no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

We now have two newborn goats living in our bath tub. By now must people on OPP believe we are crazy and this should clinch it. One of our neighbors' does had four kids yesterday. They had not planned on breeding her to kid this late in the season but the buck had other plans. Yesterday she presented them with four little kids. Neigerian goat kids are usually 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 pounds at birth, but because there are four they range from just under 2 pounds to slightly less than 3 pounds. The barn is too cold for the little guys, so we have the two males in our bath tub filled with straw and we hare going to hand raise them. So far they are nursing out of a bottle just fine, and are getting their dams' milk, and they have other goats that are still milking to provide enough for the little fellows. They greet us as if we were their mother, and they are really cute. When they are stronger we will have to put newspapers and straw in the entire bathroom so they learn to walk. One is black and white spotted and the other one brown with a black head and white feet. Tank and Zeus lie outside the tub and guard them. Very strange situation. the neighbor has the two girls and they are in their bath tub. Fortunately each of us has another bathroom with tub. They will be a challenge, but hopefully they can go in the barn at around two weeks. they certainly will be well socialized by then. Yes guys, WE REALLY ARE CRAZY!!!

goofball Loc: timbucktoo

God bless you for what you do!!!

Ricktloml

But it's a good kind of insanity, isn't it? Good luck

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

That's okay, NPP. :wink: You and SWMBO are a good kind of CRAZY. The OPP is completely full of CRAZY, and it ain't (sorry, AuntiE) all the good kind. Good luck with your new kids :!: :thumbup:

We will be expecting updates. :wink:

Searching Loc: Rural Southwest VA

Absolutely the best kind of insanity!! We had a baby llama in the house all last week. I was too busy making him well to enjoy him as much as I might have. He's well enough to be back outside now, and while he wasn't happy to be put back with other llamas, I must confess that I'll be happy when I get up the last of the last of the hay!! Puppy training pads were a blessing. We had tarp down in various places, but not everywhere.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

The little guys were enthusiastic about their breakfast, and each one drank an entire bottle of mother's milk. there is a technique required to make sure that the milk goes directly into the true stomach and not into the rumen, but SWMBO fortunately knew how to do it. The brown, black and white one has blue eyes, the black and white one has brown eyes. The neighbor says that if Pete wants them, he can have them after they are weaned and have been castrated, which is done with a band, and the testicles slough off. Bucks have a strong, unpleasant odor that no one other than a doe wants around. they can also be very aggressive. First shots goin at 2 weeks, and SWMBO has been doing that for the neighbor since he got the goats. Pete is coming over Sunday to see the kids, so we need to talk to his parents before then to make sure that they want the work. They live on around 10 acres and it is already with an electric fence, all it needs is some repair to be ready. And of course a shed must be installed so it will be some work but I think if we all get together a barn can be put in place without too much work. Should be a fun project.

Searching Loc: Rural Southwest VA

Yes, definitely a commitment, which does include a barn. I miss my goats, but my cashmere boys got into the habit of ramming the llamas for no good reason, and so I found them a good home. Bucks do seem to emanate a distinctive "cologne", not appealing to humans to be sure!! Wishing all concerned good luck with these little ones.

Pap Pap Loc: Etna, PA

How old before you put them in school ?

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

You trying to get his goat :?: :mrgreen:

Pap Pap Loc: Etna, PA

No my ex-girl friend and I baby sat a goat one night and she insisted on letting it in the house that night. I woke up in the morning and rolled over to put my arm around my ex and it ended up being the goat. That was a little freaky and then the damn thing s**t all over the place. Fortunately it was real easy to sweep up.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

They start school next week. We will teach them a few simple tricks, using the same clicker method we use with the dogs. goats are smart, but, like most ruminants not house breakable. Our kids will be home schooled, public school is not good enough for them.

Ricktloml

Have you been okay? You haven't been around in a while

alex Loc: michigan now imperial beach californa

hey were those your llamas on the loose yesterday?

Searching Loc: Rural Southwest VA

Much perkier now that the flu season seems to have abated!!

Searching Loc: Rural Southwest VA

Afraid any green grass there "might" be is covered by snow, so nope. I had to laugh at the thought of llamas in the suburbs. The guy who almost caught the little one could have been a hero if he had only reached for the lead and not made the mistake of reaching out around the llamas neck, particularly so high up on the neck, too close to its ears and face. Ears and faces are super sensitive. That's what made the little guy bolt away from him. Made me laugh to watch the llama chase. We have 23 llamas. I would not like to picture the 23 of them loose!! A friend of mine in Iowa has 40 and he has had as many as 15 decide to take a walk together. Fortunately, he has attentive neighbors who call him if any of his llamas choose to take a walkabout!!