Crappy Start to the Kidding Season

moosemaniac · #1 02/21/07, 07:20 AM

Monday morning Mermaid had triplet bucklings. It was so cold out that before I even knew she was kidding she had already lost one to freezing. I got the other two in, even took them to work with me, but they were pretty weak. I lost one of them midday. The other is doing very well now, thankfully. This morning, I am awakened by Greta (a first freshener) hollering. I run down to the barn and find her in obvious distress with the largest nose and front feet I've ever seen trying to come out. I had to pull and she was such a trooper. The kid, a buckling, was already dead. I didin't weigh him, but he was enormous! Greta got up afterward and ate a bit and had a nice long drink of warm water. I let her rest awhile before milking her out. Amazingly, she took to her first milking like she'd done it a million times before (except for those little bitty teats I had to deal with). Well, now at the very least I have a bit of emergency colostrum if I or someone else needs it.

I don't have another doe due until March 20....I can use the break.

Meanwhile, I'm going to have a little discussion with Norman about the gender of his pollywogs.

Ruth

nehimama · #2 02/21/07, 07:28 AM

Ruth, I'm so sorry to read of your disappointing kidding results this season. I hope the remaining buckling powers up and gets going for you.

My heart hurts along with yours on the stillborn, as my Lily had twin stillborn bucklings three weeks ago. They were premature, and horribly presented.

I hope March is a much better goat month for you.

(((Hugs)))

NeHi
(Loretta)

MillsFarmFamily · #3 02/21/07, 07:38 AM

Sorry to hear about your loss. One thing about goats that I've noticed is the constant emotional rollercoaster

) Focusing on the positive (one you did save), and the promise of more kids in March will help.

moosemaniac · #4 02/21/07, 07:42 AM

Thanks. I'm pretty okay with all this happening...it's just so frustrating though. And, dang it, I want does!

Ruth

Sher · #5 02/21/07, 07:59 AM

Ruth...I am sorry for your losses. But I am glad that you got that big guy pulled okay and that his momma is doing so well. Next year will be better for her!

Gee..want eight boer/nubie crosses? .. lol..since I have been using Micky..I get alot of does. I hate sending them to meat...kinda have it in my mind that the boys will go there..but its hard for me to send my girls...lol.

Good luck in March...get some sleep!

moosemaniac · #6 02/21/07, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sher

Gee..want eight boer/nubie crosses? ..

Yeah! I do! I have a small meat herd I'm building up too (they're to support the dairy herd).

Ruth

Sher · #7 02/21/07, 08:11 AM

They are actually 3/4 boer and 1/4 nubie. They are out of my triplets..lol..I usually wean between 2 and 3 months..I am soon coming up on 3 months and really dragging my feet on getting them to the sale barn. It will be the first time I have done that with my girls. I am curious to see how they do and if they go to homes or meat..of course I probably won't know the outcome..

LOL..two of my girls are pretty close to you. They are in ne Ohio. A really nice couple from the board came to buy Dexter cattle...lol..the little bull they were going to take had two weaned black and white doelings with him. He wouldn't load until the girls got on the trailer! So he bought the girls too.

I love goats!!

moosemaniac · #8 02/21/07, 08:19 AM

Sher, where are you located? I was serious about wanting them. I have nubie/boer cross does. They're wonderful.

Ruth

FalconDance · #9 02/21/07, 08:20 AM

Is it just me, or does it seem as if there's an awful lot of bucklings this year? And lost kids.

~Falcon

Sher · #10 02/21/07, 08:25 AM

I'm in southeast Iowa Ruth...lol..not quite next door! Hey..I would be very reasonable!!

Sweet Goats · #11 02/21/07, 08:27 AM

Falcon, I agree with yo about the Bucks and trouble kidding. When my Penny Lane was in labor, my daughter just kept saying "leave her alone, she has always kidded without us around". Well something told me NO WAY, I mean look at all the trouble everyone has had, it is a good thing I felt that way because I would of lost them all.

Ruth, I am so sorry to hear about your latest Buck. I am just glad that you heard her and you were able to go get the baby out, otherwise you might of lost her also.
How is that one baby doing? Do you still take him to work?

moosemaniac · #12 02/21/07, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Goats

How is that one baby doing? Do you still take him to work?

He's fine. I only brought him the first day. He's been staying home with my son since then. Ian is mentally challenged, but really good about taking care of the babies once they're out of the woods. The buckling is in the living room playing with the cat right now.

Ruth

shezaruby · #13 02/21/07, 09:53 AM

So sorry to hear about your poor babies! Been there, done that.

HazyDay · #14 02/21/07, 04:52 PM

Hope you get better luck use in the martimes (canada) have had very bad luck my friend had 1 boer doe die on chrstmas and she was about 1 week and her other doe had 3 kids (2 does and a buck) and the mom laid on her doe and the buck wasn't looking to good I don't know how he is now. and my doe had to kid on the coldest night and found 2 bucks half dead and put them in the sink of warm water and got them around and used a hairdryer to keep them alive but now 4 weeks later they are having a great life! and my next doe is due on March 31 so im hoping it will warm up so that i don't get another case! and shes may best doe!

Hawkfamily · #15 02/21/07, 11:11 PM

We haven't kidded this year yet, but we have been lambing. And both the spring and the winter births were ALL rams. Every last one of them.
I'm sorry to hear about your losses. I'm sending some good doe vibes your way!
Jodi