Tips for Preparing for Winter

This is always a tough and hectic time of year (for me anyway) and any help is always welcome.  But I decided to get my tips from a expect on the subject, Strawbaby.  She is the hardiest goat out of my herd and definitely prepares properly.  So without further ado, here is Strawbaby!     

Hhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
Hhhhheeeeellloooooooooooooooooooo!
I love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Ok, now that I greeted you properly and have your attention, this is a very important topic after all, I will commence with the operation.  Oh!  I mean treats. 

Now treats are lovely and yummy.  I prefer to eat them all.  Never let one go to waste.  Carrots, and grain, sunflower seeds are the best, then orange peels are sufficient, bananas are heavenly, lettuce is so good, and then there is spicy radishes, Oh! and kale is so good!  But don't eat the beets!  I warn you about the beets!  

Oops, sorry, my mistake.  Tips about winter, not treats for winter.  Ok, then.  

Tips:

1. Eat a lot.  

This really isn't just for winter but extra important over winter.  You need your energy to tackle the cold weather and the grumpy goats who will be locked in with you.  Eat plenty of kelp too!  It taste good and I know in my inner self that it is good for cold weather.

2.  Don't fight over the food.  

This uses up calories and you need calories to build your insulation.  Insulation is good.  It will insulate you and keep you warm.  Go stand at the last hay bin and wait to be fed.  If goats are fighting over the best piece, don't believe them.  It isn't any better then your piece and while they are fighting over quality you will be eating the quantity.

3.  Grow a lot of fur. 

 I mean a lot.  The more fur you have the better off you will be.  Don't be like Coco who barely gets a good fall coat and has to be blanketed in a artificial coat.  Long hairs for protection and small fluffy hairs for warmth.  Many much cashmere girls come on!  Now building fur takes nutrients so eat up and eat plenty.  You need it to build your fur.    

4. Make lots of milk.  

You don't need it but who ever is getting it does.  They need to get round and insulated for winter too.  So don't hold back.  And you can't make milk if you don't eat and drink.  So eat and drink lots.  The best water is fresh so drink the most right after your water is filled up. 

5. Get plenty of sleep.

You can't do anything if tired.  Eating is a lot of work and can only be accomplished if you are at your best.  So relax, chew your cud and drift off.  A soft cozy nest is a great advantage to pleasant dreams so take some time to find the perfect spot.  

6.  Think thankful thoughts.  

Be positive.  Winter can be bleak and being locked up against the cold with grumpy goats can be wearing and can even chip away on your sanity.  But don't give in!  If you practice being thankful now then it will be easier for you to be thankful though the hard months.  I thankful goat is a positive goat and a positive goat is a happy goat and then you can even enjoy the winter.  Be thankful for your food and grain.  Your friend you can cuddle up to.  Not being out in the wind and snow.  You comfy coat you have worked so hard to grow.  Your lovely treats!  

7.  Pick up a new hobby.

Last year I did singing and dreaming.  Dreaming was very pleasant and my babies did appreciate the singing.  I could tell by their kicks.  They especially enjoyed my breakfast song.    

Hope these help and you have a well fed and safe winter.  Eat well!  Love Strawbaby.  

Strawbaby enjoying her dreams.....

The schedule of a Goat's walk

Good Evening, I am Parsley.  I was elected to do this post and I complied.  The subject is the wonderful delectable topic of going on walks.  This is a very exciting in the spring, or the summer, but, and I might be get 'maaa' backs at my saying so but in the fall the delight goes down. As very well might be expected if you now anything at all about plants.  The one very good part about it is our human friends allow us to eat all the oak leaves.  That is very nice of them and I have made a petition that it should be allowed all year long not just in Fall.  So far all us goats have signed, except Honey who never thinks very well this time of year.  

Now on the subject of taking your goats on walks.  Be alerted that we have a simple plan of executing this proceeding.  Meaning to say we like to do things in order and with certain conditions met.  I am very lenient on terms.  Coco not so much.  She requires that the whole heard of goats, minus the boys, come along.  It is not very safe otherwise in her opinion.  Strawbaby hasn't thought about terms and is even more lenient then myself.  I shalln't mention Daisy because if it was left to her all of us would be left behind and she would go by herself with only 'Maa-aww-aww'.  Blackberry only says she wants her mom along and no collar.  I am partial to no collar myself.  In fact we are all.  That is the part of us picking our own schedule.  

