Update on Trixie etc

TroutRiver · #1 03/19/12, 12:05 PM

Trixie has found a new retirement home where she will be a pet to an 8 year old boy and share 3 acres with 4 other goats and 2 sheep. She's still here for now, but in a few weeks when she's ready, she will be going to her new home. She's just not going to make enough milk to be a viable dairy goat, but otherwise she is perfectly healthy and I think she'll love her new life as a pet. I've been assured that she will never be bred again and I've made it clear what is likely to happen if she is.

I am struggling with the fact that it really comes down to my mismanagement and newbie mistakes that ruined her potential as a dairy goat, along with the very bad timing of an unfortunate accident (and to top it all off I lost the last babies she will ever have, 3 beautiful doelings). It seems like it's been a rough year for lots of folks, though. Live and learn, is all I can really keep saying to myself. There is nothing in the world I can do now that will bring those babies back.

We've decided against selling off the entire herd, but we are definitely drastically reducing the herd. Our meat wether and buck will be butchered in a few weeks, and we will probably sell all 4 FFs after they kid. We may only keep 1 milker for ourselves, and forget about selling milk for now, even though we've invested in all of the equipment to milk several goats. Someday we'll use it, but right now is not the right time.

Just thought I'd give y'all an update and thank you all so much for your help and support.

yarrow · #2 03/19/12, 01:00 PM

thank you for the update.. I've been wondering what you decided... I think your plans sound perfect for you situation...grow slow and I think you will enjoy it a lot more. There is a huge learning curve sometimes, when it comes to dairy goats... taking it slow also allows you time to learn and figure out what will work for your future herd..

glad you are staying on the *goat train*
susie, mo ozarks

Sherry in Iowa · #3 03/19/12, 02:18 PM

Great advice from yarrow.

I think a person needs to watch a goat. Watch how and when and what they eat. Understand their ruemens (sp) and how they work. Watch them burp up their cud and chew it. Smell their breath when they are doing it. Get used to what her normal smells are..trust me, someday you will notice something that doesn't "smell" quite right and you'll be on to something that's wrong in advance.

Watch her poo and her pee..what's normal for her? Listen to her talk to you at chore time, when strangers pull in the yard and listen to her start to talk before her babies are even born. She can tell you if she is sick, if she is scared, if you listen.

She will have a habit called her day. There will be things she does every single day that mean something to her. It may be where she takes her nap or what time she takes her nap. It may be how fast she eats her food or whether she walks out to "her spot" in the pasture. You get used to her habits during the day and it will clue you as to when she if feeling off..because she will break one or more of those habits.

If you have one or two goats, you will not feel overwhelmed. You will take the time and effort to know her. God gave the goats common sense, He blessed us with the same. Many things can be overcome if ya sit down and think about it that way. You are learning about a wonderful animal.

I cannot applaud you enough for the way you have picked yourself up..made a plan and you're going forward. Good for you and I mean that whole heartedly. It is easy to give up and throw in the towel and feel defeated. And make no mistake..the best and I mean the very best goat owners..have made mistakes. They have lost does, bucks or kids that might not have had to die. The majority of those mistakes were made when they were learning. I am glad you are going to be around the goat world!

Minelson · #4 03/19/12, 04:48 PM

That sounds like a really nice life for Trixie!