| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| viva |
Posted - May 02 2009 : 10:31:24 PM
I have a quick question about my dairy goat. She kidded in March and is still with her kids- can I get her to increase her milk supply and milk her?
My favorite dog, a 6 yr old bouvier, has attacked my angora goat! My 8 year old son saved the goat by dragging the bad dog away. Why oh why has my dog done this?! He has been around farm animals his whole life. Has this happened to anyone else? The goat is recovering but she was a mess. Poor goat- I am so glad I haven't given her that haircut I have been promising. I really love this dog... Anybody have any ideas? For now he on a leash! |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alee |
Posted - May 03 2009 : 7:47:17 PM
Hi Viva!
I have milked Oberhasli goats! They are wonderful milkers and have great temperments! I am so jealous of your milk that you will soon have! :D
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| viva |
Posted - May 03 2009 : 6:33:10 PM
Thanks - I will have him check out by the vet. The worst case for him- or me- is that he would go live with my sister away from wooly things to chase. She has a fenced in yard and loves to walk dogs. |
| prariehawk |
Posted - May 03 2009 : 6:21:57 PM
Hi--before you do anything with the dog, please have his thyroid checked by a vet. thyroid disease can cause a dog to become aggressive. It's especially common with older dogs. there is medication to treat thyroid disease if this is the case. Wishing you the best!
Cindy
"Dog is my co-pilot" |
| viva |
Posted - May 03 2009 : 09:16:15 AM
Thanks guys! I will lock those kids up at night and have milk again. Kris, They are Oberhasli goats and super sweet. My doe gave us 2 boys this year. My son is training the to walk on a lead- he plans on camping with them. We live on Vashon Island in the Puget sound.
Grace, I love fiber! My mom has alpacas and I normally have sheep. We keep having to move for my hubby's job so I have cut back on my wooly friends. I have sooo much alpaca...
I have had to put down my Dad's dog for killing livestock. That was awful and completely necessary. My Dad had just died and we were helping my Mother on the farm. That dog just went crazy! He killed or gravely wounded 37 chickens - all they had- and mauled 4 sheep. I am having trouble with this one. My son is a very brave boy! I couldn't believe that he pulled off a 90lb dog off the goat. I'm glad the dog listened. |
| grace gerber |
Posted - May 03 2009 : 08:00:46 AM
I agree with Kris on this - once a dog has done this you can not trust it. I know it is hard to hear but also like Kris stated the dog could have turned on your son. There are many reasons why dogs do this - the goat got too aggressive to the dog, went too close to food, the dog was not feeling well and a whole host of other issues. Now we all have bad days but normally a dog will just either bark or give a slight nip. When they cross the line and harm the animal that is not O.K. and then the dog has become a problem. Also, if it is a large dog you (guard livestock dog) you really have to think about what damage they can do to the humans on the farm.
I hope your goat will mend 100 percent.
As for the milking increase also great advice from Kris - that is how I do it around here when I had a milking herd. I find also there is a herbal formula from Farmstead that is made to increase the milk production - totally natural, does not change the taste of the milk and has no withdrawal effect - work the dollars... Good luck
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
|
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 03 2009 : 06:00:23 AM
Hello, Jennifer. I am so happy to have another goat milker here. I was beginning to think I was the only one. I have 6 Lamancha and a Nubian that have all just kidded the end of April. I am already having to milk them all because some of the kids will nurse just on one side. And they are all huge.
Is this her first time to kid? Has she been milked before? And the kid should be almost ready to start weaning soon. I wean mine between 6 & 8 weeks. At 2 weeks I put kids up at night and milk does in the morning. Right now I don't need much milk so I will wait til I get more customers, then start doing that. So try putting the kid in a separate place overnight: another stall or a dog crate works good. Then milk in the motning and put them back together. Eventually she will tell you when it's time, too. Then either sell the kid or take it as far away as you can and wean it. Then you will have all the milk you need. What kind of goat is she? And if you have any more questions, just ask. I love talking goats!
And I am so sorry about the dog attacking the goat. That's not a good thing. You may have to get rid of the dog. Next time might be a whole lot worse. And I'm sure you don't want to lose the goat. Is she going to be ok? Once a dog does that I think it will try again and be more agressive. Thank goodness your son was there to save her. But the dog could have turned on him and might even later.
Welcome to the forum and hope to hear more from you and your critters. Where do you live?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
