Just got some skinny goats

[Green Acres Farm]

@Goat Whisperer, do you pull kids from does who have raised their own kids before?

 

[Goat Whisperer]

@Goat Whisperer, do you pull kids from does who have raised their own kids before?

Yes.

 

[Green Acres Farm]

Yes.

Do the does have a hard time?

 

[Goat Whisperer]

They seem to do okay.

Most does cry a little bit, but nothing terrible. Haven't noticed a huge difference between pulling from a FF or a seasoned doe. The seasoned doe might cry a little more, but once they are getting milked 3-4 times a day the don't seem to care. I just get the kids as far away as possible and don't let the does see, smell, or hear them.

 

[JenniferDuBay]

I have hung on to some brats so I would have milk, I understand. Since I am building a dairy I don't want any trouble makers so I have started selling the wild things. I had some that if and when I caught them they would throw themselves on the ground or jump and twist and take my fingers with them if I happen to be holding a collar. I just refuse to deal with it anymore, there are too many nice goats in the world. If I like the genetics I keep the kid and the mom has to go.

That being said, my bottle baby bucks are kind of a pain when they are in rut. I do like my bucks to be a little more standoffish than the does.

So how do you get friendly, easy to handle bucks, since that's my next buy?

At least Myrtle isn't aggressive. I rigged a sheet sling today, and it wasn't too much trouble. And she is coming around. Since we got her, she has started to let us pet her, and she follows us around the field, albeit the farthest away from us. I'll give her this milk year and we'll see where she's at. She's never been handled or milked before, so it's fair. Plus, she keeps Lily from screaming her fool head off.

 

[JenniferDuBay]

They seem to do okay.

Most does cry a little bit, but nothing terrible. Haven't noticed a huge difference between pulling from a FF or a seasoned doe. The seasoned doe might cry a little more, but once they are getting milked 3-4 times a day the don't seem to care. I just get the kids as far away as possible and don't let the does see, smell, or hear them.

3-4 times a day? I've only been milking morning and night... should I do more?

 

[TAH]

3-4 times a day? I've only been milking morning and night... should I do more?

We milked out doe that gave a gallon a day twice a day. How much are you getting from her each day?

 

[Goat Whisperer]

I milk as much as I can during the first week, but I'm raising dairy animals and my goal it getting them to reach their full potential. Sounds like you are milking to relive her udder, so milking twice a day should be fine.

I bottle raise nearly all kids born here and most my bucks are bottle babies. Much has to do with raising them, especially during the first rut. They are all friendly but do not blubber, paw, or try to mount me. Teaching them respect is key.

I would start with a kid, you will be able to tell part of what his temperament will be like by how he comes up, how he acts when spooked, etc. Last fall I went to a farm to look at a young buck. The lady did her best to bring in good lines and had a nice little herd, but she had some family issues and needed to sell the herd. After about 10 minutes it was clear that the buck would be a fence jumper and wouldn't work in our herd. She understood and had no hard feelings- we were only looking to try and help her out- she was devastated that she needed to sell her goats.

 

[babsbag]

My favorite buck is one that I bottle raised part of the time. He isn't "married" to me, but he isn't afraid of me either. I can reach out and pet him without him running away, but he doesn't follow me everywhere and blubber all over me. My LaMancha does that...I hate it.

 

[JenniferDuBay]

I milk as much as I can during the first week, but I'm raising dairy animals and my goal it getting them to reach their full potential. Sounds like you are milking to relive her udder, so milking twice a day should be fine.

I bottle raise nearly all kids born here and most my bucks are bottle babies. Much has to do with raising them, especially during the first rut. They are all friendly but do not blubber, paw, or try to mount me. Teaching them respect is key.

I would start with a kid, you will be able to tell part of what his temperament will be like by how he comes up, how he acts when spooked, etc. Last fall I went to a farm to look at a young buck. The lady did her best to bring in good lines and had a nice little herd, but she had some family issues and needed to sell the herd. After about 10 minutes it was clear that the buck would be a fence jumper and wouldn't work in our herd. She understood and had no hard feelings- we were only looking to try and help her out- she was devastated that she needed to sell her goats.

I was actually trying to milk for consumption. I'll try milking more and hope I didn't let it go too long.

So how could you tell he would be a fence jumper? And what would you look for in a buck?