01/20/14, 04:59 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Triad region, NC
Posts: 404
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New owner of 2 Pygmy does!
Hi! I am new to this forum. My husband and I just brought 2 pygmy does on Friday. This is my husbands first experience with goats, but not mine. My parents had a very large goat dairy when I was growing up. I think at our peak we had about 150 head. The herd was comprised of mostly Nubians and Toggenburgs, so the change to pygmy's will be an adjustment for me. I am finding I have to relearn so much. I am 37 now and my parents closed the dairy when I was about 15 or 16, I think. Anywho... I just wanted to introduce myself as I am sure I will be posting many questions.
Here is what I "know" about our girls....
They are about 1 1/2 to 2 years old. They have never kidded. The guy we got them from "mentioned" that they might be bred because they had been housed with a buck (really? Duh!) Millie is definitely pregnant (my husband felt the baby kick while he was carrying her). The buck they were housed with was a Pygmy/fainting cross, so I don't think I have to worry too much about huge babies. They are very skittish. Millie is a little bit more warm and curious, but Sadie is terrified to be touched. I did manage to trim their hooves and they are in bad shape. They must have been penned in poop and muck, lots of foot rot (but not to the point they are off their feet. They are moving about totally unbothered by it.) I need to trim more and get some Koppertox on them, but I don't want to stress them too much all at once. Their hooves are on dry ground now at least! They have been wormed regularly, but that is it. No vaccines. I am thinking at least CD&T and maybe Pasturella as well. Thoughts? Sadie has a runny nose and I hear an occasional cough. I assume a cold, as she is up, alert and eating well. Which bring me to food..they were being fed sheep and goat (no copper) so I am making the gradual switch to a goat chow (Purina)top dressed with goat mineral. I am also giving them a fescue orchard grass mix. I know Millie needs Alfalfa, but I am unable to find any. Will she be ok with out? Any other suggestions for a protein source? They are picking over the feed and eating their old stuff, LOL! They are going to have to get over that!
I think that is about it. If you have any advice to share, I would love to hear it! Also, if you are near to Winston Salem NC, I would love to network with local goat peeps, especially Pygmy peeps. Thanks again!
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