[reedos]

Title says it all really - well kind of says it, they aren't actually on our field yet as I need to finish the fencing, but that should be done this week. We had to collect them slightly earlier than planned as the woman who had them was getting rid of them sooner than she planned and the butcher was calling!

Anyway they are currently at John The Goat Man's place (our mentor, who I think is quite happy as he can keep an eye on us as we learn to milk them before he lets us loose on our own).

Polly we're finding is quite happy to be milked once we get her on the stand but takes some persuasion to get there - Nicky is easier (slightly) to get there, but kicks anytime you go near her udder - patience, a bit of gentle persuasion, regular handling and time, are according to John (who is also John The Beeman - but that's next years adventure), all she needs. Today I was ever so proud of myself, had managed quite well for my first time milking solo, when she decided to kick with her non kicking leg, the other was being gently held by me cue buckets flying milk everywhere and me cursing

[little blue]

congratulations  

[Cinderhills]

How exciting.  We will of course need photos when they arrive. 

[Lesley Silvester]

You have made a good decisions.  Goats are fun.  What breed are they? 

[Penninehillbilly]

Well done and welcome to the goat world 

[reedos]

Polly is 75% Golden guernsey and 25% British Toggenburg

Niccy is 75% Golden Guernsey 25% Saanen, she's the one who likes to dance on the milking stand - although I think I might have cracked it with her the last couple of days.

[salopman]

nice pics

[Cinderhills]

Ahhh, lovely.  Thanks for posting them.

[Lesley Silvester]

Beautiful goats.  I'm sure you're going to enjoy them.

[Roxy]

They are lovely!!

[tizaala]

Well done, they look lovely, tempt her onto the stand with some food in a bucket, and brush her all over with a soft brush while shes eating, eventualy she will start to trust you more, things will improve when you get her home and can handle her more, she will come round given a bit of time.
One of ours won't leave the milk stand until she has had the udder cream on then you have to take the overnight crust out of the corner of her eyes and brush her., then you must give her a pat on the neck and rub her ears before she will move. they love routine.

[Cinderhills]

One of ours won't leave the milk stand until she has had the udder cream on then you have to take the overnight crust out of the corner of her eyes and brush her., then you must give her a pat on the neck and rub her ears before she will move. they love routine.

I love that!

[Anke]

Hi, very nice goats! Are they registered (Herd book)?. If you are breeding them to a registered Golden Guernsey billy you are getting quite close to Brtish Guernsey, and there aren't many of them around!

Interesting to see that your 25% BT still has the faint swiss markings - I am just about to start to breed up to BG, using my BT goatling and a GG male. (I also have pure GG's). But it will be years until I get there....

Where in the country are you?

[reedos]

The previous owner didn't register them for some reason - we know the parentage and the grandparents of one of them but think they are too old to register now. Niccy is 5 and Polly 3. I've e-mailed the British Goat society to ask if it's too late.
The plan is to mate them with a GG male from John The Goat Man's Herd - I think his herd is called Goxhill Herd and hopefully in time get British Guernsey's.

We are in North Lincolnshire

[Anke]

Only the breeder can register goats in the herd book, and only until they are 2 years old. After that it's only the identification register, and that would be a long route t BG's - but best to discuss with the BGS.

It is a shame that sometimes breeders for whatever reason do not register their goats, yes there is an initial financial outlay (but it is not much), however in the longterm it really increases the value of any goat (and that of her offspring!)

Have fun with your girls (and with the milk that they produce).