Tag: Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats

Fibery Goodness Module Four Yarn

Fibery Goodness Module Four Yarn

Posted on by Melisa

Module Four Yarn.  Another spiral yarn with some added construction.

Mod 4 yarn beaded spiral

I chose freshwater pearls strung on a silk thread plied with the hand spun 15.5 micron merino single that I have used in similar construction spiral yarns.

I have never spun a yarn with beads before so it was interesting even learning how to string the beads, let alone how to spin with them as well.

Mod 4 yarn beaded Spiral

 

 

This yarn is so very pretty, elegant and super soft.  I am really pleased with it and can’t wait to make more beaded spiral yarns.

I was up late about 1:30 am spinning this yarn.  I could hear the goats starting to call me in the baby monitor as I hadn’t been out to throw them any hay that evening as I was way too immersed in spinning with these pearls.  I decided to run out quick and throw the hay, check on Bernie an expectant goat mom who was pregnatn for her first time, and come back in to string the last of the beads on and finish the spinning.  Out I went, threw the hay, checked on everyone, locked up the kids that I am starting to wean, checked on Bernie and there were no babies.  Came back inside and started to string the beads on.  Was only in for a few minutes and Bernie started to scream.  Now mind you, this goat screams all the time.

Bernie and 10 hour old twins

I don’t pay attention most times as she always screams.  But this was definitely different.  Her tail tendons and ligaments had loosened off completely and she had been super quiet which for her was an out of body experience, so the screaming I took as she was in labor.  I only had about 30 beads to string so I calmly threaded them on and put the beads up high and walked out to the barn just in time for the arrival of twin does.  One had the sack off her head and was already crying and trying to stand.  The other was stuck with the sack on her head, and Bernie standing at the other end of the pen looking at me in terror.  I am evil.  She appears to be terrified of me for some reason although I told her yesterday we WILL be friends and she gave me that wide eyed you have got to be joking look again!!  I grabbed a towel and went in the pen to get the sack off the babies head as I could hear her sucking it in and about suffocating.  Once it was off and she was breathing and crying normal like, I stepped back and Bernie ran past me to attend to her new babies. I helped her dry them off a bit more, checked and saw that I had two girls and left them alone since it was a nice warm evening and both kids were trying to stand already.  I have included a photo of Bernie with the twins at 10 hours old.

I would have finished the yarn before bed but by that time it was 2 am.  I opted to finish the spinning and setting the yarn the next morning….or should I say later that same morning.

Yes.  From merino, fresh water pearls and silk out to the barn to hay, dirt, amniotic fluid and blood.  This is my life.

 

2014 Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat Kids are here……

2014 Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat Kids are here……

Posted on by Melisa

We have been busy for the last 6 weeks.  We have had 13 kids born here on Alba Ranch so far with two more does set to kid soon.  Here are a few photos of the kids for your fun and pleasure.

Carmel Apple Acres Jill’s Doe kid

 

Rosie (Chili Pepper’s Doe kid)

 

 

Chili Pepper is a FF this year and had a single doe.  Her doe is Rosie.

Jill is a third time mom and had twins yet again this year.  She finally gave me a doe and a buck pair.

 

Amber gave me triplets again this year same as last year.  Except this year it was one buck and 2 does.

Aveta is a second freshener this year and had a lovely set of twins.  She is the one that had the BLUE doe.

 

Smut is a FF this year and she had triplets right out the gate just like her mom always does.  She gave me a buck and 2 tiny does with all of them still alive and growing nicely.

2 of Amber’s Triplets
Aveta’s Doe Kid
Alba Ranch Smut’s triplets

First Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat Kids Born on Alba Ranch

Posted on by Melisa
Jeff, the new buck

We have had a few new arrivals.  Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat Kids!!  Ana had triplets on January 9, 2013.

She had been locked in the barn in the kidding pen for about 3.5 weeks by that time as I swear she was going to explode much sooner.  Temperatures were really low with snow and high winds so very glad we had them inside.  There were two bucks and one doe born.

Smut, the new doe

The third kid born, second buck, was weak from the start and unable to hold his head up.  He died about 2.5 hours later.

The remaining doe and buck are growing and moving around well.  Doe is a little thin and I can feel her bones.  Buck is fat and plump so you know who has been at the milk bar the most.

The doe has a black smudge smut stain on her nose like she stuck it in a coal bin.

Twins together in the hay stack

Aren’t they just too cute?  all fuzzy, small, spotted, speckled and darn cute!  There is NOTHING cuter than a baby goatie.

Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats have an average butterfat of 7-10% and given that whole milk is about 4% that gives you an idea of how creamy and wonderful their milk is.  They are on par for similar taste and creaminess of a Jersey milk cow.  I can not drink cow’s milk but I can drink goat milk.  I have had at least 5 different breeds or crosses of full size dairy goats in my time and they all had some of that “goat taste and smell”.  Many were very milk, but I could still taste it and I am very sensitive to that smell. I would use the milder goat milk in cheese and cooking but never drank it straight.  I drink the Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goat milk straight all the time.  Charlie teases me that my 24 oz coffee is a minimum of 12 oz goat milk and 12 oz coffee.  He says that he has seen darker tea before. ha!  I can’t wait to see how these little ones develop.  Their momma is one of my favorite milkers, so easy to milk and gentle on my weak and sore hands.

I have been wondering about names.  I have been kicking the names around of “Smut and Jeff”.  What do you think?  leave me a comment and tell me your name ideas and what you think of my idea.