Life update!

This has been a loooooong month. Well at least April was. I've filled out tons of applications for all sorts of jobs...degree related and not degree related. After all that time I only got 1 call for an interview. But it was an hour away and they only wanted to pay minimum wage for a job that averages $34,000 a year in this area. So, I laughed my way back to my car on that one, and didn't get a call back.

Just today I was thinking that I was running out of ideas where to apply, and I got a call about another job, which I have an Interview for tomorrow @ 9:30am. The pay is about 1.5 x per hour what I was getting paid at my previous job, and is full time rather than part time. It will cost more in gas, but should be worth it.

On Sunday I sold Oviedo as a wether to a couple with a pair of doelings, one of which they wanted to sell. I got up early and got everything ready. I wormed, trimmed hooves, copper bolused, banded, and tattooed him. They said they felt a lot better buying from me than the previous breeder, and they liked my pens...Thank you WG4 for giving me the idea:) In talking with them I figured they would try to talk the price down, so I inflated it a little so I would have some room to work with. As it turns out they did not try to negotiate at all. So I got an extra $25 for him than I was expecting.

I banded Santiago today since he keeps finding ways into the doe pen to nurse his mom. Waiting as long as I did (3 months) was a big enough risk, and hopefully nothing bad happens as a result. It's a darn shame too, as I would have liked to have seen what he could do as a herd sire, being so nice and everything....But there will be others I am sure. I will just keep him as the herd buddy, and he will go wherever he is needed...once he's too big to fit through the holes in the pens.

I have started drying off my does for breeding in June, and I am hoping for a much better milking season come October , than we had this time around. Its enough for us to drink but I still want to be able to make other dairy products too. Adults have responded well to the copper boluses, the hair looks better, and haven't needed to worm for 3 weeks, still watching the eyelids. I have not started doing my own fecal testes yet, but I have my microscope picked out. It's not expensive as decent microscopes go, but any money is a lot when you are not working, so I haven't made the investment. I did do the math though, and figured that doing a fecal every month for each of my goats at the vet VS buying equipment and doing it myself would indeed save me money. With my current herd size, it looks like I will spend about half to 2/3 less than I would at the vet after only a few months! Sometimes I wonder why I went into business rather than veterinary science...It fascinates me! This year has been a really big learning experience for me. God willing I will have a job next week.

Thanks Deborah, and WG4! Yes, I know I don't have to dry them off but I am not really sure how long this pitiful production level will last since they have begun to decline so I figured I would feel much better if I dry them off now and pick it back up when they kid again. I know I am a much better milker than when I started so I feel confident that the next go round will be much easier, and more productive. I also have colostrum saved up and learned to tube feed, which should really help if anything goes wrong this time like last time. As sure as I say that, some new experience will present itself... If all goes well in terms of weather and kid growth this time I think I will breed for fall kiddings every year from then on. I hated doing it in February, even though its ideal for this area. Worst case scenario in a few months if I still don't have a job, my mentor is willing to take my goats temporarily until a job comes along. At least then they won't have to be sold, and I will know where they are, that they are being cared for, and that they won't be gone forever.

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Comments

Kimberly Martin May 6, 2011 at 10:14am

Wow Adrienne!

Sounds like a good, productive week. Good luck on the job search, I'm sure you'll find the one that's "right".
Adrienne May 3, 2011 at 9:17pm

Thanks Deborah, and WG4! Yes, I know I don't have to dry them off but I am not really sure how long this pitiful production level will last since they have begun to decline so I figured I would feel much better if I dry them off now and pick it back up when they kid again. I know I am a much better milker than when I started so I feel confident that the next go round will be much easier, and more productive. I also have colostrum saved up and learned to tube feed, which should really help if anything goes wrong this time like last time. As sure as I say that, some new experience will present itself... If all goes well in terms of weather and kid growth this time I think I will breed for fall kiddings every year from then on. I hated doing it in February, even though its ideal for this area. Worst case scenario in a few months if I still don't have a job, my mentor is willing to take my goats temporarily until a job comes along. At least then they won't have to be sold, and I will know where they are, that they are being cared for, and that they won't be gone forever.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle May 3, 2011 at 8:04pm

I've been wondering where you've been lately. Sounds like you have been busy! I hope you get a job soon. Congrats on selling the one wether. You've probably seen other discussions on here about this, but you don't have to dry off the does to get them pregnant. You can continue to milk them until they're three months along, although they usually dry up about that time anyway.
Elyse Nicholson May 3, 2011 at 5:26pm

You're quite welcome! Sounds like things are going good for you!

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