Category: Farming

Almost a sun break: more goat pictures

3/6/2016

The sun started to peak through the clouds, so I ran outside with my camera. I grabbed my old Pentax SMC DA 18-55 lens, which came with my original Pentax ist DL body. It's just a kit lens, priced at $50, but every time I use it, I wonder why I don't use it more. I love this lens. I'm using it on my Pentax K10 here. The lens is sharp and has the best color I've seen, which of course, is something for which Pentax is famous . Simply put, this is great glass!

This is the view out my front yard to the street. We used to have to hike up that every day with our books and groceries back when our driveway was washed out. When the city put in the new driveway and culvert, they took out two huge firs and a lot of smaller trees and bushes. It looks so barren to me now.

Note: All goats are herd name Goat Mountain View unless otherwise specified. Yep, these are my breeding, and I love them!

I tried to get the does to go out to pasture so I would have lovely green grass in the background, but they saw the sky and refused. Goats hate to get wet. They came out this far from the gate and then raced back into the barn.

Hopeful was the only doe who agreed to follow me out to the pasture. She will be a year in June. (out of MR Mac X Hailey). She's polled.

Ice Cream (out of Blythmoor PayDay X Hailey) She's polled.

Here's Ice Cream with her brother Muru.

Nehemiah (out of Blythmoor PayDay X Limerick) with mom Limerick behind him to the right. This was Limerick's ninth freshening. Limerick is a sweet, sweet doe and a very attentive mom. All the does in my herd (that are of my own breeding) have Limerick somewhere in their lineage.

Brothers Ezra and Nehemiah out of Blythmoor PayDay X Limerick. Limerick always has beautiful kids.

Best friends Hopeful (MR Mac X Hailey) and Magnificent (MR Mac X Lyric)

Tiny baby Violet is the most adorable kid, and she's got a cute personality to match. (out of Tuppence Magnum Opus X Virelai) She might be polled; no horn buds yet at 2 weeks old.

It's a lot of fun to take pictures of Violet. Even though she is teeny, tiny, she has a personality as big as the sky.

This is Violet's mom, Virelai. (out of Oasis Storm X Poem) She is polled and also quite small. (Hailey and Violet are behind Virelai. Virelai is exceptionally mellow and sweet.

Violet is best friends with Twilight (black and white doeling out of Tuppence Magnum Opus and Tahoma Almond Joy). Both Tahoma Almond Joy and Virelai were first fresheners, so they got to stay together for the first two weeks in the large nursery pen. Their babies act like sisters. Twilight is the shy one, but she has lovely conformation. I expect her to be a knockout after she matures.

Tahoma Almond Joy, now 2 years old with a baby of her own: Twilight. Almond Joy is really turning out nice as she matures. I'm very grateful for this generous gift from Joan Hicks.

Chanson is my pretty girl, and she has the LA score to prove it. But, I think you can see for yourself. (out of Oasis Storm X Tahoma Mikado)

Arumugam (out of Blythmoor PayDay X Tahoma Mikado). Aru is named after my colleague at TNQ.

Aru and Chanson. Aru chose to have Chanson (Mikado's daughter) as his mom instead. Chanson absolutely adores him.

This is Mansa. (out of Blythmoor PayDay X Tahoma Mikado) She is Aru's sister. I believe she will be stunning as she matures. She has a very sweet personality to match. Most of PayDay's kids have that white bracelet on their leg. Mansa is named after my supervisor at TNQ in Chennai.

Poem (out of Oak Tree Meadows Hurricane X Reverie) giving a bit of auntie advice to little Vidhya (out of Blythmoor PayDay X Hailey). Vidhya is named after a friend I used to work with at TNQ, who has now married and started a family.

This is Vidhya. None of the customers wanted her because she wasn't a flashy color. So, I'm keeping her. She is polled. Vidhya is super sweet, a real snuggler, and a bit shy with strangers. She is out of Hailey, who is my superstar in the herd for milk production and butterfat. So, I believe she has a bright future in the hoof prints of her mom.

Here is the doe herd, afraid to come out of the barn lest a drop of rain land on any of them. Front Left: Mansa and Ice Cream; Center L-R: Chanson, Aru, Tahoma Mikado, Hailey, Poem (screaming at me for attention), Muru, and Vidhya; Magnificent (Maggie) is resting on top of the manger; Limerick is peeking out from the sleeping area in back with her bucklings. You don't see Hopeful in the picture because she has climbed up on my shoulders as I try to get the picture!

Chanson, Aru, Mikado, and Hailey

On my way out to the pasture to find the buck goats, I met up with our old blue American buck rabbit named Swift.

Here are the bucks out in the orchard. They don't care if they get a bit wet.

MR Blue MacLibbyHeart (Mac) is our senior buck at 3 years old. He sired all the kids last year; we retained Hopeful and Maggie. He's really quite something. Mac is my younger son's number one favorite goat.

Our second most senior buck is of my own breeding: Goat Mountain View Dusty Storm (Dusty). (out of Goat Mountain View Oasis Storm X Goat Mountain View Poem) He is polled and has magnificent width through his rump and hocks. He's also very sweet and gentle. Dusty is the grandson of Goat Mountain View Xlnt Storm, and we are grateful to keep this magnificent line going through him.

Blythmoor PayDay, who just turned a year old last month, sired most of this year's kids. He is just stunning, and he appraised quite well as young stock last June. He was a bit too busy trying to get enough grass before the rain hit hard, so I didn't get very good pictures of him. He throws his coloring and markings, as seen in his kids; it will be exciting to see if he also throws his awesome conformation and his mom's superior udder (SGCH Blythmoor HM Almond Joy 3*M).

The youngest buck is 10-month-old Tuppence Magnum Opus. He's still a baby, but he's already got kids on the ground: Violet and Twilight. He comes from one of the finest Nigerian Dwarf herds in the nation, whose breeder is Penny Tyler. I am very grateful for Penny's generous gift of Magnum.

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Sun break in winter

2/20/2016

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It's been a long, wet winter in the Seattle area. In fact, it's been the wettest winter in recorded history. Fortunately, the mama goats and their young kids have been content to stay in their barn and lounging yard thus far. Today, we had a nice sun break (this is Pacific Northwest terminology for a time when the sun briefly comes out from hiding behind our persistent cloud cover). When we do get a sun break, we all rush outside to enjoy it. Hailey's kids (Murugaraj, Vidhya, and Ice Cream) are too small to go out yet, as they could easily get picked up by a bald eagle. And, Vivek has a tummy ache. So, those babies stayed inside the barn by the heat lamp. All the other kids and their moms had a wonderful time romping and chomping on green grass. Here are some pictures. (Note: I took these with a Sigma DC 18-125 on my Pentax K-10.)

Aru couldn't wait to get out to pasture.

With Mansa right behind him. Mansa and Aru are out of PayDay and Mikado.

Bunnies enjoy sun breaks too. Here is mama Diamond, whose kits are sleeping in their cage while she gets a break.

Racing out to pasture. L-R: Maggie (with Mansa behind), Arumugam, Parthiban, and Hopeful.

Diamond and Ruby (who is a boy) having some grass.

Aru, Ashoka, and Mansa. This is why we haven't done much out to pasture yet, look at those wet, muddy hooves! The ground is soaking wet here.

Twister (the hen) and Mansa

Limerick, the light-colored goat in front, is due to have her kids any moment, certainly by Wednesday. This will be her ninth freshening! Poem is the black/white buckskin on right. Chanson and Mikado are the mahogany buckskins in center (Chanson has blue collar).

Pretty Mansa with Hailey and Parthiban in background

L-R: Hailey, Mikado, (Ashoka behind), Poem, Mansa, (Chanson behind), and Limerick

Hopeful. She was born last June and is out of Mac and Hailey.

Arumugam

Hopeful

Parthiban, who is out of Mac and Poem. I am very pleased that Parthiban with be going to live with his grandmother Reverie at owner Julie's farm.

