No babies for awhile

mamahen · #1 12/20/06, 10:42 AM

I must admit, I'm disappointed!! But our goats are more like "pets", so I can't justify breeding anymore. 4 is enough, I guess. Just a little jealous of all the new babies coming up. My friend had her first babies this week.

I thought of selling babies, but no one around here wants the grade babies. And if they do, they don't really know how to take care of a goat. After all, they just need tin cans, paper & bread, right

.

Ok, enough belly aching. ANyone else NOT having babies this season?

kerrinatoz · #2 12/20/06, 10:49 AM

OK, I'm on the other end of that. We just got our two Nigerian does they are 18 months and so sweet. We will breed but I wanted to get to know them first and have a chance to learn more about goat care and breeding. I want to really know what I'm doing. And by the way, this site has made me want to learn so much more because things can and do go wrong so I want to know what to do when that happens. Anyway, that means no babies for us this spring. And boy am I getting tempted to at least get a little wether this spring just for fun! ANy suggestions on that by the way, would that be a good way to learn before we had out babies. We have already learned so much about goats and goat care. Any suggestions??

-Kerrin

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamahen

I must admit, I'm disappointed!! But our goats are more like "pets", so I can't justify breeding anymore. 4 is enough, I guess. Just a little jealous of all the new babies coming up. My friend had her first babies this week.

I thought of selling babies, but no one around here wants the grade babies. And if they do, they don't really know how to take care of a goat. After all, they just need tin cans, paper & bread, right

.

Ok, enough belly aching. ANyone else NOT having babies this season?

mamahen · #3 12/20/06, 11:07 AM

Kerrin,
You mean learn about babies by getting a bottle baby wether? Sure, that's a great way to learn about taking care of babies. Will you leave your babies on the mom's, or pull & bottle feed?

It's sooo much different when it's YOUR goats pregnant & delivering!! Especially if you leave your kids on the doe, instead of bottle feeding. You get to reap all the rewards of the cute little kids, and momma does all the hard work!! I had slight problems with my first delivery, and then big problems with my second doe's delivery. But all in all, I love the whole aspect it!

I started out with a wonderful little nigie wether. He died in a freak accident. Got another wether from the same lady. She treated this teeny, tiny 1 week old baby with cattle de-licer (he was all of 2 lbs), and he died from a toxic liver at 7 months old.

I've had my pygmy momma for going on 6 years, and it's been great!! I have 2 does, 2 wethers. Sold my buck to someone who free ranges his goats. Can't talk DH into any more babies for awhile. Plus I'm leaning towards equine's now!!

Good luck!!

kerrinatoz · #4 12/20/06, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamahen

Kerrin,
You mean learn about babies by getting a bottle baby wether? Sure, that's a great way to learn about taking care of babies. Will you leave your babies on the mom's, or pull & bottle feed?

It's sooo much different when it's YOUR goats pregnant & delivering!! Especially if you leave your kids on the doe, instead of bottle feeding. You get to reap all the rewards of the cute little kids, and momma does all the hard work!! I had slight problems with my first delivery, and then big problems with my second doe's delivery. But all in all, I love the whole aspect it!

I started out with a wonderful little nigie wether. He died in a freak accident. Got another wether from the same lady. She treated this teeny, tiny 1 week old baby with cattle de-licer (he was all of 2 lbs), and he died from a toxic liver at 7 months old.

I've had my pygmy momma for going on 6 years, and it's been great!! I have 2 does, 2 wethers. Sold my buck to someone who free ranges his goats. Can't talk DH into any more babies for awhile. Plus I'm leaning towards equine's now!!

Good luck!!

Yes that's exactly what I was thinking getting a little wether this spring. Of course now that I think of it it;s usually better to add goats in pairs right??
I can imagine ti would be very different with your own does. Already, I am getting so attached to my sweet little Nigerians. That's exactly why I want to learn as much as I can before having babies.

I come from an equine background. They are so great but alot more work. Bt again if you love them, the work can be the fun too. I've noticed there are more and more great rescues for horses as well. Ones that do a good job training and placing in homes.
Kerrin

kerrinatoz · #5 12/20/06, 11:19 AM

Oh I almost forgot, when we have babies with our does, I haven't decided whether to bottle feed or not. It's hard being a LLL member and considering bottle feeding for them but if it would make them as sweet as our does, I guess it would be worth it!

Kerrin

mamahen · #6 12/20/06, 11:50 AM

Well, when my first doe had her kids, something just wasn't right with her nursing. Lots of stamping & jumping around. I remember what it was like when I was nursing my son, so knew how this must be a little new to her. My MIL milked her out in like 30 seconds!! After a few days, she settled down. Turns out she couldn't handle the alfalfa pellets, basically foundered her.

I let her nurse the kids. They still came to me when they wanted loved one. So funny, they would follow me & she would try to call them back. I would have to carry them back & run out of sight!

My next doe was an accidental breeding. Doe way too young. Vet wouldn't believe me. One single buck kid, very stuck. Emergency trip to same vet (Hey, remember me??

) to have him pulled. He had a broken jaw & needed it in a sling & tube fed for a week. I left him in with mom & he ended up nursing just fine. Jaw is all healed. Just a small bump.

I would say one wether would be ok. He would have your does to talk to. And they would teach him the ropes of being a goat. I know you hear that they need 2, but honestly, my first 3 were "only goats" and they seemed to like it! I know my doe did not like my choice in companions for her (a new buck kid)!! lol She still prefers to be by herself.