CrazyGoatLady

Ain't that the truth! (Shivers)

I had no idea that's why they are called nannies. Learn something new every day. I drank bad milk once and I didn't drink it again for probably several months after that. I just got home not long ago and haven't eaten supper yet. I didn't want to cook just for me, so a bowl of cereal it is. I didn't realize it, but I smell the milk too.

Good for you Farmall. Very nice of you

If you let people know you're a blacksmith, some things start making their way directly to your smithy

And if it seems odd that I've never had goat milk( besides the yucky stuff) is because of lactose intolerance. That's why I wanted to raise milk goats in the first place. I still don't drink much milk though it's better now. Used to have an allergy to eggs and oddly enough, we raise laying hens for eggs. But I can tolerate small doses of those much better than store bought. I'm hopeful about goat milk. Thomas Powers mentioned goat milk cheesecake. Sounds tasty

Thank you Charles. I'm thankful I haven't had much trouble with worms for a couple of years now. That milk was terrible. I'll have to find someone around here who has dairy goats and try some. There are people a few miles from us who have a large herd of Nubians. But if they sell them or milk, they don't advertise very well. We were going to see about buying a couple but couldn't figure out how to get a hold of them. Most everything around here seem to be meat goats

WFM: I don't know exact prices on shipping. I would suppose that would depend on the sellers shipping rates. But I'm pretty sure on most, it would depend on the weight. I'm 5'2" myself. My current anvil is a hair under 70 lbs. and I can pick it up and the stand it's on and move it fairly easy. Of course a stump or heavier stand mount would obviously be heavier. I'm looking at a heavier anvil because mine is too light for serious hammering. As you get further along, you may decide you want to do bigger projects. Being such a sizable investment, really put some time in researching what you may need. I personally would like something at least 120 lbs. with a thick waste. There are many here who are far more knowledgable than I about his. Just where I'm at right now. I raise Boer goats. The two kids are are Boer/ Spanish mixes. You should look at the thread Show Me Your Goats and post some pictures. I'd love to see them

They are right and that size stock is easy to cut with a hacksaw.

Sorry! It sounds like you've had a rough go of it. Hope you get to feeling better soon. Heck, I've posted some of my stuff that I look back on now and think, what in the world were you thinking?! But it's something you made and pictures are well loved here.

You should post your hardy in What Did You Do In The shop Today so we can see it if you haven't already Chris

I've been looking at new ones and the prices in the weights you've listed are anywhere from about $250 (US) to $650 and above. Depending on the maker and what style of anvil it is. There are so many wanting (and getting) that much or more for beat up, light weight anvils. I think if a person has the money, they should just buy new. And those prices are probably here to stay. But I'm sure someone with a much better perspective on it than me will be along shortly. I didn't see Marc 1s post, but I obviously agree with him

Actually, I do know how they taste... when you run around from chore to chore without washing your hands and you wipe sweat off your face... and my boys were very demanding for pets. I know that's grosser than most people even know, but its true. Needless to say, I made it a point to wash my hands. I can't remember what the name of that dairy is. Somewhere out of the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area I think. And my olfactory senses lit up when I tasted it. Rotating wormers is a good idea also. There's quite a bit of debate on how to do things like what your talking about the with the mineral blocks. We raise pedigreed Texas A&M New Zealand's and TAMUK( Texas A&M University at Kingsville) composites and rabbit breeders are just about as hard core on what is the gospel for what to do when it comes to raising them. We know people who are convinced they have some deadly disease, and then they are just fine a day later. Book knowledge, but no feel for it I think. I've only had a handful of rabbits die in 4 1/2 years of raising them, unless they were butchered. Two from snake bite, and two from heat stroke. And babies whom their mother put them out. Things like that. I must be doing something right to have such low mortality rates. And only one goat who died from worm infestation. Ive learned a lot since then. I guess my point is, I don't tell anyone an absolute way is the best. If they ask, I explain what we have done and then done differently after learning better from hands on experience. Sorry for the painfully long post

I bought some goat milk from the store. Nearly five dollars a quart. I went to drink some, and it was the foulest stuff to ever cross my lips. It tasted exactly like a buck smells. I could have went out and licked one and it wouldn't have tasted any different. We don't raise dairy goats so I don't know. But I've been told ýou have to keep the does separated from the bucks or they'll pick up the scent in their milk. Something else I need to study up on. Anyone have any insight into that? If you've never heard of it, there's a magazine called Goat Rancher. We read about a study in New Zealand about deworming. Worms are virtually non existent in sheep and goats there. Most wormers in the U.S. don't work anymore because they have been so overused. The USDA doesn't allow us to use the same kind of meds they have available in N.Z. so the recommendation is to use two or three wormers in conjunction with each other in big doses. I can tell you what we do if anyone is interested. It works and I have nearly 0% worm problems in an area that is riddled with them.

