Week Two with Goats: Rookie Mistakes, Milking Wins, and Goat Drama
It has officially been another full week with goats at Bootsy Garden, and I am happy to report that I can now hand-milk a goat without it taking a full hour. That might not sound like a huge win, but if you know, you know. Hand milking Nigerian Dwarf goats takes practice, and I am finally starting to get into a rhythm.
Of course, that does not mean everything has gone perfectly. We are still learning, and there have definitely been a few rookie mistakes. One morning, I unevenly milked Butter. I had used the machine on one side first and should have left it on the other side a little longer. I thought she was done and did not realize she was so lopsided until she stepped out of the milk parlor into the sun. It was very obvious at that point. I had to convince her to come back onto the stand so I could finish milking her out properly.
Butter is the type of goat who, once the milk machine is done and she is empty, wants off the stand immediately. No waiting. No chatting. Just done. I have been working on gently making her wait longer each day so she does not rush me quite so dramatically at the end. Progress is slow, but we are getting there.
Demi, on the other hand, is a completely different story. She will not get on the milk stand at all. I have to lift her up every single time. She is not small either. What makes it funny is that she has no problem leaping up onto a play table in the pasture that is at least 30 inches tall, which is way higher than the stand. But apparently, she just refuses to jump on anything that requires cooperation. Once she is up and eating, she does great and stays calm. We just need to build her a ramp and save my back.
Another morning, I made the classic beginner goat owner mistake of forgetting to open the valve on the milk machine before pulling off the inflations. I had turned it off after milking and forgot to open it again. When I went to remove the cups, milk poured out everywhere. I had not realized how much was left in the lines because I thought that the udder was already done. Lesson learned.
I am still a little worried about Demi’s milk supply. Her kid is still nursing, but if the kid starts to wean, I am afraid Demi might start drying up if I am not milking her often enough. With my full-time job, mornings feel like a race. I am milking, checking udders, and then sprinting out the door to make it to work. It is a lot, but honestly, I am loving it.
The doelings are really starting to warm up to us, which is probably my favorite part of this week. Annie will now let us pet her without running away. She is still cautious but clearly learning that we are safe. ZZ is still a wild little thing. She zooms around the pasture like a tiny rocket and makes us laugh every time. She is slowly becoming more friendly, but so far, she is impossible to catch in a photo. Every time I try, she zips out of frame.
Two weeks in and this new homestead goat adventure is already full of growth, mistakes, small victories, and lots of laughs. I am learning more every day and loving every minute of it.
