Hello,
My husband and I live in New Hampshire and are planning a move to a new home (close by). We have a small herd of four dairy goats, a wether and a buckling. My does will be settled at least two months or more at the time of the move.
I would appreciate any advice that can be given on how to make this move easiest on my herd. Is there a concern over the does aborting? Should breeding be skipped completely? (I am waiting for their next cycle.) All the does will be dried off before the move, which may be in the winter months.
Thanks for any advice you might offer.
Replies
Thanks, Rachel. What you've said makes sense to me. Both you and Astrud have helped lessen my fears. Thank you both for taking the time to respond to my question.
Any stress can add to the chances of a doe aborting, but I think when does are used to being handled, etc. the risk is lower, and then, and Astrud mentioned, nothing except location will be changing. People buy bred does and transport them home all the time, so I would say, that with minimal stress, (and it sounds like this move would be) that you should be fine.
Thanks very much, Astrud. I appreciate your response.
In my opinion, it shouldn't be too traumatic for them since a) they are moving with all their current herd members and b) they are familiar with you. So it would just be dealing with a new home. We just started our herd this spring so I am not expert. But we have had horses for a few years, they are also herd animals, and when they move together with their herd or with even just a member of their herd they seem to handle it much better. Hope your move goes smoothly and the goats like their new home.