DAISY!

How do you mend a broken heart? Fill it with goats!! Daisy was brought to the farm to replace Crystal. Daisy is a 5 month old Saanen cross (we still don' t know who the daddy is!) from the farmer's friend's farm. Daisy is from the same herd that Crystal's daddy came from. The farmer is very happy to have new Saanen genetics on the place.

Daisy is very shy because she wasn't bottle fed. The farmer works with her every day by giving her lots of hugs and treats. Since being shy gets you hugs and treats, I think it won't be long before all the goats come down with a case of massive shyness!

Welcome Daisy!!

Gambling...

Crystal, my little doeling died last night. She was doing great and then she was dying. The farmer thinks it was enterotoxemia due to antibiotics and grain overdose. Crystal was going to be the next breeding doe on the farm. The farmer was so happy that she was so beautiful. She was the best of both worlds -- my sweet personality and Zeus' top quality genetics. She wasn't supposed to be. She was supposed to be an Oberhasli buck. That's what the farmer was betting on. When she came out in all her pure white glory, the farmer started betting on her being a top-notch breeding goat. She died, so I guess that's why they call making bets "gambling". We are all devastated.

Not Many Goats!

The farmer has been down-sizing the herd lately. All the Nubians have left. A lady came and bought Cookie, Blue, and baby Eco. Baby Terra was bought and taken to her new home at 7 days old. Baby Frack died last week due to coccidiosis complicated by dehydration.

For adult goats, there's just me, Gloria and Figaro. Gloria and I are giving milk. Figaro is giving fleece and he's the farm mascot. I will be bred this fall. Gloria is retiring from breeding. At 9 years old she deserves it. The farmer wants to end on a high note since Gloria did well freshening this year and looks good.

For kids, there's Crystal, Prim, Brun, and Bro. Ice, my Saanen buckling, was sent to the neighbor's so she could rehab him from his serious case of coccidiosis scours. He's doing better now. He'll be staying there to be a buddy to her house-sheep. Yep, a sheep that lives in her house... Crystal and Prim will be staying as breeding does at the farm when they get old enough. Brun is going to be the breeding buck this fall. Bro is getting wethered soon and will be a buddy for Brun for when he gets relegated to the buck pen. Both Bro and Brun will become cabrito and chevon after breeding season is over.

The line-up is three adult goats and 4 kids. The farmer is already dreaming about what she will be putting in the empty pen that the Nubians vacated. I heard the word "pigs" the other day. I hope that's not true!!