Jedi is doing awesome, but was very lonely.  We found out that the kids are not able to show bucks in 4H, so we decided to purchase a couple nice unrelated does to show and breed to in the future.  We looking at showing Jedi at some American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) shows, later in the year.  Ray a darling little Red Roan and her sister, Aspen were three weeks old when they came to us, just a week older than Jedi.

 

 Now, we have three beautiful bottle babies

who come from excellent milking lines with amazing conformation to boot.  

The goat kids are doing well and Jedi is so happy to have friends his own age.

 Although, he’ll be leaving in a few weeks to his own  separate shelter.  He will have a darling little Southdown Babydoll Ram lamb that will join him in April.  Unfortunately, bucks can be physically mature at 2 -3 months. and don’t want Jedi breeding so early.  We’ll be waiting until the fall to breed him to the older girls we have here, in hopes of some Nubian goat kids in the early spring of 2018. 

Santi our Maremma Livestock Guardian is 6 months now and all puppy, but has already filled out to over 60lbs.

 We realized that Santi really needed a playmate and a companion when guarding.  Guardian dogs work best in pairs, so I contacted a “Code of Ethics” breeder in Minnesota who was known for Maremma’s with excellent health, conformation, and temperment.  We wanted to make sure the foundation of our Maremma breeding program would be from quality and health tested lines.  Our prayers were answered when the breeder informed us another buyer just withdrew their deposit on a breeding female and that a puppy was available for us.  Within a week, “Selah” joined our family.  

She has been such a blessing!  She has a wonderful personality, cautious and yet so friendly.  Willing and ready to learn, always under foot and loves to just hang out with animals or people.  We couldn’t be more pleased with her and Santi is sure glad to have someone to romp around with, although Selah still has some growing to do.  

Selah climbs all over him and they take turns diving off straw bales, they are having a blast together.  Praying they will not only be great friends, but also wonderful guardians of our herd.  

With all our new additions, we had to think about expanding our shelters.  Ken has been working hard to complete fencing for all the girls that will be moving to the main barn, our two Southdown Babydolls and 5 Nubian Goats.  

While the 2 boys (sheep and goat) will move to the smaller shed, just down the hill.  I know the girls will love the new space and room to spread out, plus we’ll have a stall just for birthing too.  

All these new babies, we can definitely tell Spring is in the air.  The weather has been unseasonably warm and among all the busyness we are just now planning out our garden for the season.  The kids and I took time to plant some seeds, in hopes they’ll be ready to plant in another few weeks when the garden is ready.

 Even Selah wanted to help  plant seeds…..

Such a busy time of year! Keep and eye out for photos of the arrival of our  Mini Jersey and newest little lamb to join the farm and some surprise additions coming in June for Father’s Day!