A Consistent Truth

The starter homestead was purchased between Passover and Shavu'ot in 2005.  I didn't get to just jump into homesteading that summer, as there were a number of loose ends to tie up, 250 miles to the north.  I don't know how many times I covered those same miles between the spring and fall of that year, but I made the final "official" trip the day after Yom Teruah.  That was the last High Holy Day I spent with mishpocha at the Temple I had attended for a number of years.  Between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur, the place took homesteading shape.  In less than 10 days, there were a dozen pullets, two roosters, and two nanny goats on the place.  By late October there was a third nanny and a young jack donkey.  The chickens were still young, and the goats were all bred, but there were no eggs or milk until early 2006.

What has been consistent and now confirmed this 9th season once again, is the first hen to begin laying again after the winter respite hides her eggs and the first goat to kid is never the one I'm watching . . . Free range and organic has many advantages, but the one disadvantage is animals have a built in propagation of the species, that excludes even their trusted caregiver.  As an organic, natural homesteader, I don't keep my chickens all penned up.  They are free to cover the entire place every day, although most of them don't.  There are nest boxes in the henhouse, but there is always an enterprising little hen that will find a special little spot to build her nest.  She'll disappear for three weeks, and then reappear with chicks following.

When it comes to the goats, I don't pen them up for breeding, I turn the buck into the same pasture with the does right before Sukkot, and let nature take it's course.  That means most of the kids arrive in about a month's time beginning mid February, which means the does are pretty big by mid January.  Inevitably I'll take note of the one that looks like she could deliver at any time . . . and then another one does first.  Nine years, so far, this has been consistent.  I've had my eye on Willow for over a week now, and she's still not delivered.   Cherie, who joined the herd in Goshen in early September apparently arrived already in her condition and is now a very proud and good mama to little Tamar.

Every year, consistently, I tell myself, next year I'm going to be watching the right one.  I am very thankful that Abba knows which one will deliver first and the weather through the years, consistently, has been unseasonably mild when the lesser expected arrival makes their appearance.

Breeding Season

This year's breeding season appears to have been successful.  Buddy Buck is no longer making his strange animated noises and his uniquely quickened stomping has pretty much ceased.  He does still stink, however; and once in awhile I catch him "applying" his special cologne ritual.

It's easy to see Abba's calendar in the breeding season.  He really did create everything to be efficient and accomplished.  Goats and sheep have about the same length of gestation, five months.

Although some goats will breed year round, many breeds have a season rather than a cycle.  I have both in my herd, but since I keep the buck separate from the milkers, there is a single time frame for breeding and arrivals.  Buddy Buck left the north pasture to join the does in the east, right before Yom Teruah.  As I have learned more on the homestead, it becomes clear how the animals really were created to also align with our Creator's timing.  By the time of Sukkot, all the goats are in one pasture with plenty of grass still remaining.  This is the easiest time of year to move a herd or travel with one.  Early autumn affords the does the best nutrients available, as the beginning of the gestational period is the most crucial.  The summer dry season has passed and the pasture is still lush and green.  Dew falls in the morning by this season, so even as they browse and graze, they are taking in extra moisture.

According to my calculations, all the kids should begin arriving by mid-February and all should be here by Passover.  Just one more great blessing regarding Abba's creation and calendar.  With this breeding schedule, no babies arrive in the coldest months of winter.  Here are a few photos of the girls, confirming that breeding season has now, officially become; the season of gestation!