Celia is the herd boss in the goat yard, not the biggest by any means, but certainly the one who bosses the rest around. She is a great mother and has had quads every year. I want to keep at least two of her daughters this year, so she is for sale. She is hardy and strong and the best of everything, with the one exception that she is bossy. I think the goat yard will be better without her.
This year she had a very strange birth. One doeling was still born, and looked like it was about 3 weeks overdue. Then she had the quads and when she expelled the placenta, a fetus of about 3 months was with it, aborted, of course. The smallest of the quads was sold as a bottle baby to ensure that she was going to be fed. The bigger sisters tended to push her away too much. She is well loved in her new home and her owner dotes on her. One of the remaining girls is being pushed away by the two strongest babies. I am thinking of removing her and bottle feeding her or supplementing her and letting her remain with the group. It is easier for me to bring her close, but harder on her. I suppose I will try the supplemental feedings first. That way she can remain with her family, though sometimes the mother will reject the baby if does not smell like her milk. Time will tell.
There are two left from Daphne's quads and they are growing well and are bouncy and strong. Soon it will be weaning time. I think about milking Daphne but I dont use milk except for soap and occasionally to make cheese. I suppose I could get a supply and make some cheese and freeze some for soap making in the winter. She is not a very cooperative milker though, or at least was not last year.
There is one other kid from the Angora, 13. The baby is half Nigerian and female and has a smooth coat which is very soft, most like cashmere. I will have to wait and see how it goes. Hand spinners love Nigora fibre for spinning. The Angora goat is an excellent mother, but stays well out of Celia's way, as does Daphne. The young goats, Sofi and Pippin, Tommy and Timmy, avoid Celia and the bit Nubians do too. The rest of the herd tends to get along fine. Celia would be a great goat with one of her babies for a small family, just on her own. She is a protective mother and also teaches her babies to fend for themselves very well. I will be sorry to see Celia go, but I don't want to add too many new goats and keep the older ones too. So, Celia is for sale. Sorry goatie. Time for greener pastures for you and thank you for all your wonderful babies!
This year she had a very strange birth. One doeling was still born, and looked like it was about 3 weeks overdue. Then she had the quads and when she expelled the placenta, a fetus of about 3 months was with it, aborted, of course. The smallest of the quads was sold as a bottle baby to ensure that she was going to be fed. The bigger sisters tended to push her away too much. She is well loved in her new home and her owner dotes on her. One of the remaining girls is being pushed away by the two strongest babies. I am thinking of removing her and bottle feeding her or supplementing her and letting her remain with the group. It is easier for me to bring her close, but harder on her. I suppose I will try the supplemental feedings first. That way she can remain with her family, though sometimes the mother will reject the baby if does not smell like her milk. Time will tell.
There are two left from Daphne's quads and they are growing well and are bouncy and strong. Soon it will be weaning time. I think about milking Daphne but I dont use milk except for soap and occasionally to make cheese. I suppose I could get a supply and make some cheese and freeze some for soap making in the winter. She is not a very cooperative milker though, or at least was not last year.
There is one other kid from the Angora, 13. The baby is half Nigerian and female and has a smooth coat which is very soft, most like cashmere. I will have to wait and see how it goes. Hand spinners love Nigora fibre for spinning. The Angora goat is an excellent mother, but stays well out of Celia's way, as does Daphne. The young goats, Sofi and Pippin, Tommy and Timmy, avoid Celia and the bit Nubians do too. The rest of the herd tends to get along fine. Celia would be a great goat with one of her babies for a small family, just on her own. She is a protective mother and also teaches her babies to fend for themselves very well. I will be sorry to see Celia go, but I don't want to add too many new goats and keep the older ones too. So, Celia is for sale. Sorry goatie. Time for greener pastures for you and thank you for all your wonderful babies!
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