Kidding season 2008

Kids kids kids. Lots of kids. Since January 25th we have had 11 baby goats born. It's been busy. Of course the goats did most of the work. But there are times when they need help.

First was 201 who gave us a nice big buckling. It was born with about 4 feet of umbilical wrapped around it. We didn't think anything of it and when it dropped off 3 days later all was well. But day 4 the kid just layed around sleeping. Not much activity. Day 5 it started shaking and shivering. I took it to the vet on day 6. So our $20.00 goat cost us $120.00 in vet fees. The baby had an infection due to the umbilical (and what it was dragged around through). We administered antibiotics, milk and fluids. We made sure it was comfortabe, even having it in the house (a VERY rare treat for any of our creatures) We even began milking the goats, which we hadn't done before to get it colostrum. The milk-benefical bacteria mixture that is present in the milk of a new mom. After all our efforts on day 8 the baby died.

Next up was 5. 5 is a smallish Spanish (mixed breed) goat. Very hardy, doesn't require much effort to maintain. Usually. Kristi was home from work sick on Monday the 28th of January. 5 went into labor in the morning and it was quickly apparent that something was wrong. The normal way a goat is born is that a water sac appears, then a front hoof or two and then the nose. In this case 5 had been pushing for a half hour and the kid's head was out but the feet weren't Kristi was able to get her fingers inside of 5, find the legs and get them to come out and then she gently pulled the kid out. She saved the kid and likely the mom too. Kid and mom are both fine. Another buckling.

6 was next also on the 28th. Even though they usually don't follow any numerical order. A perfectly normal birth and a big perfectly normal buckling.

12 had a small buckling on the 29th. She's a good mom. Had the baby all cleaned up and ready to show the herd in an hour.

9 had twins very quickly on January 31st. I say quickly because I was watching the goats and thought she was being awfully chatty for her. We went to watch a British comedy on DVD. So 40 minutes later we go back to check and she has had twins! One male and one female.

On February 1st 215 kidded. Our first twins of the year. One was slightly larger than the other and the smaller one had both rear legs bent backwards at the joints. It looke painful and the kid was just basically dragging them around. 215 didn't like the look of that so she was rejecting it. So we would supplement the kids feed with our "new kid" formula. Watching the new kid is is getting to feed from 215 but is isn't her favored kid. We think she'll condescend to take care of it.

Now it's 213's turn on the 2nd. She took about a half hour. She strained mightily to get the first one out. She was up instantly taking care of it and the second kid just plopped out on the ground unnoticed. She is taking care of both. Two males I think. I'll have to double check that. One oddity about 213's kids is that Delores, one of our rare named goats has taken a fancy to it. She follows it around sniffing. She lets it try to nurse even though she's dry. She's pregnant but not due for a month or so.

Today it was Blank's turn. When I went to feed the animals at 4:40 this morning she was laying down outside the barn in the same spot she was last night. That's a little unusual but not too weird. I fed everybody and she stayed out there instead of coming in to eat. Now THAT'S weird! I took her a scoop of food and looked at her butt. She had the amber goo coming out. So she's ready to kid! Kristi had come out to the barn by that time, no doubt wondering what was taking me so long. She was able to help me wrestle blank into a stall. Blank got a huge bowl of food and treats for her trouble. When we got home from work she had popped out twins! Both are big kids. She even cleaned up the afterbirth for me.

Next up I think will be 8. I put her in a stall this evening.