Parthiban and Aru

Our 2-yr-old buck Dusty (Dust Storm), who is out of Oasis Storm and Poem. He is polled and very sweet. His great-grandfather is Xlnt Storm.

A bit of meet-n-greet at the buck fence with Maggie and Hopeful.

Aru with Ashoka to his right

The boys: Dusty, PayDay, and Mac.

Parthiban with Hopeful in background

Ashoka, Maggie, and Mansa. Ashoka is out of PayDay and Chanson. Maggie (Magnificent) was born last June and is out of Mac and Lyric.

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No-Brainer Kidding Season Protocol

12/30/2015

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2015 kids: (L-R) Tupence Magnum Opus, GMV Hopeful (in back), GMV Victory, GMV Carmella, GMV Magnificent (AKA Maggie Moo)

It has come to the time of year that I start to see posts on the Facebook goat groups of newer breeders looking for advice on kidding preparations. I don't dare comment on the posts because there are always a group of "been there just long enough" folks who respond with vitriol to my suggestions. (Don't these folks have day jobs?!) These are the muddled through it a couple of times folk who are convinced they know it all. This is my twelfth kidding season, and I have real-life experience in the field of veterinary technology. I also cut my goat-herder teeth under the mentorship of Sue Reith and Colleen La Marsh, with more recent advice from Penny Tyler and Joan Hicks. So, I do get offended when these just-past-newbie folks start their hate speech as if I just fell off the apple cart. But, I do want to help those who are sincerely looking for advice. This blog post is my answer.

Here's your routine disclaimer: This protocol has worked for me over the years. I don't lose mamas nor kids, and the kids grow fast (to the point that some buyers have been a bit concerned over how much bigger my kids are than others...trust me, they all even out by a year old). Please consult with your vet and your local farm agent before deciding firmly on any protocol. I would like you to pay particular attention to the specific nutritional needs in your geographic area. I live in the Pacific Northwest, where our soils are notoriously deficient in copper and selenium. So, I have to supplement accordingly.

One month before kidding

Start feeding alfalfa hay, if you aren't already.
Start feeding a good-quality grain for dairy goats (such as Dairy 16). Start slowly so the does don't scour. Be careful not to overfeed because you don't want those kids growing unnaturally large. You are mainly just adding a bit of concentrated nutrition to help your does out, considering they don't have much room left in their belly for hay at the end of their pregnancy.
If it is chilly out, ensure you have a heated water bucket so the does drink heartily.
Have a quality loose mineral salt freely available. (This is standard for all goats, but pay careful attention that the salt stays topped off during this critical time.)
Administer 2 cc CDT toxoid SQ to each doe. (If you can find Colorado brand, I've heard it's less likely to cause injection abscesses.)
Administer Bo-Se per your vet's dosage instructions to each doe. My prescription from Clover Valley Vet dictates 2 cc per 50 pounds.
Administer 2 cc Copasure copper in a gelcap. I am used to buying the cattle boluses and creating smaller doses for the goats. But, I have seen a goat-sized bolus is now offered (though much more spendy).
Trim hooves.
Trim around tails, and shave the udder region if you like. It does make it a bit easier on the newborns if they aren't suckling on fur, though they will figure it out. The less hair on the backside means the less afterbirth sticking to the doe.
I supplement with kelp meal free-choice during the last month of pregnancy and the couple months after kidding. Basically, at $75/50#, I only buy one bag a year. When it's gone, I'm done buying it until next kidding season.
Find a local person who has been breeding goats for years who will agree to be your mentor. Get their phone number, and keep it handy. (Consider assigning it, as well as your vet's number, to speed dial on your phone.)

One week before kidding

Prepare a stack of clean towels for drying kids.
Have a small bucket and bottle of molasses sitting by your utility sink so you can make up a bucket of warm molasses "tea" for the mamas to drink right after they finish kidding.
Set aside a container of dental floss for tying off umbilical cords. Also, have a bottle of iodine, latex gloves, and small disposable bottles (such as old aspirin or tiny Play-doh containers) for dipping cords.
Make a promise to yourself that you will remember to put on the latex gloves before dipping navels. Fall short on that promise each year, just like a New Year's resolution. Forgive yourself for forgetting AGAIN and thank goodness that it's cold out so you can wear your cute driving gloves over your yellowed fingers when you run errands.
Lay down generous amounts of fresh straw.
Set out the baby goat shelters. I have a small wooden house (no bottom) that kids can crawl into and also a small plastic dog carrier. Babies love to find someplace out of the way, quiet, and warm. You can see the items I have in the back of the picture at the top of this page. I have them sitting underneath a platform, so bigger goats don't tromp on top and bust the dog carrier. This also helps the babies feel safe and cozy.
Ensure your intercom and cameras are all working properly. Set the volume on high so you can hear every noise out in the barn. Also, make sure you have good lighting ready for you in the barn. If you have dark corners, that will be where the doe lies down to kid (doe's code of honor). So, pick up a headlamp.
Purchase these items: MFO solution and/or CMPK drench or gel, Vitamin B complex (injectible), Ivomec+ (injectible), Vitamin ADEB12 gel, OB lube (KY Jelly), and diaper rash creme. (When buying the OB lube, don't make the mistake of asking the poor kid behind the counter, "Don't you have a big, value size?" I think I caused that young man permanent damage.)
Do NOT purchase the Goats Prefer calcium drench. I bought that about a decade ago and spilled some on a scratch on my arm. Pure pain! Why on earth would I want to put that caustic solution into my doe's esophagus?
Trim your fingernails very short, and remove jewelry from your hands, such as rings or watch (in case you need to pull kids).
Memorize "Clip, Dip, Strip, Sip."

Kidding time

If mama needs your help in pulling the kids, slather OB lube on your hand first. It is best if your hands are clean, so you might consider keeping a bottle of hand sanitizer nearby. It is likely you will forget to wash your hands before you leave the house when you hear either babies or mama holler for you.
When baby is done being born, use your fingernail (what little is left after you trimmed it) to roughly scratch apart the umbilical cord, if it hasn't broken on its own naturally. This is a better approach than cutting with scissors in terms of closing up and healing well.
Wipe off baby's face and nose first. If baby has wet breathing sounds, use a nasal aspirator to clear the nose.
Now, wipe off the rest of baby with your terry towel. Vigorously rub the body, especially the chest, to help stimulate circulation.
Move baby over a couple feet onto a dry patch of straw. Let mama lick baby while you wait for the next kid to be born.
Babies are born and mama is happily licking them off. The rush of excitement is over, and you wonder what you should do next. Think: Clip, Dip, Strip, Sip.
You already "clipped" (scratching the umbilical apart). Tie off the cord with dental floss a half-inch from the body (too close and you could cause a hernia). Tying off the cord is optional, unless the cord is the fat, squishy type. In that case, ensure you cinch down the floss tightly. The fat, squishy type of cord is more likely to take longer to dry up and wick bacteria.
Dip: Put on those latex gloves and get your iodine and small dipping container. Pour a small amount of iodine into the container, position baby's cord into the container, press the container tightly against baby's tummy, turn baby over to douse the cord. (Remember to turn baby back into an upright position before removing the container: been there, done that, big mess.) Discard iodine and container.
Strip mama's teats.
Position baby so it can find the teat. This will take a bit of patience, especially for bucklings. Boys seem to be a bit slow catching on, but once they do, they will hog the nipple. If the kids are weak from a rough birth, you may need to give them some time before they are ready to nurse. There is no rush, but remember you can't leave the barn until you get a good "sip" from each kid.
Prepare a bucket of warm molasses tea for mama. Pour some molasses into the bucket and add very warm to hot water (depending on the outside temperature). Molasses is full of good nutrition for mom after she kids, and she will drink more water when it is warm and sweet. Once you start this tradition, be prepared to fulfill it each year, or there will be TROUBLE! Once, I thought I could sit and enjoy my cup of coffee before going back up to the house for the molasses tea. Poetry was pretty ticked off, and she insisted on drinking my cup of coffee right out of my nice mug. I'll never forget her screaming in my face (nor the smell of her lovely belch breath at that early morning hour).
At my farm, after mama has kidded, I move her and her babies to a private pen to bond. This also allows you to feed mama extra nutrition that she won't have to share with her herd. If it is chilly, I mount a heat lamp to the side of the pen. (Please do not start the hate mail over the heat lamp. I am a former fire fighter, so I understand the risk. I do completely clean my barn of dust and spider webs each year and ensure cords and lamps are properly maintained and positioned.) I prefer the white heat lamps to the red ones. Who wants to take pictures of red babies? Mama gets her molasses tea, a fresh flake of alfalfa, and some grain.
Once you have seen each kid nurse, you are done! Enjoy yourself. Call all your friends, and take lots of pictures. (Please don't fret about the placenta. It will come when it is ready, and it is likely mama will eat it if she sees it before you. Do NOT assume she didn't birth it if you don't see it. If you have coyotes or other predators in your area, ensure you tightly wrap it in a strong garbage sack and remove from the barn.)

