We bred Merrylegs!

On the 19th we bred Merrylegs. I was happy about that. Here is a picture of her. We bred her to Bear.

I got a picture of Bear!

I finally got a picture of Bear. He is our main breeding buck.

More Goat Information

Do I leave…?

Here is a semi-controversial topic - Do I leave the kids with the doe when they are born, or not?
Many people take the kids away from the doe at birth and bottle feed because: (1)They want the kids to be friendly, (2)It’s easier for them to know how much their doe is milking and how much the kids are getting, and (3)It’s easier to get to know the kids by feeding and the mother by milking.

Others leave them with the doe to nurse because: (1)They think it is emotionally cruel to take the kids away from the doe, (2)They feel bad when the doe is bleating for her kids, (3)The udder is very hard and you can’t milk the doe out, and (4)It’s easier for the owners

Non-nursing methods

There are two ways to non-nurse.

1. Pan-feeding
2. Bottle-feeding

Which is the best? Let's take a look...


Pan-feeding

Pan-feeding is accomplished by using a pan or bucket. Pans are easier to clean and sterilize than bottles but, also are tipped over and spilled more often than not. And if you breed Nubians their ears will get wet, the milk causing skin irritation. This method is also more unnatural than bottle-feeding and messes with the proper development of the rumen. This method obviously has its pluses and minuses.

Bottle-feeding

Bottle feeding is easy in that you fill the bottle, run out side, feed the kids, come back in, wash the bottles, put them up to dry, and you're done. But, there is more than that. You have to feed every four to six hours depending on how much your doe gives each milking.

Tip: If you don't have a bottle brush and need an easy way to clean out the bottles, use 1 table spoon of clean aquarium gravel or coarse sand, 1 drop of dish soap, and a little water, put it in the bottle, shake well, rinse the sand or gravel, and save it for next time.

Nursing methods

There are two ways two nurse:

1. Natural nursing
2. Nursing and milking

It's a choice you have to make depending on your objectives but, if you want to go natural but still have milk, the nursing and milking method is the best.

Natural nursing

The natural nursing method is simple and easy. Just leave the babies with the doe. The doe does all the work and all you have to do is pet the kids which will help them be friendly. If you want to milk the doe after the kids are weaned you can, but, for the first two months you don’t have to do anything except play with the kid(s) which, is essential for a good disposition.

Nursing and Milking

Some people take the kids away at night and milk their does each morning, giving the kids back during the day. With this method they only get one milking each day. This is a win/lose situation. You don’t have to milk as often but, you don’t get as much. If you're ok with that, that’s fine. There are options out there.

Note: You can do the non-nursing methods and still have friendly kids but, you MUST spend time with the kids. This is something that you can not do with out. It is totally necessary.

Other things to consider

1. There are three types of does (see below) and they all react differently to having their kids taken away.

2. If you want to bottle feed, buy goats that don't bleat for their kids when to take them away. Likewise, if you want to let the kids nurse, you may want to consider selling the goats that aren't going to be very good moms and actively seek good mother goats.

3. Ask the breeder before you buy a goat if they were bottle-fed or not as this typically lets you know before hand what kind of goat you are dealing with.

Types of does:

Type A: “I don’t care if you take my kids away from me as long as I’m feed, watered, loved, and milked.” Typically this type of mother is loud, selfish and/or a semi-obnoxious doe. Which makes things easy if you're bottle feeding. These does are not usually the best moms- kicking their kids away at a early age, not allowing them to nurse very often and when she does let them nurse a lot she doesn’t let them have much milk.

Type B: “Have I ever done you wrong? Misbehaved? Caused you trouble? No. Then why are you taking my babies away. Howw coulddd youuu?” This type of mom is the one that makes you feel really, really bad! She is always bleating for the first few weeks of being separated. But eventually she with calm down and realize that you are her baby.

Type C: “Uumm… how does this work? Are these kids mine? I’m suppose to feed them??"
This type of doe is usually a first freshener, had her babies taken away previously, was bottle raised herself and has no idea about how “natural” nursing works.

Closing thoughts

If you choose nursing, pan-feeding, or bottle-feeding just remember you can’t change your mind after you start. Kids learn quickly but, when they are started on some thing it is hard if not impossible to “try” some thing else. It's best to study and find what you want to do then stick to it.

We bred Clover!

We just bred Clover with Bear. If anyone is interested they can reserve a kid now. Her "due date" is 3/11/09 but, she will most likely kid before that. Then the kids will be ready to go two months after that. They will be bottle fed.

This is Clover. I don't have a picture of Bear yet.