rachels.haven's Journal

[farmerjan]

Very bad habit for any lactating animal. We will put an anti nurse nose ring in a cow that does it and if she continues... she will get sold. Sorry, but I would not tolerate it. I guess in goats, maybe it is not as important to get as much milk as we get from the cow???

 

[Baymule]

Now if you could just teach her to make ice cream and cheese.....

My female GP, Paris is location bound to the back yard. She loves HER yard. My attempts to move her have failed, so I connected the back yard to the side pasture and sheep barn/lot. I can open a gate from the barn to Pasture #1 and Paris can go from the back yard all the way to the front fence at the road. When we leave and come back, Paris is up at the road, watching. When we drive up to the gate, she trots to the barn, goes through the gate, down the side pasture, back to her yard. It's like she's saying, It's your turn. LOL

 

[rachels.haven]

God dog, Paris!

No, self nursing in goats is serious, but she's a FF, just getting used to being full. She's also a crazy goat that will do everything. I'm going to try to modify her behavior asap. Hot sauce and teat tape can be compelling I am told. Most of my ND have something nutty about them, and I can't sell them all because of their annoying quirk. Although some days I wish I only had a herd of lamanchas-mild mannered, calm, predictable and slow. Also less likely to be coyote bait and larger teats...hmm...

But the bucks are big. And everyone of them pees a lot more than a nigerian (not as much as a cow though). You also can't beat the rich ND milk for cheese and soap and yogurt, and drinking if you're in the mood for super creamy milk.

I want to see what I can do with her before I despair. I'd like to build my herd with her genes. Her udder, when it gets full is a dream to milk with perfectly long teats, good orifices, and great attachment. It empties fast too, and just feels plain nice. If I can't get a decent amount of milk for my family out of her I'll just let her doelings nurse until they are semi-weaned and she's mostly dry and refreshed and breed her back a little early to next year's buck (she also had a really easy pregnancy and delivery).

But teat tape and hot sauce is the plan for now. Burn that bridge when we come to it and all that.

 

[Bruce]

I guess that self nursing thing is kind of prevalent. I Googled teat tape and wow what a lot of hits.

 

[rachels.haven]

Yep. Goats are food motivated crazy nuts who like to try and do everything just in case it's fun or yummy or rewarding in any way. Self sucking is right up their alley. Also, I'd imagine they don't like feeling like a near to bursting milk balloon, especially when they start up on the milk production. I've very slowly learned that you have to out patience and out consistency them and eventually they will shape up. If she will leave the tape alone it will be alright.

 

[Bruce]

Goats are food motivated crazy nuts who like to try and do everything just in case it's fun or yummy or rewarding in any way.

Except, apparently, hay they have pulled out of the feeder and has hit the ground.

 

[rachels.haven]

Now if you could just teach her to make ice cream and cheese.....

My female GP, Paris is location bound to the back yard. She loves HER yard. My attempts to move her have failed, so I connected the back yard to the side pasture and sheep barn/lot. I can open a gate from the barn to Pasture #1 and Paris can go from the back yard all the way to the front fence at the road. When we leave and come back, Paris is up at the road, watching. When we drive up to the gate, she trots to the barn, goes through the gate, down the side pasture, back to her yard. It's like she's saying, It's your turn. LOL

Come to think of it every time I lose track of our dog, she's never as far away as I think. She's usually sitting (quietly) in front of the garage, or up on the back deck (quietly), or in the garage, getting into something I may or may not have left down (also quietly). Maybe that's where we're headed. Maybe not. It's working for now.

 

[rachels.haven]

Except, apparently, hay they have pulled out of the feeder and has hit the ground.

BUT @Bruce ! They have to get to the good stuff!!! The best stuff! You know, at the bottom of the bag, but not the dust. Then they get upset when the bag is empty or just full of dust.

And the ground hay is now dead to them because it wasn't the good stuff.

 

[rachels.haven]

Boy mauled by baby goats.

In your opinion, are these doelings about the right size to disbud? They're a week and a day old today, so I'm starting to think about it.

 

[Bruce]

Cute goat kids!
Others will need to answer the question like @B&B Happy goats, @Goat Whisperer, @Southern by choice, @Devonviolet