After waiting longer than I wanted to check it out, I drove to Mulino which is 40 miles from me to get some Chaffhaye. Fortunately, they gave me two samples though I bought a bale of it. It is a great idea and I have read good things about it. However, fortunately, I opened one of the samples to give to my girls. They are not the least bit interested in it. Tonight, I put alfalfa pellets in the same bucket hoping to interest them.
Who has used Chaffhaye and do your goats eat it? If so, did they take to it in the beginning or did it take time?
(Okay, I hear some of you saying this is what happens because of heated water, etc., spoiling them.<g>)
On another note, Ginger was very clearly in heat Monday and Tuesday but no signs from mom or sister this past two weeks so they are, hopefully, bred and due in April. I felt soooo badly for Ginger; she was so miserable. I swear she thought I was being cruel to her because I didn't take her for a drive too.
Also, this past couple of weeks, I have been working on drying up Capri since I have a good source of N.D. milk for the rest of the winter. This has been slower than I thought but the past four milking times, I have had to relieve her udder only once so maybe we are close to success. Cannot believe I am hoping for no milk after trying so hard to get up to a pint (and failing) at the morning milking. I am so looking forward to her freshening in April when I know better how to milk and what to do. After having wished for a single doeling this year (and getting it!), I learned my lesson and am hoping for two sets of twins. How much milk Capri gives will help determine if Summer gets milked or just raises her babies.
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I only have a couple minutes before running out the door, but ...
Chaffhaye -- we use it, and I swear it's addictive. The goats will eat it before anything else, except a couple do still like grain better. Sprinkle grain on the top, and feed it to them together. They are more likely to eat something when there is competition.
Drying up -- If you seriously want to dry her up, you just have to stop milking cold turkey. If you are "relieving" her, she will keep producing, and you're more likely to get mastitis because you are breaking the little plug that seals off the teat between milkings. Plus, it's that full feeling that tells the body to stop making milk. The organic dairy vet in Wisconsin recommends milking one time after a week, but other than that, NO milking at all.
I also want to say that Margaret makes some great points, and ... well, you know us ... we milk 365 days a year. In addition to being addicted to the milk, I really like to know what my girls can do.
Glenna, If I were you, I would seriously think about milking Summer anyway. I think it would be a lot better for you both in the long run. You know the experience, practice, and knowing you, lots of experiments and record keeping and extra recipe creations etc. Knowing what she can do this first time will help you with making decisions about your next breeding schedule also, because you will know about how much milk to expect. Truly excessive milk may help some of those neighbors fall in love with it enough that they may want to purchase some of your doelings which would have benefits also.