Herd Dynamics
Adding new members to an established herd can be a tricky process and as much as humans try to interfere and make everyone "play nice" there really isn't much that can be done on our end to influence the herd dynamics.   Away from the barn Mame' will reluctantly let the new doeling, Cordelia, tag along with her  (Mame' looks a lot like Cordelia's dam) and Liberty is free to roam unmolested.  But when the herd returns to the barn all bets are off.    Since joining the main herd last Thursday, Liberty has been quietly slipping  into the barn and has quickly got into the routine of a few minutes on the milk stand when I'm fin

New addition to the herd
This morning we drove up to Lyons to pick up Donavan from North Fork Nigerians.   He is a very sweet blue-eyed buckling and brings us up to capacity for bucks.For at least a couple of days he will be in with our newest doe, Liberty.  Who came to us last week with an injury that is finally healing up.  Having him in the pen with her seemed to perk her up and she even ventured a few steps to check him out.  We

Trading places
Panda and her two doelings joined our herd near the end of September and while Panda got along fine with all of the other goats, she took a strong disliking to Mame'.  The move to the new barn where all of the does share a single large shelter just seemed to make matters worse, with Panda not allowing Mame' to come inside.I contacted another breeder near us about the possibility trading Panda for one of her does and it turns out she had a doe that was being bullied by some of the larger does in her herd.    So I took Panda over there this afternoon and brought Liberty home with us.   We are certainly going to miss Panda's wonderful milk, but fo

Trimming Goat Hooves
I've been sick so much over the past 6 weeks that I have been putting off the strenuous task of trimming the goat's hooves.   I was feeling a little better today, so decided to at least try and get a few done.   Surprised myself by getting everyone but our herd sire Sunshine done.   I would have done his too, but he wasn't in the mood to be caught and I didn't have the energy left to change his mind. Every time I undertake this task I must say I wonder how people with larger breeds manage this chore.   Dealing with the smaller sized Nigerians definitely has its advantages!I came across a video on how to trim hooves this we

Russian Spiced Tea
Everyone in the house is sick or recovering right now, so I thought I'd post a great recipe for a hot drink that does a great job of soothing sore throats.   Russian Spiced Tea3/4 c. instant tea1 c. instant orange drink (Tang)1/2 c. instant lemonade mix1 -1 /2 c. sugar1 tsp. ground cloves1 tsp. ground cinnamonMix together and store in a airtight container. Use about 2 tablespoons per cup in boiling water.  Feel free to adjust any of the ingredient amounts to suit your own tastes.