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I have 2 pregnant does, first timers, Pygmy and Nigerian Dwarf crosses. They were having grain each day until I read on this site that you should not feed them grain, only hay. I weaned them off it, and use it only as a treat now. Seems to be fine. They are due in April. I have been feeding them a lot of tiny deer apples, chopped in half, seeds and all, maybe 4 each a day. They eat some carrots too, but mainly eat hay and grass. (not much snow in MIchigan this winter). It did snow the other day and I could see that one of the does peed a few times a salmony color. What does this mean? ANyone know if apples could be wrong for goats? Are the seeds poisonous? Could they be causing problems? 

After almost 5 years of planning and dreaming we finally got our goat cheese business up and running in 2011. The idea was planted in our heads after our honeymoon in France in October 2006 where we ate large amounts of cheese, much of it goat cheese, and realized that there was no local cheese production in our home province of Saskatchewan, Canada. It was a niche that we thought we could fill. We were still living in the city at the time so we started keeping an eye out for acreages or farms, assuming that it would be five or more years before we would be ready to move. Then early in 2008 we found a farm that was perfect for us. It has an older farmhouse on it that we continue to fix up (improving the heating/insulation as well as cosmetic upgrades) a variety of out-buildings, and lots of pasture. Lots and lots of pasture. There's also 100 acres that our neighbours are going to rent this year and seed to oats. It was just over the distance that most people would be willing to commute to the city, and the owners were getting divorced and leaving the province so it was priced very attractively. We bought it and made the move.

We didn't get our first goats for a year after that. I did lots of research on what I thought would best suit our needs and decided on Nigerian Dwarf Goats. Our first goats to arrive in March 2009 were Daisy and Duke, an unrelated doeling and buckling. Later in the summer we purchased 4 bred does and two more doelings. Even though we knew we'd need a large herd for our cheese-making neither my husband nor I had ever worked with goats before and we wanted to get used to smaller numbers. And if after working with them for a bit we were to decide that the whole idea was crazy then we'd just have a small herd of pet goats.

In February of 2009, shortly before we got the goats, I flew down to Utah to take a week-long cheese-making class at the Western Dairy Center at Utah State University. It was awesome. Not only did we learn about the cheese-making process and do hands-on cheese-making, but we learned about plant layout, sanitation requirements, and the different types of equipment necessary. This knowledge was invaluable when planning our business. 

In November 2009 our daughter was born and I didn't go back to work after my maternity leave. This was the first of the big leaps into really starting the business.

We spent much of 2010 researching, planning, drafting up floor layouts and trying to understand regulations. Because there weren't any cheese producers in the province the Public Health Region who had to inspect us really had no idea what to do. They were supportive, but to be flat-out honest, I knew more than them about what we needed to be doing. 

We broke ground for the foundation in August 2010. The walls of the building went up on October 16th, and the siding and roof were on about a week later. This gave my husband all winter to work on the interior. It was a nasty, cold winter so he wasn't able to do much in January & February, but got going again in March. I spent my time taking an online course on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP, a product safety plan for food processing facilities), and then writing the long and detailed HACCP plan.

Our hope was to be up and running by May 2011, and we ordered our cheese-making equipment in the fall of 2010, but there was delay after delay after delay, and it didn't arrive until August 2011. We got it set up over a couple of weeks, had our Public Health Inspection quite quickly after that. 

Our first day at the Farmers' Market was August 20th, 2011. Our cheese was extremely well received. All we were offering was chevre, a soft fresh cheese, in three flavours: plain, chive, and herbes de provence. We were able to do our shelf-life testing and nutritional testing in the fall and got our cheese into two retail locations as well. 

We gave out samples of our cheese at the market and it was so gratifying to hear peoples' responses, especially the people who claimed to hate goat cheese but were willing to give ours a try and ended up loving it. 

We continued selling at the Farmers' Market up until the week before Christmas at which point the market closed for the winter and we dried off the does. 

We milked 11 NDGs and 5 LaManchas. We needed the LaManchas to meet the volume requirements of our pasteurizer. This year we'll be milking 23 NDGs and, if the buck we put them in with was able to breed them, the 5 LaManchas. We found a used portable milking machine and milked two goats at a time into one bucket. The milker could run two buckets so we could milk four at a time in the future if we choose to. 