Such wonderful stories. I never thought posting a picture of goat kids would turn out to be such a great thread of its own.

Thanks. My husband can tell you the how and why on things anywhere from black soldier fly compost to finances. I used to be like that. But nowadays it's more like I can show you, but I may be stumped on how to tell you. A guy called the other night and was saying he thought his goats may have worms and what to do. I asked him symptoms and circumstances like what kind of grass they are on etc. I was thinking I sounded like an idiot because I couldn't explain myself adequately. I didn't just want to tell him what to. I want him to KNOW what to do so he'll know in the future. And to be right. Worms can take a goat down fast and they are heavy this year because we've had so much rain. They've been worming but it's still going so I told him how we do it. But I think it's the grass. It's thick and wet underneath. He lives in Oklahoma and they've been saturated too. Eating wet grass can make them runny. Told him to go ahead and worm and get them on some good coastal hay. I haven't heard back, so I hope all is well. We can't sleep if it's hot either. We are in Texas summertime so it's getting where it'll still be in the 80s at night. So far, it's been a mild start. Maybe it'll stay that way

Thank you for the explanation of goat vs. cow milk. I read things, but my retention isn't so good. I'm more of a hands on learner if that makes sense. I should be asleep. It's near 2 o clock here. I have a tad of insomnia sometimes. I was looking at the ABANA website, then flipped back over here.

I don't know the science on goat milk. Something about the enzymes are easier on the digestive system. There's getting to be a move to goats for milk and meat. I see it too. There are goats popping up everywhere here. Prices have gone up to. Good for me when I sell. We are going to move into some meat production. Joint venture with my father- in- law. Small scale, but we'll see where it goes. And possibly milk. I don't have a lot of room to sustain a large herd but he does.

That looks like home. Mine laze around on the back deck in the evenings. I've got a glass top table that sits back there. It must be tough as nails because it has been used by several of them as a sleeping spot. Including a 130lb. buck.

Yeah, that's the movie I was thinking of. I don't remember it very well. Glad to know the actual story because I was thinking it was based on real life events. We mostly have coyotes around here. I keep a leery eye on them, but have never had any problem with them

Hoof nippers are easy to find around here. Usually cheap too. But I notice if they have a tag that reads " Blacksmith Tongs", they want to charge a little more for them

That sounds perfect to me. Steve Shimanek: Horseshoes are my favorite thing to forge. I especially like used ones. They have the character of having been actually worn, and seem easier to forge. That's very cool that a shoe you made was put on a horse. Even cooler if you could get that same shoe back and make it into something else

I haven't made any tongs. Just modified some. You're ahead of me

Yes it has. I appreciate the contributions by Steve and Charles also. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all the comments, and have learned from them. How great is that?

I don't know how all that works, but that may be a good idea. Maybe something like " This is how I do it. Not meant to be an instructional video, but I hope you enjoy watching." And if someone wants to try it and make it successfully, all the better. I was just letting you know that on this forum, if safety issues are seen , they will be pointed out. Things don't always translate well in text so I hope this makes sense to you. Maybe keep that in mind when you make videos that monkey see, monkey do and make sure you are stressing safety as well.

Andrew: If your goal is trying to teach how to make this particular horseshoe, I could watch your video and learn how to do it. And you look efficient doing it. The music is probably good for the entertainment value also if that is your aim. Safety and prevention is stressed religiously here. If you read my post about burning my hand, that is a prime example of why. That is why they point out issues about not wearing safety glasses and such. They don't want anyone to be hurt by what they SEE someone else doing. The safety practices in my shop are probably not grade A either. But I'm not putting something out where everyone can see it. Visuals are powerful. As I said, I like your video except the music. But that's my opinion. And I can read Steves instructions on how HE makes his shoe and follow it and I'm going to give that a go. Charles is a farrier, so that is his profession. You don't have to be a pro at what your are doing. I can do a lot of things, but I'm not a professional anything. Thanks for the invite Charles. Tommie and I were just talking the other day about that. He has to go up to Reno sometimes a couple times a week for work. He said I ought to take you up to Bradley and go see Charles. I wish I had more time and it worked out in your time also. I would love it