Post by Tammy on Mar 21, 2012 9:35:58 GMT -5
I am not a complete newbie to goats as I have had them for three years now. However, I got my first goats as babies and then did not breed them the first year so that they would be more mature physically before kidding. It paid off for me in that I had twins out of one and triplets out of the other two and all the kids were healthy.
However, I have had ZERO experience bringing in adult goats other than bucks for breeding purposes.
Two weeks ago I brought in an eight year old Mini Nubian who freshened in December and who had just had her kids weaned a week prior to my picking her up. That ended up a total fiasco. She would not integrate at all with the herd. She would not eat hay, pasture, or grain. She promptly dried up within days because she would not eat or drink. Other than being depressed, she seemed prefectly healthy. I called her former owner and explained the situation because I did not want this goat to become ill from all the stress. The breeder was wonderful and made the two hour trip to take that goat home and bring me another goat. The goat that went home got back into the routine and seems fine now other than not having a lot, if any, milk. The breeder put her doeling back on her to try to stimulate her into lactating again.
The new goat that was brought to me has a kid on her (a buckling) because we thought the transition might be easier if she brought one of her babies along with her. (The doeling was already being bottle fed.)
She has transitioned much better than the last goat, but I still wouldn't say the transition has been smooth. She also refused to eat while on the stanchion and would not touch her grain for five days. She just started eating the grain (same grain she had at her former home) but did eat plenty of hay and pasture and did integrate with the rest of the herd.
She refuses to get on the stanchion by herself but once on the stanchion is an angel. I have been hand milking other rather than hooking up the machine because she is so sweet AND because she is giving so little milk <sigh>
I realize the kid (three weeks old) is taking a good bit. How old does he need to be before I separate for a few hours so I can get some milk? (Last year I just left my kids on for two months before I ever started milking, taking the lazy way out.) I am milking twice a day to try to stimulate her production. I just get around a quart a day. I NEED MORE MILK!!!
The new goat is healthy, holding good body condition and I am pleased with her personality but I wish I could get her to eat on the stanchion AND I wish I could get more milk.
What is the normal amount of milk that a standard size goat gives? I have only ever had the Minis and I am contemplating a full size, standard Nubian.
I am so tired of the drama from these adult nubians and wondering if this just goes with the territory for all goats or just Nubians?
However, I have had ZERO experience bringing in adult goats other than bucks for breeding purposes.
Two weeks ago I brought in an eight year old Mini Nubian who freshened in December and who had just had her kids weaned a week prior to my picking her up. That ended up a total fiasco. She would not integrate at all with the herd. She would not eat hay, pasture, or grain. She promptly dried up within days because she would not eat or drink. Other than being depressed, she seemed prefectly healthy. I called her former owner and explained the situation because I did not want this goat to become ill from all the stress. The breeder was wonderful and made the two hour trip to take that goat home and bring me another goat. The goat that went home got back into the routine and seems fine now other than not having a lot, if any, milk. The breeder put her doeling back on her to try to stimulate her into lactating again.
The new goat that was brought to me has a kid on her (a buckling) because we thought the transition might be easier if she brought one of her babies along with her. (The doeling was already being bottle fed.)
She has transitioned much better than the last goat, but I still wouldn't say the transition has been smooth. She also refused to eat while on the stanchion and would not touch her grain for five days. She just started eating the grain (same grain she had at her former home) but did eat plenty of hay and pasture and did integrate with the rest of the herd.
She refuses to get on the stanchion by herself but once on the stanchion is an angel. I have been hand milking other rather than hooking up the machine because she is so sweet AND because she is giving so little milk <sigh>
I realize the kid (three weeks old) is taking a good bit. How old does he need to be before I separate for a few hours so I can get some milk? (Last year I just left my kids on for two months before I ever started milking, taking the lazy way out.) I am milking twice a day to try to stimulate her production. I just get around a quart a day. I NEED MORE MILK!!!
The new goat is healthy, holding good body condition and I am pleased with her personality but I wish I could get her to eat on the stanchion AND I wish I could get more milk.
What is the normal amount of milk that a standard size goat gives? I have only ever had the Minis and I am contemplating a full size, standard Nubian.
I am so tired of the drama from these adult nubians and wondering if this just goes with the territory for all goats or just Nubians?