#nubians

Clotho was Very Upset that I trimed her hooves for the first time. She kicked me. A lot. But i was forgiven after multiple scratches like the peasant I am

Little Cassi (Cassiopeia) has such expressive eyes.. I also Luv her white eye liner🥰😆 she's the one that runs to hide under the table because she doesn't want to go outside. "House Goats belong Inside Mama, you should know that"

Murdock isn't their full sib, but he had to be taken as a bottle baby and is doing very well now. He's a sweetheart and has apparently house trained himself!

When I fed him yesterday morning, he marched through the house to the back door and waited for me to open it for him. Because good House Goats potty outside, obviously. I was so stunned and trying not to trip over the girls Hurricane Hangry Laps that I couldn't pet on him, but my cooing and praise seemed to be good enough cuz he did it again last night and this morning!

Trying out a new hay feeding technique for the girls now that I've moved them over to where they'll kid, and....I am not surprised that Onyx managed to get onto the bale.

Anyone with goats knows the constant battle of hay wastage. I normally use some homemade bale rings for square bales, but those don't last long when you've got 15 does in a paddock.

Bellies are growing! Compared to last year when she was at this stage of pregnancy with a set of 6# twins, Daisy's 40 lbs. heavier.

Previously I talked about Wise Farm Java. This week is all about one of her daughters.

Tinúviel is just...something else. From day one this girl has been nothing but trouble (and I mean that both affectionately and 'sometimes-I-could-just-scream'). She's very much like her sire (same Oberhasli buck as Daisy, Onyx, and Baklava, despite how Alpine she looks...) personality-wise. Always scheming, and able to get in and out where she pleases. Thankfully, she's a bit too chunky currently to do much, but when not pregnant, she's a jumper. Something that didn't resolve with the development of her udder like I had hoped...

She was born Thanksgiving weekend in 2021 (while I was gone, no-less), and I believe was one of a set of triplets, but was the only one who survived. From day one, her and Java were attached at the hip. They've got a bond unlike any I've seen between a doe and her kids before. It used to be to the point where both her and Java would scream any time they lost sight of each other, but once Tinúviel had her own kids, they're less attached.

She's also the biggest drama queen I've ever met, and since I own goats, that's saying something. Prime example being her "collapsing" in the stanchion over some small offense.

Tinúviel freshened for the first time in 2023 with twins, and I already love what her udder was then. She miscarried in 2024, so has been dry this past year, and ultimately ended up having some repro issues (cystic ovaries) that made her cycle every single week this fall.

And she's a screamer. Do not recommend.

Finally did get her pregnant however, and she's due for December 31st. I'm really looking forward to seeing her 2F udder for sure. My biggest hope is that her teats expand a bit. Her sire did not throw good teats, and hers were itty-bitty and very hard to milk in her FF, so I'm hoping for some more development this next time.

This week's spotlight will focus on one of my favorite does (because you can't pick just ONE favorite). One that will always have a home here.

Wise Farm Java is the final doe from my set of triplets that have essentially founded my herd. It's hard to believe she's already seven (8 in 2025!) years old. She's also got one more freshening under her belt than her sisters and will be coming in as a 7F this go around.

Java is a doe that has seen and done a lot of things. Her first freshening she rejected her kid and ended up bonding with me instead, which was both a blessing and a curse. (We're all familiar with goats and separation anxiety, right?) She's been my go-to gal for any sort of events where I'm tasked with bringing an animal to teach others about. I've taught so many people how to milk with her, and she's been to several different schools and 4th of July events to teach people about dairy goats.

It's very much a family affair with her. She has a grade daughter (next week's spotlight), that when she was little, I brought her to an elementary school to talk to students about dairy goats. And Java attended a RAGBRAI stop this year with this year's daughter! (And apparently was bored with the entire thing as her photo shows...

The past couple years have also brought a unique challenge for Java. In 2023, she had to have one of her toes (back left, outer toe) removed due to a very persistent case of hoof rot that we couldn't get to resolve. It's changed her stance a bit as she compensates, but otherwise, you'd never know she's missing it.

In terms of mammary structure, she is the easiest milker I've ever known, and milks down to absolutely nothing. Also very creamy milk, I've noticed. We're definitely lacking in the attachments department, but she's a phenomenal girl on the stand in other areas.

I'm looking forward to freshening her daughter in the spring and seeing what else this reliable old gal keeps giving me the next couple years before I retire her from the kidding pen.

This time we're doing a double feature. These two are due December 2nd, so may as well just do them together.

The black and sandy doe is Wise Farm Wisteria, who is affectionately known around the farm as Squeaks. The black/white doe is Oreo. They're two of a set of triplet does from my founding doe. Their sister will follow next week. Both are 6Fs, (born 7/2017) which is crazy to think I've had them this long. It feels like only a couple years ago they were little kids.

Starting off strong with Squeaks, I'm curious as to what she'll give me this time. (Hoping for 2-3 kids as she's put on so much weight since breeding season concluded, and I'd love for it to be kids rather than flab).

This year she had buck/doe twins, and I retained both and used the buckling on a couple grade does this year. I really loved her doe kid as well and am hoping to see her mammary system on her when she freshens in the spring.

Oreo is a doe that I'm tentatively curious to keep a doe kid out of. The past two years she's only had buck kids and they've turned out really nicely and grown well, so I'd love to see what she'd do with a doe kid. I've got pros and cons about her udder, but would also like to see what some of my bucks could do with her. I'm already thinking another set of trips for her, but these old does are hard to read...

Photos:

Top: Squeaks 2024 posed

Middle center: Squeaks 2024 udder

Middle set: Squeaks with twins at a month old and then 2024 daughter Boots at 2 months.