D J's Kids

This morning we said goodbye to our sweet Harmony. She has had health issues for several years and we have pulled her through multiple times but this time it was time to say goodbye. She was the best ambassador for the Nigerian breed that anyone could have owned. She loved going to the fairs and sitting in her pen getting lots of attention from perfect strangers. People would sit by her pen for long lengths of time because she would sit there to be petted until they got u...p and left. She was the dam of our beautiful Jayja which we lost as a two year old. She was the best mom and would milk until you forced her to dry up. When we took her the Yolo County Fair she was always part of the winning dairy herd class. We took her several times two years into her lactation and she always came out on top. Judges always commented on the size of the goat and her willingness to milk. She will be missed for a long time to come. See more

D J's Kids KK Jayja Grand Champion 2015 Yolo County Fair Best Doe in Show

We have been very busy around here getting ready for the upcoming winter. Not my favorite time of year but neither is the 100 plus degrees of summer. Hannah came today to pick up her second doe that she brought Saturday to breed to Castle rock Irish Moon. Trying to repay her for all of the work she has helped with around here since School started. Distance learning has given her extra time and she made the decision to help out around here with some of it. We have been br...eeding a few does for April kids I've decided I like babies born when the weather is nicer and I'm not out in the cold to deliver them. I have no deadline to get them on the ground so better weather is better for them and me. They don't spend so much time in the barn and I don't bottle feed unless I have to so they can be out enjoying the sunshine. I prefer to spend lots of time with the babies instead of bottle feeding and the kids are just as friendly as any bottle baby. It takes more time but that is what I am here for. See more

Hannah returned this week to help out with the hoof trimming, vaccinations, worming, and providing copper and selenium for the four bucks and five does. It's amazing what an extra pair of young hands can get done around here in a few hours. We have three doelings, three adult does and three senior Boer does to get done and we will be caught up on the goat upkeep around here. For those that know me, yes, we still have nine left. Some of them are senior does that are here until they die but doesn't mean they don't get the same care as the younger animals do. I have always said if you have any kind of animal it is your responsibility to care for them to the best of your ability for their entire life or find them an excellent home.

After many weeks of hard work we have finished cleaning 17 goat pens so they are ready for winter. We have also been raising a few of the elevated floors we had installed last year that were put in too short because height is what we need to keep the goats out of the water if we flood. We are installing lattice around the bottom to keep baby goats from getting under them. We learned that lesson last year when we had to get babies out from under the floors. Hannah has been visiting us when time permits and will come next week to help get all of the goats trimmed, vaccinated and wormed. Obviously her education comes first. One extra pair of hands when she has a few hours has been extremely helpful and appreciated. She will be bringing a doe next week for breeding we hope.

Sorry I've been too busy to post lately. With the approach of winter it has been a very busy time around here. We have 17 goat pens to clean before the rains start and with only the two of us and a wheel barrow, shovel and broom it takes time to get it done. It is my goal to clean every pen down to the dirt at least once a year. I had a former 4H member over a couple of times to help with two pens and a neighbor and his son helped with one pen and hauled the straw and poo...p to his orchard. The rest we have done without help and have three pens left to finish. We also had a truck load of old wood from our porch we replaced to haul to the dump. With Covid 19 you can't just hire somebody to do the work for you so think we are doing pretty good for our age. All of the poor air quality days and temps over 100 haven't helped since we aren't suppose to be out working in that either but we are getting it done. Haven't had time to think about breeding but that will come when I have time. We found a new home for one of our three year old does, DJ's Kids IM Midnight Moon as a companion animal. She is a very sweet doe and will have a wonderful new home. Our goal has always been to provide great homes for the animals we spend so much time raising. See more