New Boer Goats

New female Boer

Two year old Boer billy

 My neighbor and I went to a livestock auction to look at Boer goats. He has three and wants to expand his herd with some billy goats. Even in this heat it as a full house of sellers and buyers for sheep and goats. He got to bid for what he was looking for. He bought two billy goats, a wither (gelded male) and two older does. The billy are adding a lot of entertainment to the herd dynamic. With the billy goats in the herd means the does should give birth around Easter time. Boer goats are a hardy breed that can thrive in drought conditions we are having here. And they can eat just about anything and live off that.

Close up of the older billy

Two new goats, my husband, Opal the donkey and Rick the goat owner.

Four month old billy with the darker brown head.

The older billy

Young billy on the left and young wither on the right are from the same litter.

Older billy never stops moving and eating.

Younger billy is doing his job on the farm, making more goats.

Opal rushes in and breaks up the party.

The group is having fun as one giant herd.

Older billy close up with his auction tags still on.

Older billy, young billy, wither and Foxy Lady a young doe.

Drought Living

So again we have another month beginning with no rain in the Ozarks. I water only my garden and important trees and the livestock. I have no pasture just dry dust for my horses and have to start feeding them my winter hay. But before I begin that, I am feeding them corn stalks from my neighbors cornfield. I cut a truck load and brought it to feed my horses. Next, I will feed them my corn stalks that did not make corn this year. We are pricing hay at $100 a round bale out here in the Ozarks. We need about 30 to make it through the winter. Last year we paid $45 for a round bale. Next I have to grain my horses and chickens. There are no bugs to feed my chickens. Corn and Oats have doubled in price due to demand, shortages and drought. We are lucky to be able to feed our animals, most people are selling their animals for very little. If you can't feed them you have to sell them.
My poor garden as provided me some food to can and save for the winter. My bitter cucumbers are now pickles. I was able to harvest 5 small pumpkins that survived in my neighbors garden. I was hoping for a huge crop, but no amount of watering can save a plant in 100 degrees and no rain for 3 months. I was able to save many tomatoes. And I was able to share them with neighbors who also can. I hope my fall crops get some rain. Living in a drought is very hard when you have livestock that depends on you. Pray for rain and lots of it soon.

Zilla Grows

Zilla on the move

Looking at squirrels

Zilla and Osa tracking home

Rain?

All clouds no rain and heat drying out our ponds.

 Our pasture is now grey and dirt.

Our young rooster is looking for bugs to eat in the dry thatch of lawn. There are no bugs since there is nothing for the bugs to eat. No bugs for the poultry to eat and no grass for the horses. Things are very bleak looking for our farm unless we get a ton of rain soon. No rain is predicted this week and 100+ temperatures remain the norm. We have trees that are now dying in our forest areas. And August has just started here in the Ozarks.

House Blessing

Our Priest Fr. Ernie feeding the farm flock.

Osa, Alan and Father at our pond.

Last week we invited our priest, Father Ernie to come over for dinner and a horse riding trip. Instead, he decided to relax enjoy the farm and have a long dinner at our house. He got to feed our flock of turkey, ducks and chickens and pet our horses. He even got to pet Osa, our shepherd, who is afraid of most men.

After a big dinner Fr. Ernie asked if he could bless our house. We were thrilled to have this done. It was a very nice visit with our really nice and hard working priest of our parish.