cattle-and-chaos

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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.

So I made a goat bale ring for a round bale, and so far (with the exception of Onyx), everyone has cooperated. Which, she likes to sit in the square bale feeders anyways....

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Baby Orchid's udder is finally making its debut! I've waiting almost 2 years for this moment, and I'm thrilled to watch her grow from a tiny munchkin to the doe she is today.

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Tinuviel

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.

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Java

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.

Bottom photos: 2024 daughter Mage at a day old and several months old.

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Squeaks & Oreo

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.

Bottom: Oreo posed & Oreo 2024 udder.

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Baklava

This doe highlight will round out a set of triplets. Daisy and Onyx have gotten their spotlight, and now it's Baklava's turn.

Coming in as a 3F this year, she's a doe that I look at and see tons of room for improvement in a lot of different areas, but also really love having on the milkstand despite all her flaws.

While I know you can't milk color, she always has something fun come out, which makes her an interesting doe to kid. Some of her kids from the past 2 years are included here. While Daisy is a copy-paste of her dam in a lot of ways, Baklava is definitely her sire's carbon copy. Mainly in the color department given that she is extremely shy and her sire was a psychotic little thing.

Her mammary system has also been a reminder to me that things can change so much from what their FF udder looks like. She had a set of twins, but rejected one, so milked for a single and her udder definitely showed it. But her 2F udder came in way better and really exploded in capacity.

I'm also really intrigued to see what her kids look like this year as she was bred to my homebred junior buckling. Thinking pink on her as I'm really wanting to freshen a daughter from that buck kid and see what he improves on. And she is honestly a really good candidate to test that given the mammary system she's got.

Photos:

Top: Posed Baklava

Middle: (Left) 2024 2F udder. (Right) 2023 FF udder

Bottom: (Left) 2024 wether kid. (Right) 2023 doeling.

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Onyx

Onyx is another grade doe (littermate of Daisy) that I'm excited about this year. Both because of kids and because she's going to mellow out after being one of my more mischievous girls.

She is going to be a 2F after being dry this past year due to a health issue. (and became somewhat of a dry yearling attitude-wise since she had that year off...crazy girl). Her FF occurred while I was out of town for the summer working, so I don't have any photos of her udder to look back on unfortunately. What I remember is that she was the easiest to milk out of her siblings, so I'm curious to see what she looks like this year.

Onyx is going to be one of my later kidding does (due date is December 20th), and already is looking fairly wide, so I wouldn't be surprised if she's carrying triplets. Or it could just be she took a year off and put on a little extra weight.

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Kiwi

Next doe on the docket is Rockin' T Acres Kiwi. She's a doe that I've really enjoyed seeing develop through the last couple years.

She is a summer '21 kid, so she's just hit 3 years old this year. She's got one kidding underneath her belt that I retained a doeling from, and had a late-term miscarriage this year so she stayed dry.

Well, I say 'dry'. She ended up coming into a spontaneous lactation about a month after the miscarriage. Definitely not as productive as she should have been as a 2F, and she took several months to work up to a decent level of production, but she did well given the circumstances.

She's due December 9th, so we're past the month out mark with her. Really looking forward to whatever she ends up having. I would love more doe kids out of her, but definitely might not say no to a buckling if she's got a good one. ('23 doe kid pictured as last photo)

Preliminary guess on kid count: 2 kids. That's what she's had the last two times (2 does as a FF, and 2 bucks for the miscarriage).

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Daisy

Long time no see, but farm life goes on. The goat herd has grown so much since I last posted something about them.

Coming up on kidding season, (first mommas are due 12/2 +/- 5 days!!!) I've been featuring these girls on my social media, and figured the girls may as well get individually introduced here as well just for other people's enjoyment.

First on the list since I have a phenomenal candid shot of her (that is about a month old now since I originally posted it, so while she looks chunky here, she's literally gained 20#.)

Miss Daisy is the daughter of Rockin' T Acres Lady Belle and an old buck of mine, Jerry. He was assumed to be either a purebred Oberhasli or at the very least very heavily influenced.

She's going into her 3rd freshening as an old 2 year old, given that I'm kidding in December and she's a March baby.

Preliminary baby count estimate from me is probably going to be minimum twins, but seeing how pudgy she is, I definitely wouldn't be surprised if she's got three (or heaven forbid four) in there.

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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.

Could be a combination of she's a year older or maybe has had a better diet the past couple months. Which, last year I was supplementing and this year they've had minimal grain since I dried them off, so I'd almost rule that out. Or, given the size of the belly she's sporting, I would not be surprised if she's got a set of trips or quads. The photo doesn't do it justice, honestly, but trust me, she's a butterball.

[cattle-and-chaos]

Tinuviel

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.

[cattle-and-chaos]

Java

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.

Bottom photos: 2024 daughter Mage at a day old and several months old.

[cattle-and-chaos]

Squeaks & Oreo

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.

Bottom: Oreo posed & Oreo 2024 udder.

[cattle-and-chaos]

Onyx

Onyx is another grade doe (littermate of Daisy) that I'm excited about this year. Both because of kids and because she's going to mellow out after being one of my more mischievous girls.

She is going to be a 2F after being dry this past year due to a health issue. (and became somewhat of a dry yearling attitude-wise since she had that year off...crazy girl). Her FF occurred while I was out of town for the summer working, so I don't have any photos of her udder to look back on unfortunately. What I remember is that she was the easiest to milk out of her siblings, so I'm curious to see what she looks like this year.

Onyx is going to be one of my later kidding does (due date is December 20th), and already is looking fairly wide, so I wouldn't be surprised if she's carrying triplets. Or it could just be she took a year off and put on a little extra weight.

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Kiwi

Next doe on the docket is Rockin' T Acres Kiwi. She's a doe that I've really enjoyed seeing develop through the last couple years.

She is a summer '21 kid, so she's just hit 3 years old this year. She's got one kidding underneath her belt that I retained a doeling from, and had a late-term miscarriage this year so she stayed dry.

Well, I say 'dry'. She ended up coming into a spontaneous lactation about a month after the miscarriage. Definitely not as productive as she should have been as a 2F, and she took several months to work up to a decent level of production, but she did well given the circumstances.

She's due December 9th, so we're past the month out mark with her. Really looking forward to whatever she ends up having. I would love more doe kids out of her, but definitely might not say no to a buckling if she's got a good one. ('23 doe kid pictured as last photo)

Preliminary guess on kid count: 2 kids. That's what she's had the last two times (2 does as a FF, and 2 bucks for the miscarriage).

[cattle-and-chaos]

Daisy

Long time no see, but farm life goes on. The goat herd has grown so much since I last posted something about them.

Coming up on kidding season, (first mommas are due 12/2 +/- 5 days!!!) I've been featuring these girls on my social media, and figured the girls may as well get individually introduced here as well just for other people's enjoyment.

First on the list since I have a phenomenal candid shot of her (that is about a month old now since I originally posted it, so while she looks chunky here, she's literally gained 20#.)

Miss Daisy is the daughter of Rockin' T Acres Lady Belle and an old buck of mine, Jerry. He was assumed to be either a purebred Oberhasli or at the very least very heavily influenced.

She's going into her 3rd freshening as an old 2 year old, given that I'm kidding in December and she's a March baby.

Preliminary baby count estimate from me is probably going to be minimum twins, but seeing how pudgy she is, I definitely wouldn't be surprised if she's got three (or heaven forbid four) in there.

[cattle-and-chaos]

✨Haworthia Variegated✨