The Poultry Keeper

nigel · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:23 am Post subject: We have goats :D

So after some hectic arranging we have five goats, a small family unit. They are just settling in the barn and eating, we'll probably let them out in the paddock tomorrow. They are Blåblomme, her two daughters Mimmi and Prinsessan Snövit and their two [as yet unnamed] kids.

Blåblomma

Mimmi and her kid

Prinsessan Snövit and her kid

They are all Gammal Svensk Lantrasgetter [ Old Swedish Landrace Goats] a dairy goat very good a producing milk on foraging with very little suppliments. We are led to believe that both Mimmi and Snövit are with kid so the family may be increasing. Blåblomma may also be with kid, if she isn't we can borrow one of Ninna's billys later in the year or early next year.

More pictures here

Tomorrow I get a wakeup call as I try to remember everything about milking from my smallholders course... Shocked

debcat · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 12:03 pm Post subject:

they are gorgeous Very Happy

jaydee67 · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 12:34 pm Post subject:

Well there's a surprise - Nigel with goats! That's a few to have to milk when they are all producing! I see lots of cheese in your future!

nigel · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:50 pm Post subject:

I'm looking for a small milking machine Very Happy

cheese-making is really Steph's project, i think 5 is more than enough to keep us in milk & cheese

CP · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 3:51 pm Post subject:

They're lovely Nigel. Very Happy

stephen · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 4:20 pm Post subject:

They are, and very friendly. I'm looking forward to them going outside tomorrow - I'm really looking forward to seeing what Troy and the cats make of them! Oh, and our first milk...

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6973 Location: isle of lewis

they are lovely ,you're very lucky they look like really relaxed stock ,and good luck with milking are you going to sing to them or play relaxing music as you milk
good luck tomorrow ,

nigel · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 9:18 pm Post subject:

They are very friendly and very relaxed. They have settled in so quickly. The milking is likely to be a real test for me. We only did goats for two weeks on my course and I had a couple of goes at milking a goat. I only hope Blåblomma will be relaxed and patient tomorrow.

Suz, if you ever want a working holiday in Sweden showing all the things I'm doing wrong with goats - let me know Very Happy

debcat · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 9:36 pm Post subject:

have fun tomorrow, milking is fine, the bigger the teat they have the easier it is
just wait till they start kidding,

stephen · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 5:33 am Post subject:

Hopefully that's December/January...

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6973 Location: isle of lewis

nigel with goats like that ,you'll be telling me in a couple of weeks Wink

i really am envous ,good luck with the milking
and could you let me know the yeild i'd love to know Very Happy

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2382 Location: South Cumbria

hope milking goes well Very Happy

stephen · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:24 am Post subject:

nigel · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:32 am Post subject:

the teats are tiny, I learnt to milk on Anglo-Nubians with huge teats [easily a hand full] these are tiny in comparison making it very hard work, there's nothing to roll the fingers down - so to speak - any suggestions?

Ninna said the yield was between 2-6 litres depending on the goat. These are from the same line as her best milkers though they themselves should do 2-3 litres a day

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3022 Location: Monmouthshire

Believe me - milking at ground level has advantages in the winter. One side of you pressed against a warm goat and two hands thawing out on a warm udder. You also have control over the errant hind leg that waits until you've almost finished and then flicks dungy foot into the bucket.