It's gonna be a loooong night...

deetu · #1 03/20/08, 07:24 PM

Came home late today and as my husband is trying to grill our steaks in this crazy wind we are having, he asks if it's possible for the baby goats to have been born. I said could be and went to check. One of my FF had delivered twins, BOYS (yea) one solid, one boer, all by herself. Gotta wonder how goats survive in the wild though because it took a while for those babies to latch on. They kept trying to find something between my legs. No, no, no...

So I checked ligaments and four, possibly five have NO ligaments!! I have eight goats. I like to have them kid in a separate pen and let them bond before letting them together. There is no way I can do that since I only have two pens. I could possibly separate them into small fours once they are born for at least a day. I also usually like to have them kid next month for warmer weather but we were going on vacation and I figured since they were finished with their heat I could put the buck in with them to make it easier for the sitter. Yea right, they ALL came back into heat instantly!!! That's what I get.

I'll keep you all updated.

christij · #2 03/20/08, 08:09 PM

Happy kidding!

Minelson · #3 03/20/08, 08:21 PM

Yes! It does sound like a long night ahead

Good luck and keep us posted...and don't forget the pictures!!!

deetu · #4 03/20/08, 11:10 PM

Arrrggghhhh!!! So, I separated one that looked agitated but she settled down and just groans now and then, but that could be because she is big and nothing more. Two are standing with their heads in corners. Two are laying down on each other. Two are eating. All are chewing their cud.

The two kids don't seem like they can find the teats on thier own but their tummies are round so maybe I'm just missing it. Mom is really good and let me milk her some (thought I would have to tube one baby) which is good for a Boer. What a bag on her

I did put up the heat lamp though. It got really cold out there with that wind. Saying it will drop into the 20's with 45 mph winds. I locked them all in because I don't want to chance any babies being born outside.

Hey, I thought today was the start of spring.

deetu · #5 03/21/08, 08:49 AM

Well, checked through the night and I swear they were laughing at me. And man, was it cold last night with a wicked wind. I think they are crossing their legs so they have them on Easter Sunday.

Good note, twins are doing fine.

CountryHaven · #6 03/21/08, 08:59 AM

LOL I know the feeling of having does look at you as if they're chuckling inside at your midnight freeze runs to the barn to look at them happily munching away.

mpete · #7 03/21/08, 09:34 AM

don't turn around... they'll do it when you're not looking!

deetu · #8 03/22/08, 05:57 PM

Okay, second one released her kids... AS SHE WAS WALKING!!! I was talking to my son and look down to the barn and start running saying, "Oh no, oh no" They just plopped out. She looked at them like, "what are you?" She was talking to and cleaning them but I had to lock her head to allow them to nurse and she still hasn't lost her placenta but no other kids in her (I checked) She is trying now because the kids are nursing.

Two more boys!!! Yea!!! one solid, one red head

Haven't slept in two nights. Still think they are waiting for Easter. My husband already asked if we were going to my in-laws. I told him he could go but he asked what would happen if I needed help. Rather send him so he can bring home all the good food.

Minelson · #9 03/22/08, 06:04 PM

Oh my! While she was walking! What a way for the babies to enter the world...I'm glad they are all ok

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!

mpete · #10 03/22/08, 06:05 PM

Congratulations!!! Take a nap before tonight... you'll be busy for sure!

deetu · #11 03/23/08, 04:09 AM

Number three had her's at 3 in the morning. Had to pull first one. a boy (yea) and a girl (darn) Couldn't get the boy to nurse. You would think I was trying to kill him.

Another is coming really soon. Checking barn again at 6.

Oh, I hate this, I'm cold, been up for three nights, I'm keyed up and not sleepy.
AND I think I'm allergic to something in the new hay so I'm all stuffed up.

Minelson · #12 03/23/08, 07:29 AM

Here we are all sleeping away and you have all this action going on! Congrats on the babies! How many more to go? Happy Easter

CountryHaven · #13 03/23/08, 07:51 AM

Oh my, congratulations, and condolances. Hope you feel better. How much more do you have to go before you can sleep?

mpete · #14 03/23/08, 08:52 AM

Congratulations!!

goatkid · #15 03/23/08, 09:52 AM

Congrats on your kids. Most of us want doelings. Sounds like you're dissapointed with girls. I guess it depends on your market. When I had Boers, I could get more for doelings as breeding stock than I got for my market wethers. I know I definately get more for Nubian doelings and we're ahead with bucklings this year.

deetu · #16 03/23/08, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goatkid

Congrats on your kids. Most of us want doelings. Sounds like you're dissapointed with girls. I guess it depends on your market. When I had Boers, I could get more for doelings as breeding stock than I got for my market wethers. I know I definately get more for Nubian doelings and we're ahead with bucklings this year.

I found it easier to sell the bucklings then doelings in my area. Most people don't want to pay for a nice goat. Then you have to hold them till they are old enough. Feed and care go into the cost. Blah, blah...

I also don't fall in love with the bucklings. Leave them intact, with horns and off they go.

I did have a great sale once. I went to the auction with a day old doeling. I told them I didn't want her to go into the pen because if I didn't get $45 I was going to take her back. All the farmers laughed at me... they weren't laughing after it not only hit $45 but got $65. The next week I brought in another, where they again laughed because I thought it was going to happen again. Got $68 for that one. The first doeling was a triplet so I kept the bucklings. The second doeling and buckling the mother didn't recognize and the auction was the next day. I did get $20 for the buckling at 1 day old. Doesn't happen all the time, just when someone wants a bottle baby that bad. And it didn't touch the auction floor.

deetu · #17 03/23/08, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryHaven

Oh my, congratulations, and condolances. Hope you feel better. How much more do you have to go before you can sleep?

Five more. I gave up today's Easter dinner and nothing...

deetu · #18 03/24/08, 08:04 PM

Two more today. Moved Mom's and babies around to make room in kidding pens. Goats that got along before are fighting now. Sigh...first freshners... Made a different kid box for them and left the dog igloo in the pen just in case.

One started going out to the woods. Dragged her back in, she jumped the cattle panel, dragged back in again... two more boys (one red headed, one paint, too bad that one wasn't a girl). The other doe kept trying to get to the first one's kids. So confused.

My friend called during the second and asked to come watch. As we are watching, I see a little face coming out. Oh no, shove it back in, pull out the feet... hey, I never did that before. She wasn't happy about it. Leave her, come back and there are back feet showing. I have now learned to make sure the back feet are extended before trying to pull. Poor girl. Another girl (solid) and boy (spotted).

Another one lost her plug during this and started walking to my son's childhood playhouse (that he stopped using once spiders moved in) Had to put up a fast pen. So she will go tonight. Then two left to go.

I'm soooo tired.

CountryHaven · #19 03/24/08, 08:27 PM

Goodness gracious, that's a busy time, but mostly I'm still shaking my head at the pregnant doe that can jump a cattle panel. None of mine can jump one, even when they're not pregnant. LOL, and the pregnant ones don't even try to jump over a three foot board placed across the opening of a doorway.

Minelson · #20 03/24/08, 09:47 PM

deetu, hang in there. you sound sooo tired and I feel bad for you. Hopefully soon you can get some good hard sleeping in and then enjoy the babies. I'm not even going to ask for pictures, I think it's more important for you to get some rest....