I've wanted a dairy goat for oh so long. A friend of the family who raises miniature goats is going to let us have one of his for free. I haven't seen her yet as it is several hours away and haven't had time to make the trip. I'll post a pic when I do (within the week I hope). I'm not sure if she's a pygmy or a Nigerian dwarf, but if she looks healthy I'm taking her. I have a vet that will test her relatively inexpensively for CAE and CL. We'd like to be able to drink the milk raw so I hope she is clean. Our friend, Jim has a closed herd and doesn't show, so hopefully that will help as they aren't exposed to other goats. She will already be bred for kidding in May or June. I'm thinking warm weather for my first kidding is a good thing. She has kidded before, so that's another good thing. I think she probably has horns since Jim doesn't believe in dehorning. Not sure what my opinion is on that.
She has not been milked before, but I'll have plenty of time to get her used to the idea before the big day...I hope. I'm going to make a pen for her in the chicken/rabbit barn. Do you see any problems with that? She will be a lone goat til her babies come. I know that is a no no, but can't be helped. I hope we can make that work out as a temporary situation. I think she has a herd queen/bossy temperament, so maybe being alone for a while will help her bond with me. She'll have the chickens and rabbits, but I don't think she'd see them as companions would she?
I'm so excited that I feel like a kid at Christmas. She is my Christmas present, so I guess that's appropriate. I know I'll have my work cut out for me with this girl. Just so glad to finally get in there and get started on any level. Whatever happens I'm sure I'll learn a lot and so glad I can come here for guidance and advice. We are supposed to pick her up in about a month.
She has not been milked before, but I'll have plenty of time to get her used to the idea before the big day...I hope. I'm going to make a pen for her in the chicken/rabbit barn. Do you see any problems with that? She will be a lone goat til her babies come. I know that is a no no, but can't be helped. I hope we can make that work out as a temporary situation. I think she has a herd queen/bossy temperament, so maybe being alone for a while will help her bond with me. She'll have the chickens and rabbits, but I don't think she'd see them as companions would she?
I'm so excited that I feel like a kid at Christmas. She is my Christmas present, so I guess that's appropriate. I know I'll have my work cut out for me with this girl. Just so glad to finally get in there and get started on any level. Whatever happens I'm sure I'll learn a lot and so glad I can come here for guidance and advice. We are supposed to pick her up in about a month.
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