Time To Say Goodbye - Hello 4-H!

Last week-end was weigh in and sign ups for the Westmoreland Fair. A couple weeks before that was the same for the Derry Ag Fair.

John Clark and Elizabeth came to the farm and chose the two brother wethers out of Twee's triplets to go together to their new home, and they will show them in Derry in July.

Kayla came back for a third year and scooped up Britches, and also Anakin, to show at the Westmoreland Fair. Anakin's twin Angus will be shown there by Hattie.

Zola's twins will be shown by Philip. I am cheering for all the people kids and goat kids to do well at showing and at the auctions.

In the past month or so, our herd was up to 25 or 26 goats and kids.  Weaning was a noisy and painful process in April. Today, after seven kids going to 4-H homes, three going to start a new herd for future 4-H kids, and one sold to a chef (Sorry - the truth!), we are down to a most manageable fifteen. Of course, we have two goats waiting to kid yet, so our numbers will go back up as the farm has its first summer babies this year.
And speaking of babies...

We sold Ariel and Abi, who are both due in the next two to six weeks, to a local family who have a lovely farm just north of town. They have two young boys that will have the joy of kids born on their farm, and all the fun of seeing them grow.

Belle, our triplet doe, also went with them, and by next year they will have a nice little herd to breed on their own.

I happened to find my way there today, and here is their home. What a lovely sight for the passers by!

Love Lorn Layla

Meet Remington. Don't you love those horns?! This has been Layla's "companion" for the past seven weeks at SCS Farm. He is the father of Layla's next kids, if all goes well.

Remington is said to weigh about 300 pounds, although I don't know the last time someone wrestled him onto a scale. Just look at the difference in size between him and Layla. It took two men to get a halter on him to tie him so that we could capture Layla. She'd gotten a bit attached to Remi and did not want to leave his side. Layla is in her own stall and her own field for now until we can ease her back into the herd. She's warming up slowly today, but is still a bit skittish. Pockets of corn have been working their charm though.It was tough dragging her out of her stall, and then once she realized we were going out side, she was dragging me. The other goats called to her and she has spent the day looking at them in the distance, and then circling her area.Nothing a little corn and time shouldn't cure.

Here, There and Everywhere

The goats are in all sorts of combinations right now, so its hard to keep up.Love is in the air, and Neo has been dating Zola for a day or two.

Alex has had the company of Trinity and Speckles, along with his chaperon, Pants, in the corral.

Abi (above) is still being weaned with Ariel(below)in "high security", but this week-end they should join the larger does.

Kissable Adeline and Ali are in quarantine for two weeks from the fair, so they are on their own for a while. A little poopy butt as they get back to pasture.Meanwhile, the nannies are mowing away on the other end of the fields, which are still looking pretty thick.

We don't have a photo of Layla who is vacationing with her boyfriend Remington a few towns away. He is a handsome fellow, and I did not have my camera in hand as I needed both hands to drag Layla to him. I will have to remember when we pick Layla up. You'll love his look.

First Date Of The Season

If we get lucky, since Neo got "lucky" today, we could be seeing our first kids December 28th. The girls were moved across the alley from Neo yesterday, so that we could see if any of them start their tail wagging signals to the buck. This morning Aziza was hanging at his gate instead of joining the rest of the girls for breakfast. Axel, Alex and Archie - our 2011 boys

And so we are into the new kidding season.

Right On Time - Zola's Kids

Its a stormy, wet day out there today. Perfect day for a due date!

