The due dates approach, and I am on high alert.
Both girls have a slight discharge, but nothing too noticeable. I'll be darned if I can feel ligaments despite my best efforts, so that means that when they loosen I won't know it. Ugh. Yesterday Lilly was laying down by herself at the far end of the pen which is highly unusual, but I'm thinking it might only have been because it was shady and in line of a sweet lake breeze. Today she seems absolutely uncomfortable, and I might just be seeing things but her udder looks shinier, and her right side (the side with the kids) seems to have dropped. She is still nibbling at her hay, though, so I am just trying to relax. My schedule allows me to be home, so I can check on her and Annabelle every few hours. It will be fine, right?
The baby monitor will be on again throughout the night. Last night I woke up a dozen times, trying to analyze what the goats were doing when I heard sounds. Tonight will likely be the same.
It is so dry but the temps are a comfortable 70s with a breeze. I have spent the day weeding both the foundation beds and the pond garden, and it all looks so beautiful. I also watered all the trees we put in over the last two years as we have had no real rain in weeks. I'll take the moderate temps, though. I'm just trying to stay busy and productive because I know once we have kids I will never want to leave the barn :)
"Contentment is natural wealth. Luxury is artificial poverty." Socrates
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Friday, June 17, 2016
Kidding Notes: Day 138 Annabelle, 139 Lilly
Oh boy. To say that I am excited would be an understatement. Excited, anxious, nervous, elated, ecstatic, nauseous, worried, terrified, confident, thrilled.
Last night the does spent the entire night in their private kidding pens. For a few days before that I gave them their morning grain in their new pens, and each evening they spent an hour or two enjoying their personal stashes of hay. Leaving the barn last night I felt confident that they were comfortable and happy in their new pens, and they are really only a few feet from the rest of the herd so it's not like they are very far apart. Of course throughout the night I worried that they were stressed, despite the baby monitor's relative quiet (it is still a barn full of goats, after all). All seemed well this morning, and today they are basking in the early summer sun and enjoying the cool lake breeze with the other girls.
The weather has been mercifully cooler and less humid this season than it typically is, and the wind continues to come from the north which means we are ten degrees cooler here on the lake shore than just a half mile inland. Despite this, I have the barn fans running today in an attempt to keep the girls as comfortable as possible. Tomorrow and Monday are supposed to be much hotter and more humid, with temps in the high 80s and a southerly breeze. Yikes. But the rest of the week looks like back down into the 70s so I will keep my fingers crossed. It could be much worse.
The boys are now permanently separated from the girls, and I think that will keep things calmer. Boys are just so rough and pushy. Even though they are sweet, they are very large and physical, and combining that with their very different nutritional needs it just makes sense to me to keep the herd divided, at least during pregnancy and through weaning. The boys threw a stink about the division because they loved to "raid" the girls' stall, but they got over it pretty quickly.
The birthing supplies are ready and my schedule is cleared. Next week is the final week of state exams at school and the last week I am required to report for the summer, so that combined with my accrued comp time leaves me with a ton of flexibility.
Both Lilly and Annabelle seem healthy, but they are clearly uncomfortable. They want me to pet and scratch them like never before, and if I stop they make the sweetest little tiny baa sounds as if they are saying "please don't stop". They are laying down more than ever, and when they turn their head back to take care of an itch they make little grunty sounds. I did not think I could bond any more deeply with them but I have, and I imagine that assisting with the kidding will only deepen that bond with them beyond what I can imagine.
Both girls are absurdly round, and their udders have really developed more than I expected. I saw a drop of white discharge under Lilly's tail this morning which at first startled me (it's too early!) but then I remembered reading that they can have small spots of opaque discharge a day, a week, or even a month before kidding.
The weather has been mercifully cooler and less humid this season than it typically is, and the wind continues to come from the north which means we are ten degrees cooler here on the lake shore than just a half mile inland. Despite this, I have the barn fans running today in an attempt to keep the girls as comfortable as possible. Tomorrow and Monday are supposed to be hotter and more humid, with temps in the high 80s and a southerly breeze. Yikes. But the rest of the week looks like back down into the 70s so I will keep my fingers crossed. It could be much worse.
A common theme when breeders discuss what the signs are of impending delivery is that each doe is different. That makes me nervous, but it is also the reason why I am going to keep posting notes here of what each doe is doing over the next week. If I breed them next year then I will at least have a starting point of what to watch for.
<< Deep breath >> This is a perfect time to keep repeating my mantra: I can do this.
Some excellent sites with lots of helpful information:
Fias Co Farm
Kinne's Mini's (although they raise Pygmy's, so much of the info is still helpful)
Cornerstone Farm
Goldenbrook Farm
Last night the does spent the entire night in their private kidding pens. For a few days before that I gave them their morning grain in their new pens, and each evening they spent an hour or two enjoying their personal stashes of hay. Leaving the barn last night I felt confident that they were comfortable and happy in their new pens, and they are really only a few feet from the rest of the herd so it's not like they are very far apart. Of course throughout the night I worried that they were stressed, despite the baby monitor's relative quiet (it is still a barn full of goats, after all). All seemed well this morning, and today they are basking in the early summer sun and enjoying the cool lake breeze with the other girls.
