Friday, January 4, 2013

Goat Hay Feeder

Our Nigerian goats, Latte & Mocha (yes, I named them!) have plenty of pasture to graze on, but we wanted to make a feeder to supplement them with hay in these cold, dormant, winter months. 

The previous owners of our farmhouse left a ton of wood scraps in the barn...not only that, but they put up a privacy fence in between our home and the barn.  We already had plans to remove it...the privacy fence will be replaced with your typical farm looking fence.  So the boys and I gathered some of the scraps, took down one of the privacy panels and cut it all to 3 feet lengths.
First, Nate and I built the vertical panel that will be the center.  We had decided on an "L" shaped feeder but last minute made it a double sided one...it just made more sense to do that. 
Here is the feeder, with the main frame built (it's laying on its side).  Ben is measuring the sides to add a piece of wood all the way around to catch the hay that falls...and to make it look a little nicer :)
 We found these extra spindels from our front porch and thought they would be nice to add.  It's looking good!  And mind you, this is with no plans...just the boys making it up as we go!
We added some fencing pieces to hold up a tin roof, and to give it more support.
These scrap pieces of tin fit *perfectly* on the top of the feeder!  I love it when things work out well!!
And now the hay.  What hard working boys!!  And I must mention that this could not have been done if Caitlin wasn't so willing to be watching the little ones!
Perfect, cute, FREE feeder!  Gotta love it!!  Behind it you see our other work in progress for the goats...a milking station with living quarters on both sides...from more fencing panels and tin we already had.  We will show you as soon as we're done!
 Success!!!  Mocha loves it!!

This post was linked to:  Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways

Monday, December 31, 2012

Fencing 101

Well, for a family that has never done anything like this before, I must say, we did pretty good.  Grama, Taylor and Uncle Johnny came for a Christmas visit, and they got put to work!  From start to finish, with 22 hard working hands, it took 3 full days of labor.  Here's what had to be done:

Dig corner post and gate post holes.
Cementing those posts.
Clearing out underbrush for the fence line.
Measuring equal distances between metal posts.
Pounding in metal posts.
Leveling the metal posts.
Redoing some metal posts.
Redoing some more metal posts...ugh.
Running fencing around the acre.
Securing the fencing to the posts.
Securing the fencing to the ground.
Installing 2 gates.
And finally...bringing our goats home!!

Lighthearted Cait always has a way to make things fun :)  and it's freezing outside!  Not sure why she's in a short sleeve shirt!




All our kids, from 15 to 3, took part in every piece of the process so that all young hands learned each skill it took to do this.  I love owning a farm because of what I'm watching my kids learn TOGETHER...
Hard work.
Delegation.
Servanthood.
More hard work.
Organization.
Following through.
More hard work.
Having fun while working (that's huge for all of us!).
Being an encouragement to others.
And more hard work.
I think the animals are just an added bonus! 

Great work everyone, and thanks Grama, Taylor and Johnny for helping out while you were here!!!
 Our goats are home :)
 There are 2 babies in that big belly!!

Graycie insisted that Ellie wear her Christmas dress to go welcome our goats home...so darn cute!

 "Chewing cud isn't so bad, mom!"