Busy Barn News

Wowza. Really, seriously, yesterday was a wearing day and...

Yeah nothing else to say except we have FIVE new goats. Yep, you heard me, FIVE.

First off, Birdie went into full on labor, I was never so happy to see Mom come home and I quickly shifted the Dude off to her and ran to the barn. No real issues with kidding, but there were two on the ground in short order and I figured she was passing the placenta and got ready to go in and get food. Then I saw she was going into labor again. All in all, THREE babies. All does.

But there was a slight snag. When Birdie was going into labor, Ellie, the monster mooch went and snuck snacks. So there was a lot of concern about not having enough clostrum for the babies. We got each hooked on for a drink and gave her hay and grain and molasses water and went inside.



Gotta love the kidpile here! From left to right, Lyla, Lucy and Lily.

So Mom came out, we settled everything down, figured that Stella wasn't going to drop til her actual due date (which was today) and went inside. Stella was sitting outside eating her hay quite contentedly no sign of imminent labor whatsoever.

About an hour later, I went back out to check on the babies to make sure they were getting enough milk. (because of the mooch Ellie taking nips off of every dairy bar in the barn we were a bit concerned ya know. And suddenly I looked out and saw what looked like Stella stringing! EEK!

Our barnyard is a metric ton of mud at the moment, so I had to run in and get boots and more old towels and call my cousin (who for some reason is attached to Stella, I'm not sure why) and get back outside. What I saw was surprising beyond compare.

Stella, the dolt had delivered BOTH babies beside the hay rack in the mud. I don't think she had even stopped eating except when they came out. The babies were utterly covered in mud and frankly Stella looked a bit shell shocked.

Huge sigh and pick up the babies and move them to the barn, chase Stella down and pull her into the barn. Show her the babies. Start toweling the mud off, and threaten her with dire consequences if she didn't take care of them. Stella did not take care of her kids last year - she actually butted them away right off the bat. Stella and Emma were both a pill about it (Emma is due next week) This time she was looking around at them kind of shell shocked but was nudging them a bit and was letting them nurse. (Above is doeling Jaina)

My cousin finally showed up and we dipped the cords and watched as Stella finally passed the placenta. She was showing more interest in the doeling (Jaina) than the buckling (Larry) - but by today they are both eating fine and all that. This buckling really is adorable - the pic does not do him justice! His color is more pale gray than white. He's darling!

I was never so happy to get to bed.

Today is much quieter. I got the monsters out to their run and checked on all the darling babies who are drinking and then dancing and then after that it's soo exhausting and they are deciding to nap in fluffy little kidpiles. Sooo adorable. I had said at least two in Birdie and I was right, but I thought Stella only had one. Seems I was wrong - so I'm not sure whether or not I should be confident on my twins estimate on Emma. :)

It's Farm Friends Friday!