Hello Reader,

​How long does a goat live? As I often say, it depends! Find out the average lifespan for a healthy goat, and which lives longer—buck or doe. Also find out how long they can reasonably be bred and several factors that can put your goat's long lifespan on the line.

Cats are a popular choice to help control rodent problems in the barn, but they aren't necessarily a set-it-and-forget-it approach to the problem. They often seem to disappear or outright die. I'm sharing my tips so you can enjoy success, and I'm also offering a word of caution to consider before bringing you first barn cat home.

If you want to add lighter and brighter colors to your chicken yard, consider some yellow, buff, or golden chickens. Discover 12 unique breeds—from the Buff Orpington to the Lemon Pyle Brahma. Each breed boasts their own unique characteristics and traits so you're likely to find one you'll love.

🎧 Understanding Goat Conformation Sure, good conformation is important in the show ring, but believe it or not, it's also important for goats that will never be shown. Emily Thompson, an ADGA judge for 24 years, discusses breed standards in the ADGA Guidebook, what to look for regarding good conformation when purchasing a new goat, and some serious defects that should land a goat into either the non-breeding pet or freezer category. Listen in

▶ Cows vs Goat Minerals It can be challenging, in Canada especially, for goat owners to find good goat minerals. Is it possible to use cow minerals for goats? Or are cow minerals toxic to goats and vice versa? In this video, I answer those great questions, cover the mineral levels you should look for in a guaranteed analysis, and point out why you should often ignore misleading blanket statements presented as fact. Watch video

📄Eggnog Cake Craving a from-scratch cake for the holidays, but looking for a recipe with a slight twist. Try this eggnog cake. Flavored with vanilla and a touch of rum, it's super tasty. It's also easy to put together—a big bonus if you're tired of being in the kitchen but still want to satisfy your sweet tooth. Try this recipe!

🏡On the homestead and in my life...

The main thing on my mind right now is the pinched nerve in my neck that has been ruling my life for the last few months. I can only type about 2-4 sentences before my left arm is filled with pins and needles. This means I have not been able to do any writing -- no blog posts or magazine articles and no progress on the memoir.

People think farming is hard on the body, but spending all day in front of a computer is probably worse. Our bodies were meant to move, not sit in front of a screen all day doing repetitive motions like typing. This is not the first time I've had to deal with physical pain caused by too much computer time, and I know what I need to do -- spend as little time on the computer as possible and get more exercise.

Limiting computer time is definitely the more challenging of those two, but I know I have to do it. So here's a great time to give a shout out to my team who helps keep things moving while I'm not.

Happy homesteading!

​
Deborah
and the ThriftyHomesteader Team

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