What if things don't go right?

My vet hands out stickers with her phone number. I have one of those stickers mounted at the entrance to each of my barns. Call the vet if you need help.
If the problem is not too serious, call your goat mentor.
Refrain from asking for help on one of the Facebook or Yahoo groups. Please don't unless you already have a really good idea of who you can trust there. You will get boatloads of bad advice, encouraging you to load up your does with every kind of medication or home remedy. Believe me; this does more harm than good. Every year I see some fool telling folks to give their does an injection of oxytocin, for example. Beyond being stupid, this kind of reckless behavior is going to cause the government to someday shut down our ability to buy medicines for our livestock.
There are some things you can safely do without the consultation from your vet:
- If the doe had a rough kidding and her vulva looks swollen and painful, apply some diaper rash creme to give her some relief. If you don't want to use diaper rash creme, you can use lanolin. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly first.
- If mama looks a bit droopy, and especially if she is shaking, give her a generous dose of MFO solution or CMPK. Keep a close eye on her; call your mentor.
- If baby is a bit droopy, give a dose of gently warmed Nutri-Drench. If you don't have Nutri-Drench, I've made the following solution in a pinch: strong coffee, Karo syrup, and molasses (gently warmed and served in a syringe). If baby feels cold inside the ear and mouth, stick baby inside your shirt (kangaroo care).
- If mama doesn't have a ravenous appetite (she should), give her a dose of Vitamin B complex (injectible).

The day after kidding

De-worm mama with Ivomec+ according to your vet's dosage instructions. I use 3 cc for a 50# Nigerian. (Again: no hate mail. I am in charge of the comments on this blog and have no problem deleting them.) Whether you give orally (PO) or SQ is a matter of choice, unless your doe has a heavy parasite load. If she has been suffering from a high load of worms, do NOT administer ivermectin orally. This can cause GI bleeding. PO administration is more pleasant for both you and your doe, but it has a shorter efficacy administered in this manner (7 days compared to 21 days SQ).
Give the kids a dose of the Vitamin ADEB12 gel.
You may choose to give a small dose (per your vet's recommendation) of Bo-Se. My vet has prescribed 1 cc per kid. (Oh, I just noticed I'm still using cc's. Some years back, convention switched over to mL. A milliliter is the same amount as a cubic centimeter, so please don't get confused.)
You may choose to start weighing your kids to ensure they are eating well and growing nicely. I have a scale with a basket on it that I bought at a rabbit show years ago. It works nicely for the Nigerians. Before I got the nice basket scale, I used a cloth grocery sack hung from my milk test scale.

Other items on your to do list

Feel for horn buds. Bucklings will have a point around 7 days, does at 10 days (approximately). Disbud your kids as soon as those buds have points. Lighter skinned kids take less time burning than others; bucklings need a bit extra.
Band your bucklings at 6 to 8 weeks old. If the kid has grown well and is in good vigor, I band at 6 weeks so the baby has two weeks to recover before going to his new home. Otherwise, I wait until 8 weeks for banding and don't wean the kid until 12 weeks. (My personal advice is to band or castrate ALL bucklings, unless Penny Tyler or someone with her 30 years of experience tells you to keep the boy intact AND you already have a buyer or you have an immediate need for those specific genetics in your own herd.)
Once you see your kids nibbling on dirt, you can start offering them small amounts of grain. Always have grass hay or alfalfa available. They will start eating hay when they are ready, usually carrying a piece around in their mouth like a farm boy first.
If one of the kids is not growing as well as the others, you may choose to supplement with a bottle. Penny Tyler recommends adding a tablespoon of plain yogurt to the warmed bottle.
The water bucket in the kid pen should be small and hung above the height where a kid could easily fall in.
Give booster shots of CDT toxoid (2 cc) to each kid at 4 and 8 weeks of age. They got their first dose of CDT through their mom's colostrum (because you gave mom a booster at one month prior to kidding). Also, be advised that CDT toxoid is not dangerous to humans. If you haven't injected yourself yet, you probably will while trying to work on a squirming kid. Make sure you pick up TOXOID, not antitoxin, at the feed store. Antitoxin is given to babies who have not had their CDT toxoid booster (or mom did not have hers) right before disbudding or banding. Antitoxin only has an efficacy of around 24 hours and does not create immunity.
Tattoo your kids before they leave the farm to new homes. You may also choose to register them, as I've learned over the years that customers usually don't turn in the registration paperwork. ADGA allows you to register online and get an immediate copy (good for a couple months) to download and print out for your customer. Also, write your Scrapie ID on the customer's receipt; it's the law to provide that information.
If you also own a buck, please don't forget about them while you focus so much on the does and babies. Bucks need a lot of TLC, much more than the average person realizes. Take a moment to check them over: feel their back and ribs for condition, check their hooves, assess if they need to have a dose of de-wormer, feel the backs of their legs and belly to see if they have signs of urine scald and apply ointment as needed, check for scurs and trim as needed, check closely to see if they have any lice deep in that thick coat, and just generally let them know that you love and appreciate them. They are the reason you have these beautiful kids!

Additional info

Supplies for a goat herder blog post
Answers about sheep and goat housing blog post
Answers for a new sheep or goat herder blog post
Using the Ultimate EZ Milker on Nigerian Dwarf goats blog post
How to use the Udderly EZ Milker on Nigerian Dwarf goats blog post
Goatkeeping 101 by Caprine Supply
Managing Your Ewe and Her Newborn Lambs by Lawson
Goat Medicine by Smith and Sherman

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Using the Ultimate EZ Milker on Nigerian Dwarf goats

6/30/2015

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Here I am, ready to milk my Nigerian Dwarf goats this morning. This is a picture of my new Ultimate EZ Milker that I just purchased this past spring. I've been using the hand-held Udderly EZ Milker for 8 years. I'm a big fan of the EZ Milker as I have a lot of pain in my joints, which is exacerbated by milking tiny Nigerian teats. I usually only milk one doe a year for my family's table milk and for making soap, as that has been enough to satisfy our needs. Historically, I've always milked Limerick. Last year, I gave Limerick the year off and milked her granddaughter Poem instead. But, this year I chose to go on DHIR Milk Test and was expecting to be milking 6 does twice a day, so I upgraded to the electric Ultimate EZ Milker.

(p.s. The Ultimate EZ Milker will SOON have a portable solar unit to power the milker!)

I recently saw a post on one of the Facebook groups for Nigerian breeders that asked how folks got their milking systems to the barn each morning. I saw pictures of wagons, carts, and such. Goodness sakes, that would be quite a lot of overkill for Nigerians. If we were blessed with living on flat land, I might be able to swing something like that. But, we live on a hillside, so I have to navigate two sets of stairs between the house and barn. I am very grateful for the handy canvas bag for my Ultimate EZ Milker (picked out by Buck Wheeler's insightful wife Karen). I just loop the handles over one arm and carry my little stainless-steel bucket full of collection bottles in the other hand--easy as pie and very lightweight (which is a huge blessing as I am in the most pain early in the morning).

