Post by 5webbkids on Jul 26, 2007 13:19:13 GMT -5
Hi,
My name is Anna and I am wife to Gene, Mom to 5 great kiddos and keeper of all living critters on our patch of paradise! We currently have 5 sheep, a handful of dogs, and 2 VERY old chickens! We have had rabbits, turkeys, dairy goats and I had a horse for 21 years until he passed on and generally we have a whole flock of layers and do some broilers. Gene is an active duty US Marine and has been deployed frequently the last 5 years....our 3 youngest are 6 and under and due to that we scaled down on what we had since it was a lot for me alone. We purchased 33 acres 7 years ago and have been patiently waiting for Gene's retirement to move there.....his retirement is looming close enough for us to start making that move this fall! YAY!
We have raised some bottle calves before (for about 6 months) and sold them when Gene recieved orders to Japan for a year and our 2nd oldest was 5 months....so we have bottled babies before....
Now I am considering doing something that might be totally foolish! I am considering buying a bottle heifer to raise for milk. I have large animal experience.....horses for a long time, helped out on farms with cattle and hogs, so I have no fear of them and believe I can train her to be good girl without spoiling her rotten.
We would like a FMC but cannot seem to find one close by and the cost of raising a calf to grown is high, but it's a little at a time instead of all up front....that is appealing to me. And we did really love raising those first calves, I am at home all day, so it's not like we would have to change our schedule too much to accomodate her.......so am I completely loony or is this doable?
Thanks!
My name is Anna and I am wife to Gene, Mom to 5 great kiddos and keeper of all living critters on our patch of paradise! We currently have 5 sheep, a handful of dogs, and 2 VERY old chickens! We have had rabbits, turkeys, dairy goats and I had a horse for 21 years until he passed on and generally we have a whole flock of layers and do some broilers. Gene is an active duty US Marine and has been deployed frequently the last 5 years....our 3 youngest are 6 and under and due to that we scaled down on what we had since it was a lot for me alone. We purchased 33 acres 7 years ago and have been patiently waiting for Gene's retirement to move there.....his retirement is looming close enough for us to start making that move this fall! YAY!
We have raised some bottle calves before (for about 6 months) and sold them when Gene recieved orders to Japan for a year and our 2nd oldest was 5 months....so we have bottled babies before....
Now I am considering doing something that might be totally foolish! I am considering buying a bottle heifer to raise for milk. I have large animal experience.....horses for a long time, helped out on farms with cattle and hogs, so I have no fear of them and believe I can train her to be good girl without spoiling her rotten.
We would like a FMC but cannot seem to find one close by and the cost of raising a calf to grown is high, but it's a little at a time instead of all up front....that is appealing to me. And we did really love raising those first calves, I am at home all day, so it's not like we would have to change our schedule too much to accomodate her.......so am I completely loony or is this doable?
Thanks!