Mine came in a honey-almond package recently. No it was not candy for Easter! Though she is quite sweet,very loving and has milk-breath. We traveled to south Georgia to check out a lead on some Nubian goats for sale. We have been wanting some for over a year. Desiring to have fresh milk to drink and some for making cheeses and home-made soap. Seeing them at the Perry Fair last Fall made us want some even more. We knew that once we were able to acquire our farm they would surely be a part of it. Stepping out to get them now was a step in faith that one way or the other we would have a place for them in our lives.
Sugar ~ born Feb.9, 2009
We came home with a 2 yr. old Nubian doe and her 7 week old daughter. Amber was unsure of the trip to her new home and cried out every time the truck had to stop. Her daughter rode in a box behind the front seat and slept most of the way. We named her "Sugar" and she quickly stole our hearts. New to goat ownership will probably throw us many a challenge to face. I for one have never milked before. With only a quick lesson before leaving their previous owners, I am sure it will be a big learning curve for us.
New temporary home for Amber & Sugar
Amber ~ born March 19, 2007
Amber is in need of some extra conditioning as her weight is low and she is not giving out much milk at present. I feel sure with some extra nutrition, quality feed and TLC that we can bring her up to prime status. First step is to get the right feed and show her that I am her friend. Milking a nervous goat is can be hard for a seasoned milker, but for a newbie it is quite terrifying at times. All the milk we are getting at present goes into the bottle feedings for Sugar. Her owners chose to removed her from Amber at birth. Opting to bottle feed her with goat's milk from their herd instead. Sugar is down to 2 feedings a day now and will begin to eat solid foods and hay. In a few more weeks we will begin to decrease her milk feedings and introduce her to more foods in order to develop her "rumen" (first stomach). To become a good quality milker she needs to have a large one capable of lots of roughage, like hay and browse. Like deer they love to eat young trees, new leaves, vines and plants. Though is was alarming to learn that the azalea, rhododendron and mountain laurel dotted across our landscape is poisonous to them. We will have to be very careful when we have them out in the yard and woods for their munching pleasure each day.
It was a joy to see that Amber's birthday is 2 days after mine. It should be easy to remember and we can celebrate together each year. I guess I received a milk source after all for my birthday. Lon's card had said that she would be brown and give milk. I think Amber fits the description, except for the mooing part. It's more of a NAAAAAAA. :-D
Looking forward to spending time with the new girls in the family
Deborah
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