8-yr-old Limerick being milked with the Ultimate EZ (being a bit modest in the photo)

Here, you see Goat Mountain View Limerick during her milking. (Don't ask me why my does squat while being milked, just their weird thing.) It only takes a minute or two to fill the bottles, so I had to snap the photos quickly! She is only a couple weeks fresh here, so I am still able to (just barely) use the 8-oz bottles, filling them to the rim. I pop a lambar nipple on top, and I am ready to feed kids.

As you can see, Limerick is relaxed and content. The Ultimate EZ fills those bottles so quickly, that even my "Hoover" cannot finish her grain before she is done being milked. So, I use the extra time to dump, bleach, scrub, and re-fill all four water buckets while she finishes her breakfast.

There have been some folks on the Facebook group spreading the rumor that the EZ Milkers cause "hickeys" on the goats' teats, ruin their udders, and give them mastitis. That has certainly not been the case on my farm. It concerns me what kind of psi breeders are cranking up to cause such issues. There is a very visible mark on the psi gauge to not exceed 11 psi for goats. I usually have mine set at 10 psi. On the hand-held milker, you only need to pump until the milk flows. Use the smallest collection bottle available that will hold the amount of milk produced from your goat, and you will have faster milk collection that doesn't need much suction.

Here are Limerick's teats. Tell me, do those look bruised and damaged? Nope. I've used the Udderly EZ Milker on Limerick for 6 years and the Ultimate on her this year. She's never had a case of mastitis. (Limerick is a gold doe with spots, so those are freckles, not injuries.)

8-yr-old Nigerian Dwarf doe's teats after 7 years use with the EZ Milker.

Another option is to just milk one teat at a time. Buck Wheeler told me that Mary Jane Butters does this so she has more time to relax in the barn. I absolutely understand! Milking is one of my few moments of down-time during the day as I work as a copyeditor, teach homeschool, run the farm, handcraft goats milk soap, and also do all the normal things a housewife/mom does during the day.

For those folks in the Pacific Northwest who have believed the story that anything that is not a pulsating system is bad for the goats, please do some independent thinking on this point. I told Buck that I used a breast pump just fine on myself with no ill effects, and I was a very milky mama. OK, maybe TMI, but that is an important part of the story. If someone would have tried to stick a pulsating claw on me, I would have slapped them! Ha, ha. Really, think about: if Buck's system hurt the teats and udders of milkers, would someone like Mary Jane Butters be using it on her $6,000 mini-Jersey heifers? Try placing the inflation on your own hand and see what the suction feels like. It is very gentle. Think about the amount of suction you use to suck the chocolate cake batter off the tip of your finger (who bakes a cake without tasting?). That is what the suction feels like.

Here is Hailey being milked one side at a time. I'm using my favorite collection bottle on her: the 18-oz bottle. Thank you so very much, Buck, for the recent gift of more bottles!

Sweet, 2-yr-old Hailey mugging for kisses

Hailey, relaxed and content while being milked (she really does have a nice rump when not squatting during milking)

Done milking Hailey, will pop a lambar nipple on top to feed my oldest kid

Hailey's udder at two weeks fresh, 12-hour fill (also modest)

I do bring the collection bottles back into the house so I can add a spoonful of yogurt to each bottle. My friend Penny Tyler just recommended this to me, so it is my first year adding yogurt to the bottles. The babies like it, and they are all thriving. I prefer using the EZ Milker collection bottles because the opening is big enough that I can easily spoon a bit of yogurt into the top. But, for my really young Nigerians, I use a Pritchard nipple. So, I have to use a smaller necked bottle, and therefore the assistance of a funnel to get the milk and yogurt inside.

Here are the bottles ready to load back into my bucket to take to the nursery.

Just pop a nipple on top of the same bottle used to collect the milk!

My 3-year-old Nigerian Dwarf named Poem will be kidding tonight or tomorrow. Here are her pre-kidding photos. I just love this doe!

Poem, pre-kidding udder on June 30, 2015 (no modesty on this gal!)

There are a bunch of beautiful kids in there!

And, for some fun, here are the babies after getting their bottles. Well, Tuppence Magnum Opus was not so happy when the milk ran out; silly baby!

Tuppence Magnum Opus and Goat Mountain View Carmella (with a milk mouth)

Goat Mountain View Magnificent (AKA Maggie Moo)

Goat Mountain View Hopeful (polled)

Goat Mountain View Victory

Tuppence Magnum Opus (our upcoming herd sire)

Magnum, Victory, Carmella (with milk splashed on her face) and little Maggie Moo's back---see the cow pattern?

Yeah, they all look calm here--little angels. But when they hit those bottles, it's a completely different story! Now that they have full tummies, they are all going to curl up in a Pile O'Babies and nap.

One of the best parts of the Ultimate EZ Milker is the cleanup. Here is what I just had to wash after my morning milking and kid feeding. Yeah, seriously--that's it! I feel sorry for the folks who have to have a dedicated utility sink for washing out collection jugs, claws, and milk lines. I can see that if you have a cow, or maybe a herd of 20 standard-sized dairy goats. But, for a handful of Nigerians, this is all that is really needed. And, you will only pay a quarter of the price of a regular milking system.

Collection bottles, nipples, and inflations easily washed in the kitchen sink.

Well, time to get back to work copyediting. I am currently working on Amazonite: Mineralogy, Crystalchemistry and Typomorphism by Ostrooumov. Later, I'll make some goat milk soap. I think I want to make another batch for my twin nephews' birthday. They are going off to college in the fall. I'm going to make sure those boys are scrubbed clean and smelling sweet, so they meet some nice girls <wink>.

Buck, you need to tell me which scents you and Karen like so I can send you a couple sample bars! Pick from here: http://www.editormelinda.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

Folks, please ensure you read the comments below, as there is more good information there. (Things I didn't think about when quickly writing this post!)

Update: 9 pm -- Poem just gave birth to twins: a doeling that will be retained named Trinity and a wether for a 4H family that they are naming Mario. Trinity is a light buckskin (Poem has a light buckskin doeling every year, e.g., see Virelai) and Mario is a tri-color buckskin with roaned cape. He is a big boy too!

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Some pictures of Goat Mountain View herd on a chilly day

5/25/2015

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5-yr-old Sonnet (left) with 4-yr-old Mikado (center) and 3-yr-old Lyric (right).

3-yr-old Poem (center) with yearling daughter Virelai (left) and 6-yr-old mother Reverie (right).

No homeschool today in honor of our fallen veterans of war. So, I had a bit of time to play with my old Pentax this morning. I was using my kit lens, which is a very nice lens for being the freebie given away with the camera. It actually came with my very old Pentax istDL, but I am using it on my Pentax K10. It's a 18-55 mm SMC DA. I love the color that I get with Pentax, and this kit lens is auto-focus, which is always nice for a relaxing morning with the goats. In fact, I was so relaxed, I just left it on aperture preferred, set at F 6.7.

I'm going to separate out the pictures by goat, so folks can get a good idea of the conformation of each animal. Some of them are wearing coats, so there are not as many good pictures of them. I will get those another day when it is warm. Today, it is overcast with a cool, wet breeze coming in off Liberty Bay. I've been clipping goats to get ready for both ADGA Linear Appraisal and kidding. They are quite ready to be done with their scratchy winter coats anyhow.

Disclaimer: I was supposed to be forking out their yard this morning. Well, I've had a tremendous amount of pain in my foot, so walking back and forth with the wheelbarrow to the compost pile is out of the question for me today. I need to keep my wits about me so I can copyedit a 60-page chapter on Good Manufacturing Practice compliance in the manufacture of cell-based medicines this evening. Being in pain does not help me stay sharp for copyediting. So, please overlook the terribly untidy condition of the yard and focus instead on the lovely goats :)

Blythmoor PayDay

Ah, PayDay. This little boy is a dream come true for me. He is 3.5 months old and is out of SGCH Blythmoor HM Almond Joy 3*M, who has an LA score of 90. His dad is Diji Farm SD Gunslinger, who is polled. PayDay reminds me of a little Clydesdale horse. He's so strong, with a super soft, wooly coat, and a little heart-shaped nose that begs me to kiss it. Yes, I do kiss this buckling. I love him that much!

