I am sick (long)

Awnry Abe · #1 03/23/13, 12:03 AM

...but kidding season started anyway. I rolled out of bed this morning at 8, just in time to let the office know I wasn't going to make it. I was not well. It snowed here yesterday, so I needed to get hay to the cows. DW and DD went with me so I would only have to deal with the hay, while they did the other chores. I was going to unroll a bale and head back to the sack. What a weird spring.

Last fall, we were dealing with two imminent deaths in the family, my bro and my father-in-law. We knew mid February was going to be bad timing for us, so we decided to hold out and turn the buck out in October. "at least it will be warmer.", we said. He was a first-timer. I remember watching him mate the wethers first as the herd queen finally got frustrated with him and said "Over here, you idiot!" I saw her get bred, then I drove off to say one last goodbye to FIL. I knew when her due date was, but I don't know what happened to the other 6..

Yesterday we were 6 days out. I was up checking on everyone, feeling really sickly. Several are looking super ripe, more so than the first-bred queen (named Clarise--after Rudolf's sweetie). I noticed DDs La Mancha doe's bag, which was really big already, just ballooned. I didn't notice anything else out of the ordinary.

So this morning, when I was moving the hay, I saw DD doing cartwheels out of the goat shed. I knew someone had kidded. Turns out it was Java, DD's La Mancha. She had three doelings, one dead--probably from the elements. I should have been there. But she was also in with the general population. So we went ahead and put all of the ripest ones in the kidding pens. As I was walking Clarise there, I noticed that she was looking labor-ish.

Well, through all of the buzz of trying to keep Java's newborns from chilling to death, and dealing with angry does that were just locked down without hay/water, I 1/2 forgot about Clarise. On a mid-afternoon trek to the barn where her pen is located, I heard that unmistakable low bellow of a goat pushing in labor. The first of three was just arriving. I made a very quick check to make sure it was presenting correctly and then just stood back and watched. In no time flat, like 10 minutes from showing up, she had 2 doelings on the ground. I had my birthing kit with me all day, but I was out of towels. Talk about getting caught with your pants down. And there was a chill and breeze in the barn that I didn't care much for. DD was with me, so I had her keep an eye on Clarise and doelings, while I drove back to house for more towels. When I returned, there was a buckling born (DD told me she didnt think she was done when I left).

The first doeling born ended up way too chilled. 95 deg. We sucked off some colostrum, stuck her under DWs coat, and carried her back to the house. We thought she would join the other deceased of the day, but heated tile floors are just the bomb when it comes to warming a chilly kid. Looks like she is going to be a bottle baby, if she pulls through.

All in all, kidding today was very uneventful compared to some of the stories I have read. But I am wiped out anyway. (but feeling fine).

Backfourty,MI. · #2 03/23/13, 06:35 AM

Hope you feel better soon & continue to have uneventful births. Too bad it's so cold there but I hope all the babies do well. You can always make them little coats out of the sleeves of old sweatshirts & that may help.
Plus hot water bottles or laundry bottles filled with hot water give them something warm to snuggle with.
Congrats on all the healthy babies.

nehimama · #3 03/23/13, 06:55 AM

I'm sorry you're not feeling well - isn't this "spring" weather the pits?

pygmybabies · #4 03/23/13, 07:35 AM

COngrats on the new babies. We also waited until mid October to but the bucks with the does due to not wanting winter babies. I am also in Missouri and this is just ridiculous. Calling for 9-14 inches at my house. I am going out now to get more heat lamps and fix up more inside the barn pens.. we have 6 out in the lean too but the wind is supposed to pick up tomorrow. I am in the KC area.

yarrow · #5 03/23/13, 08:51 AM

congrats on the new babies... I am meeting buyers this weekend.. (back when we were planning pick-ups for the first weekend of SPRING!!!) never gave a thought that there might be snow!! (woke up to right at 7 inches on everything yesterday morning)... hopefully this next batch of snow stays further north. (have to drive down to Batesville tomorrow...long, very curvy roads.. ALL downhill from our area... sometimes dangerous even when it's NOT snowing!!).. at least the kidding barn was extra warm and insulated feeling yesterday with the new snow fall muffling everything...

hope you start feeling better.. the grandbaby (9 months old) is sick for his first time... fever.. belly issues... just a sick little boy..

susie, mo ozarks

Minelson · #6 03/23/13, 08:54 AM

Congratulations! Pictures????

when you feel better!

The Tin Mom · #7 03/23/13, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nehimama

I'm sorry you're not feeling well - isn't this "spring" weather the pits?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pygmybabies

COngrats on the new babies. We also waited until mid October to but the bucks with the does due to not wanting winter babies. I am also in Missouri and this is just ridiculous. Calling for 9-14 inches at my house. I am going out now to get more heat lamps and fix up more inside the barn pens.. we have 6 out in the lean too but the wind is supposed to pick up tomorrow. I am in the KC area.

Here, too! I waited until October because I hate having goats kid in yucky weather and I thought it would at least be warm! Now I have one who kidded yesterday in nasty wet cold weather and one who will probably kid tonight in the middle of a "winter weather advisory". Two more to go, but they are early to mid-April, so maybe by then spring will really be here.... We are about an hour south of KC.

Congratulations on your new babies, CrownRanch! It sounds like your family is a great team! ETA: looking for pics soon!

mahnah · #8 03/23/13, 09:26 AM

Feel better quickly!!! congrats on the babies

Awnry Abe · #9 03/23/13, 03:46 PM

Here is Java with one of her two doelings. DD sold her entire American Girl doll collection and bought Java (and her pen mate Jane, also due soon). So these kids are hers to sell/keep. Now I know what to say if someone asks "What do the ears of a La Mancha doe crossed with a Boer buck look like?" (They look like the ears of a La Mancha doe crossed with a Boer buck.)

I am sick (long) - Goats

This is DD with the other doeling. She is lobbying hard to name all of this year's kids after soft drink names. I am not so sure. If we do, this one probably should be named '7-Up'. Yesterday morning right after birth, she had to come up to the house for a warm-up on the floor. Both are doing great today.

I am sick (long) - Goats

Minelson · #10 03/23/13, 03:58 PM

They are so cute!! Love the first one that doeling is smiling big!!

The Tin Mom · #11 03/23/13, 04:48 PM

Great pics! And all three kids are gorgeous!

Your daughter looks so happy and proud, it made me smile.

Thanks for sharing.

Crazy Farmgirl · #12 03/23/13, 05:01 PM

Congrats! They are beautiful..daughter included!! She looks like a super happy goatie momma!

defenestrate · #13 03/23/13, 05:11 PM

Those braces must be doing their job because she has a great smile already. You'll have to chain up the boys to piers before you know it. Great that she is apreciating the goats (who are cute all on their own).