An end of an era is at hand.

We are trying to decide between giving up our last 2 goats in September, or waiting until spring. It's a difficult decision, but it seems inevitable. We cannot afford to keep them any longer. At my husband's previous pay it was easy. Now all our money should be going to support us, not animals. The money I make doesn't cover it. My chcikens and rabbits have a much higher rate of return.

I do have friends that will take my goats. And if I decide to make cheese again next spring, I would be happy to purchase milk from them. At $8 a gallon, I can turn it into $20 of cheese. And i won't have the yearly feed and upkeep.

My sons are getting older and less and less into this way of life. Dh is too busy for many things, and frankly I don't want to do it all by myself.

We maybe selling our property in the spring to get into a cheaper house, and this will be one less thing to worry about.

It's been a good run, anyway.

 Michelle,

I know these are difficult decisions for you and I wish you the best.  It's hard to think of letting something go that you have invested so much time, effort and emotion in.

I hope it all works out for you, Michelle.

Cinnamonhuskies:

My sons are getting older and less and less into this way of life.

That cuts deeply, I know.

Cinnamonhuskies:

We maybe selling our property in the spring to get into a cheaper house, and this will be one less thing to worry about.

I am so sorry!  I know how it hurts to give up the animals & to give up the land you have worked.

We;ve been riding out the poor economy in hopes of things changing for the better and it may not be the way it was before. Both the housing and wage bubble have popped and I don't think we'll see it return to the way it was. Our biggest problem has always been making the mortgage after taking a wage cut.

The hard thing is giving up a 74X38 pole barn that dh has his sheetmetl shop in. Wherever we go it would be nice to have a shop for his equipment. That has always made more money than raising animals.

And yes, Brandy.....it's discouraging to see my sons turn away from the frugal country lifestyle because they see the city people as having it all without any of the work. Perhaps when they are much much older they will return to it to some degree.

Cinnamonhuskies:

it's discouraging to see my sons turn away from the frugal country lifestyle because they see the city people as having it all without any of the work. Perhaps when they are much much older they will return to it to some degree.

For a lot of kids, that's part of growing up. They need to experience different lifestyles and since they're country kids, the city is different. There's a good chance that, once they've experienced the city for awhile, they'll be yearning to return to the country. My son said at one time that he would much rather be in town where everything was close by and he didn't have to plan to run to the store. Now, he'd give up a lot to find a place in the country and will probably make his way back there someday.

Pat:

They need to experience different lifestyles and since they're country kids, the city is different. There's a good chance that, once they've experienced the city for awhile, they'll be yearning to return to the country.

Wait until they have to pay bills, see what things cost and taste the difference between fresh foods and that "easily" bought in the store.

Pat:

 My son said at one time that he would much rather be in town where everything was close by and he didn't have to plan to run to the store. Now, he'd give up a lot to find a place in the country and will probably make his way back there someday.

That is encouraging!

Right now i'm wishing we lived in town so we'd be closer to schools....

Oh, that hurts!  I had to sell my chickens last year.  I miss them.  It's so sad to see the empty coop, and remember them running up the hill to me... But maybe, maybe by next year, we hope...

I hope you can at least keep your rabbits and chickens in the new place.

Here it is late October and they still havent picked up my goats yet! I know he needs to build a good buck pen, but he could add the 2 girls to his herd anytime. In the meantime I had at least one bred for sure; shes due Feb 20th. Now I am getting attached to the idea of spring babies. This is going to be hard.

But we've had to charge some of the feed because of tight money, and instead of feeding the higher protein feed for $14 a sack Ive been find the sweet mix at $8 a sack. If I were to keep them Id rather have them on the higher protein for good babies.