The "Set-Up"

About 7:15 this morning, Charlotte started her desperate calling to be fed (and milked).  Guess where she chose to perform?  On the milking stand!  Whew!  She had gotten up there by herself, so no more lifting that silly goat.  She also ate all of her grain this morning.  And, she gave another 3 pounds, 9 ounces of pure, frothy milk.  She stood still for the whole milking and didn't put her foot in the bucket.  Lots of positive improvements for Miss Charlotte!  But lest you think she is perfect, she really butts poor Edna.  She also doesn't let Elly May nurse very much.  And she is still looking for Elvis like everyone else (Elvis is Elly May's twin who was left behind).  But life with a goat is good.  I have a growing appreciating for these amazing creatures.

I thought I would post a few pictures of the "set-up."  Although it is far from perfect or permanent, it seems to be working for now.

The goat pen:
The goat pen is made up of 8 "goat panels."  These panels are 5 feet high and 16 feet long, with 4 inch square openings.  Even with the small openings, the kids still poke their heads through the fence.  Eventually, I would love to have a goat pasture instead of a goat pen, as there is soon not going to much vegetation left!

The hay bag:
Building a real wooden hay feeder is on the list of projects, but until then, a hay bag intended for horses is working just fine.  It doesn't waste too much of the expense alfalfa hay Charlotte, Elly May, and Edna seem to think is so tasty.

The water trough:
This big black water trough is next to the hay bag.  It was at an unsightly slant, but a few concrete pavers put under it quickly fixed the problem.  We have to keep the trough full so the Edna and Elly May can reach the water level, but that will change as they grow.  It has already had to be scrubbed out once because it got leaves and goat hair floaties in it (and someone on the farm washed out their ice cream bowl in it, what!?).

The mineral feeder:
This mineral feeder is zip-tied onto a piece of wood in the shelter.  It has baking soda (needed for good digestion) on the left and minerals on the right.  The goats really go after the baking soda!

The kid crate:
We have tried several methods of separating the kids at night.  We tried putting them in the cattle trailer at night, but Charlotte and Elly May start "singing" to each other.  So, for now, Edna and Elly May sleep in a large dog crate in the shelter.  This seems to work good because Charlotte can lay next to them in the evening.  I feel good about leaving the kids under Charlotte's "care" at night, too.

Until next time...Elly May says thanks for stopping by the Great Goat Adventure!