the saanen goats
16 SEPTEMBER, 2009
The old house sits on a double block of land a minute from the beach, and the land is comprised of sandstone boulders and very sandy soil. The back block is also covered with lantana, weeds and landfill. The soil is sandy and poor, but it has potential for greatness!
The back block covered in lantana and weeds.
We consulted the neighbours to see if they wouldn't mind us having some more chickens (our old ones have gone to live at the local primary school) but they wouldn't consent. So instead we've bought some goats! I purchased a animal husbandry manual "The Complete Handbook for Farm and Stable" by inspiring herbalist and animal whisperer, Juliette de Bairacli Levy which contains information on how to look after goats, naturally.
We have a small room in the basement of the house with concrete floors and so we've turned it into the barn.
The backyard with the basement cum goat barn underneath.
We found a milking goat for $100 on the outskirts of town and went to buy her, but when we arrived we also discovered her grandmother lived with her and thought it better for them to stay together. The owner said it was possible the younger goat was pregnant (!), so $150 later, we had two (huge) Saanen goats in the boot of our hatchback, heading for home.
Frankie and Olive
Our son named the young goat Olive (left) and the other Frankie. I've taught myself how to milk them. We drink the young goat's milk and it's creamy and beautiful. We don't drink the older goat's milk because her udders look so unhealthy. Upon reading the Farm and Stable manual I realised a few things about these goats. Firstly, they are both skinny. Secondly, the older goat has warts all over her udders which are apparently caused by an inadequate diet. And I've also learnt it’s important to rest a goat between kiddings to prevent health issues.
So after a couple of weeks of milking I decided to wean them. It must be something in my Balkan roots or perhaps the fact that I am born in the Chinese Year of the Goat (!) but I have a definite thing for goats. Frankie and Olive are so sweet to hang around. I feed them well and they eat a lot! I’m giving them feed them oats, linseed, barley, seaweed, garlic, wormwood, sunflower seeds, corn, molasses, and fresh veggies that I either get from the garden or from dumpsters behind fruit and veggie shops. They are also given plenty of lucerne to eat each day.
*UPDATE: The goats have put on condition throughout the winter, but unfortunately lost interest in eating the lantana on the back block! The younger goat wasn't pregnant and the garden is flourishing thanks to all their manure. But I didn't realise female goats go on heat every full moon. Frankie and Olive walk up the back steps to the house and peer into our dining room window before letting out an almightly bleat. They sustain the bleat for up to 30 seconds and then repeat, again and again. Man! I wonder what the neighbours think, especially the ones who didn’t want us to get chickens.
The great thing is, everyone seems to appreciate having them around. The goats are amazing, intelligent creatures. But I now think our property in the city is too small for them. A farmer in the New South Wales town of Berry says he wants to buy them and it would be good to see them living a royal life in the country with plenty of room to roam.