Gorgeous!

Little bucky stretch

Little bucky grin

Is it time for my profile shot?

Is this my best side? (Not sure why he's sticking his tongue out at Mac)

Look at that top line and back end, mercy!

Long and straight

Great width, like his momma.

Dancing baby goat!

Goat Mountain View Dust Storm

I could take pictures of this boy all day long. I absolutely love Dusty. He is a yearling out of Goat Mountain View Poem and Goat Mountain View Oasis Storm. He has Oasis Storm's wonderful back end: super wide and strong. He has his mom's depth and dairy character. His genetics are too tight to the does in my line to use him with those that I have linebred for this past decade. But, he would be very nice with my Tahoma does. Dusty is going to my friend Penny at Tuppence herd. Penny was planning to come out today to see him, but she is not feeling well--so here are some pictures for you to hopefully brighten your day!

Very powerful, yet still has smooth, dairy lines. I love his rear angulation too.

Looks like a tank even when relaxed...here eating alfalfa out of the back of one of the doe's mangers.

Wiiiiide! Reminds me of that children's song "Deep and Wide."

The reason I kept him as a baby was because he is so long and straight. And, look at those shoulders.

Goat Mountain View Thundrstorm

Here is the boy affectionately known as Mr. Personality. He's got such a lovely face, dreamy blue eyes, and when he is in full coat (recently clipped here), he looks magnificent with his enormous mane and dorsal (that he likes to wear mohawk-style). He also has a bit too much personality. Thundrstorm is not quite a brat, but certainly close considering he is very friendly = always climbing up on you for kisses. He is also the one usually in trouble if there is any amongst the bucks, though they rarely get in trouble. Thundrstorm is going to my friend Joan's at Tahoma herd, also not too far away in case I want to use him again. He is out of Wag's Ranch S'Mores Pi and Goat Mountain View Oasis Storm. It will be a bit tough at first to separate Dusty and Thundrstorm, as they are very close. But, it is needed as they play and play and play and play. Thundrstorm never stops to rest because he just loooooves the ladies. Yeah, he is obsessed, and he has been obsessed every since he was 2.5 months old and trying to breed his mom, which is the same age when his dad DID breed mom Lyric. Yep, family trait...grandfather Xlnt Storm was the same way. Speaking of the ladies, Thundrstorm bred Tahoma Sonnet and Goat Mountain View Poem, who are due in weeks.

Lovely rear angulation and chest

He's got great front legs, too.

He is also wide through the back end.

Thundrstorm is even longer than best-buddy, half-brother Dusty!

M.R. Blue MacLibbyHeart

Mac is a sweet, gentle soul who is more interested in being our family's lap-pet than chasing the ladies. But, he did breed Lyric, Hailey, and Mikado, who will be kidding in about two weeks! I guess he just saves his energy for when he actually gets to be together with the doe--maybe this boy is a bit smarter than Dusty and Thundrstorm, who run themselves ragged lolling and grunting at the fence of the doe's yard or headbutting until their heads bleed. Mac's mom has the nice medial ligament that I'm chasing after to improve the udders on my does, which are really nice, so I'm being quite picky at this point in the game. He has nice dairy character. Mac is available for stud.

Mac's favorite way to spend the day.

Someone tell me what to do about this monstrous scur.

PayDay often keeps Mac company during the day, and they snuggle together in their dog igloo at night.

Goat Mountain View Limerick

I dearly love this old gal. Limerick is 8 years old, has given me 19 beautiful kids, and 16 of those have been doelings! Once, she gave me quadruplet does. She is very consistent in the kids she produces, almost like a goatie assembly line. Every year, there is a solid gold doeling that knocks your socks off; there is often a chocolate buckskin doe, and usually a gold doe with a white belly band. Someone explain to me why I have always sold her knock-your-socks off gold doeling each year? Well, I intend to keep it this year! Reverie, Hailey, and Rondeau are some of her chocolate buckskin does. Lyric is a gold doeling that was actually the runt of triplets. I sold her sisters after weaning, but I wanted to retain Lyric longer so she could have more time on mom's milk to grow strong. Well, things got busy, and she never got sold. I'm so glad because I love Lyric.
But, the main reason why I love this old goat so much is because she is so very sweet. Limerick is a total lovebug; she is the favorite of everyone in my family. She's the doe that I can rest my head on at the end of a hard day, while she calmly chews her cud and watches over her herd. What a great doe for herd matron she is.
Limerick is also the doe that I usually milk each year. She is a wonderful producer with a lovely udder. And, she is cool as a cucumber on the milk stand. She produces enough milk to satisfy the needs for my family's table.

Feeling just a bit grumpy near the end of her pregnancy, here with daughter Reverie.

8-yr-old Limerick (center) with 2-yr-old daughter Hailey (left) and yearling daughter Rondeau.

Goat Mountain View Reverie

Six-year-old Reverie is our self-assigned watch goat. She always keeps an eye out for threats to the herd, though not just at this minute. She is puffy and pregnant, and the only coat that I could find to fit her has terriers all over it. Oh, the humiliation in the doe yard. But, this particular coat is very thick and well insulated = recently clipped mommy doe falls asleep while still standing. Reverie is my largest doe and is standoffish. Her kids are always very friendly though.

What a mug! Reverie has beautiful blue eyes when she's awake. She's had that lightning bolt poll mark since she was born.

She is not as wide as some of my other does, but has nice long teats and great depth of body.

Tahoma Sonnet

Sonnet joined our herd this past winter, and she has been a hit with everyone. Look at that sweet face! She is an absolute love. Sonnet adores being scratched by humans, and all the does seem to love giving her scratches with their heads too. She came from Puyallup, which is a bit more chilly in the winter than we are here on the coast of the Puget Sound. So, she was very grateful to get rid of her super thick coat, though also grateful for this extra-padded coat this morning. She always seems to be in a good mood--thus, her nickname is Sunny Sonnet.

Lyric and Mikado giving Sonnet loves.

Wonderfully wide.

Tahoma Mikado

Mikado is my shy girl. There are times when, if I sit still in the barn for a while, she will come alongside me to get her neck scratched. But, generally, she does not want to be approached. But, she is very good about coming to the milk stand when called and stands nicely without ever a kick, so I don't complain. I especially don't complain because Mikado is gorgeous. I love this doe's conformation and deep mahogany coloring, just lovely. Also, she is an easy keeper: calm, gentle, and never gets into mischief.

Mikado is a very refined, dairy doe, shown here at three weeks until kidding.

When fresh, her udder is very nice, with lovely texture.

Goat Mountain View Poem

Mikado snuggles with 3-yr-old Poem

Poem is a rock star. Reverie usually throws gorgeous bucklings, who I castrate and sell to pet homes. One year, she gave me a single doe, and it had been a tough year for me, and Poem was a really good snuggler...so she never was sold. I named her after one of my favorite Bible verses: Ephesians 2:10. The Greek word that is translated as "workmanship" is poema. Once Limerick retires, this pretty doe will easily step into Limerick's place. Poem is very long, refined, with lots of depth, and she has beautiful kids. She is also consistent in her babies, as Limerick is. (She is Limerick's granddaughter.) Poem usually throws light buckskin kids who are long with great dairy character. Last year, I gave Limerick the year off from milking and milked Poem instead. She milks just as nicely, with great capacity...though she did try to pull the drama queen play the first couple months on the stand. But, such is often the case with does that were very spoiled as babies.

Poem with daughter Virelai

Poem is my longest doe, but is still wonderfully wide.

