Asher, ever on top of the PBS schedule <g>, tipped me off that a new series starts this week – Texas Ranch House. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ranchhouse/  He knows all too well I tend to obsess over this series.  At least the Pioneer House, which I watched at least 3 times all through lol! Canadian public broadcasting also produced a similar excellent series with two couples who spent a year on the prairie.  I will reserve my judgement on this one til we see the first episode.  Colonial House was a bust.  Totally unrealistic and in fact scandalous, in part due to their inability to abide by Puritan beliefs and chain of command.  Victorian House was similarly less than stellar – lots of whining.  Ok so WWII House wasnt so hot either…… 

BUT hey, I saw the previews of this one and they have no trees, lots of dirt, baby goats, and a fly infestation come summer.  THIS I can relate to! ; D 

Speaking  of baby goats, we tried our hands at disbudding yesterday.  Words cannot describe this horrific job. Disbudding sounds so innocuous doesn’t it?  Sorta gives one the image of pinching off flower buds from a stem.  Not so.  It’s a euphamism for searing off the horn buds before they grow into lethal weapons. 

Fiascofarm.com tried to prepare us for the task. There is only so much that can be said however and reality was every bit as raw and unpleasant as their description.  First the kids get a haircut around the horn area. That was a piece of cake. We then wrapped them in a towel since we didnt have a kid-holding box. (yes they make these things)  and laid them on a table.  Two of us held the kid while Allen burned off the horns one at time.  All the while Fiasco’s words about brain damage ran through our heads and we were terrified about *frying their brains*.  Never mind the ‘what-in-the-name-of-all-that-is-good are you DOING to me’ squeals they let out.  Wow!  A necessary evil perhaps, but hands down the worst job we have done on the ranch. 

One interesting observation in the whole thing was the difference in the way each of the kids responded.  The does have an awesome mamma and they fought like mad and made a huge fuss. They were appalled (and rightly so) and their mamma consoled them afterwards.  The bucks who came out of our yearling fussed less.  In fact the little guy, whom the mamma hasnt been too affectionate towards, made next to no noise and seemed to just close his eyes and give up.  His mamma didnt even look up when he came back to the pasture.  That was heart wrenching.  It did cause me to make connections with real children however.  I hope we are raising kids who will fight like mad when faced with injustice and who know they can always return to the fold of home for solace.

….she is going to need a milking stand. ($300) She will discover this the first night the goat is home, when it takes every man, woman, and child on the premises to convince the goat that milking on the ground is permissible.  The goat will remain unconvinced. You will hustle to jimmy-rig a stand.  You will gratefully purchase the real McCoy asap.

She will insist that the $14 stainless steel milk strainer is a luxury item and will attempt to do without for many months. She will try to fit her milk filters ($5 per 200) into her Tupperware funnel. Have mercy upon her. She will thank you profusely when she finds out how fast that part of the process goes with the right tools…..particularly if her funnel melts in the dishwasher.

She will need some glass canning jars ($2/piece) and reusable lids ($.50 ea) to store all that wonderful milk.  These will bring much satisfaction as she lines the fridge with them reminding all what a cool thing that goat really is.

She will want to order some minerals ($36) and wormer ($10-$20) right away after hearing the dire things that can beset her goat without them. While she is at it she will add the hoof trimmer kit to her order.  Those feet will be growing way faster than expected. She will likely order the $36 kit, but she will learn that you usually only use the $20 trimmer itself.  This is due in part to the fact that the goat will rarely stand still for this whole procedure. 

She is going to try to use whatever plastic buckets are on hand but do her a favor and invest in the heavy rubber ones ($14-40) from the feed store – especially if you live where it freezes in the winter.  While you are at it get her a heat lamp to hang over said bucket.  Again, she will thank you.

A digital thermometer ($8) will be invaluable in determining whether her goat is truly ill or not.  Even more invaluable will be your help in holding the goat while she inserts it. : o

If you give a girl a goat, you will want to be sure your fences are installed and sturdy.  Especially if she decides to buy a Nubian at some point.  Or if either of you are attached to your landscaping….    Enough said.

Lots of hay and goat chow go without saying.  A bale of alfalfa runs about $6 in the West.  The feed about $11/bag.  Her goat will go through about one of each every week.  This will be amazing at first.  You will become desensitized before long, so don’t panic.

Eventually she will want to take her goat to visit a buck.  She will be sure that transporting the goat in your 15 passenger van is an acceptable option. She will be wrong. This will become abundantly clear on the return trip when she will have to have the heat blasting and all the windows open to help cut the horrific smell the goat will be emitting after this visit.  You may well find yourself scouring the classified ads for a cheap horse trailer. (after you scour the van) You may wonder if you are really ever going to see a profit from this whole venture at this point.  Try not to think about this.  Why?

Because if you give a girl a goat she will work like a dog twice a day, 24/7, in all seasons.  She will never again sleep in. Your  breakfast will always be ready <g>   and there will never be an empty milk carton in your home again.  She will come to love the silly animal and embrace the routine.  Your children will become unbelievably attached to the time spent sitting on an upturned bucket telling their innermost secrets while she milks.  She wont be running around as much because she has to be home at those set times to do it.  This means the house will be cleaner.  (ok that last part is hypothetical……) You will both appreciate the improved health and the independence.

She will never regret a bit of it.  You will be her hero : )

This is for you, Laura, and I hope it helps you decide what to do.  This would outline the basic start up costs minus your shelter of course.  LOTS of work.  Lots of rewards.  Thanks for coming to see us yesterday!