For the ninth year in a row, all the goats in the Bramblestone Farm herd have tested negative for small ruminant diseases! We test all goats to make sure they're negative for small ruminant diseases before they ever come to Bramblestone Farm (or test the babies parents if a goat kid is too young to be tested). And, we also test the entire adult herd yearly to make sure that everyone is still disease free. It makes us SO HAPPY when the herd again tests ... continue reading...
Understanding Dairy Goat Pedigrees
Before buying Nigerian Dwarf goats, it’s a good idea to learn how to read (while understanding) dairy goat pedigrees. That way, you can be confident that the goats you are buying will meet your goals for owning them (see this LINK for determining whether you want registered goats). However, be warned, understanding goat pedigrees can be difficult. That’s because there are multiple registries and each has unique methods of signifying superior milk production, conformation, and genetics on the ... continue reading...
Getting Nigerian Dwarf Goats? Identify Your Purpose
If you're thinking about getting Nigerian Dwarf goats, then it's a good idea to identify your purpose for getting goats first. New goat owners sometimes jump in and buy too many goats of the wrong type or breed when getting started. Then, they become overwhelmed or disappointed and end up selling their goats rather than enjoying them. A better approach is to carefully identify your main purpose for owning goats. Then, purchase a couple of high-quality goats that satisfy that purpose. This ... continue reading...
Nigerian Dwarf Goats – Registered or Unregistered?
Why Consider Registered Goats? Nigerian Dwarf (ND) goats can be purchased from either registered purebred or unregistered lines, so when getting started with goats, another decision concerns registration. If you are only interested in a couple of wethers as pets, then registration doesn’t make much difference, but if you intend to keep goats for milk, show, or breeding, then registration is important. Unregistered goats are much less expensive, but registered goats have more potential for ... continue reading...
Choosing Nigerian Dwarf Does – Hand or Machine Milking?
When choosing Nigerian Dwarf does (or other goat breeds) for milk, one consideration should be whether you plan to hand or machine milk them. When first investigating dairy goat breeds for Bramblestone Farm, my initial assumption was that Nigerian Dwarf goats were too small to machine milk. Because my partner and I were both working full-time, I was hesitant about considering the breed. Although they appeared to be ideal from many other aspects, I was concerned about our ability to milk ... continue reading...
Fall Decorations Make Healthy Chicken Treats
As cooler fall weather arrives and we start decorating, it's fun to realize that many natural fall decorations make healthy chicken treats. So plan accordingly and decorate for fall knowing that after the fall holidays have passed, you shouldn't throw out all those Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations. The Fall Decorations That Make Healthy Chicken Treats: Pumpkins, decorative gourds, squash or dried corn cobs all make healthy chicken treats. So, don't throw them out ... continue reading...
Easy Homemade Bath Salts Recipe
This is an easy homemade bath salts recipe that can be made from common ingredients that you probably already have on hand. It's great to make for yourself, but it's also great for gifting. Tied up with an appropriately colored ribbon and tag, it can be a thoughtful gift any time of year. It's part of our blogger's collaboration on Gifts From The Homestead. Scroll down to find links to many more recipes for gifts from your homestead! Bath Salts Recipe ... continue reading...
Making Herbal Vinegar
Herbal vinegar is an easy project that can be done at any time of year that fresh herbs are available. It's good to have these kinds of vinegar on hand to boost the flavor of our favorite dishes, and they can be particularly nice to use during the colder months when there are no fresh herbs coming from the garden. Like homemade vanilla extract, they are simple to make and will add a wonderful shot of summertime flavor to salad dressings, marinades, gravies, and ... continue reading...
