I'll have my first doe in about 9 months! (I mean 6..) Updated

[Kittikity]

I'm not up for kidding on my first doe.. I'm still learning how to take care of them.. If I get a doeling from the lady next spring, she'll be my first to kid when I breed her.. That probably be for another year and a half at least.. lol

 

[Nupine]

Yeah, I see. It isn't too bad, but a little scary. I have went through 4 kiddings, 3 twins, one single. And the single had to be the hardest!! It was a small doe, who always had a ''bony'' appearance of her, but she delivered the most gorgeous alpine kid there ever was, Heidi. Who will be with us for as long as she lives. It helps to know about goats before you delve deep into kidding.

 

[hazelton farms]

Just wondering, do you have a second goat ready for when you take this one home so she's not alone? They really don't do well alone.

Stacy

 

[Kittikity]

No, I won't have a second goat right away.. But it will only be about 3 or 4 months before I hopefully get a nubian doeling from them also.. They have allowed me to select a nubian buck and a doe of their's to breed, and I get to take my pick if she has doelings.. If she doesn't have a doeling then I might select from one of her other does.. I'll be bottle feeding the doeling so it will be very useful to have a doe already in milk.. That's probably why the lady is brining her into heat early..

I will use that 3 or 4 month space to practice milking the mixed doe and bond with her more.. I know they don't like to be alone but I really want her to bond to me as much as possible until then.. I'm home all the time so I'll be able to spend a lot of time with her once she gets here.. Until then I'll be trying to get her used to me when I go there Monday and Tuesday to work.. I might visit her a couple more days in the week once she starts getting used to me.. They're only a half an hour away from us..

After that I might get another doeling from another source or go ahead and get a pygmy buck since I plan on breeding kinders.. The nubian doeling will be the start of that herd but I'd like to start two seperate bloodlines if I can since I don't have another kinder source here in Florida to breed to..

 

[goatkeepers]

Congrats on your new addition!

I really think you should have a companion for her though. They are herd animals and don't do well alone at all. Maybe you can find a wether somewhere? They make great companions. And they will let you know when your does come into heat.

That's why we keep ours around. (That's what I tell DH. Every animal needs a job here, according to him

)

 

[BasenjiFan]

First, congrats on your goat(s)!

I highly recommend getting her a buddy, or asking to borrow/lease a "spare" goat from your farm until you bring your doeling home, or boarding her at her current residence until you get your second goat. I have 2 bottle raised LaMancha kids and they don't seem to think that the horse plus each other is adequate company. It's been 3 months, but they still yell... a lot. They yell whenever they think they should be supervised by a human (this includes after feeding early in the morning). If you have neighbors, or your own house, within a 1/2 mile radius of the goat living quarters, one goat is not enough.

A lonely goat is a LOUD goat! Unless you intend to spend every hour of every day with her, as a herdmember, she would be a lonely goat. Three or four months is a long time to herd animal that has no idea that there is a time limit to her solitude. Five minutes seems to be too long for my animals!

Something to keep in mind: the stress of moving to a new place only to find herself alone may be too much for Bluebell. Stress, by veterinary definition, is elevated blood cortisol; this can lead to physiological changes that make livestock very ill, especially when elevated levels are maintained longer than a day or so. Among other things, it can induce acidic conditions in the rumen, which can result in abomasal ulcers (I consulted my Sheep & Goat Medicine veterinary textbook, by D.G. Pugh, DVM, MS). Some herd animals cope with being alone, others don't. I have had both. Currently, my horse is being treated for gastric ulcers that developed after his companion was euthanized.

It sounds like you're doing a fine job getting your girl to come around. Good luck, and I hope you get the doeling you're hoping for next year!

 

[Kittikity]

Keeping her there for a while longer is a very good suggestion.. I know they wouldn't mind if she's there a little longer.. My only trouble is what to do if I don't get that doeling next spring.. I have a very limited space so "extra" goats aren't really an option for me.. I have to look down the line when I have more goats and won't have any more space or use for an extra goat.. It just seems cruel to me to bring an animal home and then get rid of it because it's no longer useful.. When an animal comes to live with me, it's a forever home.. Something I promised myself from the heartache of having to give up animals in the past.. The only exception to that might be any that are meant as food.. Maybe I'll get a boar wether or something to live with her instead.. That way it can be useful even without becoming an extra goat..

 

[goldensunriseranch]

Congrats on your upcoming new addition! The shot she was given is most likely lutalyse. It is very handy to get all your does to cycle in sync for timed kiddings. And also used to induce labor. I've used it often and never had any issues so she should be fine. I agree with the other posts that a companion is totally necessary, if it were me I would definitely see if they can hold her until you locate a companion or try to line one up in the meantime. The color blue roan sounds beautiful!

 

[Kittikity]

Ok, I finally got pictures of Bluebell.. She has a little more roaning then what shows in the pictures though.. I also learned something else yesterday.. I had assumed that she was going to keep the kids from her but the lady said that when she kids, the kids will be mine also.. She also sent me some Bluebell's baby pics..

Bluebell as a baby..

Bluebell now..

I particularly like this one because it shows how much she is starting to progress.. She actually came up to me and let me pet her face.. Probably thought the camera was another treat for her.. lol She's never far from her mom and I'll carry cookies around in my pocket for Bluebell but I'll give her mom (Little Darling) some also because she's such a sweet darling.. I'm also hoping it'll help to "milk" Bluebell.. Yes, pun intended..

They also have another little doeling that they've had for sale before I started working there a little over a month ago.. I'm thinking about getting her too.. They were going to keep her but had too many doelings they wanted to keep so had to change their minds on some of them.. This little girl is alpine/nubian.. I forgot to ask how old she is.. But I like the pretty creamed coffee color of her.. The lady also said her mom is one of their best milkers..

 

[Kittikity]

Forgot to add that the lady gave me about a half a gallon of goat milk when I was getting ready to leave.. Tried it as soon as I got home.. It's got a slightly different taste then store bought cow's milk, but it's yummy..