Julie's Journal : Hobby Farming

Do you remember getting eggs from chickens in your backyard?  Having to feed the animals in the morning before school or work?  Getting home in the evenings and having lots of chores to do?  Maybe you do all those things now?  If you do, my husband and I have joined you!  When I got married 13 years ago to a man from the suburbs of Dallas, I never dreamed we'd have our own little backyard farm one day.  However, he has jumped into country living with a vengeance and there is no going back!

Shortly after we purchased our home, we bought our first batch of chickens. 

 

 

 

Now we have 16 laying hens and 2 roosters and another batch of chickens set to arrive in a couple of weeks.  Our hens give us about a dozen beautiful eggs every single day! 

 
If you have never compared a backyard egg to a store bought one you really should.  The yolks on a backyard egg are much darker yellow and their nutrition is better, too.

So, since the chickens have been a success, my husband wanted to expand our little farm.  This past weekend, we traveled to New Boston and bought these...

That's right - two goats.  Not just two goats - two pregnant goats!  They are a La Mancha goat and a Nubian goat.  Both are supposed to be very good milk goats.  After they have their kids, we will be milking them and trying to figure out what to do with the milk.  We have hopes of cheeses, soaps, and lotions.  I'm sure there's going to be a giant learning curve, so if you see me in the library looking utterly exhausted, you can probably blame the goats!!  If you are experienced with milk goats and with using their milk, I could use your advice as well. 

Now, we just need to figure out gardening.....