Jumping the Moon Dairy - the next chapter

Wise move. I wouldn't trust her with Alondra either. Her actions screamed irresponsible! You want a responsible person to take her. Not a flake.

Good decision!

She isn't the right partner for your girl....nor worthy of her...

That is too bad, the animal situation sounded really good for a trained LGD. Goats to watch over, a pup to educate. But the lady does sound a bit flaky; 3 hours is too long a drive? Did she not think about that before? And who WOULDN'T drive that relatively short distance for a proven dog?

I guess your goats don't need as much headroom as you do, I think that actually makes it easier for you, no huge pressure to get that barn down and repaired yesterday so the goats have somewhere to stay.

I feel for you, I wish I could do something useful

You have a lot on you right now. It won't make any of it go away, but have you considered a hot soaking bath and a glass.....make that a bottle of wine?

Up to 90 kids...breaking 100 will be a snap. It has been a busy 2 days around here, tomorrow I am going to take most of the kids to my friend to raise. Did I mention how hard it is for me to pull these babies from their mamas? I have does looking at every new kid born hoping that it is hers and they have been doing this for weeks. Next year I have to find another way to do this. I'm a softie.

@Baymule That bottle of wine sounds like a good idea...if only I had time.

babsbag said:

Did I mention how hard it is for me to pull these babies from their mamas? I have does looking at every new kid born hoping that it is hers and they have been doing this for weeks. Next year I have to find another way to do this. I'm a softie.

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As a dairy -- STRICTLY a dairy -- this is what has to be done. I know how hard it is with only mine, even when keeping prior year doelings they stay together as a family unit. It must be more than "hard" for those you have had for several seasons. I've had to wean animals for years, goats, mini horses & donkeys, it's like your own kids! I will say that my goats had a stronger desire to stay together after weaning than the equine. I feel sad for you with this part of the dairy BUT...it is a diary!

It doesn't help a lot but, I feel our pain. Do you provide milk for the kids or just colostrum? Your friend bottle feeds?? A lamb bar, etc.

I watched a report (Utube, TV, ??) about a dairy in India. They had an amazing (gov't funded) set up!! The does were in a barn just for kidding, cameras and attendants 24/7. As the doe began kidding, attendants went and collected the kids which were taken, cleaned, dried, fed...never any more contact with the doe...all of whom were milked at once, on schedules, etc. Very hands on & well cared for but kidding was ONLY to bring in milk. Another barn had hundreds of bottle babies, another was for the milking line-up, etc. Those does had NO mothering to do. The animals were well cared for, etc. but it was strictly a dairy. It was a pristine set-up. India uses almost 100% goat milk for their country, few cattle.

My friend uses buckets for the babies and sells them ASAP. I could never do the bottle raising and the all the rest alone. Goats do stay together as a family unit for life if they have the chance, that is what makes this so hard for me.


There is nothing pristine about my barn this winter. In 10 years of living here I have never seen this much mud. I usually keep it under control with straw but I can't get the straw spread out in the collapsed side of the barn without belly crawling in there so that isn't happening. I also had to cut slits in the cover so rain wouldn't pool as I was worried about the barn collapsing even more. There are some places in the field that are literally a foot deep in mud, I stepped in it so I know first hand. I also pulled a goat kid out of the mire.

I am so frustrated with dogs right now I could cry. Alondra has been living in the house for about two weeks and she is good. She gets a little too interested in the kitties sometimes but nothing drastic. I have someone that came to meet her and likes her and I think it will be a good fit. She is looking for a puppy to pair with her too. Alondra will be here for a few more weeks as she is waiting to get spayed, much cheaper here than where the other person lives.

Mia is in the barn of course, never a problem...

I use food dishes for the dogs that hang on the fence, and the last few days she has snarled at a goat that was on the other side of the fence looking at her while she ate. No big deal really, but she has never been food protective. I make a mental note.

Today it is raining (when isn't it?) and the goats are crowded in the holding pen waiting to be milked. The dogs are in there too. Sometimes I will hear a dog protest if they get stepped on as they are usually laying down chilling while the goats are being pushy goats. I hear Mia do this more than a few times. I figure it is wet and miserable and the babies are playing too close to her. But again...I make a mental note wondering what her deal is.

After milking I feed the dogs in their normal places and they all eat ok. Most of the goats are elsewhere so peace reigns. They are all done and Sigueme walks near Mia's dish, which is empty, (and near the gate) and Mia growls at Sigueme. Sig is smart enough to give her the space she wants so nothing happens but I did take notice. I opened the gate and let Sig through and Mia was fine since I was there. I gave her a verbal scolding for being such a jerk.

I drag a bale of straw into the barn to spread on the ground. The dogs love fresh straw. Mia jumps up on the bale while it is still tied so I ask her to get off, she doesn't. (she is an LGD so of course she doesn't). So I gently push on her rear end trying to get her to move off of the bale and she growls at me.!!!! Not ok !!!! I give her another verbal scolding and ask her what that was all about and she hangs her head and gets off of the bale. I spread the hay and the dogs get all cozy and as I leave the barn I hear her growling at a goat that is probably trying to share her straw.

I have no idea what to do at this point. I am not comfortable getting growled at. When she and Alondra starting fighting Francis had Alondra penned down (a bluff) and Mia attacked her. From that point on I can't say if there is an instigator or not but I am sure confused.

I guess my next step is to take Mia to the vet and see if anything shows up. The day after she had the first fight with Alondra she was having a seizure and my first guess was that it was from a fever, which she ended up not having. The vet thought that maybe it was a pain response. While she was staying in the house for a few weeks after the fight she had at least one more. Now I have to wonder if they are related to her grouchy attitude. Could she have a brain tumor?

My first LGD (Sigueme) is perfect. Why can't they all be like her?

Really sorry to read that you are having such issues with your dogs, hope you can find out what the problem is and get it resolved soon