Goat Mountain View Lyric

OK, OK, what is with the odd haircut? This is something I do with the Angora rabbits when the weather is cool (they are next for shearing!). Lyric is the first to kid: June 7th! So, I decided to clip her top half and give her some time to grow a bit of length on it before doing her bottom half, which I will clip close closer to kidding time (and if the weather doesn't warm, I will only clip her udder). Her coat looks odd, but look at that lovely topline! In fact, this one is nicknamed Lovely Lyric because she is lovely in many ways. She is a very sweet, gentle doe, similar in personality to Mikado. Lyric went through a phase as a yearling and two-year-old doe where she was very shy. Now, she has become quite the lover and has really won my heart. She was the mom of Oasis Storm and gave him his terrific rear view, which he threw to his kids. She is a great mom as well. She also does well under pressure, as she got bred back (accidentally!) by her precocious 2.5-month-old son, carried triplets without a fuss, and then gave me gorgeous twins (Gadget and Gidget) just 7 months later. So, as a 3-yr-old, she will be on her fourth freshening early next month. Through it all, even being junior in the pecking order, she never lost condition. Yep, she's a keeper!

Lyric has a lovely udder, held high, with nice shape. Two weeks from kidding here.

Just can't get enough of this lovely rear view.

Goat Mountain View Hailey

Two-year-old Hailey

Hailey is another amazing doe in her own way. She is abundantly calm and easygoing. A bomb could go off and Hailey would just stand there chewing her cud. She will even let other does babies stand on her back to reach the upper portions of the manger. She is so wide through her body that she is the perfect choice for goat surfing, like her mom Limerick. She loves to be brushed, so her coat always stays nice. Hailey gave me triplets as a first freshening yearling, with plenty of milk. Her udder is so tight to her body, it is surprising when you see how much milk goes into the bucket, as she doesn't appear as capacious as she is.

She is one of my shorter does, very wide through the body, and polled.

Hailey has a lovely udder, held tight to her body, here at two weeks until kidding.

Wag's Ranch S'Mores Pi

I traded Jane Wagman Goat Mountain View Alexandra (Hailey's sister) for S'Mores Pi. It turns out that Alexandra is a bit of a stinker (though a lovely doe) and doesn't like to be touched. I think I got the better end of the deal as far as temperament is concerned because S'Mores is the ultimate sweetie pie. She is the mom of Mr. Personality (Thundrstorm). S'Mores went to another breeder to be bred to an outside buck (Millers Buckaroo Freedom) so I could bring in some new genetics (as I kept S'Mores' son as a herd buck). S'Mores had a single doeling, Constellation, who is now in my herd. S'Mores did not fare well while away from our farm. She was at the other breeder's for nine months and was down to condition score 1 when I brought her back home two months ago. She integrated right back into the herd, as all the does love her. Who wouldn't? But, I believe she may never reach her potential as she did not have proper nutrition during her growth as a yearling doe. I may choose to place her with a loving home as a pet. She is a petite doe who is very friendly, gentle, and obedient--certainly a very easy keeper.

Goat Mountain View Rondeau

Rondeau is my yearling doe out of Limerick. I have her registered as a tricolor, but I need to learn that Limerick usually has one chocolate buckskin--and they always seem to morph color as they age! Such is the case with Rondeau, who is now a chocolate buckskin with a belly band and extensive roaning. She is going through her lanky yearling phase right now. But, this is one long doeling--long body and long legs. She reminds me of a deer. Rondeau was the champion goat surfing kid last year (not so hard when you mom is as wide as a tug boat) and would always find a way to ride on my shoulders as well. As a yearling, she is a bit more cautious. But, I know this line; she will be back to kisses galore once she turns 3 years old. I plan to breed her for the first time in the fall.

Goat Mountain View Chanson

Chanson is my yearling doe out of Mikado. I'll bet you could have guessed that, as they look so similar. Chanson is as wild as the hills and equates human touch to being burned with white-hot coals. But, that doesn't bother me because this little doe is gorgeous! She may be the prettiest doeling ever born on my farm. I had taken Oasis Storm over to my friend Joan's house. I asked her, "Pick out the doe that would be a match made in heaven with Oasis." She's been breeding Nigerians for a couple decades, so this was not hard for her (it would have been for me!). Mikado went home with me and gave me lovely twins. The boy was very nice, but there are enough bucks in the world, so he was sold as a pet. Chanson has her mom's dairy character and lovely coloring in addition to an improvement in the rump and very pretty head courtesy of Oasis. She also will be bred for the first time in the fall.

Goat Mountain View Virelai

Um, so this is awkward--I didn't get any decent shots of Virelai. Well, I wasn't really paying attention to how many pictures I took of each goat. And, she is swimming in this bulky coat. Virelai is a very pretty, petite, blue-eyed, polled doe out of Goat Mountain View Poem and Goat Mountain View Oasis Storm. She is Dusty's sister. There was also a tri-colored doeling in the litter named Dreamer. I was calling that doe Screamer because she was such a needy baby, but the buyer convinced me to change it to something nice. And what do you know? She no longer screams. Anyhow, Virelai stayed here on the farm because she was the runt of the three. This was not due to any lack of milk production on her mom's part. No, Virelai was an absolute space cadet as a baby. She was the ADD goat, constantly getting distracted by all the interesting things in the big world and forgetting to nurse. Her siblings never forgot though! Though she was slower to grow, she is turning out to be a very nice doe. She is long like her mom with Oasis' nice back end. And, she is the world's most mellow goat. Yeah, even more easygoing than Hailey. I know, you didn't believe that was possible. Virelai was a big hit at the nursing home last year because you can pretty much pick her up and move her anywhere you like, and she is absolutely relaxed, doesn't even miss a chew on her cud.

Blythmoor Coffee Bean

Coffee Bean was purchased to be a companion to PayDay, as I had no kids of my own yet in February. She is out of Blythmoor Jelly Bean and Gunslinger (same polled sire as PayDay). The jury is still out on whether or not she is polled. I asked Margie, "Is she long and straight?" When Margie answered in the affirmative, I said, "Sold!" She is a lovely doe with a great personality. I am very pleased with her indeed. She is very well blended, smooth, and well set. Speaking of "long and straight," I asked my friend Penny about that on the phone the other night. I have a bit of an obsession with that in goats. I told her that it could be that I've gone overboard and now have goats that are too long. She has been breeding Nigerians for 25 years and used to be a judge. Penny said, "It's not possible." I take that as a wonderful excuse to continue my obsession. There was a line from some movie, "I only have one weakness...." Yep.

Constellation

This two-month-old baby doeling is cute enough to slay even the most macho of men, my husband included. She follows him everywhere. Constellation is S'Mores' daughter. Her dad, Millers Buckaroo Freedom, must have had a great front end because she appears to be nice and wide through the brisket. Connie is very, very, very friendly. Did I mention, she's friendly? This is actually a problem. She always wants to be with my family. Well, she is a goat and really should live with the other goats. She does not agree and has continuously found ways to break out of the goat yard (when not even newborns could get out) so she can come be with her people. It was fun (for me) watching my husband trying to install our electric fencing with Connie on his lap. She refuses to take "no" for an answer--like the USPS, nothing will stop her from delivering her love. But, because I own bucks, I worry that she will get bred before she is old enough. So, I would consider selling her. She would be a good 4H goat (I offer a 30% discount to 4H youth). Lead? Who needs a lead. This baby goat will follow you to the ends of the earth!

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A few new farm photos

5/9/2015

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Sometimes, there are just no words.

I had a rare experience today where I actually caught up on my copyediting work by dinner time. Well, I chose to skip dinner and, instead, go sit out in the pasture with my old Pentax K10 fitted with a Sigma 18-125mm. The does were all in a good mood, chowing down on grass in their last month of pregnancy. It was a really lovely break.

Poem and her daughter Virelai

My newest doe, Tahoma Sonnet

Hailey watches Virelai get some leaves.

Rondeau and S'Mores Pi use Hailey as a ladder.