See we all like to pour out the gate.  Of course Daisy goes first, being the tyrannical boss, and we all squeeze after usually with a frightened Coco getting squished the worst because she believes she will be left behind.  

Since it is fall we make straight for the closes lone pine.  They all grab a few bites but I methodically walk towards the back porch.  Coco by this time has completed at least three wild dashes back to the pen, not really wanting to give up her safe home.  They all soon follow me and we clean up all the remaining seed left for the birds.  

My quick tongue is the center of many aw inspiring comments from our human friends.  I do have a quick tongue.  'Little vacuum' it has been called.  I don't know what that is but I shall label my tongue it with pride.  

After there is not a seed remaining we head to the next pine.  Then if we are left to our own devises we will circle the house time and time again.  Sometimes we will be led off to the oaks or down deeper into the field to eat bush or maybe find some weeds on the sunning hill but it being late fall we usually just circle the house.  Most all is gone out there.  Most depressing in till I remember the alfalfa I shall receive for dinner. 

A huge break in our schedule always comes at the 'end'.  I say 'end' but it isn't the end in our opinion.  One of the friendly humans just says it is.  We never believe in this saying and, unless it is getting late and are getting hungry for alfalfa, the friendly humans have to walk us back to the pen one by one.  Except for Daisy and Coco.  Coco will take off at the slightest inclination for home and Daisy follows like a dog.  So there you have it.  A happy goat walking schedule is to let us goats do what we want.

      

Tied Up!

I wanted to rite and I was told I could so I am and I promise I will do a great gob as I am a great goaty.  Cranberry said I shoudl rite about a new expir ... experience.  So I can because well I can.  One morning instead of just giving us our ... oh, I was reminded to say who I am but I am sure you know that I am Blackberry ... Instead of getting our grain in buckets while we were loss (or is it lose?  Maybe it is loos?) in our stall we were tied to the fence.  "Every good milk goat knows how to stand tied." we three doelings were told.  I inhaled my grian as normal.  Everything was great but then when I tried to walk away somthing happened!  I couldn't!  I know what a leash and collar feels like from being lead around but this time I didn't get to walk.  I stood there contemplatively.   It was boring!  I looked over at Emm.

"You are supposed to stand," I was told.

"That is boring!" I replied, "I don't like this!"

"Don't worry," Emm said back, "Learning to respect the leash and collar is a good thing."

"I don't mind the leash and collar!  They can come with me," I wailed, "It is the FENCE that is the problem.  It won't budge!"Laughter greeted my saddness so I decided to try a new approach.  

I first thought it would be fun to play with my bucket.

 

 Then I tried laying down..

 

And rolling .... 

 And Pawing ...

Nothing really worked.  I heard a maa from Sugar.  "Don't worry Sugar!" I called back, "you are not alone!"  I tried to reach her but my nose just .... wouldn't ... reach. Poor Sugar was all alone in distress and I couldn't help her!  Then I realized!  Where was Cranberry?  Poor Cranberry!  I screamed her name, "Cranberry!"  No reply.  Oh the sadness.  Cranberry must have been eaten by the fence!  But that doesn't make any sense at all.  I laid down again to contemplate the fact of goat eating fences.  No fence would eat a goat, I decided and then I walked away over to mom.  "Blackberry," Cranberry called after me, "You are supposed to say how you liked the experience."   "Milk is more important, if I can get some," I replied, "Besides, whatever experience are you talking about?"

Editors note - 

Sugar was not in distress

And Cranberry was fine the whole time

These goats were supervised the whole time.  Never leave a goat tied without watching them.  You don't want them to get tangled and hurt. 

