I had just gotten off the phone with yet another goat farm. I felt jittery, thrilled, nervous, elated, and every other intense emotion on the spectrum. I was getting another goat! Well, I was actually getting goats--plural. And, I was getting a full-grown goat already producing milk. The adventure sure took an unexpected turn. Here is how it happened:
The breeder where I purchased Edna never had anymore available doelings. So, I began calling around to try and get a goat from another breeder. Strangely, many of the farms had stillborn doelings and/or a huge crop of bucks.
After much fruitless searching, I finally found a "lead." However, the goat owners were reluctant to sell a doe kid by itself. They felt that a goat kid
really needed to be raised on goats milk (not cow's milk from the store like I had been feeding). They explained the benefits of raising goats this way and offered to sell me a milking doe with her doeling. She was a first freshener (first-time mama) with twins, a buck and doe.
As I got off the phone with the farm, a nagging feeling came over me. A full grown goat? No. I don't have a milking stand or a permanent shelter built, I reasoned. But then again, how hard is it to build these things? I called the farm back to tell them I seriously wanted the pair! My only concern was that the kid's name was Enya. With Edna around, that name would have to be changed to Elly May!
Enya--now Elly May
Early Monday morning, my alarm woke me up at 5:15 am. I hurriedly fed Edna, cared for the puppies, and climbed into the van pulling the cattle trailer. I was so excited (to say the very least)! About 8:15, we pulled into the farm. The owners of the farm led us to their goat barn. It was more like a goat palace! We started the tour in the milking room. Charlotte (the goat we were purchasing) was eager to be milked. She hopped up on the stand and greedily butted her head for some grain. I learned the process of wiping her teats off with an Iodine solution. Then I started squirting away. The milk came out easily, although the whole process was a bit laborious and tedious (teat-ious!)!
A rear view of the goat barn...
Next we were given a demonstration of how to mix up goat ration. The goats have been on a barley/oat mix. These grains are mixed together in a large barrel with some sunflower seeds, beet pellet, and molasses.
The goats at the farm had a lovely yard with lots of trees. Charlotte stood on her hind legs trying to reach some high branches in the trees! While the big goats played, Elly May got tattooed. Her one ear has the letters SHTX while the other ear has E4 (E for 2014, 4 for the 4th kid born on the farm). It is quite funny, Edna is tattooed with E4 as well!
We brought the goats home without event (except for stopping at three feed stores looking for alfalfa hay). Charlotte seems quite stressed out by the huge change, however she is settling in nicely. Edna loves having a little playmate, and Elly May is very sociable. They weigh the same amount (22 pounds) even though they are 3 weeks apart!
Elly May rode in a dog crate, and Charlotte carefully guarded it the whole way home!
Finally Home!
I am learning so much through this process…flexibility, patience, persistence, trust, etc. "Everything you need to know about life, you can learn on the farm!" I am thankful to the Lord for setting me in this marvelous classroom.
Sneak Peak: I plan to post a "milking update" soon, but Charlotte milked almost 1/2 gallon just this morning!
