I'll confess, I love investigating a new product! Combine that with my love for goats and I've found my ultimate quest! I'm starting a new series I'm calling 'My Favorite Things' where I'll share the items I love that make life easier on the farm. I've shared links from PBS Animal Health, but you can … Continue reading My Favorite Things – Milking
Farm Updates
2023/2024 Website Update
The temperatures are dropping, the barn is full of hay, and the dairy does are bred... that means it's time to update the website! I've added individual pages to better highlight the dairy goats. Dairy kids arrive in March and April. Boer kids from ABGA Fullblood 'Au Bel Fancy a Chance', could be on the … Continue reading 2023/2024 Website Update
Au Bel Farm Find: Arlo Barn Cameras
It's Fall Kidding season at the farm and it seems like my boer doe Dottie will NEVER have her babies. This means I've spent a lot of time watching my Arlo Barn cameras. Last week I posted the photo below of my 'barn-watch' setup! I'll admit, it's pretty cozy! Certainly a big improvement from my … Continue reading Au Bel Farm Find: Arlo Barn Cameras
There is an App for that…
Happy New Year!! In the past few weeks I've taken on a couple special projects. One was really easy. I downloaded the app Livestocked and entered all my animal's data. It's a herd management software that tracks animal breedings, treatments, weight gain rates, pasture information and other handy stuff. I'm really happy with it so … Continue reading There is an App for that…
Haemonchus
If you raise boer goats, take Haemonchus seriously. I want to take a moment to promote a resource I've found essential to the fight against Barber Pole Worm. The American Consortium on Small Ruminant Parasite Control - http://www.wormx.info I rely on this site as my only source of de-worming information - it's that good! Much … Continue reading Haemonchus
Life on a Construction Site…
What does construction look like.... how about posting a photo taken on June 16th on October 28th! This summer has been busy, to say the least! The barn is up, the well drilled, the Premier 1 feeders have been built... The pasture was planted to an alfalfa/birdfoot trefoil/brome grass/orchard grass mix and the fence will … Continue reading Life on a Construction Site…
Sheep in a Jeep!
Welcome home Vera and Stella! These beautiful Shetland ewe lambs come from http://www.windsweptfarms.com Vera is on the right, her color is described as 'Musket' a light greyish-brown. Stella is on the left, her color is described as 'Emsket' a dusky blueish gray. Both girls also have 'Bersugget' markings, which means irregular patches of different colors; … Continue reading Sheep in a Jeep!
What’s in a name?
Picking a farm name is tough work... and there were lots of options since my place is windy... rocky... sandy... and MANY suggestions were thrown around reflecting lots of memories! But after a round of beers at the Newaygo Brewing Company, a name was picked! I (Leslie) started my farming adventure as a 4-Her in … Continue reading What’s in a name?
Au Bel Farm 