I Got Wet

Hi, this is Crispus.  We haven't blogged in a while.  It is Blackberry's fault.  She was supposed to do a post but .... Well she doesn't sit still for very long so trying to get her to concentrate on writing is very difficult.  "It is ADD," said Parsley, "Attention-Deficit Doeling," Parsley added for those of us with confused looks.  "She is only active," replied Strawbaby her mom.  Either way I wanted to update up on a very disturbing event that happened.  I got WET!  Yes, W-E-T, WET!  We were waiting for our hay this morning and it started pouring.  We three boys, me, bro, and Little Whitey rushed to get inside.  But wait!  Honey wouldn't let us it.  It was dreadful.  All we could do was stand in the down pour.  I let out a small wail.  Maybe someone would hear of our sad plight.  Fortunately Emm was not to far away.  She looked us over. 
"It is barely dribbling," she said.
"It is a monsoon," I said.  
"I don't even need a rain coat," she said next.
"I only have a fur coat," I replied next.
"I want one," chimed in Puden. 
"Mom!" screamed Little Whitey.
Emm turned to leave but then looked at us again, "Is it really that bad?"
"Horrible." I said.
"It is a regular tsunami," squeaked Puden.
"That is a wave Puden," she corrected.
"No wonder I am so soaked," he squeaked back.
"Mom!" screamed Little Whitey.
"Son!" screamed his mom.
"Don't worry about us," I said deciding to play the strong one, "We can make it.  Don't worry about us poor urchins stuck out in the cold.  We might become skin and bones if we shiver any longer but I am positive we can pull through."
"Ok, fine." she said.
Honey was then locked into a different stall.  Yeah!  We all rushed inside to escape the blowing storm.
"You poor dears all happy now?" she asked scratching my head, "How about some breakfast?"
"Oh, thank you.  I greatly appreciate it," I replied.
"Milk!" squeaked Puden.
"Mom!  Food!" screamed Little Whitey.

    

Dinner Conversation

Honey, "All that alfalfa sure looks good.  I wonder why I don't get that much ...... (multiple dots is were the goat's mouth was to full to talk) ..... I only get a smidgen of hay too."

Crispus, "I thought it was ...... because you were fat."

Honey, "Son, it is not fat.  It is the ........... marking of a good rumen.  I have lovely dairy characteristics and thus ...... I have a very nicely developed rumen.  I pass it down to my daughters and, ummm, yes, I do believe you are ........ showing the makings of my superior genetics as well."

Puden, "That lovely piece of alfalfa is mine!"

Crispus, "No, its mine!"

Bang, Clash!

Crispus, "Never mind, I found a better leaf."

Puden, ".................................."

I think I should get him a softer pillow

Honey enjoying a snooze

First Hoof Trimming

Hello, it is a pleasure to be writing.  I am Cranberry.  As Crispus wrote yesterday I requested to write today about our hoof trimming.  It was our, the kids, first one yet.  Emm came out and on entering our pen started to explain the proceedings to us.  I gazed into her eyes and listened attentively.  As did Crispus and I think Puden.  Puden though kept interrupting with phrases like, "More milk?", "I love you," "Pet me, please," so that I doubt he was really paying any attention.  Of course Sugar zoned out into eternal bliss when ever she was petted and only heard a smidgen and Blackberry didn't pay any attention but she did try for 10 seconds.  Little Whitey didn't listen period.
 
At the ending of the lecture I was picked first since I am "so mature for my age."  I hopped right onto the milking stand and I only kicked a little.  It did tickle on the back feet so even though I did try to stand still I couldn't help tugging some.  I got some grain and was put back with much praise.  I was happy with the new experience.  Blackberry went next and she kicked the whole time.  Comes from not listening.  Then Sugar.  She put on the "I am being tortured face but I suppose I can endure."  The grain satisfied her and she turned back into her pleasant self.  At this point Emm turned to me and said, "Will you please be quite?" 

"No!  I want another turn! Me next!  Me!" was my reply.

Then Crispus and Puden behaved the same so I suppose Puden did listen.  

Little Whitey was next and he screamed the whole time. 

 "Help!  I am caught! Help!  Mooooommmmmm!" he screamed.

"Help! my son!  He is stuck!  He is lost!" his mom screamed back.  There wasn't even three feet between them and they could still see each other but .....  

And over all that racket Emm didn't hear my pleas that I needed another hoof trim.  So that was it and I only got hoof trimmed once.         

Why? Why? Why? But I know who is to blame!

Me, Crispus.

Crispus here!  You know the handsome white buck.  Yeah!  Me! Today something dreadful happen.  Me and my bro, Puden, were separated from the girls!  Well technically the girls, my sisters and one aunt, were taken out of our pen and put in with all the other big girls.  But anyway, isn't it outrageous?  Now we are only in with Dad.  H is fine but I can't chase him around.  He isn't pretty and cute and darling and he doesn't smell good where the girls are all those things.  Little Whitey, the son of the previous mentioned aunt, got to go over with the big girls too!  Why I ask you?  Because he is still small enough I am told.  Small?  Isn't that a bad thing?  I mean I am the big handsome buck. The handsome buck that knows whose fault it is!  It is the weather.  Yes, the weather.  I have heard many times from Emm, "Going to have to separate you because this weather makes you frisky.", "I can't take any chances with the warm weather running away.", "Since I don't know if you weathering took --", "When your weathering takes you can go back with them."  See?  It is the weathers fault!  I have decided on my course of action.  I am going to scream at the weather and the weather will either shape up and act like it is supposed too or it will come down to silence me and that is when I will grab it.  I personally think the last option is the best,  I will take hold of the weather and call for Emm to come see.  I will hear the words, "Wow, you are now a weather goat, go and stay with the girls."  Yahoo!  ...... Now to figure out how to catch the weather .....

