[sokel]

What a day
Seeing as the kids are away from mums we put them into separate fields today
kids down the bottom and adults at the top so they couldn't see each other 
Well after lunch we got a call to say the kids where out and playing on the foot  bridge over the river 
rushed down to find someone had opened the gate and let them out 
rounded 18 kids up and much to their disgust got them home in one piece 

Then I stripped the Milking machine down and cleaned it all and decided to milk with it tonight , 3 adults had never been milked with it ,2 where great the other a loony !!!

Then the Boers, 1 has   no kids on her now and she was full to bursting with milk so tried hand milking  No chance  so tied her up and 2 held her while the other stuck the machine onto her  just lets say I have never seen a goat walk on its front legs until today but we did get her milked even if it was only 3 pints just lets hope she either drys up or gets used to being milked quick
Def time for a drink

[happygolucky]

Wowowo, what a day, wonder who let them out?
 

[Anke]

   Indeed, but is the day over already?    
 
I have found that 1st kidders actually get used to the milking machine quicker than to hand milking. I guess it is easier to hold them down while the machine does its thing, and they can't knock the bucket over... (and you normally desperately need the milk at that time!)
 
Have you got them on a stand?

[sokel]

Well snowdrop was used to hand milking as she was a maiden milker  but had never been on the machine, her sister Bluebell has only been  milked by hand this year and is slowly getting better although was great with the Machine today.
Amber has never been on a machine and is 4 years old she was a right Cowbag
the Boers well all I can say is it was an experience 
Still have to go out and do the last hay and water check and feed the kids and lambs
I have a feeling it could be a school girl that let them out as she often stands down there when the goats are out and she wasn't at school today 

[Lesley Silvester]

Maybe you should have a quiet word with her. Rather than accuse her, you could say that someone had let them out and, as you know she likes to visit them, would she keep and eye out for anyone opening the gate as they got out and could have been hurt.

I hope it was just your Boer who was awkward. I hope I'll be milking my Boer cross next year. Have you thought of entering her for BGT as the only goat who can walk on her front legs?

[sokel]

Yes think I will have to have a word as there is tractors come down there

Anke yes we have a milking stand but the Boer will not go onto it , TBH there isn't a lot she will do if you want her to do it but plenty she will do when you don't want her too 
This is the same Boer that decided it would be fun to take her new kids through the river the first time they got out 

[little blue]

Well after lunch we got a call to say the kids where out and playing on the foot  bridge over the river 

"Trip Trap, Trip Trap, who's that walking over MY bridge?!"   tell them a bedtime story of the three billy goats gruff!! Little b*ggers!

We have to hand milk as Geraldine likes to take a walk round half way through, in case she's missing something! Can just imagine her dragging a machine right round, spraying milk as she goes 

[Anke]

This is the same Boer that decided it would be fun to take her new kids through the river the first time they got out 

What? Goat through water? Mine won't come out of the shed (or back in) when there is a puddle right outside and they have to step through it...
 
Have fun milking her!

[sokel]

We couldnt belive it, If it had not been that all 3 of them where wet we would have thought they had got over some other way

forgot to say yes we do have a milking stand just not easy to get her onto it 

[jaykay]

What a day indeed!

I think MGMs approach to the girl sounds like a good one - if she understands the dangers to the kids and feels she is helping 'protect' them, she'll be more likely to behave sensibly 

[sokel]

Spoke to the girl today and she said that there was some kids hanging around when she came along the river and the goats where already out
She could be telling the truth as there is quite a few holiday lets in the area
She has asked if she can come and help with the animals when she isnt at school  I said she is welcome at weekends as long as her parents come to see us first

[jaykay]

Sounds sensible, catching up with the parents first 

What age is she? If she's doing her exams at the moment, she'll be nearly finished and only in school for revision sessions and the actual exams.

[sokel]

No she is only about 13-14 she does love animals and always talking to the horses and goats but apart from some chickens in the garden and dogs they have no space for any outdoor animals

[Lesley Silvester]

Spoke to the girl today and she said that there was some kids hanging around when she came along the river and the goats where already out
She could be telling the truth as there is quite a few holiday lets in the area
She has asked if she can come and help with the animals when she isnt at school  I said she is welcome at weekends as long as her parents come to see us first

It would be good for her and make her even more likely to watch out for them. I'm all in favour of getting kids involved with animals. Hope her parents feel the same way. Much better than having her spend all her time on the computer like so many of them.

[Daisys Mum]

Mm good luck my next door neighbour who is about 13 came to the door one day to ask if she could help with the animals, told her yes I start at 7.30 in the morning. Haven't seen her since