tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279838830512754397.post5839648646634703682..comments2022-08-22T20:51:34.791-10:00Comments on Hapless Homestead: Rainy DayNancyDehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09565369052850975336noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279838830512754397.post-67277909458390885252011-03-21T08:58:35.896-10:002011-03-21T08:58:35.896-10:00It would be fairly possible to house the sheep and...It would be fairly possible to house the sheep and goats differently, but just run them in the pasture. Probably, I need to wait until I can get the front 1/3 of the land fenced, though. I always want animals before I am ready for them!NancyDehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09565369052850975336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279838830512754397.post-51068641038306880422011-03-20T16:29:12.735-10:002011-03-20T16:29:12.735-10:00Goats and sheep require different minerals, goats ...Goats and sheep require different minerals, goats need copper and the copper can kill the sheep. We don't keep ours together, the goats in the pictures today were just visiting - they are so curious!Chai Chaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05845100961653150736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279838830512754397.post-69284045243326952942011-03-20T15:59:57.734-10:002011-03-20T15:59:57.734-10:00Nigerians have really taken off here on the Big Is...Nigerians have really taken off here on the Big Island. I have really been thinking about it. One thing is, we only have the one big pasture right now which houses the sheep and the horses. In fact, we have two horse stalls - one is currently used as the sheep shelter and the horses use the other stall and walk way as a run-in shelter. I have read conflicting things on running sheep and goats together. In this case, they would have to share a shelter for a bit, too. We are working to create more structures - such as a separate sheep shed next to the horse stalls. <br /><br />The pasture is mostly grass, although there are big stands and rows of waiawi, a type of guava that is invasive here. The hair sheep tend to both browse and graze, although I know from experience the goats would do even more browsing.NancyDehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09565369052850975336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279838830512754397.post-41723638908956004642011-03-20T13:03:51.221-10:002011-03-20T13:03:51.221-10:00Maybe smaller goats like my Nigerians? They are v...Maybe smaller goats like my Nigerians? They are very loving and easy to handle. They are smart and can escape, but since they are smaller your fences can be smaller too. Goats are browsers and love weeds and brush vs sheep who like to graze grasses. What do you have more of on your property, brush or grasses?Chai Chaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05845100961653150736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279838830512754397.post-61253511973902088492011-03-20T12:47:58.160-10:002011-03-20T12:47:58.160-10:00I keep telling my husband we should think about go...I keep telling my husband we should think about goats, but he really doesn't like goats. We've had escape artists in the past and they tend to eat our fruit trees. I am just dying to have a dairy animal - but then again, my son keeps pointing out to me, "Mom, when will you have time to milk it?!" It might have to wait until the kids are more independent. He is in Driver's Ed - which he thinks of as "Freedom" and I think of as "Driving your siblings around and going to the store," which means more independent might not be that far away.NancyDehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09565369052850975336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279838830512754397.post-83461894327236580012011-03-20T12:35:23.995-10:002011-03-20T12:35:23.995-10:00Wow 20 out of 25 died? What a tragedy.
Milk sh...Wow 20 out of 25 died? What a tragedy. <br /><br />Milk sheep are nice to have as you can make some of the best cheeses. The problem is that they aren't as easy to handle as goats.<br /><br />I have read that the Barbados sheep is very parasite resistant so that is a great hybrid for your area.<br /><br />Look up inbreeding vs line breeding, it may help you a little.Chai Chaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05845100961653150736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279838830512754397.post-31855089499224746912011-03-19T19:37:34.883-10:002011-03-19T19:37:34.883-10:00Oh, Deb, I know you are so busy at this time - no ...Oh, Deb, I know you are so busy at this time - no worries. They are lambs, anyway, so figuring it out can wait a bit. I might send you pictures, though, when I go there to check them out.<br /><br />I told him that I knew they weren't pure EF (because you told me (: ) , and he said they were half Lacaune (the original ewes). Does that sound right? Sad: he brought over 25 ewes and in two weeks, 20 of them died. I don't think the trip was easy on them. I am not sure if he brought them over as lambs. That makes it more attractive to buy even half diary breeds here - at least they aren't traveling.NancyDehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09565369052850975336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279838830512754397.post-40039587817938766212011-03-19T18:14:58.279-10:002011-03-19T18:14:58.279-10:00I apologize for not getting back to you about bree...I apologize for not getting back to you about breeding suggestions, I will try and get back to you soon.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03900262123409559177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279838830512754397.post-57166858035047306792011-03-19T18:04:54.158-10:002011-03-19T18:04:54.158-10:00Chai Chai, if I bought these sheep, it would be ev...Chai Chai, if I bought these sheep, it would be eventually to milk them. I would like to keep the cross between the parasite resistant hair sheep and the dairy production of the Lacaune/EF sheep. <br /><br />Bloodlines don't matter here, yet. Sheep are sheep, pretty much. Most people use them to lawn mow, and there aren't any breeding records or anything like that, as far as the people I talk to. The lambs I am thinking about (since the farmer called me) have half parentage of mainland ewes brought in from Oregon and half a local ram - not to be confused with a feral Hawaiian Black sheep. <br /><br />I just really am getting a headache on how to keep from in-breeding too much. I ended up with an abundance of ram lambs and, in spite of his occasionally battering ways, I am fond of Elvis.NancyDehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09565369052850975336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279838830512754397.post-56783480820112225422011-03-19T14:58:25.026-10:002011-03-19T14:58:25.026-10:00I am no expert but the first thing you need to dec...I am no expert but the first thing you need to decide is what the sheep are going to be used for. Hair, milk, meat, or sale? Hair and meat are easy but the other two require more thought and work.<br /><br />Milking needs a milk stand and time for you to get them used to it and used to your close attention.<br /><br />Selling sheep is best if you have a clear bloodline or a very desirable hybrid.<br /><br />Worms here a bad but I'm sure that in your tropical environment it is much worse. I use the eye method like you do and when I worm I always make sure to get them 2 weeks later to rid them of any hatched eggs.Chai Chaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05845100961653150736noreply@blogger.com