Charlotte's Big Day

I wrote this back after Charlotte was bred, but I never posted it.  It describes how this small goat farm managed it's breeding season...

Charlotte’s Big Day

Breeding season is here!  So, Charlotte went to "meet her mate."

Goats are typically bred from August to December/January.  They go into heat every 18-21 days.  Earlier this month, I contacted a local buck owner and we arranged for me to bring Charlotte over to breed with the buck when Charlotte went into heat. 

Last week I noticed that Charlotte was definitely going into heat.  (As a result, she was quite emotional prancing around the goat pen, butting the other goats, etc.!)  So, a “buck date” was arranged for her.

When we first arrived at the breeder’s farm, Charlotte was shown one of the bucks.  The buck was in “rut.”  He was oozing a stinky “buck-smelling” oil in an attempt to be attractive.  Charlotte thought the buck was great—but I thought he was disgusting!  I barely touched him and I had to wash all my clothes (ugh!).  When the buck and Charlotte first saw each other, the buck tried to “kiss” Charlotte through the trailer bars.  Charlotte responded by wagging her tail furiously!  I had brought the kids (Elly May and Edna) to see if they might respond to the buck, but they were scared of him! 

Charlotte then went to the barn with the buck and we were headed back home in about15 minutes!  Hopefully Charlotte will kid sometime in April (150 days from the time of breeding)

Even though Charlotte has been bred, there is a chance that she might go into heat again in several weeks.  If so, I will try re-breeding her.  Also, I am hoping to breed Elly May as soon as she goes into heat.  I am still deciding whether to breed Edna.

It is fun to think about having goat kids in the Spring!  The weather is turning bitter cold, so it is wonderful to have hope of Spring!  It makes me so thankful for life—new life!  What a joy to be on this adventure!

Update: Charlotte did "settle!"  Hurray!  She is due on April 13!  I did decide to get Edna bred and she should kid in early May.  Elly May was bred too (see pictures below), but she didn't "settle."  Oh well, maybe next year!

Hello Dear Blog,

Hello Dear Blog,

It has been a quiet several months with the goats.  But it isn't staying that way for long.  Spring is here and Charlotte's "due date" is fast approaching!  Let me recap what all has happened since I last posted (I hope to share more in detail about each of these items soon, so stay tuned!):

• In November/December, all of the goats were bred.  It was quite convenient, they were bred in the buck owner's driveway!

• In early January, Elly May miscarried her kid.  So sad!

• In mid-January, I dried off Charlotte.  She wasn't producing very much at the end (less than a quart jar).  I was reluctant to dry her off because I love milking! 

• I changed the goats over to a coastal hay/beet pulp diet.  The cost of alfalfa was becoming quite outrageous!

• The goats have a new "hoop hut" ready for kidding time!

• I learned to give "sub-q" CD/T shots to the goats!  They also received their yearly selenium supplements.

Overall, I have really enjoyed this season with the goats.  They have required minimal care at this season, a nice break from the rigors of caring for goat kids, milking and trying to find ways to use all of the milk...

I am very excited about all that the next season holds as well.  The goat pen holds the promise of new life!

Edna: Sweet

Charlotte: Savoring her Supper

Elly May: Silly!

(I snapped this photo as she was rolling around in the dirt, apparently itching herself!)