Southern's (Southern By Choice) Journal- FLOODED!

[Calendula]

@Southern by choice Thank you so much. I tried to explain that, but my mother won't be swayed because she thinks she needs extra calories while she's pregnant. I can understand that, but she does also agree with me that a goat that is too fat will have more complications!

Do you maybe have any alternatives that we could feed her? All she's getting right now is hay, but I wouldn't mind giving her something else as a supplement.... I just can't seem to find the right stuff.

Hopefully, my parents will forget to buy grain and I won't have to worry about this.

 

[Southern by choice]

Maybe you can show pics to mom and dad. You said the breeder has issues with kidding... now anyone can have a kidding issue but when or if a breeder has lots of goats with kidding issues than they need to rethink what they are doing because it would be unlikely it would be all or the majority of their stock.

Always respect your parents... like you are doing... share information and remember there really is a "grey area".
Maybe 1/2 cup a day would be ok or a cup; but 4 cups a day is just a bad idea for these small does.
Remember a goat will eat itself to death.
What region are you in? There are many goat education classes that would be great for the family to attend.

The alternative is HAY!

 

[Calendula]

I might have to.... I think I'll have to collect multiple information sources, come up with a good alternative, and then present it to them.

Haha, thanks. I try to respect them, but it's difficult when we disagree on something like this. I'm sure I'll probably win since when it comes to the goats and chickens, I tend to be stubborn.
Oh I know... and they try. She's been back for one day and has already managed to break into the chicken pen and start eating their food...
We're in southwest Michigan, so I doubt there really are, but I can try to look around.

If only telling them that would convince them. Going to try and find some alternative grain methods....

 

[Southern by choice]

Got our last doe bred!

So happy!

All the other girls are growing their baby bellies!
Glad to have a break from all the milking, pasteurizing, and even cheese making... but I am looking forward to January... our first 4 does are kidding then!

 

[Hens and Roos]

Glad you will have January kids! We are just starting to get our does bred- April/May will be soon enough here

 

[Southern by choice]

Tragic Day-

From my facebook page-
There is a video that explains my DD's memories of our beloved goat on our FB page

This evening we are filled with great heartbreak and sadness.
Our beautiful, loving ,sweet doe “Star” had to be humanely euthanized.
We lost her to a tragic accident that she would not be able to recuperate from.
Our vet was there in minutes but there was nothing to be done.

The heaviness is great and those that own these wonderful, remarkable loving creatures know how they wiggle their way into your heart. They are not “just livestock” they are not “just a goat” they are not “just a milker”. Star was special, really special. Sweet, quiet and quite comical. Loss is never easy and sometimes it feels like a piece of my heart is missing. Tomorrow and for a long time after we will miss her at the feeder, come March we will be remembering she was due to kid, come milking time she will no longer be there...

I held her, I talked to her, I told her how sorry I was, I kissed her goodbye.
My wonderful husband and sons buried our sweet love with great care.
The day it doesn't hurt is when you are no longer suitable to care for your livestock.

My daughter had a great bond with Star – She has written this in remembrance of her.

Star had so many quirks. That was one of the things I absolutely loved about her.
Spring will be especially hard for me. Star was one of my favorite does to milk.
She was such a picky eater.
She only liked one type of feed, Bartlett. If the feed had dust on it, she would stomp her front foot, sometimes tapping me. Sometimes she would gently pull my hair, just enough to get me to look at her. If I didn't milk her fast enough she would lay down- her way of telling me to hurry up.

I don't know how many pounds of feed she has wasted. LOL She was always dumping her feeder. She hated to eat alfalfa pellets while she was being milked, so if there was on alfalfa pellet in her feeder she would throw the whole feeder as far as she could. After having her tantrum she would look at me with that look of 'mommy, aren't you going to get me some more?' So I would. :/ She had me wrapped around her little hoof big time. If she couldn't dump her feed, she would take her head and start pushing the feeder side to side- making as much noise as she could.

I can't tell you how many cans of fight bac teat spray she has broken. She loved to knock it over, or fling it off the shelf. Anything to make noise.

Before our milkroom was added onto the barn, I had to take each goat out of the field and to my milking area. They all knew the routine but Star always had to run over to the rose bush and grab a few bites, the jump on the wood pile, and finally run the the milkstand. Everything she did outside of the field she did in "lines". She would walk, stop, turn. She would never walk in a circle, but a square instead.

She never minded being milked, she hardly ever kicked with her back legs. She wasn't a brat or a pain for milking, she just had her little quirks that made “Star”, “Star”. We worked with each other and got along great. This probably sounds funny to those who don't hand milk their goats 10 months out of the year.....but those that do know what I mean. I'm going to miss my nutty little girl big time come milking, I know it won't ever be the same.

All of the above was like a game to her. She would do it when I wasn't looking. This doe made me laugh so much.

She had a very sweet gentle personality, she was a calm doe.
Needless to say, Star has left a huge hole in my heart tonight.

 

[norseofcourse]

I am so sorry for your loss

 

[babsbag]

 

[Latestarter]

So sorry Southern

 

[Hens and Roos]

So sorry for your loss