Moderation in all Things

[nehimama]

Why, oh why do I do this to myself? Why can't I do things in MODERATION????

Some years back, I wanted "a couple" of dairy goats to have my own backyard milk supply. Started out with two does in milk and two sweet bottle doelings. That was in 2005.

Here I am, five years later, with FOUR does (Kinders and NDs) who kidded in December, and are in milk. THREE does (LaManchas) who kidded in January, and are in milk. TWO does (LaManchas) due to kid this month, and several (mostly LaMancha grade does) to kid out over March & April.

Fortunately, I do have bottle-lamb customers and bottle-kid customers for some of the milk, but WHY did I think I needed so many goats?

There are THIRTEEN adult does here, and the two bucks in their own pen, and I don't dare count the kids.

Ai yi yi.

[Alice In TX/MO]

ROFLMAO.... Yup, you have one of MY overflow when I discovered I had 21 goats.

It's hard.

Deciding who I'm NOT going to keep is very difficult.

I have three doelings (LaMancha/Saanen cross, Alpine, and MiniAlpine) from last year to be evaluated when they kid. I have an elderly LaMancha who is probably on her last pregnancy.

I have two does (Alpine and MiniMancha) due ANY DAY!

I have one Lamancha doe in milk and two bucks.

In Missouri, my neighbors have two of my does, one in milk and one who will be culled this spring, as she has the WORST udder in the universe and didn't breed back.

I'm not running a total. It's too scary.

[nehimama]

Alice ^^^^

Not running a total - Laughing My Butt Off! If I knew the total here, I'd be in the madhouse.

[wintrrwolf]

Oh wow you guys are scaring me!! I see myself following fast in your footsteps. I started out with 1 Saanen doe...within 7 months I now have 1 Saanen doe(maybe pregnant), 1 Pygmy doe(pregnant), 1 Nigerian doe(pregnant) and 2 bucks?? Was only gonna do 1 goat lol was I naive...?

[nehimama]

^^^ Hee Hee Hee. Yep. Naive, deluded AND delusional. And entering into an addiction that is extremely difficult to overcome.

Goats're like potato chips - can't have just one!

[thaiblue12]

Too funny, I was thinking about this last night and was pulling out my records and going over my numbers. I have stopped for right now as I have to go to "real work" to feed all these darn critters!
But I started with 3 goats, got one free, so 4, then I somehow creeped up to 40, sold down to 25 and now have a dozen new babies and maybe 3 more pregnant.
Who says rabbits multiply, goats are worse!

[Alice In TX/MO]

The phrase "Crazy Goat Lady" is not an accident.

[deineria]

LOL - We don't have too many at the moment - 11 with kids counted, but maybe that shows a problem because 11 doesn't seem like too many to me. We are Crazy Goat People here. .. Love them and they are addictive.

[Backfourty,MI.]

That sounds like Moderation to me Nehimama! As long as were all happy with the animals we have & can take good care of them, Who cares if everyone else thinks were Crazy!! Hahaha!

[LaManchaPaul]

HAW,,, and we went to MiniManchas so that more could fit on LaCabra (The Goat) Farm!!! I guess that a politician can get away with calling that moderation. hehehe

[DairyGoatSlave]

lol! I feel I am on the same path, started out last year with ONE! Im now up to ohhh 7 with five pregnant XD

[Ronnie H]

Yep! i know the feeling,,,started a year ago,,with a PG nubian doe,,,now have 5 goats :baby04:& 2 of them are knocked-up,,current total 2 nubians & 3 Nigerians,,Love the ND...but have a real WANT,,4 SPOTS,,,so i can see some more Nubians finding there way home with meBut wife saysno more than 6 total,,,,so some one may have to go...depends how many kids the pg ones have......Last time around we had 23 total before herd sell-off because of my health problem..Ron

[goatkid]

In 2000 my hubby suggested I get a few goats (as in 2 or 3) for milk and weed eating. That two has now turned into 26 with kids on the way. Now he's complaining I have too many goats. What happened? The show bug bit me and I started breeding for certain things. Then, there are the group classes at the shows that bring in more money. When hubby complains, I remind him we'd have less goats if we were only keeping my show string and not his pet milkers.

[Pony]

Do NOT let Nick see this thread! I'm wanting a doe in milk, and have one lined up if I can convince him that it's not going to be that much more expensive to bring in one more goatie gal.

Shhhh! don't tell him how these things escalate, please!!!

[issylthesthlia]

My DH is SO NOT going to know about this thread, or he will put his foot down about me getting goats. LOL!

[Ronnie H]

Rose I need to know ,,how do you say to a long eared spotted doeling,,,with big sad eyesRon

[wintrrwolf]

Originally Posted by LaManchaPaul

HAW,,, and we went to MiniManchas so that more could fit on LaCabra (The Goat) Farm!!! I guess that a politician can get away with calling that moderation. hehehe

Hehe yeah I got a Saanen and then went to Nigerian dwarfs. I'm a quick learner.

[LaManchaPaul]

Originally Posted by wintrrwolf

Hehe yeah I got a Saanen and then went to Nigerian dwarfs. I'm a quick learner.

Hey Wintrrwolf, IF YOU THINK that the baby Saanen is a cutie, just wait 'till one arrives that is half ND... Those minis are just incredibly cute. My MiniManchas have the antics and personality of the LaMancha AND the dollness of the ND. Simply perfect. Isn't that modest moderation?

I'll know in a few months how the udder(s) develop. Right now it looks like there will be heavy culling to get the characteristics that I would like to see in my mini herd.

[Alice In TX/MO]

My LaMancha / Saanen doeling is my FAVORITE! She's going to be big, however.

I think I'm going to breed her to my MiniMancha buck when she's old enough!

[nehimama]

Ohhhh, the possibilities!