Vet Stress Doeling for dollars: Nubian newbie gets her next goat
OK, so I’m not a total newbie. I’ve had Poppy for a full year now and this goat is doing great—but she’s a Nubian-cross, not a full-blooded Nubian. This new girl’s all Nubie and ready to breed once she tops the ninety-pound mark.
Though goats are truly pets for me (in fact, I’ll probably never breed Poppy) I’ve always wanted to raise a milking herd. Tulip is my first foray into the milking biz I’ve always longed for.
Not that it’s business that drives me. It’s more the satisfaction that comes with raising an animal for food and companionship that really gets me—the efficiency of it all—not to mention the challenge of one day soon being accepted by my local cooperative as a viable trader, exchanging my own milk cheese and soap for others’ veggies, honey and eggs.
And how about all those extra herd health courses in vet school? I was always the only suburban girl there. It’s just another inexplicable interest for this Cuban-American princess dating back to my vegetarian “Diet for a Small Planet “ days. With Tulip, I feel like I’m finally getting somewhere.
Tulip came to me through a Nubian breeder who contacted me through the Nubian Talk group on Yahoo. One of you recommended this band of Nubian fans and I’ve never looked back. I’ve read its newsletters religiously and asked a whole lot of breeding and behavior questions along the way.
Finally, a doeling (baby girl goat) became available and I drove three hours cross-state today to pick her up.
She was residing at the Ft. Meyers, FL home of her breeder, away from the big gals where she could cavort with other age-appropriate younglings. The two others with her were equally friendly, jumping over every bit of backyard furniture and intermittently immersing their noses in the feed buckets at their disposal. Here's my first glimpse:
When I’d finally paid up and committed to memory all of the critical feeding, deworming and vaccination details, we were off—back to Miami in my goatmobile with a doeling bleating bloody murder at every bump, turn, acceleration and stoplight along the way.
Though I tried sitting her on my lap, at my feet, in the crate, in the cargo and on the backseat, the only time she was quiet was when the Jesus and Mary Chain CD finally got turned up loud enough to drown out her screams. I guess she gave up at that point (who wouldn’t?). Tulip in the crate:
Arriving at home was yet another adventure. Poppy responded to Tulip’s presence with a case of “the zooms,” kicking up her heels, dancing on her hind legs and speeding across the backyard as fast as I’d ever seen her go. The terrified doeling cowered at my feet for the better part of ten minutes, looking for ways to avoid the occasional, curious Poppy nosings. Here's Tulip looking more relaxed:
Four hours post-arrival I’m exhausted. Everyone’s made friends—including the dogs. And Tulip’s almost stopped bleating plaintively (and loudly!) from beyond the eight-foot fence of the nighttime pen she’ll share with “her sister.”
This is crazy, I can’t help thinking. I had no idea what I was getting myself into on this trans-Floridian drive and baby goat escapade. Though she’s the cutest creature imaginable—and so friendly!—the adjustment is clearly weighing on her…so the guilt consequently weighs upon me.
Poor Tulip! I feel like an inexperienced dog mom with a new pup howling in his crate. I need someone to tell me she’ll eventually stop crying…
Of course I know the answer…but still!
Here's a next-day update:
The enclosure in my recently-cleared, goat-proofed backyard:
The baby on the coral rock jungle-gym:
A happy family messing up my outdoor furniture:
Let us in!!:
March 1st, 2008
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Add Comment15 Comments
Check out the book "Life in the goat lane" by Linda Fink for some great funny stories about life with milking goats.
Good luck in your new adventure. I bet Poppy is thrilled to have a friend.
Marie March 1st, 2008 10:12:00 PM
She's lovely! and of course she'll stop crying, and fit in just great, and be very happy in your family :-)
You are the second vet I know who has a dream of having a goat dairy. The other vet is a long time friend of mine here in Texas who is retired from the veterinary business. She has Nubian and LaMancha goats, and her dairy is going great guns these days. The web site is http://lattedadairy.com/ if you want to check it out.
Barb March 1st, 2008 10:18:00 PM
She's a cutie. Now Poppy has someone to cuddle up on those cold Florida nights. Can't wait to hear the stories.
Laura Bennett March 1st, 2008 11:19:00 PM
I goat-sit for a woman who has a goat dairy... over the summer I milked 7 of her goats daily while she was out of town. It's time-consuming but utterly rewarding, and put me on the path to hopefully one day having my own "herd" (probably just a pair!). I tasted some of her homemade goat cheese last week and I'm still raving about it!
Good luck to you - Tulip looks lovely, and I'm sure she'll be a great addition to your herd.
Stacey March 1st, 2008 11:24:00 PM
Your new little girl looks exactly like my late buck Pajamas. Right down to the big white spot on her head. I haven't had any little ones in a few years but I remember the running across the yard at full speed kicking up their heels. Climbing the 25 foot high piles of baled hay and jumping off without a care. There is nothing in the world like a goatie kid. I'm glad you enjoy Nubian Talk. There is a lot of nice people on that list. They helped me a lot when I got my first goats. Good luck with Miss Tulip!
Ken March 2nd, 2008 08:13:00 AM
Stacey - didn't you mean to say "udderly rewarding?" ;)
Brian Hewitt March 2nd, 2008 08:14:00 AM
I added some pics this morning (and, yes, the bleating ceased after 10PM).
Dr. Patty Khuly March 2nd, 2008 10:23:00 AM
Hey, I like your rockpile.
Does the rough coral keep their hooves trimmed at all?
Will be getting hair sheep and possibly goats this year, so looking for insights everywhere.
H Houlahan March 2nd, 2008 02:02:00 PM
Hurry up with the herd! Last time I looked goat milk cheese was 9 bucks, up from 5. Haven't had any in a year.
Are you in AU zoning?
CathyA March 3rd, 2008 07:59:00 AM
Oh my - she is the cutest baby Nubian ever. I totally want to snorggle her!
This is a great site I recently purchased a share in. They have a mixture of angora goats and cormo sheep, and are raising them for the wool. But you might enjoy her stories, as they are figuring it our as they go! They are expecting 4 baby goats this spring, 1 is already here.
http://www.marthasvineyardfiberfarm.com/
(I thought you'd appreciate that link as a knitter AND a goat lover!) ;)
Creature of Habit March 3rd, 2008 12:47:00 PM
H Houlahan: I don't know yet--I'lll keep you posted.
Update: She's hoarse now but otherwise super frsky and HAPPY!
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