We’re done enough with our fencing to bring our goats over here. They are all from our neighbor. She gave the kids eight goats as payment for all the work they’ve done for her. There are three babies and each baby’s momma, making six. And then two others — Annie, a one year old who the neighbor bottle-fed; and Fiddlesticks, with a missing leg — are really special to her and she doesn’t want anyone else to have them.
We’re not done with all our prep work, but you know… we rarely do anything the conventional way. We do the way that works for us! Jeff is figuring out a makeshift shelter right now. We’ve temporarily put up cattle panels around the barn and garage to keep the goats out of those places. Other than that, they’ve got the run of our 5-1/2 acres for now.
The mommas are in milk, so we are going to try to milk them. Nigerian dwarfs are not your regular milk goats, but we’ve read that they produce more milk per pound than any other goat. The difficulty with milking them is that they’re so small and low to the ground that it is difficult to find room between them and the ground to fit a milk pail. Well, we’ll try to figure something out. That’s Jeff’s job and if anyone can do it, he can.
The kids are so happy. Naomi is nine years old and the one wish she’s had her entire life came true today: to have animals here on our place. She’s in heaven. We don’t think she’s going to be sleeping in the house anymore; she’d rather be out of doors! 
Naomi and Haniya have hatched a plan to go outside after dark this evening to see how the goats sleep at night. They want to know if they sleep together in a huddle or separate all of them, or in groups.
I expected to be excited but when I look out in the grass and see those little creatures grazing and hopping up on each other, it touches my heart much more than I anticipated. It is precious and a privilege to be caring for God’s creatures.
If anyone has any tips for us, please do share!
Wonderful news! Wish I was there! How very exciting for all of you Talk to you soon
Wardeh, I would imagine you could make a simple goat milking
stand with a hole in the bottom to fit a milk pail, so that the
pail sits below the level of her feet and gives you room to
work. It’ll save your back too! Congratulations, your first
farm animals! How exciting. The looks on the girls’ faces in
the photo sure shows their joy!
We are so happy for our dear grandchildren. May God bless each of them as they care for their goats and learn more about how our Good Shepherd cares for us. Please keep sending pictures. Haniya told me a lot yesterday but I’m anxious to hear too how the goats slept last night; how you slept last night; and how you all are doing today. We love you dearly!
I second Michelle’s suggestion of a milking stand. They’re great for bathing goats in addition to milking, if the need ever arises. I used one a bunch to care for one of the goats at the museum that I used to work at – she had a skin infection and needed regular scrubbing, the poor dear. Boy do I wish I had goats. I totally understand why your girls are so excited!