On top of it all, I've got no goat friends

Awnry Abe · #1 10/23/12, 11:35 AM

(There is actually a plea for help in this somewhat long post. Skip to #1 below if you want to bypass my blather).

My FIL passed away last night (somewhat expected). I am trying to de-fuzz my brain to make travel arrangements. DW and DD14 have been with FIL for several days. DS16 and I have been holding down the fort and have been preparing to make chores a snap for our neighbors. I need to be away for about 48 hours, minimum. I would like to stretch that by another 48.

Of all the operations (beef, chickens, rabbits, goats), it is my in-milk dairy goat and one other heavy-hands-on goat issue that has my hands tied at the moment. I have good supportive neighbors who don't mind tending to feed and water, but I don't really want to unload milking on them nor dealing with my buck since that isn't their cup of tea. I am contemplating the following changes. I have until Thursday AM at the latest to hit the road.

1) I have two functional pens that are suitable for days-long "leave-em-and-forget-em" situations like this, but have 3 groups of goats at the moment. While my permanent pens are under construction, I have been daytime free-ranging either my buck, or my weaned nubians. This is the least of my worries. I could load these guys up with an enormous amount of hay and let them suffer with confinement in their night-pen until I get back. But...I am considering moving the buck in with the main herd, and moving the ready-to-be weaned/non-ready to breed stock into the pen with the nubian kids. That will solve my browsing, watering and unwanted pregnancy issues. The timing is good, but I didn't want to just toss in the buck, and would like to have a handle on breeding.

2) I will either
A) move the Nubian doe-in-milk in with that weaned group, and back with here nubian kids that have been off of her for about 70 days, in hopes that the kids take care of business. (I am actually fairly positive that they will, based on an unexpected rendesvous about 3 weeks ago).
B) or crash dry up the doe, if possible. I have 4 milkings until I absolutely must go. Can I even get this done in 4 milkings?

Both A&B make me cringe, for various reasons. I wouldn't even consider them as a course of normal business. But I am in a pickle. If you all can come up with an option C, that would be cool. Much thanks.

Alice In TX/MO · #2 10/23/12, 11:40 AM

Are you anywhere close to any of us Missouri folks? I'm outside of Alton. We have others scattered pretty heavily across the southern part of the state. Someone may be able to help!

Ford Zoo · #3 10/23/12, 11:42 AM

Sorry about your FIL. I would be in the same pickle you are in with the goats. I think I would go with plan A with the doe in hopes the kids do take care of her to avoid mastitis issues.

Since you have 2 pens, maybe leave the buck with the boys in one and hope he behaves?

Hope something works out for you...

April · #4 10/23/12, 12:12 PM

I'm down near the Farmington/Ste. Genevieve area.

copperpennykids · #5 10/23/12, 12:24 PM

Put the in-milk doe back with her kids. You really really don't want to go down the mastitis road....You can always re-wean them and still have a doe in milk when your life settles down. In fact, put them with her now and you will know whether or not they are willing to work for you (and the "accident" only 3 weeks ago should give you a pretty good idea of how helpful they are/will be.

)

The buck - either/or. If you put him with the "girls" just move out anything that you don't want bred while you are gone. Ask the neighbors to let you know if they notice any signs of wooing when they do chores.

Sorry for your loss.

CaliannG · #6 10/23/12, 12:57 PM

CrownRanch, there are tons of Missouri Goat folks here, and I am sure there is someone within a couple of hours of you here. Where are you located?

Because the best option is to drive the doe and a friend for the doe to one of the members here who have a quarantine pen, and that member can milk while you are gone to deal with funeral arrangements, etc.

If that turns out to be impossible, putting her with her kids is the better bet, but make sure she still lets them nurse! It's been over 2 months, so she might not....do it a day before you leave to make sure they will nurse her.

You do NOT want mastitis issues, and you can't dry up a doe in four milkings if she is producing decently at all.

noeskimo · #7 10/23/12, 04:25 PM

I have been helped out BIG bigtime by FFA students.I called the ag teacher, he made some recommendations.

Backfourty,MI. · #8 10/23/12, 05:31 PM

I would put the doe in milk back with her kids now & see if they still want to nurse & make sure she'll let them. That way you have at least 24 hours to make sure that will work.

Then I'd move what ever you don't want bred out of the main herd & put the buck with the does' for that 2-4 day period like Copperpenny suggested.

You'll still kinda have a due date by making a list of all does' in the pen with the buck & any does' that don't come into or back into heat with in the next 21-30 days I would assume is bred. You can then draw blood to send in for PG testing or keep watching to see if they cycle again. You'll have a due date within those 4 days count 150 days from when you left for the does' that don't cycle again. Hope that made sense cause it did in my mind while I was thinking it!

I am so sorry for your loss. I know everything is going to work out just fine for the few days you have to be away from home.

I know when my father died & then a couple years later my FIL, dh & I took turns staying home to take care of animals since we have no neighbors or family close enough to us but thank goodness both funerals, etc. are with in 2 1/2 hour drive for both so we made a lot of trips back & forth.

Pony · #9 10/23/12, 06:34 PM

South central MO here. As Alice said, lots of goat folk through the ozarks.

If you want to pm someone, we can maybe help hook you up.

Besides that, EVERYONE needs goat friends!

CJBegins · #10 10/23/12, 06:58 PM

On a dirt road up by Fort Leonard Wood.

Sorry for your loss!

Pony · #11 10/23/12, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJBegins

On a dirt road up by Fort Leonard Wood.

Sorry for your loss!

That describes a LOT of roads up by Fort Lost-in-the-Woods...

CJBegins · #12 10/23/12, 09:29 PM

Pony, it does doesn't it. Only this one is a dead end at my house and if you are here you are most likely lost. You drive out to the boonies and then drive about 2 more miles....lol

Pony · #13 10/24/12, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJBegins

Pony, it does doesn't it. Only this one is a dead end at my house and if you are here you are most likely lost. You drive out to the boonies and then drive about 2 more miles....lol

LOL! Sounds like our place. Alice was astounded. She said, "I thought WE were rural!"

heh... We're a few miles off the blacktop, too.

suzyhomemaker09 · #14 10/24/12, 07:35 AM

I'm sorry for your loss....as so many have offered their areas I'll offer mine...
We live in Ozark, just south of Springfield...I absolutely do farm-sitting for a variety of animals..am used to milking and all that it entails.
Feel free to contact if I can be of any help.

ozark_jewels · #15 10/24/12, 09:16 AM

Mountain Grove, MO here....if I can help let me know!

JBarGFarmKeeper · #16 10/24/12, 10:20 AM

We are south of Emily and Pony and east of Suzy and west of Alice (sandwiched right here above the AR line). However, we have hired a farm sitter (Emily's sister) to come take care of things while we go to the ever-so-stinky buck show this weekend!

However, if we are close at all, milking is a snap! Let us know what you need!

WagleFarm · #17 10/24/12, 12:52 PM

We are north of Kansas City.

Awnry Abe · #18 10/24/12, 09:17 PM

Wagle, sending you a PM...

CJBegins · #19 10/25/12, 07:06 AM

I hope this works out for you!

WagleFarm · #20 10/25/12, 08:04 AM

CrownRanch, I sent you a pm back.