The pullets

The younger, Delaware pullets

Dusty (Poem's son)

My sweet Lyric (daughter of Limerick)

Lyric is due June 8.

Coffee Bean and Constellation, now with the big does

L-R: Rondeau, Lyric, Sonnet, Limerick, Mikado, Chanson

Baby Constellation

My herd matron: eight-year-old Limerick

Back to the barn...

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How to use the Udderly EZ Milker on Nigerian Dwarf goats

3/31/2015

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My old Udderly EZ Milker with the original bottles and some newer ones

I am writing this blog post in response to a thread I was participating in on a Facebook Nigerian Dwarf goat group. Some of the comments that people were making had me in absolute shock. They said they did not like the hand-held Udderly EZ Milker because they tried it a couple of times and it did not work for them. Some of them offered to sell their milkers that had only been used two to three times.

Back when I bought my Udderly EZ Milker in 2007 (or was it 2006?), I think I paid $159 for it. That was the cost of a half ton of hay back then. The Udderly EZ is now selling for $189.95. That is still the cost of half a ton of hay. The reason I was in shock by the comments was because I cannot imagine choosing to make that kind of an investment in my farm and just giving up on it after a couple tries. I would be on the phone to Buck Wheeler or racking my brains to figure it out. But, that is just me. My father grew up during the Great Depression, therefore I am frugal to a fault . Or, maybe it's because of my Asperger's? At any rate, it bothers me that people have bought this product, can't get it to work, and then give up on it.

The picture at the top of this blog post is the Udderly EZ that I bought all those years ago. In the center, you see the original two bottles that came with the milker. Yeah, they look pretty sorry after all these years. I must confess that I did put them into the top rack of the dishwasher a few times--even though the company tells you not to. I discovered that is not really a good idea (maybe they knew what they were talking about?) as the bottles became somewhat misshapen as a result. Fortunately, the top that attaches to the extraction tube was not affected. I just have ugly bottles now.

A couple years ago, I bought the 18-ounce bottles that are round. I love them. They hold more milk and still fit under my does, though at a slight tilt. I just checked the product page for Udderly EZ accessories. They no longer carry the original, 12-ounce, square bottles. But, you can see that you can buy the round, 18-ounce, plastic bottles as well as pint-sized bottles in either plastic (hand wash) or glass (dishwasher but hold onto the bottle when you milk -- you don't want that heavy of an object hanging off your Nigerian's teat!).

Let me walk you through the process of milking a Nigerian Dwarf doe using the Udderly EZ Milker in pictures.

After you get your doe set up on the milk stand with a yummy treat, wipe her udder down with wipes or a dairy cloth soaked in warm disinfectant solution. In the past, I have used unscented baby wipes. They work fine. You want to ensure her teats are really clean.

I give the udder a massage as I'm wiping it down. Then, I strip the teats to ensure any bacteria in the teat is purged. Then, I massage the udder just a bit more.

Note: I watched some videos of a competitor to the EZ Milker, and they don't massage the udder before placing their inflations. Apparently, that works as well. But, after my experience as a woman who breastfed two hungry baby boys, I prefer to ease my does into the milking process by helping them let down their milk. It doesn't take much time, but it sure seems a lot kinder. That is just my opinion.

Place the top of the EZ Milker over the teat, snug against the udder, and pump five to six times. As the doe has had her udder massaged, you won't need to pump a whole lot. Let's be gentle here.

Now, just hang onto the bottle while it fills.

When that side is done, move the EZ Milker to the other teat.

Do you see the stream of milk right there above the label on the bottle? It just pours into the bottle effortlessly.

Ah, I realized after taking the first picture that I was tilting the bottle. Some of the folks on the Facebook group said the EZ Milker did not work for them because it tilts under the doe. Well, it does work. I'm not sure why it wouldn't unless your doe has a rock-hard teats due to mastitis or greater than a 12-hour fill.

I had tilted the milker by habit in the first picture because my original 12-ounce bottle would not fit straight up under my does: one of which was only 18 inches tall (Carrie's Caprine's LBE Sable).

Here you see the milker, when using an 8-ounce colostrum bottle, fits under an 18.5-inch-tall doe.

For my taller girls, who are 21 inches tall and very milky with larger udders than the little doe shown in this picture to your left, I use the 18-ounce bottle, which tilts slightly under them.

The height of the 8-ounce bottle + extraction tube = 9.75 inches. The 18-ounce bottle + extraction tube = 11.75 inches.

When the udder is almost all the way empty, I will often give the milker another pump or two to help ensure the bag completely empties.

The milker naturally comes off the teat when the bag is empty, so hang onto it. I am one who would cry over spilled milk <grin>.

If you need to remove the milker from the teat while there is still suction on the teat, you have your choice of two methods for removing it:
1) Gently slide a finger between the teat and the top of the extraction tube to break the seal.
2) Tilt the top of the EZ Milker unit away from the extraction tube to release the vacuum. Buck Wheeler shows a demonstration of this in this video. The video shows how to milk colostrum from a mare, but it is an excellent "how to" explanation. This is an old video. I noticed he is using the discontinued, square, 12-ounce bottle.

Don't forget to use something on the teats to prevent mastitis when you are done.

Now that you are done collecting the milk, you have your choice of either popping a lambar teat onto the top of your collection bottle or pouring the milk into a different bottle.

It is very easy to pour the milk. You can unscrew the bottle from the extraction tube, and pour that way. But, I find it easier, with these bottles with the small opening, to just remove the inflation from the extraction tube and pour through the connected extraction tube. There is a nicely shaped lip (designed to fit the curves of the animal's body) the makes the pouring easier.

Now, my bottles are filled and placed in my bucket for carrying to the kid barn. I am going to feed the grown goats and all my hens first, so I put some hot water (from the tap, not boiling) into the bucket before I came out to milk. It is pretty chilly this morning. I will be disbudding my 10-day old doeling this morning. So, I want to ensure she has a full belly of warm milk first.

Right now, I am giving all the milk to the kids. I am only milking one doe. Once I want to keep milk for our family as well, I will place a half-gallon Mason jar in my stainless-steel bucket and put about an inch or two of ice (depending on how hot it is outside) in the bottom. I have a plastic tote with a handle for carrying all the kid bottles.

Now, it's time to feed the babies! Here, Blythmoor Coffee Bean is getting a drink. I started feeding the kids through the fence because they were so excited to get their bottles that they would try to leap in my lap as soon as I entered the pen. Well, that was fine until one day I got nailed in the nose by a hopping kid as I bent over. I only have one pair of glasses, and I need them to earn a living as a copyeditor! Things are a bit more sane now <smile>.

p.s. If you see any errors in my blog posts, give me a free pass! No one can effectively edit their own writing. This is why folks need to hire copyeditors.

And now, I have a pen full of happy, QUIET kids. Oh, and one very small yearling doe, Virelai, who is bonding with the kids so she can watch over the doelings once they are moved to the kid pasture (and the buckling PayDay is moved in with the bucks). Ah, yeah, that tri-color would be PayDay getting ready to mount his cousin Coffee Bean. He is 7 weeks old and has about another 3 weeks before he has to say goodbye to his doeling friends. The 10-day old baby in the pink coat is Constellation.

My chores are done, and I can head back to the house. I dump all the bottles, nipples, extraction tube, and inflation into some hot, soapy water; wash; and let air dry until the evening milking. Cleanup is amazingly easy!

Pippin the rescue cat has decided to help show you some of my collection of bottles to use with the EZ Milker. At the far left is one of the original bottles I got when I first bought the Udderly EZ Milker. Next, are the wonderful 18-ounce bottles. Then, you see the large, quart-sized bottles that came with my new Ultimate EZ Milker. And, on the far right are the 8-ounce bottles that are sold for collecting colostrum. I used one in this picture tutorial today. I plan to use a pair of them on the Ultimate EZ Milker (which milks both teats at once) on my shorter does. I can just pop a lambar teat on top and have a kid-sized bottle ready for feeding. The flip-top lid (shown on an 18-ounce bottle) is nice for use in the refrigerator for my family's milk.