Overall we're very happy we did this. We did run into some snags. We were frustrated with the length of time it took to get our equipment. We did know the Canadian supplier we ordered the equipment from was bringing it in from Europe, but we assumed that as they were a CANADIAN supplier that the equipment would be set up for Canadian electrical requirements but we assumed wrong. Not only was it not wired for our outlets, but it wasn't CSA certified (Canadian electrical safety standards). This gave us a huge unexpected bill as we had to bring an electrician out to the farm to fix it all. 

I also didn't do my research properly when purchasing my goats and now have a dairy herd of varying quality. I'm constantly learning more about goat care and herd management. I make mistakes.

It's all stuff we can work through though. 

In 2011 we made money but did not quite break even due to our late start and the unexpected electrician's bill. We're able to manage as my husband still works full-time. We do expect to turn a profit this year, although probably not a huge one. We'll get started earlier, have more quantity, and already have a customer base. 

We're also hoping to start selling feta. It's a cheese that can be aged in brine in refrigerated conditions as we don't have an aging room. We'll also work more on our branding/logo as our labels currently just contain the most basic required information. This would also make our stall at the Farmers' Market look more professional. 

If anyone would like to see a few pictures of our set-up you can find them at www.salayviewfarm.com

Our herd reduction sale has been a success so far. We have mostly sold the ones we needed to sell. We will be concentrating on Nigerians now, but I have a couple of work goats that are somewhat in dispute. I don't use them too much, but the baby loves to get pulled in the wagon with them. I always wanted to try a team, so I might see how that works out, first. The thing is, it is hard to decide. Maybe I should use my larger harnesses and train the 2 equines that are only somewhat trained. They are not nearly as safe as goats to work and train. Also, the equipment is more exp. for equines, but I have some of it already, like harnesses. I like working goats, b/c it is safer to try to make things yourself. Not safe to do that with equines, or to experiment, unless you really know what you are doing.

Nothing overly good or bad to report this week, and I am happy. Everyone, for the moment appears to be out of imminent danger and looks healthy. Indiana is getting VERY pregnant, and Brandi even more so. Brandi's udder has started, and yesterday she was breathing like Darth Vader while I was doing chores. No other changes yet, but I have started her grain and bringing her up to the porch at night before David leaves for work. She's due on the 13th (day 150) but I think we may see kids by Wednesday. The weather warmed up a bit today and through the weekend the lows are around 50, then its supposed to make a sharp drop to below just below freezing, and the weather is supposed to get rainy. It will be full moon that night too.  Really praying for healthy babies this year! 

I found...through my broker ( work in a real estate office) a home inspector not in direct association with the parish, who also does water testing through a lab. I am going to have the water tested, but it has been put on hold until we close the refinance.

The bank wants some specific repairs done, and the mortgage guy wants me to move the goats to a different place on the property. Its annoying but I am going to do it to be cooperative. I just hope I do not lose ground having to move them to the new non dry lot area after so many weeks of no grass or browse. He also wanted me to plant Rye grass over the pasture"to make it look nicer and greener" (It's winter, Hello!!) but with a mind for how this would affect the goats I am worried that it would to quick of a diet change...I know its "just grass" but its not the same kind of grass and Pecial's necropsy had reticulitis  and the only diet change was the grass....Granted this was just one of a few issues they found...but still. I know to these people they are just animals, but to me they are a lot more.

Ok.......Here we are at that time of year for us again. We like to breed the end of Dec. to insure May babies as that is when the temperatures here are more tolerable. The bucks are definately ready ha ha! The matches for the breedings are determined and we are getting ready for lift off ha ha! This definately gives us goat breeders something to look forward to through the rough winters. The anticipation grows and the excitement takes over the worst part of winter to where you dont notice winter being gloom and doom! What a fun time!

David was about to call the nut house this morning I was so excited I was dancing and hollering and I am still high from this an hour later!

First a recap of the changes...Dry lot cleaned  really well 3 times a week, No browse. basic necessities only: Hay, minerals, baking soda, salt. Homemade herbal dewormer infusions in bottled water for the girls plain bottled water for the boys.

Yesterday was the girls herbal holiday where they got plain bottled water today I start another 6 days of herbs (this time for the whole herd, then I'll be using herbs every 3 days, and I hope to eventually be able to use them 1 day a week and ultimately as needed. 

