Savingdogs-Saving the chickens

[savingdogs]

I'm already wishing I had two kidding stalls AND a place for my wether. I did not expect him to be a problem. I think I may have to rig something temporary for him if he doesn't behave. His sudden desire to chew the electric cord is making us bonkers!

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I'm glad things are going so well! Soon y'all will be old pros and lightning fast at milking! It's great to have a doe that's a great mom!

Do you have any pallets? My DH and I just built a stall in our barn with pallets. As soon as we build a gate I'll post pictures in my journal. I love free materials!

 

[Farmfresh]

I love using cattle panels for adjustable housing. (AND LOTS of other stuff)

Premier 1 sells these little squiggly wire panel connectors that are great for hooking panels together since they can also work like a hinge. wire panel connector hinge

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

yay!! look how good you are doing!! and yep milking can be a multiperson job. i usually do carpentry projects as a prep for milking b/c it can be so hard on your hands! hee hee hee hee

what a great idea to put the babies in front of her! i would have never thought of that.

Nibbles figured out that if she stood on the stand she got snacks - and that gal will do anything for food. your girls will figure it out also. but remember to be the Boss Goat and dont take any foolishness.

yay you!!

ps your dogs will love the milk and its easy for them to digest

 

[Javamama]

That was such a great idea to put the kids near her while milking! I'm gonna put that in my notes.
Anything happening with the other one yet?

 

[glenolam]

Putting the kids where momma can see them is also a great way to get her to let down more milk for you. I used to let the kids romp all around and even help me bump Eloise's udder. Of course, as they got bigger that turned into a real pain, but it still worked.

If she continues to be a pain on the stand, maybe you should consider using a hobble. I bought this one and it worked wonders on Eloise. I didn't use it at the "ankles" like they show in the picture, though. I put it up above the hock and made sure it was tight. I was told that if you put pressure on the leg above the hock it ceases the goat from kicking up, out, sideways, whatever way she wants to.

Keep milking out the other side, too. Her production prolly will pick up big time if both kids are demanding a lot from the right and you're demanding just as much from the left. Makes for great soap! If you need a recipe I'll be glad to share some with you!

For you!

 

[savingdogs]

Well so far we were not smart and had already fed Ginger when we were ready to milk her. So she ate a little grain but did not chow down. It was Hubby who thought to put her babies there, but I had set the table in front of the stanchion to hold the grain because we don't have a hanging food holder yet. I have a stanchion just like yours OFG, I saw yours in the picture. We used the fiasco farm design too. Ours is just a little smaller. Hubby scaled it down a little. But Ginger really let down her milk when he put them there. I'm sure it was hormonal.

I remember leaking milk all over my work shirt one time when I wa nursing my daughter and working full time, just because I heard someone ELSE's baby cry. Very embarassing. But I understand how Ginger feels.

We are going to make Donald his own little stall using pallets....asap. That way I'll have two kidding stalls although one is enormous. That is a great idea about the pallets you guys, what you don't know is my collector husband has a zillion of those already here. That was a brainstorm! Maybe the little shelter can be a rain break for everyone later. Our little pen is getting full of structures, but that is probably just fine for my goats considering I live in WA where it almost never seems to stop raining.

Molly is showing no signs as of last night. Waiting for the sun to come up to go out and check her because the light is dim in her stall. Donald is still with her so I hope she did not start yet.

I went back and read the Fiasco site last night......my goodness, I should have re-read all that right before Ginger's labor! I meant to but she came early. But actually I learned that there that if I count to 150 days that isn't exactly right. That it could be 145 days. That would make Ginger only 4 days early and Molly overdue. Day 150 for Molly is the 10th.

And I realize I should have known not to leave, I did not know about checking those ligaments and the tail rising! Duh. Oh well, I will know for next time.

I read all that stuff a year or so ago but my memory is probably bad cuz I'm getting old. And when I read that kidding information the first time I was thinking I would call a VET before trying her techniques. That was before I found out the only local all night goat vet is the local hack that everyone around here knows to avoid. Only suckers new to town accidentely go there. So they would never be allowed to TOUCH Ginger or Molly, thank you very much. If they cannot help a dog in labor I doubt they can do much for a goat.

 

[Javamama]

I have been trying to check ligs but they hate it so it's not going well. I *think* Perdy felt mushy this morning and I was trying to compare hers to Rory's, but Rory will not allow me to touch her. I sure do hope her attitude improves after delivery.

 

[savingdogs]

Glenolam, I only milked her once a day because either the right side filled up really slow or the kids nursed out the full side but then stopped. I did see the Buckling trying that side at least once.

If they are not nursing that side well, is once a day milking okay? I don't have enough "staff" here to help me twice a day at this point because it is taking three of us at the time being.

I also FORGOT teat dip! Oh my gosh, I hope I didn't cause an infection. I did wash them before but did not dip after.

I DO make soap, Glenolam....I've been BUYING canned goats milk for my soap. But for a couple weeks this milk has colostrum, right? After I save enough for a supply for bottle feeding of a newborn, can I make soap with colostrum milk?

Java, I could not believe how snuggly and different Ginger is now. i hope the same change come over Molly. Ginger was always the friendlier doe.

Donald knows we are so mad at him about the electric cord, he is a little afraid of us all suddenly! But we can't get it out of his reach and he won't leave it alone so we chased him away a million times yesterday. He thinks we are the evil torturers, esp Hubby and Trouble. I was terribly ill with vertigo yesterday so they did everything and I only emerged from my bed to milk the goat.

 

[glenolam]

Fudgie won't let me anywhere near her. She used to like being loved on, but now she runs away each time I get near her. Maybe it's because I'm invasive each time - feeling up her udder, lifting her tail to check her hoo-haa, feeling her belly etc. I've heard they can be meaner than all heck one day, then change to the most loveable goat ever as they get within a day or two of kidding and also have it be the opposite. You just never know.