Ask Poppy George

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QUESTION: How important is salt in the diet of my goats and burro?

ANSWER: Salt is essential, especially in the winter months. Follow the feeding procedure recommended above for cattle and horses, and the critters will satisfy their requirements for minerals.

QUESTION: When and where should I order my baby chicks, and what quality standards should I look for?

ANSWER: I prefer to order chicks from a reputable local breeder in January, February or March. Be sure the seller's flock is tested and free of B.W.D. (bacillary white diarrhea) or pullorum disease. This will save you many heartaches and unnecessary losses. Also see that the newly hatched chicks have fluffy down and well-healed navels. The choice of breed is up to you, but for practical purposes it's best to avoid such exotics as Blue Andalusians, Jersey Black Giants, Brahmas, Orpingtons, etc. They're nice to keep but usually don't lay enough to be profitable.

QUESTION: I'm 6' 1" and while I enjoy the milk of our two nanny goats, I do got a few aches in the process of milking. What can you suggest, Poppy, to make the job a bit easier?

ANSWER: A chore is a chore and always will be. If you enjoy the finished product, that's what counts most. Anyhow, here's a milking stand I've used that should make things easier and more comfortable for both you and the goats. The ramp is removable . . . and is unnecessary in any case if the does are trained to jump up on the platform to be fed and milked. The stanchion restrains the animal until the job is finished.

QUESTION: In the past, Poppy, you've made several suggestions to cut livestock feeding costs. Have you any others now that the price of manufactured feed is so much higher?

ANSWER: Here's one additional possibility: Check the canneries in your area for by-products—pea vines, sweet corn husks, etc.—that can be used as low-cost animal feed.

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