Just got some skinny goats

[JenniferDuBay]

The udder pic looks to me like there is definitely fill.

As far as her not being friendly...

We had a doe we brought in at 3-4 months... we waited for this breeding and this doe. Her dam is a jerk! Her dam was handled etc but it is just her.. her personality and her offspring take after that.
This is a Nigerian Dwarf BTW.
Anyway, despite the handling she had from the breeder and then by us she remained, like her mom, a snot. A VERY unenjoyable goat.
Winter of last year she was bred. Kidded in March.
This goat never wants you too touch her or anything- a toatl brat.
Have I emphasized how much of a snot she was?
Notice I said WAS!
The day she went into labor ( very fast BTW) we put her in a stall she pushed out came kid we pulled kid immediately. 2nd kid same thing.
By pulled I mean whisked away- she never cleaned or saw the kids.
Took kids to house cleaned them up, I stayed with the doe and waited for afterbirth etc. After that passed, walked her to the milkstand cleaned her up and then she got milked out for colostrum.

She had never been milked, a first freshener, she stood there perfect. Often in their mind they just know "something" should be milking.

That was the end of the jerky snotty goat!
She thought WE were the babies. She became loving and affectionate and is no longer a brat.

Her kids were bottle raised. This is where it gets interesting as far as how much genetics and temperament play a role.

NEVER out of all the kids we have raised on our farm, whether dam raised or bottle raised, have we had kids we didn't like.


Her twins BOTTLE RAISED mind you- were jerks!
First time I ever thought I can't stand these goats!
Friends would come and visit, many come to see our babies and love them... this was the first time ever that across the board each person said... they are awful.
I would say- I KNOW

They are 5 months now and MUCH MUCH better. Still hope
Their mom is a lovey now. We are her "babies". She is a great milker and a beautiful doe...

I said all that to say pulling the kids MAY help with the bond with you.

One of our other goats was always a love but we pulled her first kid as well... she thinks we are her kids too!

All this just makes me hope to get kids off Petunia. If Myrtle throws crappy attitude kids- well... this is Florida, there is a large population of people who would be happy to have them for dinner, even if I don't.

 

[Southern by choice]

More than likely they won't be. Ours turned out great and the kids at 5 months are MUCH better and I think log term will be fine.

BUT bad attitude mommas dam raising tends to influence the offspring to be the same.
Of course all these goats are new to you and there is an adjustment period.

 

[JenniferDuBay]

FINALLY got a picture of Myrtle's backside.

It's still grainy as hell, but it's what I have. We're arguing if that line on her bottom is stringy discharge or not.

Here are more grainy, poorly lit pictures:

@Southern by choice @babsbag @Green Acres Farm @whoeverelse

 

[JenniferDuBay]

Any news?

Nothing on the baby front. I'm beginning to think I'm imagining it. Lily is getting a lot more friendly, but if Myrtle panics and runs from me, Lily does too, though it's pretty obvious she isn't actually scared. (This goat is now walking through my legs at feeding time. She ain't askerd of me! lol) Petunia looks like she's fattening up. I've been weighing her, she's put on a few pounds. I'm building a milking stand this weekend.

 

[JenniferDuBay]

Out of curiousity, is there a reason that she would be late with her birth? Everything I've read says the babies drop within 24 hours of labor, and her tail has been laying flat up on her back for days. Anyone got an opinion on this? (Am I crazy? Is she even pregnant?!? THIS IS DRIVING ME NUTS)

 

[Latestarter]

It appears you are being introduced to "doe code". This is where the doe intentionally strives to drive you, the owner, crazy. They do it by indicating "whatever", when "whatever" isn't really the case at all. Doing anything necessary to make you believe the opposite of what is the real situation. Then when you finally give up, that's when they'll do what you've been waiting on for so long. Like giving birth during daylight hours on a nice clear and comfortable day... Nahhhh why do THAT? They'll wait till the middle of the night when it's raining cats and dogs or in the middle of a blizzard on the coldest night of the year... that kind of thing.

I think there's a thread here somewhere about doe code and all its nuances...

Edit to add, just because YOU think she's late, doesn't mean that she's late or that SHE thinks she's late...

 

[JenniferDuBay]

It appears you are being introduced to "doe code". This is where the doe intentionally strives to drive you, the owner, crazy. They do it by indicating "whatever", when "whatever" isn't really the case at all. Doing anything necessary to make you believe the opposite of what is the real situation. Then when you finally give up, that's when they'll do what you've been waiting on for so long. Like giving birth during daylight hours on a nice clear and comfortable day... Nahhhh why do THAT? They'll wait till the middle of the night when it's raining cats and dogs or in the middle of a blizzard on the coldest night of the year... that kind of thing.

I think there's a thread here somewhere about doe code and all its nuances...

Edit to add, just because YOU think she's late, doesn't mean that she's late or that SHE thinks she's late...

Suuuuure that's what "latestarter" would say about being late Thanks for the help

 

[JenniferDuBay]

Well, you'd best run right out and get yourself a realtor to unload your tiny place and buy a more sprawling setup to make room for the foreseen expansion!

So, funny story, our house got hit by a tree. This house is old and out of code, it would be better to replace it than fix it. And it will cost 90k to replace this house... We could get a 5 acre homestead for that same price within 30 miles of our workplace. We're going to look for homes, now.

 

[Southern by choice]

So, funny story, our house got hit by a tree. This house is old and out of code, it would be better to replace it than fix it. And it will cost 90k to replace this house... We could get a 5 acre homestead for that same price within 30 miles of our workplace. We're going to look for homes, now.

I can't imagine being able to buy a homestead for that price! I need to live where you do.

Sorry your house got hit.

 

[Latestarter]

Wow, I don't remember how far back I posted that, but I swear I wasn't trying to hex or jinx you. From the sounds of it, this will actually work out better for you in the end. Sorry you had to go about it this way though. Hope you didn't lose to much.