Very Discouraged

Melissa Johnson June 15, 2011 at 11:17pm

I just discovered this page! Wow, and I thought I was the only one to have those thoughts!!! I havent had any serious problems. Tried to breed 2 does, one took, one didnt. The one kidded first time alone I didnt think it was time yet - went to bed and it was like Christmas when I went back out 5 a.m. the 2 kids were almost completed dry - so she probably had them not too long after I gave up on her. Had one with her hair falling out - went through 2 stages when she wasnt eating. Meanwhile I am throwing money out like I have it growing on trees. Presently I have a FF that I got 2 awesome kids out of - but, I am getting bout 8 oz of milk once a day and am pumping grain and alfalfa in her like there's no tomorrow. Now she is being worse on the milk stand at 3 months fresh than she was to begin with. Lying down, stomping feet - she is a strong willed doe and has always been - sometimes I too wonder if 8 oz. of milk is worth all the dough I've spent - answer no - but on the other hand - I go out there, sat down, and am so content to sit with them - the doe kid standing on my lap - with those camel lips - sigh.......and getting me between her and auntie, as Auntie tries to give her a butt to send her flying into next week. I personally, wouldnt breed to kid in the winter - too much hassle for me and the goats. I hate the rain, hate the dreary weather - and know they do too - but I am surprised at how much I have spent on them. But on the other hand, I have made some awesome soap, made butter couple times and if I could master hoof trimming I would be happy. Bottom line - we love goats. And they get the best of us sometimes. ^^ Sun's gonna shine - I know it!

Kare May 28, 2011 at 9:07am

Thank you so much for your kind words, Lori =)

Lori Adams May 25, 2011 at 9:32am

We were thinking of doing a fall kidding as well. If Bethoron came into heat in June then we were thinking of breeding her. Our winters here in Va can be mild until about February....it seems like the end of January/start of February is the worst for us here. We can get cold rains but no snow usually until at least January. She has never been bred though so we'll see.

Kare....sometimes things happen for reasons we won't understand until we're through it and can look back. Maybe this is just a way to make sure you know how to handle these circumstances if they pop up again or a way for you to work through this problem and be able to give someone else that is new at this some great advice down the line.

I had to deal with a depressed goat while learning to milk for the first time. I would never have know what depression looks like in a goat but now I do. I know now how to handle a difficult milker and I know that I have to have the fortitude to just push through it and try new things until something works. I also know when to throw in the towel and ask for help (something that is VERY difficult for me).

I have had to deal with loss with every animal I have ever tried to introduce on this farm. When we got chickens we didn't know the first thing about them and we lost 10 birds in one night because I forgot to close the door on the coop one night. When we tried to raise meat birds for the first time we wasted a few birds trying to learn our way through processing them but we are going to do 100 this fall to sell to other families. When we first got ducks we had to deal with all the trials that are associated with them. We just got bees and I have one hive that is thriving and one that isn't and we will have to learn how to deal with that. We just got the goats and doubled the size of our garden and that is definitely a challenge. We tried to get our girls for 2 years and it just wasn't meant to be. We finally got everything settled and like we wanted it and they are here. Then I joke that "I already broke one goat" and had to take her back to the breeder while struggling to learn how to milk for the first time. All this while homeschooling 2 little ones, and my oldest says he wants to go to public school now so that is bittersweet too.

Everything happens for a reason. We just have to trust that we'll understand them eventually.....just breathe, *hugs*

Jane Wagman May 25, 2011 at 8:59am

I did a fall kidding last year - 1st week in Oct - I won't be doing that again. It wasn't necessarily cold here, but it was very rainy and windy and the kids hardly had a chance to be outside at all. No one got sick, but I kept expecting them too with as much time as they were having to spend indoors.

Plus the doe that freshened in mid June milked until the end of March this year so I had a steady milk supply. I bumped her back this year to the end of June for kidding just to assure that steady milk supply. Latest I think I would go for a kidding now would be in late August. Of course we don't get super hot summers here like some do, so we can get away with not worrying about overheating.

Deborah Niemann-Boehle May 24, 2011 at 11:08pm

There was a herd on the east coast that got a SARE grant to answer that question six or seven years ago. Fall fresheners did produce a bit less, but it was only one year, and the difference wasn't huge. Their results were online for a long time, but last time I looked, the page was gone. :(

Kare at Chaverah Farm said:

Well, in October 2009 it was close to zero around here, and then cold all winter, so I don't think I want to risk it. =) That was unusually cold, but you just never know with Montana weather! I guess I'll just wait and see if any of them kid this September and if not, I will breed again in December. I was kind of thinking about doing that anyway. I heard the spring fresheners give more milk? Anyone have experience with fall kidding to verify if this is true or not?

Rachel Whetzel at MigMog Acres May 24, 2011 at 5:22pm

yeah, I was thinking you might live in a super cold area... I don't think I'd feel comfortable risking it either if the temps got that low here. Seems like I've heard something similar about spring fresheners... but I can't remember where or what reason was given...

Kare at Chaverah Farm said:

Well, in October 2009 it was close to zero around here, and then cold all winter, so I don't think I want to risk it. =) That was unusually cold, but you just never know with Montana weather! I guess I'll just wait and see if any of them kid this September and if not, I will breed again in December. I was kind of thinking about doing that anyway. I heard the spring fresheners give more milk? Anyone have experience with fall kidding to verify if this is true or not?

Kare May 24, 2011 at 5:19pm

Well, in October 2009 it was close to zero around here, and then cold all winter, so I don't think I want to risk it. =) That was unusually cold, but you just never know with Montana weather! I guess I'll just wait and see if any of them kid this September and if not, I will breed again in December. I was kind of thinking about doing that anyway. I heard the spring fresheners give more milk? Anyone have experience with fall kidding to verify if this is true or not?

Rachel Whetzel at MigMog Acres May 24, 2011 at 5:09pm

Kare, you would, but it's not June yet... :) so if you had a heat coming in the next week you'd be in October still. I can't remember where you're at... here in Oregon even a December baby would be fine. Our weather isn't that cold.

Kare at Chaverah Farm said:

I suppose at one time or another everyone feels this way. =) I had different kinds of problems with my first herd, but never had a sick goat, trouble getting them to settle, miscarriages, one that died or any kind of parasites, so this is all new to me. Plus the goats are new to me, so I don't know what they are usually like at this time of year (coat condition, what they look like pregnant, etc.)

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think if you breed in June you will get November babies, not October babies.

Kare May 24, 2011 at 4:59pm

Where did you learn how to give it? How does it compare to COWP in your opinion?

I like your herd philosophy, from what I know of it. I'm really trying to avoid chemicals and drugs, although this month not doing so well there, and I think you are of the same mind, am I right? I am so thankful for this group and other groups like it where people are so helpful! It's nice to have many different opinions and ways of doing things and seeing there is not just one way to do it, so choose the one that fits...

Kare May 24, 2011 at 4:55pm

Hello J,

Thank you so much for your encouraging words. You are right. It is so easy to say we trust in Him, but when times get hard, do we do it? I know in many stituations I do, but I can see I need a lot more work in this area! How could I not place my trust in the Creator and Ruler of the Universe? Silly me.

I'm sorry about your late husband, but so happy to hear that you found a wonderful man to remarry and your children are all doing well. =)

Thanks again!

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Very Discouraged

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