Diamond’s kids were 7 weeks old yesterday. I’ve got some updated pics of them. You might notice the silver where they were disbudded. The breeder that taught us uses AluShield to cool off the site quickly. They need weighed. It’s on my to-do list tonight.
Jericho with Jasmine in the foreground.
Jericho using Diamond to get a better view and Jackson on a perch.
Jasmine climbing on me! (She’s my little love!)
The boys think Diamond is a jungle gym. Jackson-L, Jericho-R
Sweet Jasmine.
Miss Jasmine again.
Jericho is full of antics! (Jasmine is on the left edge and Jackson has his head by Diamond’s.)
Jackson and the goat cat, Nana. Jericho is in the pink pan/toy.
Milking solution this morning. Jericho escaped confinement this morning so Diamond didn’t have much milk to give. I still wanted her to eat her share but I didn’t want to stand around so I put Caramel on the stand with her and got my milking chores done simultaneously! I thought y’all would like picture proof.
DH is going to build me at least one more milk stand. He wants to make a few modifications from this one. That’s part of the reason why he waited so he could see what worked and what didn’t. The head catch on this one isn’t tall enough for Minis. We also want to add a removable ramp so that newly freshened does don’t have to be lifted as they won’t jump.
Cont’d on next post as I’ve exceeded my pic limit. Lol
Snowflake is getting closer and showing more signs. She’s huge for her and has some clear discharge with some swelling. Ligs have changed a bit over the last few days. (She’s a FF, day 145 is 3/23.) We are very excited for more goat babies, goat milk, and evaluating her udder!
Nellie is up next after Snowflake and day 145 is 4/2. Hoping for lots of goat kids to play together. Our herd should be growing in short time! Nellie’s udder appears to be returning slightly but I couldn’t get a pic. I’m thinking another single, twins at the most. DD2 thinks all goat milk is Nellie’s milk. We don’t have the heart to tell her that we aren’t milking Nellie right now and will be milking her again soon. She has a permanent home here due to her personality and milk stand manners. She was very hard to dry off so going to try for an extended lactation but will be attempting to improve her udder in her offspring. All bucklings out of her will be wethered.
Finally, Miss Caramel. She’s been quite the butthead on the milkstand and is difficult for both DH and I. Nellie spoiled us! Anyway, I was taking pics of Diamond’s crew this morning and noticed what looked like fetal movement. I don’t know what chance there is of her being bred but sent a message to her breeder and haven’t heard back yet. If there’s any chance, we will dry her off quickly to be safe. Her production has tanked more anyway so we are lucky to get 1.5 cups total between two milkings...all of this makes me go hmmmmm. I’d post the videos that I sent my DH but haven’t tried that yet. He did say that it looked like fetal movement to him! Ahhh! I can’t decide if this is good or bad...risks supply for DD2 until these three get their kids fully weaned but saves us from having one doe kid in the fall. Was really hoping to use my new buck though...Any opinions? I know that the only way to know for sure is a blood test but I think her right side has been growing too...
Comparison photos:
Jan 17 (Caramel on L)
Ummm... sorry but to me Carmel looks to be in a motherly way. You should still be able to steal some milk from the other does with kids (before weaning) and the combined haul might be sufficient for DD2's needs... The rest of you might have to suffer with cow's milk... Thanks for all the pics. the kids are so cute! from the dates you posted, it seems like yours and mine are on about the same schedule. Dot is due ~3/23-26. Then Bang, April, and CB some time within the 17-21 days after that. Dot is already talking to her babies and getting some swelling and a little discharge. Her udder is already full but not to bursting. Last year after kidding, she was so full she was dripping milk.
I’m thinking it all adds up to more goat kids. We will definitely start stealing some milk as soon as new kids are gaining good. Diamond should be able to sustain DD2 when the boys are weaned next week. I just hate relying on one goat to supply her! Very ready to have some in milk year-Round and a freezer stash.
The rest of us don’t usually drink goat milk and I limit cooking with it so that DD2 can have the majority. I want to make all the dairy products though so we need more milk. Enter Minis! Lol
Heard back from Caramel’s breeder. She was exposed to a buck but was thought to cycle again after. Will be drying her off as quickly as possible. Still communicating but I’m gathering that Day 145 would be March 26 so just a couple days after Snowflake!! Wow! Going to have to step up our game and get another temporary kidding pen up. Need to clean out and double check my kidding kit so it’s ready to go again too.
They all look great. My little buck is finally starting to play and jump about. They are 1 week today. It is also their mamas 3rd b-day. I need a milk stand.
I’m just over 5’7”. I milked Nellie on my knees for a few weeks before we got one built. It was horrible!
DH built mine with a high table area to work easier for me. I don’t have to bend much or I can easily perch on the side as he made it big enough for me too.