Well, we have now expanded our little "
family."
Penka the sheep and Matilda the goat joined us
last week. They share a farmyard with Vessa the donkey, eight hens and Russell the cockerel,
named after Russell Brand for obvious reasons!
They both go out with Todor the village shepherd every day. Matilda needs milked twice daily.
This is where the farce begins!
Neither of us had any experience of goats, so Ivan, who looks after things for us when we are
away, offered to show us how to milk her. So far so good. He did it in about five minutes.
It takes us just a bit longer! The first time we were on our own, we lost track of how many times
the bowl was kicked over. Her hoof got in the bowl a couple of times, and best of all, she decided
to poop into it too! Let's just say the dogs enjoyed the milk. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
We are getting better, and quicker. I just pity the poor goat with us amateurs.
Perhaps we should make a "
How not to milk a goat!"
video!

Penka the sheep will be mated soon. The village pimp, (the shepherd,) has organised this. Lambing
will be the next learning curve.

Our family in the UK think we are "
nutters."
Maybe, but we are happy growing our own vegetables
and fruit, working for ourselves, learning new things daily. Our animals are healthy and seem happy.
We love our new life here. We are also self sufficient in milk!

Lovely story Scunnered and I do envy you your animals. Our livestock is diminishing I'm afraid and I really miss our hens and rabbits. I'm afraid our move and my age make it less advisable to restock. Besides we have a goat farm next door and I see them going out to the mountains every day with the shepherd. Its a lovely sight to see. Beautiful creatures.

:Hearts:Old MacDonnald had a farm ei ei oooooo

Lovely to hear you have your family growing. It must be fun as well.
We must try to come and see you, we have friends staying and they have just found the right home for them in our village.

Congratulations sounds like your having lots of fun. If you find the milking by hand difficult you can buy hand pumps that have sucktion tubes that go on the teats. we had them for our goat in england.

Just read this thread....and we are jealous. Sounds as if you have the life we are looking for!

Hope the milking is coming along OK.

Thanks all.

I am getting better at the milking! One point though, the Bulgarians seem to milk their goats from behind, putting a bowl on the floor and milking both teats at once. Tried this once, and got into a right mess. Now milk from the side with a teat in one hand and a bowl in the other, not on the ground. Obviously a bit slower, but I can do it! Isn't this the "
normal"
way?