Thanks for posting this thread on Mewe.......grrr nothing from Substack.
Your message was so spot on, that it should be mandatory reading for anyone thinking of becoming a rancher of any animal. Good grief, dogs keep me 'tied down' but at least there are kennels, they have been fixed so no birthing responsibilities, and can load them into my car for a vet check. But they also have to really know what they are raising, and it can't be just for the cute factor. My beef is with people that buy purebred dogs and don't know what they are born to do. I have been owned by 6 Airedales, but I know what they do and need. They need room to romp, they need to be with people, they dig holes and love to kill cats, squirrels, rabbits, beavers and chickens. Oh my God as puppies they are too cute to resist, but they can grow to be 50-100 pounds of terror terriers. They are smarter than me and are hilarious! So off to puppy daycare to learn to be socialized, and an attempt to train them is always tried. After three years, these two will be quiet most of the day. But at around 8 in the morning and 5 at night they go into psycho mode and run around for 10 minutes chasing each other, running in circles through the house, in and out of the doggie door, up and down stairs, and you better not be in their way during these 10 minutes or they will knock you down because they have become possessed and don't see you. Then you hear a thud-plop and it is over as fast as it started.
Animals are gifts, but you better read the instruction manual before you get them.
Excellent article! Thanks for the tips! When I was a kid I raised rabbits (4-H champion), chickens (layers and broilers), milk goats, and cattle. I remember one day when a goat jumped up on a cold frame and fell through. Sliced her side wide open. A vet came out and stitched her up and she survived. My wife was a champion dressage rider when we dated in high school. Right now, we raise laying and broiler chickens as well as turkeys. Oh, and catfish, lol. I've been doing commercial aquaponics for over a decade.
My wife's former roommate from college has a ranch near our homestead where they raise grassfed beef and lamb that's sold in grocery stores in our area. She's been extremely helpful! It's nice to have community.
Well said. I’ve been more than thankful for my “other” livestock/vet tech experience before jumping into sheep. I expected them to be a lot more fragile and less self-sufficient, but they’ve been surprisingly savvy critters.
I got it. Reloaded this contact. Good to go.
Thanks for posting this thread on Mewe.......grrr nothing from Substack.
Your message was so spot on, that it should be mandatory reading for anyone thinking of becoming a rancher of any animal. Good grief, dogs keep me 'tied down' but at least there are kennels, they have been fixed so no birthing responsibilities, and can load them into my car for a vet check. But they also have to really know what they are raising, and it can't be just for the cute factor. My beef is with people that buy purebred dogs and don't know what they are born to do. I have been owned by 6 Airedales, but I know what they do and need. They need room to romp, they need to be with people, they dig holes and love to kill cats, squirrels, rabbits, beavers and chickens. Oh my God as puppies they are too cute to resist, but they can grow to be 50-100 pounds of terror terriers. They are smarter than me and are hilarious! So off to puppy daycare to learn to be socialized, and an attempt to train them is always tried. After three years, these two will be quiet most of the day. But at around 8 in the morning and 5 at night they go into psycho mode and run around for 10 minutes chasing each other, running in circles through the house, in and out of the doggie door, up and down stairs, and you better not be in their way during these 10 minutes or they will knock you down because they have become possessed and don't see you. Then you hear a thud-plop and it is over as fast as it started.
Animals are gifts, but you better read the instruction manual before you get them.
Words of wisdom., for sure.
You have so much information at the tips of your fingers, I remain your awed Smom!
Excellent article! Thanks for the tips! When I was a kid I raised rabbits (4-H champion), chickens (layers and broilers), milk goats, and cattle. I remember one day when a goat jumped up on a cold frame and fell through. Sliced her side wide open. A vet came out and stitched her up and she survived. My wife was a champion dressage rider when we dated in high school. Right now, we raise laying and broiler chickens as well as turkeys. Oh, and catfish, lol. I've been doing commercial aquaponics for over a decade.
My wife's former roommate from college has a ranch near our homestead where they raise grassfed beef and lamb that's sold in grocery stores in our area. She's been extremely helpful! It's nice to have community.
Well said. I’ve been more than thankful for my “other” livestock/vet tech experience before jumping into sheep. I expected them to be a lot more fragile and less self-sufficient, but they’ve been surprisingly savvy critters.