Hello from south central Texas

**Cyngbaeld** · 07-28-2013, 16:05

I'm a 61 y/o homesteader. I breed LaMancha dairy goats, American buff, American Blue, Embden and Cotton Patch geese. Of course I have ducks, guineas, chickens and a pig and 2 Great Pyranees to keep them safe. I've done a lot of camping and yrs ago did some backpacking. Don't want to sleep on the ground any more. Woke up in the middle of too many nights, wet and cold and miserable. Planning to thru hike the AT NOBO next spring. So I decided to do it with a hammock and now I'm gathering my gear and learning what I need to know to do it as comfortably, safely and reasonably inexpensively as possible.

Appreciate how freely you folks share your knowledge!

Kim

**Jibbers** · 07-28-2013, 16:19

Welcome to the forums from Stephenville, Tx.

And two thumbs up on homesteading. That is awesome stuff. Would love to come check out your place sometime and see if I could glean any knowledge on self sufficiency!

**Trambo** · 07-28-2013, 16:24

Welcome from Corpus Christi....
I apologize for your addiction,
but at least its not a t%&t

**Cyngbaeld** · 07-28-2013, 18:13

Thank you. I'd love to meet fellow Texans who share my enthusiasms!
Sail, do you mean goat addiction ( I only have 17 right now) or goose addiction (50 at last count) or.............. LOL

**sargevining** · 07-28-2013, 18:16

Howdy from Rosenberg.

Are you raising your own down quilts?

**Wisp** · 07-28-2013, 19:13

Welcome, from Magnolia, TX. Don't know much about the goats and geese. My working dogs pretend goats are invisible. They prefer sheep.

However, we'll agree on hammocks! Your Thru hike of the AT sounds exciting and ambitious! It'll be great to meet you hopefully at one of these upcoming TX hangs and hear more about your adventure.

lm

**Cyngbaeld** · 07-28-2013, 19:55

Sarge I've made a few pillows from the chickens, but the geese are such pets, I just can't bear to butcher any.

Wisp, I'd love to go to a hang sometime. Have to be when the does are dry and before kidding starts though. Hard to get away the rest of the yr. I'll have to have someone here longterm for the AT, but sometimes that is easier to arrange.

**Porch Hanger** · 07-31-2013, 12:24

Hello and welcome from Corpus Christi Tx

**Wisp** · 07-31-2013, 12:35

Originally Posted by Cyngbaeld

Hard to get away the rest of the yr. I'll have to have someone here long term for the AT, but sometimes that is easier to arrange.

I know you've probably already got a good farm/ranch sitter, but let me know if you need one referred. I have a lady near me that I trust quite a bit and would probably have experience with most of your type of stock. She recently moved back to TX from New Hampshire and had a farm up there. Currently, she is living with her two border collies in Willis, TX. She's been a good house/pet sitter for me and a ranch sitter for friends with a few horses and sheep. She said she's pretty much had most types of poultry and stock with the exception of pigs. If interested, I can forward you her contact email.