My new milk goat

[PrettyPaisley]

Here's my new LaMancha/Saanen doe, Oma. (Ignore the little one-he's going to a new home Friday.)





And Paisley watching me learn how to milk her!



The woman who has the farm where we took Millie to be bred knew I really wanted a doe to milk this year since Millie didn't take. She promised if she decided to get rid of any she would call me first, and she did! :banana02:

She is two years old and freshened in February. I was milking her three times a day because I love to milk her but I cut it back to two because I didn't want to wear her out. She doesn't love me yet but she will. I guess she is just getting used to her new surrroundings but she is not as playful as Millie-but Millie is working on her.

I get between 7-9 cups of milk each time I milk her and she is so easy to milk, IMO. I don't have much to compare it to but she jumps right up on the stand and is happy as can be until I finish. I've even managed to learn to keep her feet out of the bucket!

I'm so excited because I've been drinking the milk and it is really very tasty. I'm even more excited because I've been paying $8/gallon for raw cow milk and now I have a source of milk right in the backyard!

I just love my new goat. I've been accused of not loving Millie as much but I can't help how much I adore Oma. She was my Mother's Day present. :happy0035:

[MrsSurplus]

Congratulations! How fun!

[RedSonja]

What a lovely Mother's Day present. She looks like a sweetheart. Congrats

-Sonja

[mrs.H]

That is a great mothers day present! She's lovely!

[Creamers]

Congrats!

This begs a question though . . .she seems very thing to me. . .
as does one of my does, but does this seem like typical dairy condition?
Maybe my past gals have just been too heavy -
and that is why I worry about my one gal so much.

[Cheribelle]

Congrats!

[PrettyPaisley]

Creamers-she is thin. Or she was. I got her 2 weeks ago today and the woman who brought her told me that she needed to gain a bit of weight. She said Oma was one to not fight the others to eat and honestly was worried about her. I actually saw the lady who sold her to me yesterday while getting my last batch of raw cow milk and the first thing out of her mouth was, "Has she gained any weight since you've had her?" I will take another shot this afternoon so you can see her new belly.

[nehimama]

I'm so happy for you that you have your own source of milk right in your back yard! Isn't it pure joy to milk a lovely, cooperative goat that gives sweet, delicious milk? NICE Mother's Day gift.

[Sonshine]

Congratulations! This is my first year milking goats and I love it! My 2 girls are doing wonderful and the milk is soooo creamy. Unlike you, we only had store bought milk. It's nice to get your milk fresh from the source, isn't it?

[Oat Bucket Farm]

Congratulations! She is beautiful! Make sure she is up on her copper since being low in copper can affect how well they maintain and/or gain weight. I am so happy for you. Milk time is such zen time. The world would be better off if everyone slowed down so that they could enjoy zen time twice a day.

[julieq]

Congratulations! She looks very happy too!

[PrettyPaisley]

This is Oma after being here for two weeks. She's short one horn but packed on a couple of pounds. I had just milked her-she was hoping I wasn't going to put her back in the goat area.

[MrsSurplus]

Oh, she is filling out! Good job!

[Alice In TX/MO]

She really looks better. Maybe the other horn will fall off, too?

[LoneStrChic23]

Oh she is looking better!!

When you band horns & they fall off do they keep coming back later or is it a one time deal once it's done properly?

[KimM]

Congrats!! That's so exciting! Have you givin her any copper? I can send you a couple capsules if you'd like. I think she'd greatly benefit from some unless she'd already had some. I'd also get some probiotic powder to add to her feed once a day for while. She's really cute!

[Cheribelle]

OMG Hostas! A FAV around here!

[PrettyPaisley]

Originally Posted by KimM

Congrats!! That's so exciting! Have you givin her any copper? I can send you a couple capsules if you'd like. I think she'd greatly benefit from some unless she'd already had some. I'd also get some probiotic powder to add to her feed once a day for while. She's really cute!

I would love some! I noticed her fur was a bit scruffy-I thought copper was what she needed. I was unsure where to get it-but I did take a goat husbandry class this past weekend from a local farm and practiced with a drench gun so I know how to do it. I have my gun on order! Tell me where to send the money! THANK YOU!

I do put a powder called Missing Link Vet Strength that I got from Millie's holistic vet and a dash of probiotics in her oats once a day. I'm hoping that will be good for her. too.

I understand that her other horn should fall off and there shouldn't be an issue with it coming back. The first one did a clean break-I've got my fingers crossed that there will be no scur. The woman who did the bands got them really close to her head. The last horn isn't very loose yet so I'm not sure how long she'll have that unicorn look.

She is still getting used to me-but I'll soon have her used to all my kisses like Millie is. SO said to me last night, "You love that goat more then you love me." Ooops.