I have not done fecals yet today, but I did check FAMACHA scores and 3 out of 4 that have been on herbs have 1-2 (very pink ) scores.  I am still not sure about Catcher who was far more interested in eating his hay than seeing me this morning.  I cannot say I have ever seen scores so high in my herd even ISABEL. My two late preggos Brandi and Indiana  have lower scores.

I think it may have something to do with the fact that they are pregnant and their systems have been so compromised. I have a coffee grinder now for herbs and I am planning to drench them in addition to providing the infusion, and if I have to I will use a chemical on them. 

I am praying for healthy kids but I am fearful because of all the trouble we have had. worse case scenario I guess we just have to keep plugging away on this path that seems to be generating results and try again next year. 

But for now I am VERY happy with the way things are going, and God willing it stays that way!

Interesting development in my search for answers last week, but first some recap and back story.  This summer the pumps on our community well were changed ( and their may have been other issues), so we received a boil advisory "until further notice" which turned out to be about a month.  Call me lazy all you want, but you try boiling water for 16 animals and 2 people in HOT summer and only 4 burners 2 pots and 2 saucepans I promise you will pay for bottled water! LOL! so we did, and ever since David and I have been hooked. The water here is terrible even with a filter. I gave 3 of our 43 /5 gallon jugs to our neighbors who have said that they have been disappointed with the water for quite some time, and that they have had a lot of diarrhea without being able to explain the cause, which went away short after they started drinking bottled water and sanitizing and refilling the bottles at the water machine in town ( different water supply) for $1/5 gal. I had not noticed any health issues but we have only been here a little over 2 years and they have been here for 30.  I am just a spoiled baby who won't drink water if it doesn't taste right.  After the boil advisory was over the animals went back to drinking house water, but we kept drinking the bottled stuff. Cycling out our bottles so that we always have a fresh 200 gallons on hand in case of another emergency (Louisiana is full of those). 

I've been spending a lot of time in the last few weeks going over my records, learning about herbs, and talking with a lot of people who have good experience with herbs and goats. A homemade herbal worming formula that I tried didn't help right away and so I ended up using a chemical - morentol  tartrate to keep them from dying. Isabel was fine for a few days then had clumpy poop again, so  I gave her another worming, which lasted a few days and then the bad poops were back and one of the other girls was having bad ones too though I never found out exactly who I have my suspicions about Brandi based on fecals and other information collected from that time. 

Among other suggestions on another forum several people kept urging me to have the water tested here. I was skeptical but I figured why the heck not, I have 2oo gal. So with that I made a few changes. I've kept the dry lots. No browse. Only basic necessities...Hay, minerals, baking soda... and bottled water. 

We all figured that within a week if the issue was with the water that I would start noticing some changes.

I also agreed to a bit of an experiment. The first time I offered the herbal wormer it was free choice and they only ate a lot of it the first 2 days. And I had trouble drenching because at the time I didnt have a way to grind the cut and sifted herbs. The solution? Infusion.  I added Cinnamon and Clove to the herbal wormer recipe boiled the bottled water in the kettle and let it steep for at least 30 minutes. Then fill the rest of it with cool bottled water w/o straining out the herbs.Twice a day.  I gave it to the girls as their source of water because they were worse off than the boys. The boys are the control with plain bottled water.  

The first  day they only drank 2/3( usually they drink all but the last inch) , the 2ed and 3erd day they drank all of it. Over nights they drank some but not much, which is typical. By day 3 the bm's were back to normal and FAMACHA scores were around 3 except for Isabel ( who I am almost 100% certain had the worst case in the herd) was about 4. Fecals were lower on Sunday than I have seen in a while, even the boys. 

I am currently looking into having the water tested. It could be a parasite or something that is compromising their health because it's blocking what they need. OR it may not be the water at all, more time and tests will tell for sure, but I fear and rejoice at the same time that I may have found the culprit. Until I know without a doubt however, its bottled water for the goats too for now!

So here we are after 5 days of herbal wormer with the goats. After the first day when they ate the entire half batch that I made , they didn't eat much of it any other day.

I did a fecal on Ty who has had diarrhea for a few days that I thought was related to coccidosis. I did see what i thought were HC, but they weren't elevated the way  I have seen in the others.  But the meds weren't working,  and he was still eating and playing well. So I decided to take him to the vet. Turns out he has Stronglytes. Which looking at pics of these and Hemonchus Contortus look the same to me. Are they the same? 

