July Goat Adventures: Bottle Babies, Clipping, Milk Testing, and More
July was a full month here at Bootsy Garden, and it started off with a pretty exciting adventure. We picked up our first bottle babies! We brought home Twin Pears Paper Heart and a little wether who was originally named Sandy. It did not take long before his name changed to Uncle Baby Billy (yes, from The Righteous Gemstones) because it just fit his goofy personality. Honestly, he is the sweeeetest little goat I have ever met. We were not planning to keep him long term, but of course we fell in love and now Baby Billy has earned a permanent spot in the herd.
The first couple of weeks of July were kind of a blur. We were busy planning for even more new arrivals, this time from TUA Farms. Our junior does, Jones and Hali, officially joined us this month. Before they came home, I built a full quarantine area with a nice shelter, fresh bedding, and everything they would need to be comfortable while they settled in. I did the project by myself, and while the fencing is not exactly Instagram-worthy, it works! I think this pen will also make a great little nursery space in the future when I need to separate babies.
This month we did not get into a routine, but rather stuck to the one we had been building. Milking, chores, and goat care started to feel steady, and that made a big difference in how smoothly everything went.
We also clipped the entire herd for show season. This was no small task. It took about three days, with two goats clipped each day and touch ups on the third day. Whew, clipping goats is a lot of work, but it was worth it to see them all looking polished and ready.
Another exciting first for July was completing our very first milk test! I loved it and thought it was such a fun experience, but let me give one big piece of advice: do not schedule a milk test on a Friday. Getting everything to the post office before the samples spoiled was a serious challenge. I highly recommend scheduling for a Sunday or Monday instead to avoid the weekend rush.
We also had plans to attend two ADGA shows in July, but unfortunately, we only made it to one. Shortly after our first show, the dreaded coughing bug hit our barn. After seeing the vet, and between runny noses and some less-than-perfect breathing, I did not feel comfortable taking the goats to another event. Losing out on those entry fees was not fun, but keeping the herd healthy was the right choice.
👉 If you want to read more about our first goat show experience, check out Our First Goat Show: What We Learned, Loved, and Wished We Packed. And if you are prepping for a show yourself, do not miss our guide: What to Pack for Your First Goat Show: The Ultimate Checklist.
Even though we could not travel, I loved following along with the National Show this month through the live stream. It was incredible to watch, and I learned so much just by paying attention to how the judges evaluated the goats. I cannot wait until 2027 when we plan to attend our very first National Show in person.
We also published our first official kidding schedule. Of course, now that I look at it, I already want to make a few changes, but it feels so good to have a plan out there for the future of our herd.
Toward the end of July, we were hustling to get the farm in order before family came to visit at the start of August. We organized, cleaned, and tucked everything away, and I think the place looked pretty amazing when all was said and done.
Other than that, July was really about settling into our routines and making progress on the herd. I officially switched to once-a-day milking with Demi and Butter. Butter is in the process of drying off, but Demi is not there yet, mostly because she still lets her big doeling sneak a few sips now and then.
All in all, July was full of projects, firsts, and plenty of sweet goat snuggles. I cannot wait to see what August brings!
