Thank you again for all the helpful hints. Jim---the goat site you directed me to is really helpful and now that I've seen what a stand is supposed to look like I can handle it.

Today I talked to the current owner and got some first hand info. The two does are purebred nubians, but not registered, about two yrs old. They are not milking and they have never been bred. She is getting rid of them because she is downsizing to one female kid who will be a pet. She says they are in good health and have never had any health problems.

The shed is about 95% done. The hay feeder is built and the grain trough is done. We're going to put some straw down where they will be sleeping but thats all. I don't know if I did a good thing here but I insulated the shed to about R-18, then sheeted it inside with plywood. It can get really cold here in central Wisc. and I'd like to know the girls will be comfortable. They are currently kept in a small shed with a 20x40ft fenced enclosure 4ft high and current owner says they don't escape. Our enclosure will be bigger, about 70x40ft with a 4ft fence so hopefully that will be ok.

A friend who told me about them initially will be delivering them tomorrow AM, complete with six bales of hay and a 5gal bucket of grain from the previous owner! Looking foreward to it. Thanks again for all your help!

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), March 11, 2000

Answers

John, just a note of caution, make sure there is good ventilation. If the shed is too airtight the ammonia = pneumonia and other resperatory problems. You don't want moisture build up. There should be some airflow, not drafts, but some roof vents or open eves between the roof and wall, someway to ensure air movement and fresh air circulation. Sounds like your really doing it right, tho!! I found it helpful to visit different breeders and dairies to get ideas...one of the best ideas I got was to put screen door springs on the stall doors so they will always close shut behind me! Goats like to bolt for the open door! Also, make sure the stall doors open into the stall and not open to freedom; they like to jump up on the doors a lot to say hi and this can stress latches to the max. Better to stress a beam or wood block stop.

-- Jim Roberts (jroberts1@cas.org), March 13, 2000.

Just a note on doors opening into stalls -- it's a good idea, but if you let the bedding build up in the winter, pretty soon you won't be able to get the doors open. Have to plan for that.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 13, 2000.

I am needing help with my nubians they will not be still for me to milk them I need a picter of an easy to make milk stand and or some advice.

-- Lisa Hopple (hopplehomestead@safezone.net), April 18, 2000.

See if your local library carries books on goat-raising (all I've ever been to did). The books have pictures of goat stands and other equipment -- we've built milking stands three times from them.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 18, 2000.