Pause Please!

The little goats where playing this morning.  Suddenly Puden calls out, "Wait pause, I must chew my cud!"  He stands there with eyes half closed as all the other kids frolic around him.  He chews.  Then giving a gulp Puden calls out, "All right, I am finished!" and body slams the nearest goat.  

The Lap Goat

Sugar 

This is Sugar.  If you can't already tell by the picture she is a sweetie. One of her favorite places is my lap.  If I every get down to her level Sugar comes running and 'plop'.  Belly flops right into my lap. 

Cranberry is happy!

Look into my eyes ....

.. You are under my spell of adorable cuteness .. you .. must .. pet me, or feed me, or hold me, or kiss me ... Yes!  You can not resist.  

What was in the goat stall?

A snake!  I actually saw this guy (well I think it is the same one, he was smaller back then) around 2 weeks ago in a goat stall.  On trying to get him out he went down a mouse hole.  I thought he left but there he was. So I tried again to get him out. I didn't want to grab him.   Oh my!  Do snakes stink if you touch them!  So I shooed him towards the door.   Success!  But then he went though the fence in with the does. Aah!  I quickly hopped over the fence to protect him and swoosh he was back in with the doelings. Before I could repeat my fence hopping, he was a slithering off with 2 inquisitive doelings following him. Then of course he went down another hole.  So we just might see him again. 

What happens when you have brothers ...

Play can get a little rough!

Moms are Fun to Jump On!

So says Rosemary's kid anyway.

July 2016

Who doesn't like Pictures?

Sun is just so good!

10 points for form!  10 points for height!  10 points for awesome wow!

Wweee, Look at that jump!

Ok, Now hold that pose!  

Quick!  Run back to mom!

Almost reached it!

Son, mom, and grandma!

Preparing for Kidding, the birthing bag

Any goat midwife will need some supplies on hand when coming to the aid of a birthing doe.  These are the items that this goat midwife stuffs into her birthing bag.

• Paper Towels - at least two big roles.  These are used to dry baby goat off.

• Towels - To dry off baby goat.

• Garbage Bags - To put all the dirty paper towels in plus dirty hay and any other yucky stuff.

• Bulb Syringe - To clear out baby goat's nose and mouth.

• Flashlight - Good for when it is dark out but mostly to shine at the bubble to see if baby goat is positioned correctly.

• Olive oil, in squirt bottle - Lubricant for you and doe. 

• Alcohol - to disinfect baby goat's umbilical cord.  I have little individually wrapped alcohol swabs.  Works great.

• Scissors - A small pair to trim umbilical cords. 

• Dental floss - To tie baby goat's umbilical cord if there is uncontrolled bleeding.

• Soup - To scrub up in case you have to go in.

• Warm water in bucket - To scrub up in 

• Exam gloves - In case one has to go in.

• Bottle & nipple - For those kids that are rejected or in multiple births to save colostrum to make sure all kids get some.  I use human baby bottles.  I have two different kinds.  My buck I bought as a bottle baby liked the first bottle we gave him.  For him I also made to slits in the nipple for the milk to flow faster.  The next goat, Little Daisy, did not like my bucks bottle.  She hated it.  So store run and multiple bottles later we found one Little Daisy approved.  The water bottle adapter!  I use a glass bottle though, the ones that hold mineral water work great.  (plus they are tasty for me to drink :)  I also did not slit the nipple for Little Daisy.  Do what works for you kid. 

• Weak lamb syringe - For emergencies were baby goat is to weak to nurse.

• Hair tie - For those of us with long hair in case we happen to not have one.

• Thermometer - If a kid is weak or looks off you can find out if the kid is running a temperature or is too cold.  You can not feed a cold kid, you must raise it's temperature first.

• Blanket:  baby(s) and mom - If it is colder out or any of the goats are really tired.  

