Grow to Feed Dogs

There's 3 of us in the family, and we all want different things from a dog... loyalty, guarding/protecting, non-digger, small, medium, large, hunter, yippy, silent, etc. So, chances are... we're getting 3 dogs. That's a lot of dog food IF we were to buy it.

But wait! We were planning on raising enough food for our goats, chickens, quail and rabbits.... in addition to us humans. Why not grow to feed our dogs too?

Here's what I'm coming up with (from research and looking over what we already plan to grow):

Eggs: As long as they don't see us cook them or mix them raw with their other food, they won't know the little oval-shape I pick up out from under chickens is what the dogs eat for dinner. And with 10 chickens (well, hopefully 8 hens and 2 roosters), and with breeding for more, we should have enough eggs for us humans, plus enough for the dogs to each get at least 1 or 2 or 4 a day (depending on dog size). I'm also thinking that when we have "extra" eggs, I'll crack and freeze, and when the hens slow down laying for Winter, I'll bring the frozen eggs out, thaw and feed. NOTE: I heard it's best to soft-boil eggs before feeding them to dogs or cats.

Whey: This is the "milk" leftover from making greek yogurt and cheese (from our goat milk). We'll add it to their dog bowls with other food. Good source of calcium. Might also include my cheese mistakes!

Grains: We're gonna grow corn for the other critters and us, so why not for the dogs too? Cracked corn. Sometimes, tho, a dog can present an allergy to corn so we'll experiment and modify as we get to know our dogs. And don't most dog foods contain rice? Of course, that doesn't mean it's a perfect dog food, but still... we can't grow it up here on the Ridge, but I do buy rice in bulk so that will work fine for them. Same with oats. We'll grow millet and amaranth but it's just for us humans and birds. Wheat is completely out (allergenic and we can't have it here for us!).

Potatoes: Cooked and probably mashed. Easy to grow.

Veggies/Fruits: Whatever we have (except for what's on the list below). Cooked or steamed or raw. All must be chopped finely so their tummies can digest them better. Should have tons on our homestead... especially apples, pears, carrots, peas, etc.

From time to time, we might butcher a quail or a too-loud rooster and give it to the dogs after plucking and cooking. Again, so they won't associate the bird they protect, with their dinner!

Key: no spices, chocolate, onions, chives, garlic, added salt, etc. that could mess them up. Just straight like we eat most of our food. Also avoid: beets, collard, eggplants, green peppers, parsley, tomatoes, spinach and Swiss chard.

2/3 Meat/Cheese/Eggs

1/3 Grain/Veggies/Fruits

Yes, this will be slightly more time consuming than just emptying a bag of dog food into three bowls, but it might save us money in the long run.

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Dinner last night: oriental lentil soup. About 1 cup of red lentils in the crockpot with 4 cups of water. Once tender (about 3 hours), I added (didn't measure, sorry) dried garlic, dried onion, dried mixed soup veggies, about 1 teaspoon of toasted sesame seed oil and 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger. Served with rice. I added a little cream cheese to mine, and Hubby added some sheep manchego cheese to his. Yummy and ever so healthy!

(As you know, I love my crockpots! Mainstay in my daily food prep.)

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This morning I was up and out at 6:15 a.m., wielding a can of yellow marking paint. I needed to mark where we want the fence line before the first fencing estimator gets here between 9 and 10. Whew! Back-breaking work and I'm pretty sure my lines are crooked and/or meandering. Plus now my trigger finger is yellow and won't get clean. That's ok. At least it's done. We left a 10-foot-or-so easement at the back, and at one side I had to go around our bank of trees (russian olive, I'm told). At some point we'll put up a 2-foot fence on our true property line just so there's no mistake should the neighbors move, but for now, this interior fence will work quite well!

Have a great day, all!

Grow to Feed Goats, and tonight's soup

Our Nigerian Dwarf goat-babies will be here at the beginning of May. Here's our plan to include in the garden their food:

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Hay available all of the time (hay-rack is best). Wormers, minerals, salt, etc. included in food dishes so we can track who gets what, and food dishes filled for milking/grooming times.

