Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The Goat Lady


On one of my previous post a commenter asked for advice on goats. One thing is for sure, I love to give advice. But lately I am feeling like my goat knowledge could fit on the head of a pin. I have had goats almost my whole life and was very involved with 4H as a kid but I am starting to realize I don't know so much.
So as far as goat advice goes, aside from the fact that you need good fences and a shelter, you also need a goat lady as your mentor. I have been fortunate to have had help from some very willing and knowledgeable goat ladies in my life.
Now I'll admit it...I'm a wus when it comes to things like castration and dehorning and have paid people to do it for me so I will never be classified as a true goat lady until I can do those jobs myself. Thus I stay only a goatgirl.
A goat mentor is essential. She is someone that doesn't mind being woken up when your goat is kidding and you are in a panic. She will drop everything to come to your house to look at your goat that is "dying" when it is only constipated. She always has the right medicine and utensils to get the job done...whatever that may be.
You may notice that I say "goat lady" because I have yet to meet a "goat man"...it doesn't even sound right.
Goat man....naaaa....doesn't work. Kind of scary.
My current goat lady is the goatfarmer at Herron Hill. She really hasn't been into goats that long but her knowledge far surpasses my measly on the surface goat husbandry.
And she's funny. I like funny.
Last Friday I went to pick up Semi-Sweet after staying several days in the honeymoon suite. She had a good time but was eager to get back home. On returning home I noticed that she was all hunched up and straining to urinate and poo. She looked like she was birthing kids every time she tried to go potty. The poor girl stood around looking very miserable. So true to my nature I worried. I knew for sure she had a kidney stone that was blocking her urethra.
She was sure to die.
I should tell you this is very rare in does. They do get urinary calculi but their plumbing is different than the boys and are able to pass them where the boys get blockages. But at 3am it is hard to remember that part.
I got very little sleep that night and was relieved to see her still among the living the next morning. She was still eating and drinking so that was a good sign. But the other end was the problem....so I called the goatfarmer.
Well she had goat problems of her own but true to the "spirit of the goat lady" she rushed over to my place to look at Semi-Sweet. And she brought drugs!
After looking Semi-Sweet over and taking her temperature she explained to me, a middle-aged woman that has been married forever and has given birth, that probably 5 days in the honeymoon suite might make a girl a bit sore "down there"

Can I hear a collective DUUUUH?

She gave Semi-Sweet a shot of relief and went on her merry way with a suggestion that I fatten up my does a bit.
And I thought they were too fat.

Semi-Sweet is doing much better today and almost back to her old self. I was never so relieved to see her T-bone Filbert for getting in her way.


As for goat advice...find a goat lady. They are worth their weight in gold.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had so much fun reading this post!
I wish I could find one of those goat ladies but there unavailable here in Niger (where there are mostly goat boys) but instead I rely on the knowledge and fascinatingly funny self-insight of the best goat girl I know: you!

Warm greetings from West Africa,
Esther

@JDHealingTimeOnEarth said...

too funny, Wendy! I think you're more goatlady than you realize, though!

Danni said...

Gee, live and learn, I guess, huh? I'm certain I wouldn't have come upon that explanation, either...and...I just have so many other things I'd like to say right now, but I'm just going to hold my tongue. :-)
I will say, however, that I am so glad the goat lady is in your life. You're right, everyone needs a mentor...goat or otherwise. :-)
Hang in there, Semi-Sweet!!

Marigold said...

Now, you see, the goatfarmer is so used to being around Boo (her Boo) and the Tubster that this is why she sees every goat as too thin. :) That goatfarmer, though, she has come to our aid in the past as well. What a gal!

Joanna@BooneDocksWilcox said...

Is SemiSweet a Nigerian? I have a Nougat and a MilkDud, both Nigerians, now you've given me another name for the future.

Was SemiSweet standing around with her rear legs crossed? :-)

What injection did GoatFarmer give her?

frugalmom said...

Wow. Well, wow. That sounds like a very insightful explanation. Im very happy for you that you have a goatlady to talk to.

So, when I reach my dream of having llamas....well, I hope I have a llama lady.

goatfarmer said...

Wendy's goats are very happy and well-loved. As for being a little thin, who doesn't wish for a problem like that?

Anonymous said...

So, I take it the honeymoon stay went well. It's always nice to have a mentor.

goatgirl said...

Esther, I could use a little of that warm West African sunshine, and so could my Nigerians. And I bet those goat boys would be happy to give you some advice in a pinch.

Clare, maybe I am and don't know it.

farmgirl_dk, hold your tongue? Hmmm.

Marigold, I had a feeling you would know just what I'm talking about. And she's funny too.

Joanna, Yes Semi-Sweet is a Nigerian. But be careful, true to her name she is only semi-sweet. And the injection was Banamine, for pain.

frugalmom, I know a llama lady too, only I call her llama gal. I am sure she would fly to Illinois to help you out. She put a llama in her van and road the ferry to get her to me.

Goatfarmer, I promise I won't call you in the middle of the night! I was just exaggerating, like I always do.
Thank you.

Jen, Semi-Sweet had a great time at the honeymoon suite but we won't know until later if it was a success.

Anonymous said...

Nice goaties and I think they're perfect:)

hendersonhoundsofga said...

Well I'm not sure if you were refering to my request for advice or not....but if you feel that your knowledge could fit on the head of a pin then I guess mine would fit on the hair on the frog on the log in the hole.....(or however that song goes).

But today marks 1 week since Bonnie and Clyde (and yes, I did let my husband name the goats) have joined our family. We had the vet come out to "fix" Clyde and he used the banding method. I guess I had prepared my self for the worse so was surprised when the procedure was over and not a peep was heard from Clyde. When I mentioned this to the vet he told me that this method was said to be painless and then without even the slightest hint of a smile, he turned, looked me in the eye and said "I just hope I never have to find out for myself". I think I'm going to like this guy.....

As for looking for my own Goat Lady....I've been giving it some thought and I'm thinking about posting an ad on Craig's list....."Wanted - Goat Lady". The responses will probably keep me laughing for days.

goatgirl said...

Thanks Amy!

hendersonhoundsofga, Yep, I was referring to you. Bonnie and Clyde are very cute names. When I let my hubby name any animal it ends up with a name that comes from the world of motorcycles whether it be a famous rider or name of a bike.
Good luck finding a goat lady and if you need any advice email me at minterbay@aol.com
Also how lucky for you to have a vet that will help you with goats.

Marigold said...

Hey, goatgirl. Picture No. 16 down the page...is that a fainting cat? We have one only ours is a goat and one is a dog.

goatgirl said...

I guess it is Marigold. I never thought of that even though he does that every time I look at him.

hendersonhoundsofga said...

Thank you for that very kind offer (I will probably take you up on it)! Actually the lady we bought the goats from was extremely helpful and told me to call if I had questions but being a visual learner I wish she lived a little closer. We have so many "firsts" to get through: trimming hooves (I guess that's what goats have), worming, finding an appropiate suiter (when the time comes), etc....

I will be staying tuned and anxious to hear the outcome of the girls visit to the honeymoon suite.

Thanks again from a goat-owning newbie,

Sandy