madcow
Loving the herd life
Just got our first 2 goats yesterday! Two agouti pygmy goats. One is a 3-year-old and she's pregnant and due the end of January, her name is Ginger. She had twins the first time. She's been bred to a white pygmy this time. He was really sweet and his name as Romeo. Great name for a buck, don't you think? The other goat is Trixie, the daughter of Ginger's, and she's 11 months old. They made the 73-mile trip from Cedar Park, Texas to Little River/Academy, Texas blatting all the way. Took 14-year-old and 13-year-old granddaughters with me and they helped corral them in the back of the SUV. I was amazed that goats really don't stink, like I thought they might. They do have their own unique smell, but it's not offensive for the most part. Of course there there is the burping that goats do, and that was a little smelly, but it didn't hang in the air forever like our 2 Boston Terrier's farts do! Who would have guessed that goats are less smelly than a couple of little dogs! LOL! Anyway, they both looked good and I'm taking Ginger first to our local vet that cares for larger animals tomorrow to get her checked out and see what she needs in the way of worming and other care. Pretty sure they wil need worming and I know the vet will test to see what needs to be done and what type of schedule to put them on for maintaince. I'll take of it myself per his recommendations after that. Their coats looked pretty dry to me (hopefully the worming will help that), and they need hoof trimming, but I want to see someone experienced do it before I attempt it.
They have been stand-offish, but I expected that, but today they did let me pet them all I wanted on the sides of their faces and necks. They still skitter off when I advance toward them, but hopefully that will get better with time. I have them on the same type of feed and hay the previous owners did, but they weren't eating much. I assumed it has to do with adjustment and the stress of the ride yesterday. I added some baking soda to their water and some to their feed and hopefully that will help settle roughed up tummies somewhat. They seemed to be eating and drinking better with that and burping regularly. I think it helped. Any more suggestions for helping goats to adjust quickly? I'm new to this, but I an eager to learn and care for them properly so they have long and healthy lives and we enjoy them and they enjoy us humans! Thanks so much!
They have been stand-offish, but I expected that, but today they did let me pet them all I wanted on the sides of their faces and necks. They still skitter off when I advance toward them, but hopefully that will get better with time. I have them on the same type of feed and hay the previous owners did, but they weren't eating much. I assumed it has to do with adjustment and the stress of the ride yesterday. I added some baking soda to their water and some to their feed and hopefully that will help settle roughed up tummies somewhat. They seemed to be eating and drinking better with that and burping regularly. I think it helped. Any more suggestions for helping goats to adjust quickly? I'm new to this, but I an eager to learn and care for them properly so they have long and healthy lives and we enjoy them and they enjoy us humans! Thanks so much!