The vet gave me some medicine to help Ty's tummy and told me to worm him with Ivomec in 2 weeks. TWO WEEKS??? Can I sue for wrongful death due to your bad advise, which I paid $56 for? Why was the vet looking at his EYEBALL to determine FAMACHA score? Which is roughly 3-4 if you look at the EYELID. I really just don't know about this guy... should I say something next time he does that?  He said though that Ty looked very healthy despite his tail being down and the bad poops. When I did chores yesterday morning everyone and everything looked good. No bad poops aside from Ty.

When I got back from the vet with TY there were clumpy poops, checked eyelids on everyone else. Isabel and Brandi were about 2.  SO, when I went to the feedstore to get dog food, I bought the last bag of positive pellet they had. I weighed it out for each goat on my food scale including Ty.  Isabel actually ate it this time! I am really surprised!  Also gave them some red cell and they ate some hay.

This morning there didn't appear to be any new berry bunches, and everyone is up and around and eating.

I put a few flakes in the Radio Flyer and left it just outside the pen so they can stick their heads through and eat it...just to see what would happen. I have always wondered. So far, so good. If only I could figure something to cover it with so it doesnt get rained on  that they could still eat the hay.

I am not ready to give up on the herbs so quickly. I ordered a few ounces of Slippery Elm, Cloves ,Cinnamon Ginger, Goldenseal, Myrrh, Echinacea, Juniper Berries, Dandelion, Chaparral, Cayenne,  Yarrow, Comfrey, Arnica, Raspberry Leaf, Peppermint Oil, and Eucalyptus Oil

At the recommendation of someone who has been using herbs for a long time, and I am going to try a couple specific Fir Meadows  mixes that she recommended. Once again, I don't know if it will work but I am willing to try. 

I still haven't found an herbal nutrition facts, but I am still looking. So far my first goal of keeping my herd alive is still going on.

got a new rake and a different tiller, so we will see how that does today.

For the last several weeks I have been managing dry lots for my goats...bucks...well, Dream Catcher, and Does including the pen jumper Diego and the still quite young buckling. It is a lot of work to start, but once you get into a routine its not too hard to maintain. Had an issue with a really goatie smell at first in the new winter house, and I was cleaning it out every other day or so, but now it seems to be a bit better, and I can now do it with my regular whole pen cleanings 2-3 times a week. 

I wormed with Cydectin about 4 weeks ago now and Ty ( the little buckling) had some clumpy poops. I had been treating him for coccidosis since his fecal on Saturday but with that I am certain he needed worming. All adults had good results in the fecal but continue to have varying FAMACHA scores. On the same morning that TY had berry bunches I decided to check the rest of the herd.  Indiana and Brandi had lower FAMACHA scores, Isabel and Diego had higher.

So back in October I ordered some herbs after reading the experience of another member. Not everything was powdered so I tried to grind the cut an sifted herbs with a mortar and pestle, but I guess I am not strong enough or don't have enough patience , or both for that to work. So I tried it in a little blender thing I have with a flat chopping blade, which didn't work either.

So I ended up serving them free choice in a mineral feeder...BOY am I so glad I ordered 12 of those instead of only 2. it means I always have one when I need it.

First I tried just 1/2 c of the mix to see what they would do. I didn't know what would happen and I couldn't drench them with it so I didn't want to waste the expensive stuff if they didn't want to eat it. All of the Adults ate some, particularly Brandi and Indiana. But not Ty.  So I took a wild shot and moved the mineral feeder from its usual place , then put out 2c and Ty ate some!  Left for work...This was around 10 and I returned about 4:3o to find that they LICKED IT CLEAN!! So. I put a few tbsp into Ty's bottle to try, and I put the rest of what I had made into the mineral feeder and Isabel and Diego ate and ate and ate from it. It would not surprise me if they ate all of it when I go out there this morning. 

Also I did not see any more berry bunches Ty sized or otherwise.

The experiment in Ty's bottle went ok. I cut the hole really big for him and he drank it down pretty well but I had to take the nipple off the bottle 3 times and blow it out. I knew it would work better if the herbs were powdered, but if you don't try you never know if it works... If you're wondering I though the stuff tasted a bit like Chai Tea, which I can't have because I am allergic to Cinnamon. 

