Lily Goes Reserve Grand Champion at Chino LVDGA Show

In our first show of the year, our foundation doe Joyful Hearts Lily of the Valley, a two year old, 2nd freshener, and dam of the first kids born to Tres Rios Farm (quad boys this spring) won her class in Ring 3 of the Lost Valley Dairy Goat Association and went on to take Reserve Grand Champion too.  

This was a VERY competitive show with no less than 27 does in her class.  

We are very proud of our herd queen.

kidding season arrives

On Monday, March 31, 2014, our nigerian dwarf doe "Lily" gave birth to four healthy bucklings.  I was with her as she kidded, though she did not need any help from me this time.  She pushed all four babies out in just seven minutes and was standing up to greet and feed them as soon as she was done.  

These boys are the first born on our farm and will carry our herd name.  They all weighed in above three pounds at birth.  

Hello Tigger!  

We are in the ADGA Performance Plus Program this year which means we are participating in milk test, we are having the whole herd linear appraised, and we are proofing DNA for our herd leaders.  Show season is just around the corner too.  This summer is going to be really exciting, and a big learning experience for us.

We need to settle on names this week and get these boys registered so they'll be ready for all these adventures.

Sweet Dreams

Our FIRST Farm Visit from the Vet

Last week we had our first on site farm visit from our new veterinarian.  It was a real learning experience.

My does had sonograms.  Lily is ripe, carrying atleast two babies.  I got to see their little fast pounding heartbeats on the sonogram screen.  That was so cool.

The whole herd had physicals and had their annual lab tests and fecals.

Our Vet called me back yesterday to share the great news.  The herd's fecals were clean.  All CAE and CL test results were negative as well.

The best part for me, the new goat herd owner, was having the vet tell me that she loved our goat house and yard.  It was the cleanest she's seen, and my herd have excellent body conditioning.  Even with Miss Lily pregnant she still looks great.  Thanks to those great Joyful Hearts/Rosasharn genetics.

They came to me starting in April of last year from healthy, established herds, and it feels good knowing that my hard work is keeping them healthy.

Moving Day on the Farm

The goats and I have been waiting patiently for several months for this very special day at Tres Rios Farm. They moved in to the new Goat House yesterday.

We've still got a few kinks to work out in the arrangement of stalls, who goes where, how to set up what- where, but I can say that everyone is resting well and enjoying their new larger, warmer, more secure home tonight.

Jerry and I also made great progress today in the yard.  We disassembled the old goat yard and began tilling and scraping the new goat pasture area.  We ordered a few bags of pasture seed mix for small ruminants and are prepping the soil on about an acre of relatively flat hillside for our new goat pasture.

We've got big plans for our little farm this year. We joined the ADGA Performance Plus Program for the first time.  I got my tester certification card this week, and am preparing for our first year on milk test.  Our veterinarian will be making a farm call next week for routine physicals, sonograms on our two pregnant does, and annual herd testing.  Things are sure going to be exciting around here for a while, and then begins SHOW season... Oh, and BABY WATCH is just around the corner!!!

Have a HAPPY week friends.  

FARMGIRL PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT NOW!!!

That's right!  All day today I am posting clues hourly.  PRIZES every hour!  

All you need to do is HOP on over and JOIN the group if you haven't yet had a chance, and SHARE your favorite photos that match our clues.  What could be simpler than that?  

Whatcha waiting for?  Hope to see ya there!  HERE'S THE LINK!

Wow. That's Moving FAST.

The GOAT BARN continues to take shape

 thanks to my boys

when finished, it will be home to my little herd 

 My boys have managed to construct most of this barn from recycled construction materials found here at the farm

Everything but the nails, roof boards, and exterior plywood siding on the back are re-purposed.  The siding on front and the two sides is re-purposed fencing from the back yard.

If the weather holds out, we may have goats inside sleeping in another week or so.  

Friday on the Farm

My boys have been busy the last few days working on a goat barn for my herd.

The Addy and Moonie Show...

Our First Year With Dairy Goats

To ring in the New Year, I compiled a short video full of pictures I've taken during the last ten months of my first baby nigerian dwarf dairy goats, Addy and Moonie.  They are the precious kids that started my addiction to goats.

They sure grow FAST.  The first picture is from the beginning of April 2013 and the last image is from November 2013.

I hope you enjoy it.

Heidi

I am linking up to share my farm babies on The Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop this week!