Week Four: Settling Into Our Routine with Dairy Goats

Week four has been all about getting into a rhythm and I think we’re finally there. The biggest win this week? We figured out the mosquito situation. I’m not sure why I hesitated to use UltraBoss since I already had it on hand, but once I finally did, it made a huge difference. I dosed 0.5cc per 20lbs of body weight and applied it down their backs using a syringe. Super simple. The mosquitoes aren’t bothering the goats anymore, which makes chores so much more pleasant for all of us.

Another game-changer this week was the arrival of my second milk stand. Having both stands set up means I can feed both girls at the same time and hand milk one while the machine does the other. It’s sooo much better. Everything feels smoother, faster, and more relaxed. The babies even come into the milk room now and lay on the ground while I milk. It’s seriously adorable and has become one of my favorite parts of the day.

Honestly, there’s not a ton of major updates this week, which is a good thing. It means we’re settling into our routine of morning and evening milkings, feeding, cleaning, and spending time together. The temperatures are rising, so water has been a big focus. We finally ran a hose out to the goat dry lot area, which has been a major upgrade. I’m no longer lugging heavy buckets back and forth multiple times a day. We also got the door installed on the goat shelter, which helps keep things cooler and gives them a nice shaded spot to relax during the hottest part of the afternoon.

Behind the scenes, I’ve also been dialing in their nutrition and mineral support. After doing some research and chatting with other goat owners in areas with similar soil conditions, I decided to supplement with a few additional minerals. Our well water is high in iron, which can block the absorption of important nutrients like copper and zinc, so I’ve started offering both as free-choice loose minerals. I also added selenium since our soil is deficient here in Southern Oregon and I want to make sure the girls are covered.

And then there’s kelp. I wasn’t sure if it was totally necessary at first, but after reading about its benefits, especially during wildfire season, it felt like a smart addition. Kelp is full of micronutrients and antioxidants and can help with respiratory health during smoky stretches of summer, so we’ve added that to their mineral buffet too.

So while it might not look like much is happening from the outside, this week has been full of little adjustments that are really helping things run more smoothly. Things are finally starting to feel less chaotic and more like a flow.