The GOATs, SHEEP, Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, Geese, Guineas, EMUs, Peacocks, and Farm Dogs consume at least 3 TONS of FEED EVERY MONTH! Since I inherited the Peacock Farm in 2010, I have been running this farm entirely alone, as a widow farmer, turning 70 years old on 9/26/50. It takes 3 plus TONS of FEED every month to feed all of the animals, all from my own low-income and occasional donations an
d sales. It's grown and is increasingly hard to keep it up, and most of my considerable debt is for FEED and other farm needs. Many people have discovered us and are enjoying the PETTI NG FARM immensely, and many animals are for sale! Now at 70 years old, I seriously need to have the farm earn its own keep for now and after I'm gone, for the benefit of animal lovers. The word needs to spread that WE'RE HERE, ONLY 2 miles West of the Alameda Park Zoo AND Walmart. Some needs on the farm are a half-ton 4WD strong older pickup truck. The 1983 DODGE Ram with a 318 engine was the best workhorse possible, as I used to drive to DEXTER (south of Roswell) every 3 weeks for 2-1/2 ton of bulk feed from the Dexter dairy mill. Am told I might be able find another such truck for $3,000, or even much less. But those we've advertised disappear fast. Currently, my only vehicle is a 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport, a 4 cylinder pickup truck, With my small trailer, I can only haul one week's worth of HAY at a tiime. So I constantly have to unload 24 bales of HAY before I can get the next full load of hay. Also have to get the truck unloaded to get the 40-lb. to 50-pound bags of FEED that we need. (My weight load is limited to less than 1/2 ton on the truck, same on the trailer.) The small pickup truck was just pronounced DEAD by the mechanic! NEED a 1/2 ton PICKUP TRUCK in good running condition now, ASAP!! Storing feed, even as fast as it is consumed, is also a challenge, without a feed storage shed of some sort. It currently is poured into 5 gallon buckets with lids, which sometimes get water anyway from rain. Tarps blow off just before rains.Onee tight container like those used on ships would probably be ideal, as I'm told they're rodent proof. (Lots of mice on the farm, with all the feed and water always available.) Every bit donated is so appreciated! It's amazing how much BIRDS do eat! (Before we ever got a goat, we needed 3 tons every month. Now there are perhaps 30 to 40 goats OR MORE (16 breeds!) plus 6 sheep, plus fine Great Pyrenees Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs). The population and added pens have grown so much that there's very little "wiggle room" to get in and out with the small pickup and trailer. The adjacent property has been for sale, and would be a perfect acquisition to make the farm more manageable. Not only would the extra acre be excellent, but the modest house would be a great improvement over my current very old 24' travel trailer, which has no working electrical nor plumbing. (I have an extension cord from the required new loop pole, and water hose run into the bathroom.)