Everything should be clean and in individual baggies.  Anything that you use then should be cleaned and re-bagged.  Re-check your birthing bag after every birth.  You might have dropped something or need to restock.  Usually the first four items are the only ones that get used then there are the births that none get used.  Needless to say the birthing bag has not made it to every birth.

 Coming Next ...... Preparing for Kidding, When is My Goat in Labor?

Goats Line Up To Watch Us Fly A Kite

And that is it ....

Preparing for Kidding, the kidding stall

Tiss the season ..... of wonderful anticipation, of worry and stress, of joy and bounces, were you are constantly checking your goats behind and ligs (more on that later), and when the most common questions are, "Is she pregnant?", "Is it today?", "How close is she?", "How many are in there?"  It is kidding season.  For me anyway.  Last year my goats kidded starting in February.  Way to early!  Need to wait for warmer weather.  So this year I curbed my buck and doe's enthusiasm, most of them anyway, and planned for kidding in April and later.  (Not all my goats read the memo and so I have one kidding in late March.)  Kidding is such a fun time and to make it as stress less and safe as possible one needs to prepare.  So how do I prepare for kidding?   

First off is ... The Kidding Stall.  This is a stall specifically for the expectant doe.  All her own.

Purpose:

1.  Safety - You need a place that is safe for you doe and her kids.  No other goat can then step on or hurt in anyway the newborn goat kids.  
2. Privacy - Pregnant goats like to be alone.  Goats in labor really like to be alone.
3. Feed - You can feed the pregnant goat specifically for her needs and don't have to worry about her getting pushed around by others.  The doe really likes this part.  Also could protect the other goats as well.  Some goats get very possessive of their food, and space, the closer they get to kidding.  Help the poor goaty that invades that space or tries to take even a bite of the pregnant goat's food!  
4. Cleanliness - You can keep it cleaner and full of nice deep beding.
5. Bonding - Is very important for doe and kids.  You don't want any goat pushing the doe away from her kids or even stealing them!  Can happen.
6. Warmth - Kidding stalls should be well enclosed in a nice warm area to keep doe and kids warm.
7. Your Peace of Mind - It is calming to know that your expectant doe is safely in her stall all happy and well fed. 

I don't think I missed any.  Either way safety is of the biggest importance.  What does this kidding stall look like?  

One Kidding Stall - goat not included.

That is my kidding stall.  I have three.  The are about 8ft by 9ft. How many you need depends on how many goats are kidding and how far apart they are kidding.  You want the kidding stall were the expectant goat can be alone but sill see other goats and have company.  The expectant goat likes to be alone but not in solitary confinement.  I like to put the doe in her stall at least 1 week before she kids.  Depending on her attitude, body condition and herd status it might be earlier.  A goat that is always picked on you would want to move in sooner or the skinny goat so she can have more time to eat.  The heard queen might not be as much as a problem unless she is terrorizing all the underlines.  
How to make the kidding stall safe:

1. Lots of deep bedding.  I usually have one corner full of deep bedding for the doe to sleep in  and then a week before her due date put deep bedding all over the stall.  The smaller amount makes it easier to clean.  Bank the bedding up the sides and put extra in the corners to make the corners more rounded.  Use hay or stray for the bedding.  No shavings. Shaving can be inhaled and they also get stuck all over kids at birthing.  The Doe has a very hard time cleaning kids that are covered in shavings.
2. Hang water buckets.  You want the water buckets high enough that the doe can't birth into them.  You also don't want the kid to be able to climb into them and drown.  
3. No sharp edges.
4. No weird spaces that a kid could get stuck in.  Like between the food bin and the wall.  Look out for places that a kid could get a leg stuck ..... or a head ...... or any body part for that matter.       
5. Nothing the kid can chew apart or swallow.  The mommy doe should take care of this part for you and ingest anything that is possible.

The kidding stall is also not just for kidding, as we have seen, but also for the doe and kids after kidding.  The kids will be too small to immediately become part of the heard.  The best kidding stalls should be connected to the outside world so doe and kids can get out in the sun.  They will need the stall for around 2 weeks after kidding.  More on this later ....

Coming Next ..... Preparing for Kidding, The Birthing Bag  

Just a picture of a goat...... sitting

Praline decided to be funny and cute today.  She was just sitting there. Silly little girl, she isn't yet 2 months pregnant and is already acting  like she is 4 months+ along.