I've learned so much about my beloved goats from this part of their lives. I realize my experience with my two does and a wether is small scale, but it's been very valuable to me.
I'll start with my first freshener, Juniper. I've raised her since she was 8 weeks old and she and I have always had a great bond. She's small but feisty when she needs to be, and that became so apparent once she gave birth. She rose to the occasion admirably, staying focused in spite of the pain and once her kid was born, she immediately started to care for him. All the struggle to get her pregnant was well worth it once I saw her become a mother. She is an excellent mother; calm, attentive, protective and nurturing. She grew that little buckling to be big and strong on her rich, sweet milk. In fact he was almost as tall as her when I sold him at 11 weeks. I saw her own body change too, post-kidding. She "filled out", ribs sprung, her body became more contured, and even her face changed, looking less kiddish and more like an adult goat. Although her bag, teats, and capacity are probably just considered average, I think they're amazing and the milk she gives me twice a day is fantastic. We're becoming a real milking team, and that has only deepened our bond. I am so grateful.
I've only had my other, older doe, Daphne for 7 months. She was about 6 years old then, and I took her on to help out someone who needed to rehome their goats quickly. She came to me having been bred about a month ago. Daphne is a large doe and had kidded twice before, once with the previous owner. My expectations for her weren't high because the owner said she had kidded with twins last time but one died. Daphne is a dominant, standoffish doe who is very hard to read and took a long time to bond with the other goats. She's taught me to be very patient and accepting because of the trouble she and I have had with our own bonding. Her health wasn't too great at first either, so that was the main focus of our first months, just getting her well nourished and getting the parasite load down. Because she is so large I wasn't sure she was even pregnant until a few days before she kidded when her bag filled up. In typical Daphne fashion, she kidded alone, at night, with absolutely no fuss. She had a doeling and a buckling, but the doeling was already dead by the time I figured out what was happening. Apparently that's what happened with her previous kidding. I didn't have high hopes for her being a good mother. I'm happy to report that I was wrong. Although she isn't super-maternal the way Juniper is, she is a good mother. Her little buckling is 7 weeks now and is doing great. I suspect he'll have more of his mother's personality as he is still rather skittish, but I can work with that. I have an all new respect for Daphne, and she seems to trust me more now. Hopefully that will bode well when it's time to develop our own milking team. We'll probably never have the bond that Juniper and I share, but she has taught me so much.
At the risk of turning this into a novel, I do have to comment on my wether, Pokey. He was bought solely to be Juniper's companion. He has always had a funny, quirky personality and frequently makes me laugh with his antics. I figured that he'd always be in perpetual "kid" mode. But even he has changed with the arrival of the kids. He has totally impressed me with his taking on of the role of Uncle Pokey. He plays with the kids in the most gentle manner, he is always interested in them and spends as much time with them as their mothers do. He actively seeks them out, and they adore him. He will often lay down next to them so their mothers can go eat and relax. And the does trust him completely with their kids, almost from the very beginning. It's incredibly endearing and I wish I had an ounce of photographic talent so I could have filmed all of his sweet activities with the kids. Pokey, you're now much more than an extra goat. You're a mentor, teaching those precious little boys how to be a goat.
Well, if anyone actually read to the end of this indulgent essay, thanks. I just had to share what a wonderful experience all this has been. It has made the times of worry and uncertainty well worth it. So if you're just starting out with kids, know that your patience will be well rewarded. Goats are truly amazing creatures.
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I loved your story. Goats are so amazing and I have experienced the same feelings as you. And also as Deborah said - I love them all for their own qualities. I started with three and now have 20. (ouch) I hate to admit that. But have 5 lovely little doelings up for sale. I bought two new bucklings so am excited about seeing their offsprings down the road. This can become an addiction. I took all my babies off mom's the other day for one day - so much milk I put them back with mom. I am making cheese once a week and yogurt but how much can two people use.
They really are a special animal.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! It is amazing how every goat has their own unique personality, and I really wouldn't have it any other way. Someone asked me last week if I had a favorite, and I said that I honestly love all of them for their own unique qualities.
Yes--she's like a barrel now. I grieve for her spunky girlish figure, now lost forever. Only the babies and their wether uncle play and bounce the way she used to; she only stands, chewing, watching the fun. I'm really going to miss the way she and her brother used to get up to all sorts of naughtiness together. But, she's a nice sedate milker like your Juniper, so we can't complain. :)
Thanks Naomi! Did you notice your doe's body changing post-kidding? Juni was 27 months when she kidded so I thought she was mostly physically mature, but I am so surprised at difference.
Naomi D'Andrea said:
Loved this read! Thank you for sharing your experience. It's fun to hear from someone else who is in a similar phase--my daughter Willow and I are also enjoying our first kidding/milking cycle.