 58Likes
 |
|
03/26/13, 07:45 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: North Central WA
Posts: 59
|
|
|
I didn't think this through...
I just brought home a 7 day old bottle kid last night. I've named her Piper.
I have 4 other goats and am ashamed to admit I didn't do my homework before picking up this new goat. I've had my other goats for a little over 2 months.
I thought I would have my 6 month old Dwarf Nigerian, Saraphine, bunk in with this new one.
Anyway, I've thought more about it and realized Saraphine is not going to stand for the confinement needed to keep Piper warm. I can keep Piper in my feed room but she sleeps a lot and wouldn't climb the walls like Saraphine. I'm kicking myself because I almost brought home two but it wasn't part of the plan and I didn't want to surprise my poor husband with yet another goat.
My question is, can I bottle raise this one all on her own with some socialization during the day if it's warm out and then back in the feed room alone all night?
Or, do I need to get back in the car and drive another 4 1/2 hour round trip and pick up another kid?
|
03/26/13, 07:49 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 24,108
|
|
Get back in the car.... 
__________________
Teach only Love...for that is what You are 
|
03/26/13, 07:57 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northwestern, WI
Posts: 1,792
|
|
|
I would be careful letting her socialize (do it under close supervision) until she is bigger, can defend herself, and the others accept her as part of the herd.
Can you keep her in the house so she is not alone? Goats are herd animals and I'm not sure what being left alone at such a young age will do to her emotionally. She does need to spend time with the others so she can learn how to be a goat, but be careful.
Another idea is to build a temporary pen next to the others so she can still see them, and they can start getting used to her while she is in a safe place. A well rigged heat lamp will be her best friend if it's still cold where you are.
|
03/26/13, 09:41 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: North Central WA
Posts: 59
|
|
|
Ok. So, I either get back in the car or keep her with me all the time? I can keep her in the house...
I don't know what would be easier.
|
03/26/13, 09:58 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Ozark Mountains
Posts: 1,116
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chickengarden
Ok. So, I either get back in the car or keep her with me all the time?
I don't know what would be easier.
|
Getting in the car...
|
03/26/13, 10:00 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Northern MD
Posts: 823
|
|
|
Get her a companion. You can always resell the companion when they are old enough for her to go in with the others. Or get a companion wether and put him in the freezer when you don't need him anymore.
|
03/26/13, 10:02 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 24,108
|
|
|
When I got mine I got a buddy the same age to come with her. I knew she would be too small to put in with my adults. And it wasn't even cold then and I was worried about her not having a buddy to snuggle with. Thinking back I could have easily kept her with me in the house and everywhere I went (mini mancha) BUT, I am sooooo happy I got her buddy. We just love him and they really are buddies. He even protects her from the others cuz she gets picked on becasue she is so small. Maybe there is someone local that has a baby boy looking for home?
__________________
Teach only Love...for that is what You are
|
03/26/13, 10:02 AM
|
 |
A & N Lazy Pond Farm
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 3,375
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBarGFarmKeeper
Getting in the car...
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Run Farm
Get her a companion. You can always resell the companion when they are old enough for her to go in with the others. Or get a companion wether and put him in the freezer when you don't need him anymore.
|
Dito and Dito
Nancy
|
03/26/13, 10:05 AM
|
|
Katie
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Twining, Mi.
Posts: 19,930
|
|
|
Yep, with a bottle baby you'd do better with a bottle baby friend. The other goats will pick on her too much at that age & without her momma to protect her.
With 2 bottle babies then when they are bigger you can put them in a pen where thy can see the other goats & get used to them through the fence.
The bottle wether friend is a good idea if you don't want another permanent goat then you could have it butchered for the freezer & hubby would probably happy with that too.
|
03/27/13, 08:03 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: North Central WA
Posts: 59
|
|
Thanks, you guys.
I did get right back in the car. My mom is visiting and we had fun getting the first one and she thought it would be great doing it all over again. I even kept my boys home from school and we made another adventure of it
Here's some photos...
Piper, 8 day old grade doe (1/2 Saanen, 1/4 Nubian/ 1/4 Alpine)
Nina, 9 day old grade doe (1/2 Saanen, 1/4 Nubian/ 1/4 Alpine)
|
03/27/13, 08:09 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,701
|
|
|
Oh so cute! I think you've definitely done the right thing! Congrats on your new babies~~
|
03/27/13, 08:09 AM
|
|
A & N Lazy Pond Farm
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 3,375
|
|
|
Now each has a friend.
Nancy
Last edited by Rockytopsis; 03/28/13 at 04:58 AM.
|
03/27/13, 08:49 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bellflower, MO
Posts: 3,695
|
|
|
OMG Piper's ears are so cute! Funny they both have the same amount of breed but Piper's ears are longer.
|
03/27/13, 10:56 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: North Central WA
Posts: 59
|
|
|
Thanks, I think they are so adorable, too.
I am double checking on their breeding. It was my impression that both moms were 1/2 Nubian and 1/2 Alpine. I know their dad was full Saanen.
Piper is calm and quiet while Nina is inquisitive and demanding. I just love goats for that! They all have such personalities.
|
03/27/13, 01:33 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Ozark Mountains
Posts: 1,116
|
|
|
Congrats...you'll sleep better now...
|
03/27/13, 02:29 PM
|
 |
An Ozark Engineer
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Powhatan, AR
Posts: 9,412
|
|
|
You done good!!!
__________________
Treat me like a joke, and I'll walk away like it's funny.
Effervescent, irreverent and irrepressible, but (almost)never irritable or irascible!
|
03/27/13, 03:47 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 24,108
|
|
That just warms my heart!!! perfect!!
__________________
Teach only Love...for that is what You are
|
03/27/13, 04:43 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: North Central WA
Posts: 59
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBarGFarmKeeper
Congrats...you'll sleep better now...
|
Boy, are you right! We slept with Piper in our bed that first night. She was good. She got up once so I took her to pee and waited for quite a while. She didn't need to go and slept the rest of the night through. It was ok but I definitely didn't get the best sleep!
Last night was great. I just both Piper and Nina in our bathroom. I didn't hear them cry once. (I still haven't made a spot ready in our feed room yet.)
It's been 60 here so they were outside for a bit yesterday and they've been out today too for a few hours now. I have a little make-shift yard for them next to my other make-shift goat yard. (We are in the process of fencing.)
|
03/27/13, 04:44 PM
|
 |
My kids have hooves
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 2,224
|
|
They are outrageously cute!
Well done! 
__________________
Beth ~ Old Church, VA
3 Nigerian Dwarf goats, 4 cats, 3 Pekin ducks and 7 chickens. One very patient husband~
|
03/27/13, 04:46 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 24,108
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by BethW
They are outrageously cute!
Well done! |
They really are!!! eeee-gads!! 
__________________
Teach only Love...for that is what You are
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:41 AM.
|
|
