There are two things that seem to happen when we enter the goat kidding season. One is the Doe Code of Honor (Jennifer of Goats In The Garden) mentioned recently. This means we wait and wait, similar to the old statement about a "watched pot that never boils."If we are not waiting, we are being surprised, as we are today. Of course, I enjoy all of this, especially when I feel refreshed and not terribly tired. But even when I am that tired, I feel honored to be involved in such a wonderful event despite the fatique.
This year I bred the dairy girls to a boer buck. I keep my farm within certain numbers, approximately 30-35 boers, and the same number of dairy does. I love the hardiness of the nubian/boer cross, and I did not want to produce more dairy kids this year.
Many dairy farmers bottle feed their kids (calve, kid and lamb). That is my choosing. It was difficult at first, but now I appreciate knowing I am the one milking the udder, knowing the condition of each udder, knowing how much milk we are producing, and knowing that the milk is being pastuerized and is not passing along anything harmful to the dairy kids. It is a lot of work, and some day I may change my mind. For now, I still hold the dream of a large milking barn, a commercial operation, with udders that produce some mighty fine milk. And I will still make goat milk soap because that is my passion!
6 comments:
Congratulations Grandma. You and Jennifer are single-handedly keeping the goat population thriving.
I am so happy to meet your newest additions to the Humphrey Herd. They are darling. Please may I have one?
Alix, a Florida pool goat chick...I can see it now. Sunglasses and all!
I am still adding to the goat population today. I had another a couple of hours ago, and Iris is going to kid soon. That doe is ready to pop, perhaps tonight. She is one that balloons up (udder and body) all at once. I have learned to appreciate that alpine.
I did not breed all of these girls on the same day, but they always have a way of marking the calendar in a big way!
Congrats on the kids Mary and I understand how it is with each kidding season, LOL!
First, I love the little ginger colored kid! 2nd, WOW ! I really do know what it takes to pursue the goals you have set forth, and you are apparently a hard taskmaster for yourself and seem able to live up to and fulfill your standards. This is the bounty and reward of hard work and lots of persistence!A good and honorable example of what makes for true success.
Congratulations on the new kids, they are beautiful as your goats always are! Sounds like you have been busy too. Nifty waited until the snow storm really kicked into high gear to start pushing...brat. :) Trouble was kind and waited until today and some nicer, warmer weather though! (And everyone wonders why she is such a favorite..she makes my life easy...hehe)
The brown and white one is beautiful.
I like the idea of bottle feeding but we work away from home so we won't be able to hand raise right now, maybe one day.
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