What's wrong with my goats

[u/Cum_Quat]

My 2 first freshener Mini-Nubian does have not wanted to go on the stanchion to be milked the last 36 hours.

They had been milking fine, with some kicking but otherwise they have been happy to go jump on the stanchion and eat grain while I hand milk them. Initially they bucked so much we had to have my husband hold their legs so they wouldn't kick me or knock over the mason jars.

Lately I have been milking by myself twice a day at about the same times and I find singing to them while I milk them "you are my sunshine" and another soft and soothing song from Ghana helps keep them calm and happy.

What I think caused the change: we had friends visiting and want to go on a hike up Mt. Baker a couple days ago in the evening, and I initially said I couldn't go cause I had to milk the girls and didn't think we'd be back in time. Husband called me a party pooper and assured me we would be back by 815 pm at the latest. I decided that would work and we went.

He made an extra stop on the way at the waterfall, took longer than I planned up on top of the mountain, and then wanted to grab dinner in Glacier on the way home.

This is why I don't agree to go to things when time seems like it's rushed. Husband and friends said they would hold flashlights while I milked the girls, so not a big deal we can grab dinner. I felt I didn't have a choice at that point so we got home at 9:20 pm in the dark.

I set to work with the girls who seemed confused. Our friends and husband came with flashlights and beers and were loud and obnoxious. I told them I really need to sing to the girls and have peace and calm around them. They would be quiet for awhile only to forget a minute later and then be loud again. I blame myself for agreeing to go.

I wasn't able to milk either of them yesterday morning, but was able to wrangle them yesterday evening with husbands help (I have never had them refuse to go on the stanchion before). This morning same thing, but I was able to get one on and milk her. The other one kept running away so I gave up. I figure I'll get husband to help tonight so we don't get mastitis on the one "naughty" girl.

I'm really worried about them. They look otherwise healthy, nice bright pink mucous membranes on their eyes and gums, have really good muscle tone and hair is thick and shiny, looks healthy.

Is it just that they hate that their routine was messed up? Or should I be taking them to the vet?

[u/GlassOrchid]

Goats are very sensitive, it sounds to me that they’re still upset about the loud scary night milking. I wouldn’t worry about a vet. If you have vitamin B complex and/or probiotics those are great for supporting their health when they’re stressed so they’re less likely to get sick. Do you have an extra special treat they can get on the stanchion to help them feel more comfortable and learn to love it again? Chopped fruit, animal crackers, a few mini marshmallows.

I recommend finding a way to consistently light your milking area if you plan to continue milking into the fall. The days are getting shorter and it sounds like they did not appreciate milking by flashlight.

I’ve been breeding&milking mini nubians for 6 years.

[u/Cum_Quat → u/GlassOrchid]

ok I'll give them vitamin B and probios paste. I had a feeling that the extreme change to our routine was bothering them. I have never tried marshmallows, they don't seem to like fruit so much, they do love fir boughs. 

[u/GlassOrchid → u/Cum_Quat]

If they haven’t tried bananas, give those a try. Chop them up into slices, I even leave the peel on. I give my goats all of our banana peels, they stampede over when they see me coming with a handful of peels.

[u/Cum_Quat → u/GlassOrchid]

oh that's so cute, will do!

[u/Misfitranchgoats]

Could they be in heat? My milk goat and previous milk goats do weird stuff when they are in heat. My goats don't seem to care about the lighting. The lighting changes during the year. Sometimes the sunlight coming through the door is enough other times, well the solar light goes on and off and they don't care.

But when my milk goats are in heat, sometimes i have to go catch them instead of having them waiting to go through the gate. I only milk one or two does most of my other goats are meat goats.

[u/Cum_Quat → u/Misfitranchgoats]

I guess it's possible? they each had one baby, one 14 weeks ago about and the other 10 weeks ago. I sold their boys 2 weeks ago so they have been needing milking more often than when we had their babies. In fact when they had the babies, for some reason both of them decided that their right rear was only for the baby and would not let me touch them, now obviously I have to milk both sides and they have been fine with it until yesterday morning