The weather has been mercifully cooler and less humid this season than it typically is, and the wind continues to come from the north which means we are ten degrees cooler here on the lake shore than just a half mile inland. Despite this, I have the barn fans running today in an attempt to keep the girls as comfortable as possible. Tomorrow and Monday are supposed to be much hotter and more humid, with temps in the high 80s and a southerly breeze. Yikes. But the rest of the week looks like back down into the 70s so I will keep my fingers crossed. It could be much worse.
The boys are now permanently separated from the girls, and I think that will keep things calmer. Boys are just so rough and pushy. Even though they are sweet, they are very large and physical, and combining that with their very different nutritional needs it just makes sense to me to keep the herd divided, at least during pregnancy and through weaning. The boys threw a stink about the division because they loved to "raid" the girls' stall, but they got over it pretty quickly.
The birthing supplies are ready and my schedule is cleared. Next week is the final week of state exams at school and the last week I am required to report for the summer, so that combined with my accrued comp time leaves me with a ton of flexibility.
Both Lilly and Annabelle seem healthy, but they are clearly uncomfortable. They want me to pet and scratch them like never before, and if I stop they make the sweetest little tiny baa sounds as if they are saying "please don't stop". They are laying down more than ever, and when they turn their head back to take care of an itch they make little grunty sounds. I did not think I could bond any more deeply with them but I have, and I imagine that assisting with the kidding will only deepen that bond with them beyond what I can imagine.
Both girls are absurdly round, and their udders have really developed more than I expected. I saw a drop of white discharge under Lilly's tail this morning which at first startled me (it's too early!) but then I remembered reading that they can have small spots of opaque discharge a day, a week, or even a month before kidding.
The weather has been mercifully cooler and less humid this season than it typically is, and the wind continues to come from the north which means we are ten degrees cooler here on the lake shore than just a half mile inland. Despite this, I have the barn fans running today in an attempt to keep the girls as comfortable as possible. Tomorrow and Monday are supposed to be hotter and more humid, with temps in the high 80s and a southerly breeze. Yikes. But the rest of the week looks like back down into the 70s so I will keep my fingers crossed. It could be much worse.
A common theme when breeders discuss what the signs are of impending delivery is that each doe is different. That makes me nervous, but it is also the reason why I am going to keep posting notes here of what each doe is doing over the next week. If I breed them next year then I will at least have a starting point of what to watch for.
<< Deep breath >> This is a perfect time to keep repeating my mantra: I can do this.
Some excellent sites with lots of helpful information:
Fias Co Farm
Kinne's Mini's (although they raise Pygmy's, so much of the info is still helpful)
Cornerstone Farm
Goldenbrook Farm
Friday, May 20, 2016
Kid Names
I will admit that I love thinking about and selecting the names for my animals.
We adopted our dog Willow partly because my son and I were discussing earlier in the day how we thought "Willow" would be a great dog name. That evening I was cruising the Petfinder site and there was this little crooked eared terrier mix that looked like a white version of our Bumble, and her name was "Willow". It seemed like a sign. And our adopted dog Bumble came with his name, too, which suits him so well there was no way we were going to change it.
But when you have baby animals you get to make up your own names for them, and that is part of the fun of baby animals, especially while you are waiting. Thinking of and collecting potential kid names has been one of the activities that have helped me pass the time while waiting for the kidding date to arrive. I actually have a spreadsheet for doeling and buckling names to which I add names as I think of them. Yes, that is fairly insane, I admit, but when I have bouncing goat babies I will want to select a cool name that suits them perfectly.
Themes are fun. For instance, my first four goats were named with a nod to my art background: Vincent, Salvador, Pablo and Jasper. When we adopted two adult goats we stuck with their original names - 'not sure if goats would be confused by a sudden name change but somehow it still seemed wrong to change their identities at this point in their life. Artist names are at the top of my potential kidding names list, but for doelings that will be more challenging. Frida? Georgia? Dorothea? 'Unless I go with female contemporary artists, but then the average non-art person will not get the reference. For the boys my favorite potential names include Hopper, Diego, Maxfield, Claude, Modigliani, Banksy and Ansel.
Plant and flower names have great potential, as well, especially for Lilly's kids. Sweet Pea, Jasmine, Violet, Daisy, Poppy, Holly, Hazel, Flora, Iris, Clover, Rose? But then what about the boys?
Authors, musicians, Greek gods, and biblical characters also have potential, and those names comprise a large portion of my list.
Names should suit the little critters and their personalities, so we will definitely not decide on names and what direction those names will take until the kids are hopping around and we get to know them a bit. 'A little more than a month from now!!
