Hi Folks,

I mentioned we were looking for a homestead cow earlier. Well yesterday we took the plunge and committed to a Dexter. Gosh I wish Earth Mama was closer!! We chose a red Kerry like bred heifer, both because of the cost, because the farm we bought from doesn't milk and we want time to work with her before she calves, and because we thought the taller cow would be easier to milk than the real short Dexter. We will pay $400 which seemed reasonable. The best thing is the folks we got her from are just the nicest people. We spent hours there walking around their farm (actually searching out the heifers who like to wander in the woods). All of their animals are very tame even the bulls who come when they are called! They are keeping the heifer until their vet comes out in a few weeks time and he'll check she is bred.

We also found some turkeys yesterday. They seem very scarce this year. The feed stores which usually have them but not this year. We got 6 bronze from a private breeder. We raised 4 last year and just ate the last for Easter. Four was a good number for our family but we are toying with keeping two to try to breed them, despite having heard they are difficult to breed. The man we got them from seems to be successful.

Well I just wanted to share with you how our homestead was growing. Earth Mama I may (will) have questions. Happy Mother's Day - Mom's and all else who mother. Kim

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2001

Answers

Congrats!! Sounds like you made a good choice!

The Kerry-like Dexters ARE surely easier to milk, and with a red one, you might get some red calves which often bring a better price. Or if you breed her to a nice beefy bull you'll probably have offspring with lotsa good meat. You got a real good deal for a red bred heifer I'd say.....good for you guys!

I sold 21 more of my sweeties this weekend; they havent picked em up yet, but some are going to Amherst over by the Energy Fair....

And the Naturally Mating Bronze Turks and Black Shouldered Peafowl are gone.......

Still have about a dozen Dexters left.....

Happy Mothers Day to everyone!

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2001