We just bought a pregnant La Mancha doe who was kept in the same stall as a buck. She really smells! I imagine the smell will "wear off" after a while, but we really need some help NOW! It's too cold aroung here in North West Minnesota to give her a bath. Any ideas?

-- Gregory L. Wible (thewibles@yahoo.com), October 25, 2001

Answers

Hi Gregory, you might try using dry baking soda. Dust her with the baking soda and let it stay on her for a few minutes and then use a brush to remove it! Baking soda is a great way to rid smells in carpets, clothes and I have used it on my dogs in the winter. Not sure if it will work on the "bucky" smell but it is cheap and harmless, if it doesn't! Good luck and please, let us know what DOES work!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), October 25, 2001.

I would think that the baking soda might work. Let us know, I never thought to try it when I have had the problem.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), October 25, 2001.

They have waterless stock shampoos. Might find the ingredients in it or just buy some. I know :) that Frebrees works just don't go crazy with it around their eyes, vulva or teats. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), October 26, 2001.

I have done the baking soda on a smelly doe and it really does work! We just rubbed a lot of it in all over (not in the face) and brushed it out with a dog brush. She still smelled a bit but nothing like before!

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), October 26, 2001.

Whenever one of our dogs gets skunked we first wash in a solution of 1 cup baking soda to 1/2 gal. water, then rinse with 2 cups vinegar in 1/2 gal water, then repeat. Since it's cold now.. try putting the mixtures in spray bottles then spraying and wiping.. My girls are redolent of buck right now.. I think I'll try it myself!

-- Ellen Wright (gardenfarm@earthlink.net), October 26, 2001.

we bought a bred la mancha and a nubian/alpine cross doeling on Sunday, and boy, did they smell! they had been running wild with bucks, and a bunch of goats,in a goat barn filled with...goat contributions. the smell was gone in a couple of days.

we love our goats! how is yours doing?

-- marcee king (thathope@mwt.net), October 26, 2001.

I tried my baking soda spray.. followed by a vinegar spray last night and it really worked.. The scent has faded to an almost pleasant muskiness this morning.

-- Ellen Wright (gardenfarm@earthlink.net), October 27, 2001.

I brushed down with Baking Soda yesterday. It seemed to help a lot but when when you get close to her you can still smell the 'buckiness'. But its not as bad. So tommorow we're going to go to the store and by another box and see how she ends up smelling! Does anyone have any experience using those 'waterless' shampoos? Our LaMancha is a true sweethart! She's 6 years old and in perfect health; on her records, her dam has a 1*m(One star milker)is that better or worse than a 5*M???The buck who had mated her was a Pygmy. Do you think they'd be good milker like Kinders(Pygmy/Nubian) are ???

-- Chandler Wible (thewibles@yahoo.com), October 27, 2001.

The only problems I've seen with pygmy crosses are: the nipples are about 1" long and the legs are too short to get a bucket under and it's hard to milk into a saucer. That combination does make a fine little meat goat. And doelings taste just as good as weathers. Maybe you'll want to breed her to a full sized dairy goat next time. Is she a really good milker?

-- Ellen (gardenfarm@earthlink.net), October 28, 2001.