Well, we are OK for the moment. We have 8.5 acres. The pasture is not all of that but we are expanding it for spring. Right now there is not much to be eaten on the ground, being as it is all covered in snow! We have a lot of hay in the barn. In summer we are going to split the pasture and rotate. Since the majority of our goats are small, and since part of our pasture is in brush, I think we should be fine. If it seemed to be troublesome, I'm sure we could sell some, but I hope it doesn't come to that. We had terrible flooding this year. I hope not next year....
Angora Goats From Rescue
We had almost enough yearly -it had just come by March and the grass wasn't here then to know about it! I know what 'sere' refers to now... almost 1 1/2 inches between about May 20 and October 20...it was awful.
Hey, Moxon. Do you think they were in with a billy? That might explain the pungency.
Oh, yes they were in with a billy. Possibly several billies. And there is a chance the adult female could be bred. So we don't know and won't know until 155 days from whenever she was confiscated (I am supposed to be getting that date soon). If she doesn't pop out anything by then, she's not pregnant!
That could certainly explain part of the smell, but sleeping in their own excrement on mud also explains part of it. Our single billy goat, Ramses, has his own "special" aroma that is not quite as foul - it is very goaty and strong, but doesn't have the overlay of fecal aroma these girls have. Their underside fleece and fleece around the bum is very bad....black and matted....and highly pungent. I cut a bunch of it off the adult female last night and had to keep turning my head to take breaths because I had to be right "in there" to be trimming by flashlight. Then this morning, my dark brown gloves I had been wearing were completely white. I'm thinking salt/ammonium deposits?
First bath night is tomorrow night after my exam. A good way to wind down! LOL!
I've have my grandpas girlfriends
goat a bath and he loved it but that
was in the summer on a 90 degree
day ha ha ha
Dominique
Isn't it goats that hate water? Hate! Hate! Hate! Water.
to funny about the names.. I vote Wubbie. that's what I call my blanket.
Hatehatehate!!That's goats...
Yes, they despise getting wet. Oh well, they'll have to put up with it this time...
You can hook a garden hose to your washer and use hot water like in the garage or a back porch or something. Then bring them in to dry. Even washing them, if their hair is that bad, will probably still stink. But at least it will be clean.
They are adorable!
I wonder if tomato juice would work? Works on skunk.
Now there's a thought...same type of excretion, same type of neutralizer...Don't want pictures of the process though, they'd pull the whole forum before we could explain...
So, you have your hands full Claire. All of them need to be treated, bathed and all that.
Are you cutting their coats down? Those poor babies had to live with all that yuck (technical term) on them! They will be better in no time. Is it common for farm animals to get lice?
Is the treatment process difficult?
Come to think of it won't chickens help with that? Healthy ones, I mean?
Chickens eat them? I do see chickens sitting on the backs of the pygme goats at a friends house but I thought they were just getting a ride!
You could try that urine/organic matter neuralizing enzyme on them, couldn't you?
Is it wise to apply enzymes directly to goats? (sorry)
The one I use is actually a mix of microbial enzymes that break down organic matter--you mix it with warm water like yeast. It says you can use it on pets that have been "skunked" so it would probably be safe. At the top is a search feature for "Special Cleaning"--hit the drop down and go to "Skunk" then hit go. Worked on MythBusters:0)
http://www.odormute.com/pet_index.html
This message was edited Dec 10, 2008 6:24 PM
Well, hey now, I feel much better...
Here's a skunk wash from one of our local TV weathermen. I love your goats - can't wait to see the bath and the 'after' pictures!
http://www.10news.com/lorensfieldnotes/173139/detail.html
Isn't tomato juice ok? I thought it would be organic and safe if there is no salt or additives. I used it on a cat once. Worked like a charm. I also helped to use it on a malmut dog. The white parts of the dog stayed pink for a month or so though. So maybe not good for angora unless you want a pink sweater ^_^
I wasn't complaining -just having visions,lol.
OK, here comes the bath event!
First, the first dirty goat! Note the water is relatively clear at this point. We put a towel in the bottom of the tub so she would not slip around.
WHAT are you DOING to me???!!!
This was about 5 minutes into the bath. Note the color of the water now....
Post rinse, it is necessary to poop in the tub.
I don't believe it....she's a WHITE goat!!!
Now who needs a bath?!
Are you blowing her dry?
She even smells good now, and we used special lice shampoo the shelter gave us. She is so clean! She got to wear the dog's coat for tonight while she finishes drying out in the basement. Tomorrow she'll go back out with her sisters and potential mom.
It was a long and difficult job, but somebody had to do it! We trimmed her feet too, and pulled out a lot of embedded junk out of her wool. She looks maaahvelous!
Yes, that orange thing in the last picture has a hose that comes off it that Kelly is using in the other picture. It is a high powered dryer from the shelter that they let us use.
Can't she sleep with you now that she is clean?
Can I have her? Huh? Please?
Sure you can have her Catscan! I have 4 of them, so I can share! When are you coming to pick her up? :-P
Due to her propensity for pooping in the tub, and pooping in the dog kennel she is currently relaxing in for the night, I think she might have a tendency to poop in the bed. So, no, she can't sleep with me. But she got some kisses, and she never would have got those before the bath. peeee-ewwww!
That is so cute!!
I can't wait to get all the others done so they can finally all be clean and go meet the other goats! She is cute Harmony - she is like a little teddy bear animal!
Pooping from pure joy at being clean! That happens when animals are so happy they can't stand it. Outstanding job dear Claire!!! uh oh I sense coveting happenin now.
Great pictures and great outcome...one down...
White! who Knew? She is beautiful Claire!
Its like a livestock barber shop!
Nice job. Coveting, me? Maybe.....
She looks good. I have one of those blowers it is called a "Cadet" (?) and is used on blow drying dogs.
Wren, do you do grooming?
I have long hair dog-a triple lay coat-do I do grooming yes. I get two of them, get them when I get my first terv who I showed and that was one of the first thing I get. It is great for drying the undercoat of my dog. though I have only washed Andre a couple of times-I get smart and pay others to do it. LOL
This message was edited Dec 11, 2008 8:37 AM
