Tuesday, July 26, 2011

settling in

We picked up our 2 new goats and supplies this morning around 10:30.  Jarin built a goat pen in the back of the truck to haul them in, and Tessa  and Kaley came for the adventure.  We loaded supplies, went over instructions, got the goats to go up the ramp (not an easy task) and into the truck cage.  Once loaded they quietly waited, while the milking stand was loaded, buckets, mineral salt containers, a hay rack, grain, and alfalfa pellets, all were loaded.

Once we got home we carefully got them down the ramp and into the paddock.  I had separated Joon and Stormy so they could watch and sniff behind wire to acquaint themselves slowly.  It only took a couple hours and I let them out together and watched everyone, there were only a couple minor skirmishes in the beginning, and then everyone seemed happy and got along. Stormy of course wins over everyones heart he's so friendly and funny. We all went for a walk around the property and over to the pasture, where they ran around and ate salmon berry greens.

I introduced them to the dogs, who were all over themselves in their curiosity of our newest members of the family.  Of course Joon acted as the greeting leader, and even let Sierra sniff her as if to tell the new girls that she's ok, especially because she was tied.  We never let the dogs loose, as I didn't want to scare them on their first day.  They were calm, quiet and curious all day as I spent the day showing them all around their new home.  The first day you get goats, you just spend it with them, helping them to be comfortable, so they know where their food will always be, where they can lay down out of the rain, and how the new milking routine will be.

The Lamancha's official name is Lucky Star's Acceptance, they called her Ace.  I may change the Ace part and call her something a little more exotic, as she has that look about her, and she is also the leader, even here she challenged Joon, as Joon looked at her size, she backed down.  This evening I milked her and got 2 full quarts.  Can you even believe one goat can produce a gallon a day?  The milking went well, we bonded some more and she learned to stand still, because moving and kicking would do nothing to stop me from milking her.  Then she settled down, and I just kept milking and milking her. 

Tonight I made yogurt with our first 2 quarts  The reason  I made yogurt is because I didn't do as the seller recommended and take out the milking pail with filter sitting inside, within A larger pail filled with ice water.  Because it takes some time to milk, getting the milk to chill faster is the whole idea behind great tasting milk.  Tomorrow I will milk for us to have for drinking milk.  We are all excited at the prospect of not having to buy milk from the store again.  Hopefully I'll always be able to stagger the breeding's to have one of the girls always in milk.

The Nubian doe's official name is My Enchanted Acres "Jersey" Girl.  We are keeping her name Jersey, because someday she will be like my own small jersey cow.  Nubian's have one of the highest butterfat of any goats, but I think the Nigerians might even have a little more butterfat.  I plan to use the Nigerian milk for butter, ice cream, yogurt and cream.

Tonight as I tucked all the goats in, we sat and talked softly, they nickered quietly as I told them this was home and that they'd be safe here, and that we'd always take good care of them and love them.  It was a good day for settling in. 

Thank you Beverly and family for blessing us with these wonderful goats and almost everything under the sun that we could need for raising them.   

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Julie, there was a man in the dentist's office today in Coos Bay trying to give away goats. He's either a friend or relative of the receptionist. He has about eighteen and said he's overwhelmed with them. One is an Alpine goat and I think he said she gives about one gallon of milk a day, and when she has babies she has three at a time. The other goats are various kinds. Anyways, he said if you had a truck you could come down and get them if you wanted them. They're good travelers. They may not be what you want at all, and we're a long ways from Monroe, but I thought I should tell you, as you might be interested. I could get his phone number if you are, and you could talk to him yourself. Love, Mom

goatgirl said...

You got a Lucky Star LaMancha....good one Jewel! Wonderful goats, wonderful people. Perfect doe for your breeding program. They have the most beautiful Lamanchas around that do very well in the ring too.
That was a good one to have a gut feeling on.
Have fun.

Jewel said...

Hi goatgirl, I feel so lucky to have gotten a Lucky Star Lamancha. I had never heard of them before, but the seller said they were both top of the line goats from great breeders. So yesterday I went onto Lucky Star's website, and was amazed at their goats and the champion bloodlines. I'm so excited and want to go visit their farm, and see their goats, they are beautiful.

Hi Mom, Thanks for thinking of me, you know I'd love another goat, but now I have my hands full. I'll have 3 does to get bred this Fall, and will have babies in the Spring, and of course I'll probably keep one of 2 of them. I'm really enjoying having fresh milk for the family, now I just need to make cheese.