Sunday, October 2, 2011

Goat Pen - Part 2

We are only running a week behind schedule on bringing home the goats (Part 1 Here) ...Hubby is having to work on it after work and unfortunately the three days last week he arrives home before it got dark it was pouring with rain...

Farmer Brown aka hubby putting in fence posts last night after work...

We also had a delay, as we wanted to speak with the neighbor that was using the land for the melons about the new crop he put there...We had only expecting him to replant it with Bahia, but he mixed in a "bird seed" crop (forget the real name) and though we were not informed this was going to be the case on our land, we thought it only right to talk to him before we mowed and fenced part of it...

He does not pay for the use of our land, the but in exchange for planting the melon crop would reseed our back 3acres with better pasture grass than what was there, as well as he amended the soil...In previous years he has also cut and hayed back there so we did not have to try and cut it with our small ride on mower...We also might get some friendly neighbor fencing going on this year....More about that later if it goes ahead as planned.

But any-who, back to our goats...This small temporary grazing area is 60x40 square ft and should be more than enough room and grass for 2 Nigerian Dwarf goats until we can raise the funds to securely fence the perimeter of the property...at which point we can bring in sheep as well...

Farmer Brown aka Hubby has finished building and painting their shelter and I can't wait to see it...He has it over in his work shop and will be bringing over to the pen tonight after work ....

Remember this?...It is a 10x10 dog kennel which we will use to shut them in at night (or if we are out for the day) so they do not get eaten by predators...We will be adding chicken wire to the top and then a canvas tarp to give them additional shade and protection from the rain and preditors...

I know some of you are wondering why we are securing the top of a 6ft high pen for goats...Well we learnt the hard way with our chickens that bobcats can and will enter from above if they can find a way to get in, and since this pen will be placed under the oak tree we do not want to serve them up a goat dinner....

We plan on Wed, since that is one of Farmer Brown aka Hubby's days off, to stretch the goat/sheep fencing and swing the gate...Hook up the auto watering system etc.

I think we are right on track for them to be home this Thursday *happy goat dance*


Then my challenge is going to be make the 10x10 kennel not look so blah...I would love to shabby chic it up...I have my eye on some old shutters...Suggestions welcome....Please

Blessings Kelsie

6 comments:

Nancy K. said...

I can't wait to see your ND goats and read about their adventures! I almost bought a pair of doelings last spring but then fell and shattered my elbow so no new animals for me.

Will you milk your goats?

rosie said...

Things are going along nicely Kelsie.. you will soon have them home.. I don't like the sound of bob-cats, glad we don't have any of them...

TexWisGirl said...

hi kelsie! came over to say thanks for dropping by my blog today and leaving a comment! really appreciate it! good luck with the little goats! nice to have a handy husband to do fencing and shelter projects around your place!!! :)

Dreaming said...

I can't wait to see pictures of the goats at home! Fencing is so critical.... today I spent time stapling fence that we had hastily thrown up with zip ties to contain our pup. Time to make it permanent!

Darla said...

Wow! Ya'll have a lot going on. Don't forget signs on the pen. I just love signs. Maybe one that has the goats names on it or the name of your goat pen or, or, or!

Anonymous said...

Hope you're doin' the happy goat dance soon! :)
Hugs,
Zuzu