New Goat Ownership

There is something awe-inspiring about a tiny creature being entirely dependent on you.  The first full day of goat ownership was filled with many of these moments.

Edna seems to be thriving!  She frolics around the yard, her wobbly legs bouncing up and down as she chases me around.  It is amazing how she can climb (She is a goat!), and she easily jumps up into our troughs we use as flower beds.  She has also been socializing with the Pyr Pups (our twelve-week-old Great Pyrenees puppies).  "Blue Bell," the female dog, seems to be especially protective of her new "charge," licking Edna all over and showing attentive interest in her.

Kisses!

With Daylight Savings Time today, it seemed to take all day just to bottle-feed and care for the goat!  The lamb nipples are still working excellent for bottle-feeding.  I purchased them at Tractor Supply Company in a package of 3 for about $8.  I cut a tiny slit in the top of the nipple.  The milk drips out slightly when turned upside down, and it squirts out in a steady stream with the slightest bit of sucking! The nipples fit over a standard soda bottle.  I am using a glass bottle from a Mexican Coca-Cola, which makes it easy to heat the milk in the bottle.  At each feeding, the milk is heated to around 103 degrees, although I don't think Edna is too particular about the exact temperature.

Bottle Feeding! 

Edna has been guzzling down the goat's milk.  At her last feeding, she drank a whole 12 oz.!  I presume missing several meals yesterday has added to her greedy appetite...

Hungry Girl!

Shelter is still a bit of an issue.  The original "Goat Cave" on the front porch didn't seem to work out, so Edna now has a dog crate in the barn.  She has a "play yard" around her crate, but she is almost able to jump out of it.  So, if the weather stays cool, it will not be too much longer before she will be sent out to the big goat pen waiting for her!

Other points of interest:
I took her temperature for the first time, and it registered 102.7, absolutely perfect for a goat (normal temp is 102-103)!

Her nose seems a bit stuffed up, so I gave her a little bit of Probiotic paste (Acidophilus) to boost her immune system.

Taking care of a goat is hard work, but it is very rewarding!  It was a wonderful "first day!"