THE ANGORA GOAT. 65 



to let them feed over a limited area and gradually work their way home. A few 

 does will drop their kids on the range, and the herder should carefully note the 

 number and their location. He should see that the herd does not feed around one 

 of these does, as she is apt to leave her kid and join the band, thus necessitating 

 much extra work in finding the kid and in giving it to its mother. Early in the 

 afternoon the band is placed in one of the large corrals. Now the herder and 

 another man go out with a wagon or on foot and carry the kids home, gently driv- 

 ing the mothers. The kids should not be handled or rubbed against one another 

 more than is necessary, as the doe knows her kid by the scent. These does and 

 kids are placed in the small corral which contains the does held back in the morn- 

 ing with the expectation that they would kid during the day. We now have one 

 day's kidding in one of the small corrals. The does and kids should be watched to 

 see that they are properly arranged. Do not bother them more than is absolutely 

 necessary. Do not be in a hurry to make a doe own a kid. Do not drive the goats 

 around one of the small pens. 



The does should remain with their kids in the corral for a day or two at least, or 

 until the kids are properly mothered. Any does which have not kidded should be 

 taken out. The next morning any kids which may have been born during the night 

 are put in another small corral with their mothers, as well as the does which are 

 expected to kid during the day. The procedure of the previous day is repeated. In 

 about three days, if one has limited quarters, the first day's mothers and kids may 

 be put in the second large corral; that is, the one with the jump board at the gate. 

 Now this "wet" band is placed in charge of one of the men and sent out to feed. 

 The gate is opened, the mothers passing out over the jump board, and the kids 

 remain in the corral. The herder must not range his goats near the does that are 

 kidding upon the range, and he should be cautioned to come in later than the "dry" 

 band, so as to avoid any possibility of their mixing. When his band arrives at the 

 corral the gate is opened, and each mother hunts for her kid. Some of the kids 

 may not find their mothers, and if after a day or two there are a few unnourished 

 kids and some does with overdistended udders they should be placed together in 

 the small pens along the side of the corral. The doe will own the kid in a day or 

 two, whether she is its mother or not. The kids should not be allowed to become 

 too weak before this is done. If one does not have enough small pens, a doe may be 

 held while two or three kids suckle her, and thus tide them over until some of the 

 small pens are vacant. 



The next day the second day's kidding is added to the wet band. The wet band 

 thus gradually grows, while the dry band decreases. During the day two men will 

 be employed at herding the dry and wet bands, respectively, and the third man will 

 be kept busy inspecting the kids, feeding the does in confinement, etc. If the 

 weather is stormy some of the kids will have to be sheltered. The advisability of 

 having the kids dropped gradually through a period of thirty or forty days will 

 readily be seen. If help is inexperienced they may be gradually trained, or if the 

 weather is stormy there will be time to get all things arranged properly. 



The kids should not be allowed to go with their mothers until they are about 6 or 8 

 weeks old. If they go before this, they will probably become tired very soon and go 

 to sleep. When they awake the band will have gone, and they are liable to be lost. 

 During the day, while the mothers are feeding, the kids would eat a little grass if 

 they could be herded near the corral. 



As stated before, there may be many modifications of this method which will 

 suggest themselves, but the above is a general outline of a method commonly in use. 



The staking method. 



This method is largely employed, even with large flocks, in New Mexico, but is 

 possibly best suited to small flocks. It is without doubt the best method for certain 

 surroundings. About the same amount of help will be required as with the corral 

 11786— No. 27—01 5 



