"Glenna, I just read what you replied. Have you gotten rain yet? Any relief in your area?
I'm so sorry. It's heartbreaking to have animals depending on you and looking to you for help, when you can do nothing. How are they doing?"
for people who love the littlest dairy goats
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Naomi D'Andrea
- Female
- Indianapolis, IN
- United States
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Naomi D'Andrea's Discussions
Mesh Hay Feeder
Started this discussion. Last reply by Deborah Niemann-Boehle Aug 21. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Does anyone have experience using a mesh hay feeder for their goats?I'd appreciate feedback on waste reduction, size of holes in feeder, and unintended consequences (goats injured or stuck). Also…Continue
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
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"I've been thinking about you, Glenna--and all the West coast folks with their kids! My heart is breaking for the land and lives."
"Love those hay feeders! They look great! "
"If you are handy building things - my husband built some feeders with the idea from Constidine's book and they work so great. The slats are on an angle like this and we find the goats keep their heads in the feeder and don't pull…"
"Thank you again for the feedback!"
"If you're signed up for the kidding course, you can see them multiple times in the videos because they're in the kidding barn, and I think I talk about them when doing the kidding barn tour early on. Unfortunately I couldn't find any…"
"Thank you for your reply, Deborah!I can't seem to find a photo of the feeder you're referencing. Is it in a book?Particularly interested in waste reduction, and as one of my driving forces is a desire to reduce consumption of goods as…"
"If a goat's head or hooves can fit through the mesh, it will, and at some point you will wind up with a broken leg or broken neck. It's just what goats do. I've had three kids hang themselves in a horse hay feeder that had V-shaped…"
Mesh Hay Feeder
Does anyone have experience using a mesh hay feeder for their goats?I'd appreciate feedback on waste reduction, size of holes in feeder, and unintended consequences (goats injured or stuck). Also usability--how annoying is it to load? How durable?Thanks in advance!See More
"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…"
"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!"
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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