"Thanking you, Margaret and Deborah, for your almost-9-year-old Q&A. I'm finally going to buy a scale after having borrowed my neighbor's digital kitchen scale each kidding season for the last 4 years! (Fortunately, he loves our goats…"
for people who love the littlest dairy goats
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Naomi D'Andrea
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- Indianapolis, IN
- United States
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Naomi D'Andrea's Discussions
Sudden drop in milk production/appetite
Started this discussion. Last reply by Deborah Niemann-Boehle Jan 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
I have a 2-year-old first freshener that I'm milking. She's at 156 days. Her normal morning milk weight has been between 1#4oz and 1#2oz for the last week. (Evening is always a little less; I'm a…Continue
Tags: appetite, production, milk, Milk
Mesh Hay Feeder
Started this discussion. Last reply by Deborah Niemann-Boehle Aug 21, 2020. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Does anyone have experience using a mesh hay feeder for their goats?I'd appreciate feedback on waste reduction, size of holes in feeder, and unintended consequences (goats injured or stuck). Also…Continue
Teff Hay for Wethers
Started this discussion. Last reply by Deborah Niemann-Boehle Oct 29, 2019. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Does anyone have experience using Teff hay?I got my hands on some and stocked up for the winter--mainly because that's what was available by the time I got around to stocking up for the winter. A…Continue
Barn Ventilation
Started this discussion. Last reply by Deborah Niemann-Boehle Jul 21, 2019. 7 Replies 0 Likes
Anyone out there have a favorite fan for under $300? Looking for recommendations. We have a pretty tiny barn (8x12) for only 3 goats. Half of one side of the barn is open all the time, but it gets…Continue
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Latest Activity
"Welcome and thank you, Tammy!"
"Welcome from the west side of Indy!And best in your homesteading endeavor!"
"You're welcome! I'm so glad the goats are doing better now. That's awesome that this is only the second time you've had to deal with diarrhea in five years. That's what I love to hear. "
"I'm so fortunate we've only had diarrhea once before, in 5+ years, but I felt like a jittery new parent these last few days! Thanks again for helping me talk and think through it."
"With the poop going back and forth like that, it does sound like something they ate. Back when our chickens were close enough to our goats for the goats to bust into the chicken grain every now and then, their diarrhea would go away within a day,…"
"Thank you for weighing in again, Deborah, and especially for the advice about the dewormer.
This morning the boys (who live in separate quarters) also have diarrhea, but Mira's is clearing up (back to solid clumps). I think I'm going to…"
"You should see an improvement within a day or two of giving a dewormer. I'm always fascinated by how quickly they improve.
I'm wondering how accurate your thermometer is. As I said earlier 102-103 is normal. I could even stretch that…"
"Update with plot twist:
This morning, Rain's temp was 99.9 and again, she ate very little. There was full-blown diarrhea on the barn floor, which I assumed was hers because she's the one acting weird. But then I saw her pooping, and hers…"
"It's normal for a goat to have a temperature somewhere in the 102 to 103 range, so both are normal.
Clumpy poops often indicate a worm overload, and that can also cause a decrease in milk production. I don't usually get too worried…"
"Update:Today, her temp was up 1 degree, 103.1Poops were clumping up.She again barely ate her grain, but let me milk her without a fuss (normally she is quite spirited on the milk stand once she finishes eating).She's always affectionate, but…"
Sudden drop in milk production/appetite
I have a 2-year-old first freshener that I'm milking. She's at 156 days. Her normal morning milk weight has been between 1#4oz and 1#2oz for the last week. (Evening is always a little less; I'm a little too lazy to stick to a 12-hour schedule.) She was in heat on 12/24 and 12/25, and I saw a drop in production as usual for a few days after. She receives the same amount of grain and alfalfa pellets, by weight, every day, and always finishes it.This morning she only gave 12 ounces, and was "done"…See More
"Glenna, I just read what you replied. Have you gotten rain yet? Any relief in your area?
I'm so sorry. It's heartbreaking to have animals depending on you and looking to you for help, when you can do nothing. How are they doing?"
"I've been thinking about you, Glenna--and all the West coast folks with their kids! My heart is breaking for the land and lives."
Profile Information
- If you already have goats, what's your herd name?
- Hackberry Woods
Naomi D'Andrea's Photos
Naomi D'Andrea's Blog
A Year (and a half) in Review
Posted on December 11, 2016 at 9:29pm 3 Comments 1 Like
Bought the kids July 2015. Bred Mira January, first travel and goat-sitters March, babies June, learned how to milk, sold babies August, started playing with chevre and cheddar, built cheese press, rigged a sort of cheese cave, expanded goat yard, added more play structures for the goats...
...and I keep putting off the eternal question from Willow, "Can I keep another doe next year?" I keep waiting for the proverbial bloom to fall. I waited to see if she'd get tired of the constant…
ContinueOur Herd has a Name
Posted on February 26, 2016 at 6:32pm 0 Comments 3 Likes
Willow and I decided on the name Hackberry Woods.
Hackberry is the predominant species of tree in the goat area. We love the funny bark, the precious little berries, and the haphazard look of the foliage.
For nature nerds: Hackberry is native to Indiana and a lot of the Midwestern US; the small berries (or drupes) are edible in autumn; also goes by the names Sugarberry and Nettletree. The name Hackberry is from the Scottish "hagberry," meaning "marsh berry."
These…
Continue"I'll Feed Them Every Day!"
Posted on December 30, 2015 at 6:41pm 1 Comment 7 Likes
In the spring of 2014, my daughter Willow asked me for the hundred and twenty-third time if we could get dairy goats. Like always, I said something to the effect of "that would be fun. Maybe someday." This time, though, instead of moving on, she followed up with the line we all know and love: "I'll buy them with my own money. I'll do all the work." And just like that, now we have goats.
Now, the actual full story is longer and boringer.
We spent three months just reading books…
ContinueComment Wall (2 comments)
- At 7:31pm on May 22, 2019,
Amalia Young said…
Naomi, you have an amazing talent at telling stories! You write so beautifully! I enjoyed your blog so much! I hope you'll make time for more recent updates! I'd love to see how things are now. Have you ever considered writing, as in writing a book? You're truly talented! I'd definitely buy your books :-)
- At 9:48pm on June 20, 2016,
Ruth Goode said…
Just saw your message about friending on the NG site--did not realize until now that we could PM through the site! I sent you a PM om FB.....
I always welcome farm visits! Let me know when you would like to come and if it works with my crazy schedule I will show you my kids! Ruth
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Need goat equipment?
Yogurt Maker
Mineral feeder (put minerals in one side and baking soda in the other!)
2-quart milk pail
Mineral feeder (put minerals in one side and baking soda in the other!)
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