High Hopes Farm

06/19/2026

A hen decided to go broody, and she's being mean about it! I risked life and limb taking eggs from her for two days. On day 3, I decided, "Who cares? Go for it you mean, old thing!" Needless to say, none of the other hens, roosters, Peony Peahen, or the Coop Cats are bothering her. I'm confident that if she's mean enough to chase me off, she can handle any of them.

We are on day 7 now. I have no idea how many eggs she has. I'm guessing around 20 judging from the marked decrease in collection numbers!

I'm going to start counting incubation from today, hope for the best, and leave her to it. We'll see what happens on 7-9.

06/08/2026

If you are in northwest Clinton County and hear goats screaming, don't call PETA. The last five High Hopes bucklings were weaned earlier this week. They are holding daily, surprisingly well organized, protests!

On day 3 of this nonsense, Finto, the token yearling buckling whose only job is to keep Tommy company in the winter and spring, was reassigned to babysitter. That, and time, seem to be helping. The screaming is now intermittent instead of constant!

Then, to keep Tommy on an even keel, five beautiful does whose kids were weaned in March, moved into Tommy's pasture.

The Anywhere Except the Coop Cats continue to roam, but they do sleep in the barn/coop. Many times they are both found stuffed in a nesting box napping. One nesting box. Two cats. It's a tight squeeze!

06/08/2026

12 dozen eggs are available at High Hopes! This flock has the best work ethic! However, as the temperature rises, productivity will probably start to lag so get these yummy eggs while you can!

Mixed sizes (3 small, 3 large, 6 medium) for $2/dz. Eight dozen available

Large for $4/dz. Two dozen available.

Extra-Large for $5/dz. Two dozen available. I'm calling these extra large, but I really don't know. They may be Jumbo. My egg scale only goes up to extra-large. They max out the egg scale and smash the lever to the countertop!

A 50 # sack of chicken feed is currently $18.49. The flock eats +/- 30 pounds per week. Let's keep these girls fed for a little while!

05/17/2026

Facebook reminded me that it's been awhile since the last post. Never fear! All is well at High Hopes! The last of the bucklings will be weaned at the beginning of June and that coincides with when the first five does will be turned in with Tommy. It has taken a few years to slowly make adjustments to the breeding schedule; however, we're on track now for a November, December, and January kidding season. But, for the time being, we're just going to concentrate on being fat and happy!

Video in the comments for those who like talkies.

04/20/2026

The herd looks so small! There are 15 does, 2 retirees, and 10 kids in the main herd now. Then, 2 bucks in the summer buck pasture. No buck pictures today, but they are big, healthy boys enjoying spring!The Anywhere Except the Coop Cats and I walked the big pasture to see how it is holding up. It is doing well, but the herd is really zeroing in on the chicory and alfalfa first; then, they're eating what's left over (timothy, orchard grass, red clover, birdsfoot trefoil).

A few videos in the comments.

04/11/2026

If you need brush cleared, you'll not find a better, more reliable work crew than a mob of goats! Twenty-six hard working High Hopes goats have joined the Goats on the Go - Dubuque herd and will be munching their way across Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, and Jones Counties in Iowa this summer. If you are in need of targeted grazing services in those areas, GOTG-Dubuque will be happy to talk to you and give you a quote.
If you don't live in Iowa, never fear! Go to www.goatsonthego.com and search for an affiliate near you!

If you want a few goats of your own, High Hopes has 7 kids which will be available in June (4 bucklings) and July (3 doelings).

Goats On The Go® and its affiliates throughout the U.S. (and beyond) use goats to control nuisance and invasive vegetation on customers’ properties. No matter what you call it — targeted grazing, prescribed grazing, rxgrazing, conservation grazing, goat browsing, goat rental, rent-a-goat, goats...

03/07/2026

Myrtle picked the perfect day to wrap up kidding season today with a set of boy/girl twins! Final Bow and his sister, Curtain Call were born, cleaned, dried, and fed by the time I got home at noon! Good Job, Myrtle!