Someone on another forum said that there are vitamins and minerals in the herbs as well aside from the worming affect, and maybe there is something in there that they really need.  

Word has it that herbs help heal the whole body, and once the balance is right the problems will be gone and there will just be maintenance and I really hope that is the case.  I have no idea what else my goats might be needing, ( based on their scarfing of those herbs) or if this will work at all, and to tell you the truth I am a bit worried because its virtually the last straw in this battle with worms. 

Unless I can get something to powder the herbs I may just try to buy already powdered herbs in the future.

I will keep posting as I am learning because I think it may help someone later.

For the moment my goals are to 1. Keep my herd alive, and 2. Find some sort of herbal "nutrition facts" so I can find out what exactly they are craving so much.

We got all of our paperwork in to the lender and been approved. We will be closing on the refinancing of our home sometime this month!  The mortgage will INCLUDE property tax and insurances, which it currently does not. The total savings will be about $700 a MONTH!!  Can you say " NEW FENCE??"  "VINYL SIDING??" or "NEW CENTRAL AIR UNIT?"

I have known I wanted to replace the fence since we moved here, but it still does it's job as far as the bigger dogs and the goats are concerned, so it hasn't been a priority, plus we have been in dispute over the kind of fence we should have. The fence really became an issue when we got our chihuahua mix who can fit through the 4x4 mesh. It just doesn't look that great, and I have a pretty good idea what I think it should look like.

Same thing on the siding. My house is pumpkin orange. I don't know who's genius idea that was, but it hasn't been high on the priority list since we have 4 walls.  Now that the roof has been replaced with a nice gray shingle I'd really like to give the rest of the house a facelift. I so want a white house with light blue trim and a white washed split rail fence with my pink roses in the front with my farm sign ( Pink Roses Farm)  and bell at the front gate.

The central air... well the air conditioner went out in August and we recently discovered the heater only blows cold, so that is a necessity before it gets too cold. My Thyroxin medication seems to have fixed every issue except for my extreme sensitivity to cold.

I am so excited!!

So this morning while I was cleaning the doe pen the girls were out eating leaves under this mysterious fruit tree that we have. I came inside to get something and David said " I see four big goats outside." and I said " What? I only let the girls out, who is it?" So I looked and it's my wether. No earthly idea how he could have gotten out. Put him back went to work...I got home from work today and my wether IN the pen with the 3 girls and its tightly SECURED. Diego has been a thorn in my side since the day he was born!!( 2/2/11) He JUMPED/CLIMBED a 4ft Combo panel with nothing to climb on anywhere near it. TWICE!! First from his pen then into the doe pen. And the little baby buckling whom I have not figured out how to secure yet was also over there, so my buck was over there by himself on top of his house wondering why in the wold he's alone over there. I love and hate that goat so much at the same time. I have never been able to get that goat to stay away from his mother for very long.  I guess I will have to electrify it now.

Hello all, this is my first time to post.  I love all your advice, and have learned so much.  My question concerns CAE in Pygmys.  A friend would like to start a line of Kinders with my Nubian doe.  I am excited to do this with her. When asked about a CAE test, the breeder she is getting her pygmy  buck from tells us that CAE is exclusive to dairy goats.   Anyone have experience with this?   

Any insight would be very helpful. 

OKAY.. One last purchase was made thanks to Julia Johnson of roomfor1more.. Thanks Julia!! Java Chip is doing great! I truely appreciate purchasing a buckling that has been raised to be social.. What a difference integrating them into the herd!

I now feel I have a great variety of bloodlines, enough bucks (3), does (4), and wethers (2) to get going on my dairy farm! I've been tackling hooves still (finding a good method is a pain the butt.. but no blood yet.. lol.. whew!!) and am getting used to taking two walks instead of one.

I have also taken a step that I thought I never would.. I collared my goats.. Queen Pumpkin has taken obstanance to the extreme.. As my herd grew, she was more interested in leading the does wherever SHE thought they would like to go.. The collars work out great and I think she feels pretty with it on! I found that a gentle guide by the collar and a push on her butt makes for a very cooperative goat.

