Callie's kids

[mary,tx]

Callie was due Wednesday. By Thursday the cold front was here and I was sick, and hoping she'd hold off somehow until Sunday afternoon when the weather would be improving a little and hopefully I'd be feeling better.

Last year she bagged up a couple of days before kidding and I had to watch her like a hawk. This time she didn't bag up until kidding day, so that I didn't feel that I needed to check on her during the cold nights. And like clockwork she started laboring late yesterday afternoon, while there was still a little daylight. It was still cold but not as cold as it had been. And I was still sick, but not nearly as sick as I'd been.

Callie's twins are considerably bigger than the triplets born a week ago. One buck, one doe.

I knew I should have gone back out to check them last night, but didn't. The little doeling was laying prone this morning looking half dead. I rubbed her and bottled her, and have brought her into the house.

Her back legs are not strong, probably the reason she did not manage to nurse. The bottom joints are buckling backwards when she tries to stand. I've seen this before and it normally corrects itself in a day or two. But I will need to work with her on it.

[Doug Hodges]

Good luck. They are cute

[Alice In TX/MO]

Hooray for successful births. Awesome colostrum.

[dozedotz]

Beautiful kids! Sure hope the little girl pulls through...she looks like a baby bunny in her little warming tub. Get well soon yourself...nothing worse for you: intense cold and being sick AND taking care of baby goats that need help. Hope there is someone who can assist you.

[mary,tx]

Thanks. My daughter has been a big help.

I should have listened when she told me this afternoon that little buck seemed hungry. When I went out this evening I found that he was not
thriving. I offered him a bottle then and he took it eagerly.

If he had been nursing, he would NOT have taken the bottle.

So I've brought him it, too. No point in him shivering out there in the cold by himself if he is not nursing.

Dam was not happy. She followed us up to the yard.



And Alice, thanks for the colostrum compliment. I actually got a full pickle jar off her this morning, and had poured some off for a bottle. It's the reason Callie is my Number 1 goat. She is a bit of a pill and did not inherit her dam's amiable personality. Although after eight years I suppose we are getting used to each other.

[Frosted Mini's]

The dam can be unhappy all she wants, if she ain't feeding those babies, that's her problem! Glad you got to them quickly and at least they will be especially friendly babies now. Their mom will get over it.

[mary,tx]

Thanks. I was never too worried about Callie, since she was not nursing them and I figured the buck would have died by today if I hadn't noticed.

But today the sun came out and the babies went back to the barn tonight. I left them in the coop with her because there was no reason not to, and all are happy again. We'll take out bottles again in the morning.

[wintrrwolf]

Oh my lord they are so cuuute!!