If I can Disbud Goats, I can do Anthing!

Last week I was taught how to disbud goats using a hot disbudding iron.  After Vita showed me how to do it with one goat, it was my turn to disbud the remaining two goats there with her coaching me.  I came home a little traumatized and had nightmares all night about the process.  She also taught me how to give them shots!

Today was the day to disbud two more goats and give them shots!  This time I was on my own.  After watching several youtube videos, I felt like I was up for the terrible, awful smelling task.  This time I shaved their hair with hair trimmers around the horn bud so it would be more visible.  I am proud to say that it was easier than I thought it would be.  I am now feeling confident in my abilities.  Only three more goats to disbud, when they are a few days older.

They look so cute before they are disbudded.  Don't worry the hair will grow back and you won't even  see any scars.  We know from experience that you don't want a goat with horns.  The reasons being that they use the horns to hit each other which can be dangerous when they are butting or tossing another baby goat, they also can get stuck in the fence - which has happened several times with one of our goats.  Plus you always have to me mindful of the horns, especially when children are playing with the goats.

Goats, Chicks, & Ducks

 Everyone is growing up around here.  We bought baby ducks and chicks over a month ago and now everyone is developing new feathers.  The ducks are the cutest but the messiest and stinkiest little things - they still live in the bathtub.  We are just waiting for the nights to warm up so we can let them loose outside! These are Khaki Campbell ducks.

The newest comers are the baby goats.  These goats were born a week ago, as a set of triplets to Luna, their mother.  They are so playful and energetic!  I wish you were all close to come see and play with them.  We just had another two goats on Saturday, I still need to take pictures of them.

Bye, Bye Babies

This summer we bought a billy goat, three does, along with three baby doelings from the owners who originally sold us our fainting goats.  Now we have the complete family!  

The girls say their goodbye to the baby goats who were sold to another goat lover.  Later we also sold three of our wethers (boy goats who can't reproduce) so now we are down to seven goats, consisting of Dumbledor (the billy goat), Oliver (a Nubian wether, and obnoxious clown), and five does.  We are hoping to have a bunch of fainting baby goats in the spring!  

Milky (the black and white goat shown above) was a favorite because he was very sweet to people and like to shake your hand.  Patches was also a nice boy.  However, Milkshake was the least sweet even though he would eat out of your hand, he didn't love people as much as the others.