I'm still very confused on this breeding situation.. Kiko, one of my wethers, is my heat indicator for the does.. Whenever I let him in with the does, he still goes for Kao, my FF doe.. Kao shows all the signs of settling (she had the discharge, dating situations, etc.), but I'm still not sure if it was discharge from being in heat or leftovers from the dating.. At the moment, her back end is swollen, but not wet.. Is this a dry heat or a sign of pregnacy? It's been 20 days since her last heat, so I don't know.. I also only have bucklings.. I know their sperm count can be low at a young age (youngest ones are 4 months old, new buckling is 6 months old, but isn't in rut as much as one of my 4 month olds).. So, my plan of attack is to wait and see if Kao looks like she's ready to pound through the fence to get to the bucks before I do any more dates.

Another thing to get used to.. Rut.. How do I teach my boys that maybe a little Old Spice would be a more appealing cologne for the ladies??

POSSIBLY GRAPHIC IN NATURE

Alright, so it was that time again. My least favorite part of  goat ownership....Hoof trimming.

I do this every 2-3 weeks since we don't really have any rough surfaces for them to wear their hooves down. Generally speaking someone will get a booboo during hoof trimming around here and its usually me. I have clipped a goat before...usually a little dot here or there...Little blood stop and everyone's dandy.

I started with Catcher my buck. his feet are always a sight. He makes me think of Swartze Peter ( Black Peter) The main character in a German children's book that has these ridiculously long nails. If you have ever seen Even Almighty...the part where he shaves his beard and as soon as he looks up into the mirror he has a beard again... that's catcher's hoofs for you...  I just can't get the inside of his toes for the life of me.  It sure doesn't help that I am entirely left handed and all the trimmers I have ever seen in this wide world are made for righties! when he kicked I stabbed myself with the trimmers.

Then I did my 9 month old weather. Who has perfect feet... God willing he will always have perfect feet. he's easy to trim doesn't ever need much work at all, but always gives me attitude afterwords....he get all stiff and snikerdy..like HOW DARE YOU!!

I should mention that no one cares to eat once I start trimming.

So on to the whether's mother Isabel. Her back feet are fantastic but her front hoofs are Swartze Peter hoofs, but not nearly as bad as Dream Catcher's. First leg, nothing unusual. It was one of her better hoofs so I didn't need to do much. Second was a front one, but it pretty level, and just needed "a little off the top "  The third was the other back one and It didn't need much either. On these feet I try to make very small decollete cuts, but she shook her leg at just the right instant and out it came... my goodness.

Now its all over and I know that it wasn't was bad as I thought it was, but obviously I hit a blood vessel.

I have always feared this and so David is always nearby when I do this.  But of course this one time he was inside. He had been outside for the first two, but for some reason decided he didn't need to be outside anymore So the first thing I did was cover it in blood stop powder, which is all I had right there. I ran inside and called for David to come out and help. Then I went back out and held her foot. Thinking David was coming right out with the first aid kit...which he didn't, so I started hollering and probably woke the neighbors and he comes out in his bathrobe, and asks.

"What's going on?"

No first aid kit in hand.  By this point I have blood all down my arm and all over my jeans and I'm cussin' like a sailor...

" Call Dr. Leonard, NOW!! and get yourself dressed!"

A couple minutes later ( time passes a lot slower when you're in the middle of a crisis)  he mozy's out with the phone...I talk to the front desk, she talks to the doctor, and I have to bring her in. I figured as much. Well while I get the first aid kit myself I'm thinking David is getting the car ready...no! Hes still in his bathrobe, and just come out of the kitchen. I went out, grabbed the goat and wrapped up her foot so she wouldnt gush all over the car and secured it with duct tape because that is the first tape I saw. .And now David is finally dressed, and he says.

"did you get the car ready for the goat?"

"NO!! Lets just go!!

"Why can't we just leave that on the goat?" Referring to the hastily made bandage.

"Because I just cut her and I can't stop the bleeding..."

" You probably shouldn't have cut her then."

" It's not like  I did it on purpose! Lets GO!!" 

" why do I have to go?  You're the one that cut the goat"

"It's easier with 2 people!" 

If I had been thinking clearly at the time I probably would have said something like " You've known me for 20 years, do you think I'm emotionally stable enough to drive right now??"

I had a last minute thought before we go and I grabbed some extra bandages in case they need changing on the way.  Thankfully only one small part soaked through enough to see. I sat in the back with her all the way.  She complained quietly a bit but made the ride ok. The 20 minute ride felt like an hour... but I was able to get my emotions under control.  Drank some water, ate a banana...

