeds with a handful of kitchen produce scraps (like…"
for people who love the littlest dairy goats
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Naomi D'Andrea
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- Indianapolis, IN
- United States
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Naomi D'Andrea's Discussions
Teff Hay for Wethers
Started this discussion. Last reply by Deborah Niemann-Boehle Oct 29, 2019. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Does anyone have experience using Teff hay?I got my hands on some and stocked up for the winter--mainly because that's what was available by the time I got around to stocking up for the winter. A…Continue
Barn Ventilation
Started this discussion. Last reply by Deborah Niemann-Boehle Jul 21, 2019. 7 Replies 0 Likes
Anyone out there have a favorite fan for under $300? Looking for recommendations. We have a pretty tiny barn (8x12) for only 3 goats. Half of one side of the barn is open all the time, but it gets…Continue
Just a funny milking question
Started this discussion. Last reply by Deborah Niemann-Boehle Apr 18, 2018. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Does anyone here think it's possible for a doe to give more to her favorite milker?My Will and I share duties; I almost always milk in the mornings, Will in the evenings. The evening haul is always…Continue
Tags: time, milking, production, milk, Milk
Doe lets her brother nurse
Started this discussion. Last reply by Rachel Payne Jan 13, 2018. 5 Replies 0 Likes
All, if anyone else has dealt with this issue, I'd love to hear your experiences and outcomes.Our doe is a second freshener, and this time around, her brother has been nursing off her. We've thought…Continue
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"That's a relief! Thank you for sharing!"
"This is interesting! We don't have it available in my area, but Standlee is working on creating a teff hay pellet, and I'm anxiously awaiting sampling it. The 2:1 calcium to phosphorus sounds great. I wouldn't worry about stones, but…"
Teff Hay for Wethers
Does anyone have experience using Teff hay?I got my hands on some and stocked up for the winter--mainly because that's what was available by the time I got around to stocking up for the winter. A friendly acquaintance had grown it experimentally for the first time, and I was just happy to have found anything, with the summer we had.From what I've read, it's high in protein and calcium. Since we keep a wether with the does, and they all have to eat the same thing, I'm concerned about the calcium…See More
"Can you restrain him somehow? Do you have a stanchion? Or maybe a short tether attached to a ring in the wall. You or someone (can you get help?) could sandwich him against the wall.
Hope you get this resolved! Good luck!"
"It is such a gift to have a willing second partner!
The dynamic between me and my husband is: I try doing it myself, and then about 50% of the time, I ask him what I'm doing wrong. He then usually is happy to make the necessary fixes! :)"
"Good luck! I know I'm lucky that my husband can do just about anything I ask him to do, as long as it doesn't require any kind of expensive equipment. "
"I think that's the direction I'll go! "Somewhat" is the key word with "handy" there--it won't be pretty, but I can do it."
"Since we have a converted horse barn, I never thought about the importance of having a high ceiling with goats. Ours is overkill, but I can see where you might not make it tall enough if you were building it for goats.
If you are somewhat handy or…"
"For sure--I have lost two appliances even though I tacked the cords to the studs where they meet the roof. As the bedding deepens, the goats are able to reach more. I really wish I'd known to make the structure just a little taller.
I was…"
"I would just get one that you can mount on a wall or otherwise place it so that the goats can't get to it. If they reach it or the cord, they will mess with it. We just use cheap fans from discount stores. "
Barn Ventilation
Anyone out there have a favorite fan for under $300? Looking for recommendations. We have a pretty tiny barn (8x12) for only 3 goats. Half of one side of the barn is open all the time, but it gets very stuffy nonetheless.TIA!See More
"So sorry you went through this, Jess!
Thank you for contributing your experience to the body of knowledge."
"Wow, what sweet comments.It really has been a long time since I've taken the time to reflect. Thank you for the inspiration to do so again! I'm in a season of being there for others more than for myself, but maybe soon!"
Profile Information
- If you already have goats, what's your herd name?
- Hackberry Woods
Naomi D'Andrea's Photos
Naomi D'Andrea's Blog
A Year (and a half) in Review
Posted on December 11, 2016 at 9:29pm 3 Comments 1 Like
Bought the kids July 2015. Bred Mira January, first travel and goat-sitters March, babies June, learned how to milk, sold babies August, started playing with chevre and cheddar, built cheese press, rigged a sort of cheese cave, expanded goat yard, added more play structures for the goats...
...and I keep putting off the eternal question from Willow, "Can I keep another doe next year?" I keep waiting for the proverbial bloom to fall. I waited to see if she'd get tired of the constant…
ContinueOur Herd has a Name
Posted on February 26, 2016 at 6:32pm 0 Comments 3 Likes
Willow and I decided on the name Hackberry Woods.
Hackberry is the predominant species of tree in the goat area. We love the funny bark, the precious little berries, and the haphazard look of the foliage.
For nature nerds: Hackberry is native to Indiana and a lot of the Midwestern US; the small berries (or drupes) are edible in autumn; also goes by the names Sugarberry and Nettletree. The name Hackberry is from the Scottish "hagberry," meaning "marsh berry."
These…
Continue"I'll Feed Them Every Day!"
Posted on December 30, 2015 at 6:41pm 1 Comment 7 Likes
In the spring of 2014, my daughter Willow asked me for the hundred and twenty-third time if we could get dairy goats. Like always, I said something to the effect of "that would be fun. Maybe someday." This time, though, instead of moving on, she followed up with the line we all know and love: "I'll buy them with my own money. I'll do all the work." And just like that, now we have goats.
Now, the actual full story is longer and boringer.
We spent three months just reading books…
ContinueComment Wall (2 comments)
- At 7:31pm on May 22, 2019,
Amalia Young said…
Naomi, you have an amazing talent at telling stories! You write so beautifully! I enjoyed your blog so much! I hope you'll make time for more recent updates! I'd love to see how things are now. Have you ever considered writing, as in writing a book? You're truly talented! I'd definitely buy your books :-)
- At 9:48pm on June 20, 2016,
Ruth Goode said…
Just saw your message about friending on the NG site--did not realize until now that we could PM through the site! I sent you a PM om FB.....
I always welcome farm visits! Let me know when you would like to come and if it works with my crazy schedule I will show you my kids! Ruth
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Need goat equipment?
Yogurt Maker
Mineral feeder (put minerals in one side and baking soda in the other!)
2-quart milk pail
Mineral feeder (put minerals in one side and baking soda in the other!)
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