The new kids (and mamas) on the block are here

[Christina R.]

First things first, thought I was getting pygmies, but I am sure the mama is a nigerian dwarf. The other mama (and the first mama's daughter) looks like a nigerian bred with a pygmy. Their kids are half them and half pygmy buck. So much for the nigerian vs pygmy thread. If they didn't have kids, I probably would have declined.

Mama A (Gemma) had 2 does. Mama B (Chloe) had 2 bucks. The kids have been feeding and sleeping all day. They were not sleeping near their mama, but in a neat set up with other babies (it looked like a 75 gallon barrel (black) with a door cut in the bottom and straw as bedding. The mamas were all around. Here in Flag, they are in a 10x14 closed in "barn" with a half door. They are in the back part of it in an "igloo" dog house. The mamas have been aroundt them, but not in the igloo. All four babies are at the back of it with lots of straw pushed up under them and around them. They sleep, eat, kick their heels up a bit exploring, and sleep and eat.

Here's my concerns: It's supposed to be about 27 tonight. I didn't put sweaters on them as I don't have 4 yet. I also didn't know with all the stress of moving and change of homes today if the sweaters would throw the moms off with the kids' smell.

It is supposed to snow tomorrow night (about 22 degrees) and colder Tuesday night (11 degrees) so sweaters will be on them. Am I ok for tonight? I have a smaller plastic "dog house" looking thing that someone lent me, but they didn't go in it. Because it is smaller, it might keep the four of them warmer, but I don't think it is as well made (hence, slightly insulated) igloo brand house.

Should I put a big blanket over it (leaving the door open? The door isn't facing the half door. Sorry so long, but I figured the more details the better.

[Eunice]

Dry and out of the wind is the most important thing. I wouldn't do more than you already have.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Like Eunice said dry & out of the wind is most important. I would not put sweater on them, like you said the momma's may not like it. I have one that kept pulling & biting at the sweater one year so I took it back off her kids.

I do put hot water bottles under old towels in the corners where the babies like to snuggle & they Love those. You do have to change the towels when they get wet. I usually hang them over the stall wall in the morning to dry in the morning, but change the towels out about every other day(We have lots of old towels).

Sounds like the babies are doing good & acting like normal little baby goats, eating, sleeping & jumping around.

[Sherry in Iowa]

LOL..Katie you sound like me. I take towels, rugs and blankets when no one else wants them, just for kidding (and once in a while for calving).

Christina, it sounds very cozy the way you have them. I think they will be just fine. Warm milk in the tummy and cuddling with each other is what it's all about.

Good luck with your new arrivals.