I kept Zola in to some complaint, but with the mud pit out there, and tight shelter space, I wasn't going to be running outside for babies if I didn't have to. I wasn't convinced she was going today as her udder was huge, but not tight. Nonetheless, there wasn't going to be a dry spot out there, so I make the executive decision to listen to her whimpering all day if I had to.
I was just ready to make something warm to drink, when I heard a significantly large bellow on the baby monitor - and then - "mama" sounds.When I took my kit out to the barn, this little guy was already striking up a conversation with Zola, and she was doing her best to clean him up.But there was little brother waiting in the rear(!!), and she had some work to do. See the feet just under the tail? That little white spot. She was up and down a couple of times straining, and I could see she was red and having trouble getting past the shoulders. Finally when the head was all the way out and she stood up again, I gave her a little help, and he delivered quickly. Zola got right to the next clean up job.One thing I like about putting the buck in with the girls only when they are in heat is you have an accurate idea of when to watch for babies. So here we are, 150 days later, and for once I was ready!VIDEO OF ZOLA AND HER TWINS AT ABOUT ONE HOUR OLD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tDRTntPD6o

Bo the Beau

Trinity is back at SCS Farm for her date with her new beau, Bo. He is smelling love in the air!

Trinity made her annual pilgrimage yesterday, and will be at the farm 45 days to get her through two cycles of heat.Oh Yeah! Bring it on Ladies!

Bo is two and has matured quite a bit since I saw him last year. We look forward to some nice kids for our herd, sometime in April or May.

Fall Wrap Up

I got behind on my posts, so I want to catch up on Fall news before the snow flies.
Did I say that? Mowing is underway, and the place is getting ready for winter. Some of the grasses will remain standing for winter browsing. Its that time of year and Neo has been dating a few of the girls.
When he's not with them, he manages to be a bit of a pain, and twice I arrived at the barn in the morning to find him with the chickens.

Both times he managed to break through his gate that forms the back wall of his stall. The second time he lifted the gate off its hinges.
That's not easy folks!
We've made a few modifications. I had a special guest stay a few days. My high school best friend, and maid of honor, Terry, spent a relaxing few days of walks and touring around the area. We also had a few small feasts from the garden and Delallo's grocery store in Jeanette.
I can't wait to do it again. Jake finally found a new home, and we are all so glad its with Sam and his family.
Sam was Jake's farrier - and a Penn State fan - so all's good!
Sam also has two 4-H riders that will give Jake a few more years of activity. We managed to get to the Forbes State Forest and take a hike in the Laurel Mountains before all the leaves were down. Beam Rocks Trail is about as flat a trail as you can find, and my knee had no complaints about the brisk walk.
It felt good to be out and moving, and Jock appreciated the new smells and the many pats he got along the way. The weather turned from shorts and tank tops, to long pants and long sleeves, it seemed, overnight.
The afternoons can still warm up, but I've unpacked the turtlenecks, so I'm ready for the frosty mornings and cool nights.Tomorrow, my Fall flowers.

Westmoreland Fair Breeding Meat Goat Competition

The goat version of the 4-H H's! Usually: Head, Heart, Hands and Health.

Once again it was time to judge the best Breeding Meat Goat at the Westmoreland Fair.

Jennifer Reynolds, from Westminster, MD was this years judge.
She is a graduate of Delaware Valley College, where she was on the Livestock Judging Team. She worked for 12 years with the University of Maryland extension where she was in charge of the state 4-H sheep shows. Currently she is a Nutrient Management Advisor in Maryland.
In between classes, she was helpful in explaining how she used touch and looks to pick her winners.The competition has gotten better every year, since they started this division three years ago. The category includes the Pygmy Goat and they can be quite rambunctious,... ...and quite adorable (as this three month old was). The Open Champion was this lovely doe. Last years winner was back in the competition, and we appreciated her acknowledgement. Mom was enjoying the trophy and ribbon before it was awarded. Here I am with Fair Princess Brittany Coles, 4-H winner Dontae Boggio of New Alexandra Ag 4-H, and his Champion Goat Lilly.Once again it was our pleasure to help in the smallest of ways, by sponsoring the 4-H trophy. Here was the range of goats and owners at this year's fair.
The judge had her hands full.

A VIDEO OF THE NOISY DIVISION ABOVE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A BARN OF CRYING BABIES.
COULD DRIVE YOU MAD OR MAKE YOU LAUGH.