I am not sure why some Nigerian breeders have had such a hard time getting the Udderly EZ Milker to work for them. There are two possibilities that come to mind:
1) Folks are not massaging the udder to help the milk drop, and thus, they are pumping way too much for the comfort of their doe.
2) Users of the Udderly EZ are unwittingly tilting the pump unit away from the extraction tube, thus breaking the vacuum seal. Watching the video I linked to previously in this blog post will give you a great visual of that, so you will know what not to do during milking. Also, I would suggest ensuring your doe is standing calmly. Give her a treat and some pets before you milk her. If she is kicking and moving about on the stand, it is likely you may be breaking the seal on that extraction tube.
And, a third possibility was just suggested to me by someone on the Facebook group:
3) You will get a better seal on the teat if it is still moist from wiping it off when you clean it beforehand. Buck Wheeler advises rubbing a bit of olive oil on the teat right before placing the Udderly EZ Milker.

Enjoy your Udderly EZ Milker. If you have questions, I know Buck Wheeler is anxious to attend to them.

There are other systems out there if the Udderly EZ does not work for you. There is an electric milker that many Nigerian breeders like that costs a bit over $600. Personally, it didn't even occur to me to change brands, so I just bought the Ultimate EZ Milker, which is also an electric system, for $549.00. I tried it out last night and was pleasantly shocked that I don't have to wash the tubes as you do with all other milking systems. I only have to wash the same elements on the Ultimate EZ that I currently wash on the Udderly EZ. Life just doesn't get any better than that!

My recent order from Wheeler Enterprises: an Ultimate EZ Milker, 12 8-ounce collection bottles, and a package of lambar nipples.

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Kratky versus aquaponics: Week 3

3/30/2015

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Here we are at week 3 since I planted these baby greens. The mini-aquaponics system is on the left, Kratky-method non-circulating hydroponics on the right. I lost a cilantro on the left and an arugula on the right. My bok choy is bolting on the left, and the arugula is bolting on the right. I am still not happy with how things are going on the Kratky side though.

(p.s. That is one of my Nigerian bucks, Dusty, on the picnic table outside. I didn't even notice he was in the picture until I put it up here.)

Let's take a closer look at the two planters.

Here is the aquaponics system (below). The plants are healthy and ready for me to start harvesting leaves.

Now, here is the non-circulating hydroponics system. I'm not impressed, and I actually feel a bit sorry for this crowd of plants.

I'm even less impressed with the root growth. Yuck!

Shown next is the root system of one of the greens from the aquaponics side. Most of the roots are inside the pot, but look at the lovely white primary root coming out of the bottom of the pot. Keep in mind that I used 2-inch net pots for the Kratky setup and 5-inch ones for the aquaponics. And, the pots in the aquaponics system are not suspended. I just set the pots on the floor of the planter and allow the flush-and-fill system to water/aerate them.

Here are the things I did to try to get the Kratky side to fare a bit better:
1) I flipped the piece of foam insulation over so the silver, reflective side is no longer facing up. Maybe there was too much radiation causing plant stress?
2) I drained the planter (saving the nutrient-filled water to use on my outdoor plants). I filled with fresh water and nutrients to a TDS of 1200 above my initial water reading.
3) I moved the spindly, bolting arugula plants as well as one of the smaller greens to the aquaponics side. I just set them in the planter in their tiny pots.
4) I planted 5 bok choy in the vacated holes. Bok choy can be happy anywhere, so I will be surprised if they don't thrive.

Here is the adjusted setup:

That is a sodium lamp on the left, thus the yellow tinge. Wish my baby greens luck!

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There's a new baby in the house

3/24/2015

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Her name is Constellation, and she is a Nigerian Dwarf. She is out of S'Mores Pi, who I had sold and have rescued back (along with her daughter) because the lady who had her does not always feed the goats. The breeder has no income, so often has no food for the over 50 animals on her property. Two of my goats have already died of starvation there. It is sad, but S'Mores and Constellation are going to make it.

Because Constellation is a single and there are no other kids her age, she is living in the house. I bought the largest plastic tub I could find. I have caught our young cat Tom Sawyer sleeping with her. I have been sworn to silence about that, but hey, cat's can't read blog posts.

Hey look, I have color-coordinated pets. Tom's brother, Huckleberry Finn, is fine with baby goat as long as she is in her box. Once she is out for playtime, Huck is in a bit of shock that I would inflect this upon him. Ah, and yes, she is wearing a diaper. Our carpet is 30 years old, but we still do not wish to have it stink. I put a newborn diaper on her, but it wouldn't stay on. Baby goats don't have hips like baby humans. So, I decided to buy a XS dog harness for a dollar. But, upon trying that on, it was not long enough to reach. Baby goats have much longer bodies than puppies. So, while holding a baby goat who is bouncing about like popcorn popping, I fashioned a fix with one hand: a strip of canvas patch held on each side with a safety pin.

Pippin, another rescue cat, does not seem to realize that he should be disgusted with Constellation. Pippin is our special needs cat. I honestly believe he suffered some sort of brain injury before we adopted him. But, it is working to our advantage here because Constellation has found a playmate. She seems especially interested in Pippin's twitching tail. Don't worry, I'm staying close to play mommy referee in case play gets rough.

Well, I am typing this while trying to peddle on my FitDesk. This is not working because Constellation is trying to nurse off my ankle. So, it's time to put her back in her box for a nap. And, I need to get peddling!

Update 6/10/2015: Connie has gone to live at my friend Penny's house. Constellation had a umbilical abscess due to poor sanitation conditions at the farm where she was born. The abscess has subsided, but it is still not clear if Connie will be able to be anything more than a pet. Penny does Goat 911, so she knows how to handle this sort of situation much better than I do.

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Cutting crisp cotton soap

3/24/2015

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This is the soap that I made Sunday evening using the sample of Crisp Cotton fragrance from Brambleberry. I did an in-mold swirl and used three colors: natural indigo, titanium dioxide, and aquamarine blue oxide. The soap "mold" I used is a silicone bread pan.

There isn't any goat milk in this batch as I don't have any to spare at the moment (Constellation is getting it all). I changed my recipe to use more affordable, more readily available ingredients (and to get away from palm oil). As I generally get massive brain-fog during kidding season, I wanted to test my new recipe well in advance. Things went well. The soap is very soft right now; it will be interesting to see how it does as it cures. Kidding season for me starts in June this year and runs through July. This is so I don't go into brain-fog phase during the homeschool year. I should be making soap like a squirrel storing nuts starting about mid-July through the end of 2015.

Out of the mold, ready to be sliced.

The bars need to cure for six weeks. If you are one of my egg customers, expect a bar of crisp cotton with your egg delivery on May 5. Shoot, if I had planned this better, I would have created some sort of salsa bar for Cinco de Mayo!

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Almost a sun break: more goat pictures

Sun break in winter

No-Brainer Kidding Season Protocol

One month before kidding

One week before kidding

Kidding time

What if things don't go right?

The day after kidding

Other items on your to do list

Additional info

Using the Ultimate EZ Milker on Nigerian Dwarf goats

Some pictures of Goat Mountain View herd on a chilly day

Blythmoor PayDay

Goat Mountain View Dust Storm

Goat Mountain View Thundrstorm

M.R. Blue MacLibbyHeart

Goat Mountain View Limerick

Goat Mountain View Reverie

Tahoma Sonnet

Tahoma Mikado

Goat Mountain View Poem

Goat Mountain View Lyric

Goat Mountain View Hailey

Wag's Ranch S'Mores Pi

Goat Mountain View Rondeau

Goat Mountain View Chanson

Goat Mountain View Virelai

Blythmoor Coffee Bean

Constellation

A few new farm photos

How to use the Udderly EZ Milker on Nigerian Dwarf goats

Kratky versus aquaponics: Week 3

There's a new baby in the house

Cutting crisp cotton soap

Melinda Joy Wedgewood

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