When I opened the door to the vet office David was carrying her. ( probably because I gave him an option to carry my purse or the goat) and  a guy said.

" oh my God, their bringin' in a horse!"

Under normal circumstances I would have thought that was kinda funny.  Because if you have seen elsewhere on this forum Isabel has always been my skinny goat...No matter what I do, she's just skinny. The only time she looks good is when she's pregnant....although she still is nursing the baby at 9 months even thought I haven't been milking her....looks absolutely nothing like a horse

Within a few minutes a couple of high school kids came and took her to the back,  another few minutes...lots of dog barking but no goat screaming later, they brought her back out bandaged like nothing happened.

"Ms. Camron, That'll be $85..."

thinking on it now I probably could have cauterized it myself with the disbudding  iron in far less time, and I have tetanus anti-toxin in the fridge.  Of course the doctor wouldn't volunteer that since he want's to make $85 for 5 minutes of work....but as I said before I wasn't thinking very clearly. David could have been, but he was too busy being a jerk because he couldn't eat his chicken Cesar salad.  ( That's what he was doing in the kitchen). MEN!

Isabel is doing fine, and so am I. The whole thing was over in about an hour but it might as well have been the better part of a day... Just had to vent to someone who would understand me.

Tomorrow I will finish her other foot and Indiana, who has big fat cow feet will need her's done too, but I am done with it for the day.

My herd is up to eight goats.. 2 werthers, 2 bucklings, and 4 does.. I had the opportunity to buy Ginger's sister, but fought the urge!! Why do they make kids so cute????

The farm I bought Ginger from was another catch-the-goat-with-a-net farm.. ugh.. Maybe it's just me, but isn't it much nicer to have goats that don't run from you? The funny thing was that the farmer was keeping his goats as pets, not meat or dairy, so I'm even more puzzled..

So, an update on my dating service.. Kao, my FF, is getting some teats!! I'm still curious to see if she is just prepping for heat or if the job was a success.. She hasn't been flirting with the boys lately, but Pumpkin sure has!! I feel badly for her because she is such a large Norwegian and just isn't the delicate ballerina goat that Kao is.. Luckily my buckling, Buster is up for the challenge.. He has always been my brave goat.. Pumpkin is kind and seems to be fully aware of her size..

I've been reading up on the hoof-trimming posts.. I checked out the goats and Kiko, Kao, and Kona, who I've had the longest, have great hooves.. easy to trim and clean, but Pumpkin has HORRIBLE hooves!! I'm going to be trimming hers down a bit at a time.. She doesn't seem to mind, but I need to change my mind-set on how I interact with my herd.. With three goats, it was easy to manage two jumping on my back, nibbling on me, or grabbing my cigar out of my mouth, but with eight goats, it was too much.. lol.. go figure.. I watched a video where the farmer placed his goat on a leash with a bucket of treats, so I think I'll give that a try.. I think most of my battle will be minimal when I separate one goat at a time..

Overall, I'm enjoying every minute with my goats.. I can't wait for kidding! 

Okay! I let my goats out for their morning walk and my soon-to-be FF was a very popular girl.. I had to put Buster and Kao (doe) into a "date" room because my wethers were trying to get in on a little action too and it just wasn't working out.. Go figure.. LOL..

Now.. As far as my buck being in rut.. Will my goats' "love" grow with the scents, behaviours, etc?? He has the motion down and the flirting.. We're just waiting for the star of the show to make an appearance..

I want screaming monkeys in my goat house!!

Well today we were cleaning up after breakfast and I hear this monkey like noise coming from the field.  So I go to the window to see my buckling going nuts and my doe who is 18 months old was totally flirting by the fence.  Her tail was wagging at a fast rate and she just couldn't keep her body off the fence.  So I went down and removed my wether from the bucks field and put her in with him.  She stands for him and needless to say we are going to have babies the end of February!!! I'm so excited.  He did a great job and she thrusted her body every time they mated...  I cannot wait to see what these too gorgeous goats will throw me.  On top of FINALLY getting milk :0)  This is are first breeding and let me tell you, it is so nice having your own buck on site.  I couldn't imagine now, having to drive somewhere to have the goats bred.  What an exciting day around the Rickey's Farm...