Morning Milking:
Pellet/grain feed + 1 cup total treats

All Day:
Amaranth or corn stalks, bean vines, tree branches, and other browse/pasture

Evening Milking:
2 cups total treats

Treats:
-apple (1/4)
-bayberry (southern)
-beans (soy, lima)
-beets
-blackberry plant
-cabbage
-cantaloupe
-carrots
-celery
-clover
-dandelion leaves
-herbs (dill, sage, mint)
-grape vine, grapes
-honeysuckle
-hyssop
-ivy
-lemon grass
-morning glory
-mullein
-mustard
-nettles
-oats
-parsley
-peanuts
-pears
-peppers (bell)
-pine/spruce trees
-poplar/maple trees
-plum
-poison ivy
-potato
-pumpkin
-raisins (2 at a time)
-raspberries
-roses
-rutabagas
-sassafras
-squash (winter)
-strawberry
-sunflowers (incl stalks and seeds)
-tomato plants (minimal)
-tomatoes, cherry
-turnips
-weeping willow branches
-yarrow/yucca

As soon as we can, we plan to eliminate processed grain/pellets. We have to keep in mind that goats survived for many many years without us providing pellets or special mixes. We will make sure they get a purchased mineral block with lots of hay and treats. And as for the treats, we can, and are planning to, grow quite a lot of them so we will be able to provide very well for our goaties.

Goats need copper, as opposed to sheep which don't. SOURCES OF COPPER: amaranth leaves, soybeans (limit), lima beans, potatoes, pumpkin, winter squash, oats, sunflower seeds, blackberries.

WATER: Clean and refresh with clean water daily.

NOTE: If it’s not on here… DON’T feed it to the goats until you check with a qualified professional as to whether or not it's poisonous. We're fencing in the rhubarb because Hubby likes it but it's dangerous to goats!

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Our breeder provides her goats store-bought grain and minerals, which is absolutely fine. We'll start out that way too. But the whole purpose of us moving out here to the boonies and getting animals is to be self-reliant/self-sufficient. We feel we can garden to provide our food and enough for our critters, including the goats. The goats will provide enough milk for our butter, cheese, ice cream, etc. Yum!

Note: we won't feed our goats garlic and onion as well as other strong vegetables because it (supposedly) changes the taste of the milk.

The above information was compiled based on a LOT of information and research. At any time we feel the goats aren't healthy enough, we'll revise our plan.

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Made an appointment with the dentist who did my crown originally in 2008. Unfortunately, he can't see me until Saturday. Guess I'll keep eating soft foods until then.

Tonight's dinner: Bean and Dumpling Soup

I soaked 1 1/2 cups white beans in water overnight. This morning, I placed them in the crockpot with 4 cups of water and a bay leaf, and set to low. About 2 hours before Hubby is due home (5/5:30), I'll add a cup of various dehydrated veggies to the pot (potatoes, carrots, green beans, onions, peas, red bell pepper, etc.). The dried veggies will rehydate to more than double their size. I think I'll slice up a few mushrooms too. I might add a bit of Mrs. Dash too. An hour before he comes home, I'll add some dumpling mix (bisquick-type mix prepared with almond milk with about a teaspoon of dried parsley added) in little (big) dollops in the pot. Will be ready by the time HE's ready.

Should be quite filling, healthy, and easy on my tooth problem.

I'll bake a couple of potatoes for the Kid. He'll eat with sour cream, cheddar cheese, and hopefully some carrots and some squash on the side.

Chicken and Potato Soup

I made this soup in my small crockpot yesterday, and it turned out just great!

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 lb chicken, cut in small chunks
2 tablespoons dried onion
1 tablespoon dried garlic
4 cups water
1 small onion, roughly chopped
2 small potatoes, roughly chopped
1/2 cup mixed dried soup vegetables

Directions:
In a small crockpot, place olive oil in bottom, with the cut chicken pieces on top. Cover and cook on high for about 2 hours (until chicken is cooked through). Add the water, onion and potatoes and cook on high until potatoes are tender, about 3 hours. Add the dried soup vegetables, salt and pepper to taste, and 1 teaspoon of crushed rosemary leaves, if desired. Cook on low for another hour, then serve!

I served this with homemade Italian Garlic Yeast Bread (reciping coming soon!). Delish!

Note: While I use my crockpot almost daily, I realize some people don't ever or minimally. This recipe can be adjusted to cook on the stove. Use common sense.