Windameer Farm's News

This is the Page we will put new news when it happens on Windameer Farm.

Date started. 09/13/07

11/20/07
      We have decided to sell the farm here in New York and move to a warmer state. The animals will be moving with us and Windameer Farm will continue to operate, Just not in NY anymore. The cold is hard on me and I feel it is best to move before I build the Farm up much more.
      I have decided to change breeds of sheep from Navajo Churro to Cotswold’s they have locks like the angora goats and need to be sheared twice a year like the goats. We will be selling some live lambs to customers for meat, and possibly having lamb meat for sale if we find a good USDA butcher where we move too. We will have pelts tanned and for sale along with the fiber from them.

09/13/07
       So far this year a lot has been going on. We have had eight Angora goat kids born, 3 does and 5 bucks, we sold 2 bucks, three have been wethered, and we sold two for 4H. Sorry to say the third wether got anemia and passed away. I am keeping the does from this year, but I am sorry to say when the anemia hit I lost the youngest one and only have two left. The entire herd is getting Iron and vitamin B12 twice a day in their feed to get them over this. We also will be supplementing the herd with daily dose minerals to try to keep this from happening again. Anemia is from parasites drinking more blood then the animal's bone marrow can replace. We wormed out herd once every three months but we did not realize that it wasn't taking care of the out side parasites. Now we have Decoma a pour on wormer that takes care of both we are hoping this and supplementing will make it that we will not loose any more, but death is part of life and there are not guarantees.
       This year our neighbor began clearing his land and in doing so he cleared part of our land in the back of our property and up next to our house. He started when he bought the land about 2 years ago and at that time I asked him if he had a survey done. He said, no. I told him we wanted to keep our trees so please get a survey before he cleared any more. He stopped clearing so it was done we thought. The next spring he cleared more. By doing this he gave the goats a good view of his field. They got out and went to visit, my fault, I know but they are animals and animals find ways out of fences. The neighbor came over and claimed the goats ate his grapes and caused some damage. I said we could work something out about the damage. He said he did not want money he wanted a fence put up the full property line, 1206 feet. Then he said if he saw my goats there again he was going to bag one or two and he has a good dog that may get one or two also. I called the cops and reported the conversation. People have a right to protect, not kill. If he did not want the animals on his property do not move next to an animal farm.
        Now back to the property clearing. We are trying to build a case but to do so we have to pay for everything and more. So I am not sure if we can do anything about it.
        In addition, this year we have been working on loans for the farm. We hope to get goat milk soap into our inventory and sheep milk soap in to it next year. We also would like to get the farm so we feel comfortable with people coming to look at it so we can have farm tours.