We adopted our dog Willow partly because my son and I were discussing earlier in the day how we thought "Willow" would be a great dog name. That evening I was cruising the Petfinder site and there was this little crooked eared terrier mix that looked like a white version of our Bumble, and her name was "Willow". It seemed like a sign. And our adopted dog Bumble came with his name, too, which suits him so well there was no way we were going to change it.
But when you have baby animals you get to make up your own names for them, and that is part of the fun of baby animals, especially while you are waiting. Thinking of and collecting potential kid names has been one of the activities that have helped me pass the time while waiting for the kidding date to arrive. I actually have a spreadsheet for doeling and buckling names to which I add names as I think of them. Yes, that is fairly insane, I admit, but when I have bouncing goat babies I will want to select a cool name that suits them perfectly.
Themes are fun. For instance, my first four goats were named with a nod to my art background: Vincent, Salvador, Pablo and Jasper. When we adopted two adult goats we stuck with their original names - 'not sure if goats would be confused by a sudden name change but somehow it still seemed wrong to change their identities at this point in their life. Artist names are at the top of my potential kidding names list, but for doelings that will be more challenging. Frida? Georgia? Dorothea? 'Unless I go with female contemporary artists, but then the average non-art person will not get the reference. For the boys my favorite potential names include Hopper, Diego, Maxfield, Claude, Modigliani, Banksy and Ansel.
Plant and flower names have great potential, as well, especially for Lilly's kids. Sweet Pea, Jasmine, Violet, Daisy, Poppy, Holly, Hazel, Flora, Iris, Clover, Rose? But then what about the boys?
Authors, musicians, Greek gods, and biblical characters also have potential, and those names comprise a large portion of my list.
Names should suit the little critters and their personalities, so we will definitely not decide on names and what direction those names will take until the kids are hopping around and we get to know them a bit. 'A little more than a month from now!!
Monday, April 18, 2016
Spring Cleaning
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| Throughout the winter months, bedding builds up around the concrete pad. Removal requires a morning of team work. |
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| After Jim scrapes and removes the bulk of it with the tractor, I go to work with a rake and a shovel. |
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| If all of this were left behind, the grass would not grow and the flies would be out of control. After everything was raked and removed, I thoroughly hosed down the concrete and side of the barn. Ahhhh clean! |
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| Old bedding and manure removal is just part of farm life. Here Jim is moving a temporary pile that was created behind the barn when there was snow. It's easier to empty the wheelbarrow next to the barn when the weather is nasty, and then have the tractor guy move it when the weather is nicer :) |
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Weaning Plans
Weaning will not be an issue until well into August, but of course I am already researching and trying to figure out a game plan for when that time comes. Anxiety is what I am feeling, but I keep reminding myself that this is what needs to be done so I need to suck it up. While I am mentioning anxiety I should also add the great stress I am feeling about disbudding and castration, but that will all be performed by our vet so I am putting that worry off until the time is closer.
From what I can tell, weaning comes with great stress on the animals, the humans, and the neighbors. There is crying and calling and searching from both the does and the kids. Deep breath. The big goal will be to break the nursing habit, so there needs to be physical separation. Out of sight and out of ear shot would be ideal, but our infrastructure will not permit that so I have to come up with the best plan given the logistics. I think I have figured it out.
The north side of the barn would be mostly out of sight of the herd's permanent pen which is on the south side, so a temporary weaning area with t-posts and welded wire (maybe panels) there would be perfect. Well, the neighbors are also in that direction so they may feel less enthused about it but I am hoping a visit with a plate of cookies and an explanation the week before will help neighborhood relationships. Unfortunately the only door on that side of the barn is the man door, and at this stage of the breeding game I am not going to make a permanent and costly change in the barn structure, so the man door it is. I was considering a calf hutch for shelter, but I feel strongly about tucking all my goats safely in the barn every night, especially my wee kids!
Inside the man door I can rearrange one of the kidding pens to serve as an interior enclosure so that will be perfect, too. About kidding pens: After planning and drawing and planning and changing my mind and pricing and discussing it with Jim we have decided to invest in two dog kennels rather than piece together cattle panels and figure out gates and posts in the cement floor. These kennels can be easily stored away and then used again whenever and wherever - like a weaning pen - we need them. The costs are not that far off, either, from all the pieces and parts homemade pens would cost (especially the posts bolted into the cement floor). Add to all of that the fact that my husband is not exactly "handy", and although he is willing to help me he is not a happy carpenter.
Being a human parent includes making tough decisions and sometimes causing stress to your children because you know it will be good for them in the long run, and you keep your eye on the goal of raising your children to grow into healthy independent adults. You insist on them sleeping in their own beds, you resist the urge to deliver to school their forgotten gym clothes, you deny the requests to have their schedule changed because they don't "like" their teacher, you make them go to church and brush their teeth and eat their veggies ....... I suppose being a good goat mom involves some of the same kinds of decisions. Weaning/castration/disbudding won't feel good to the kids in the short run, but in the long run the kids will grow up to be healthy and independent adults who will be a pleasure to have as part of a herd.
Having a plan in place makes me feel more secure about it all. I can do this.
From what I can tell, weaning comes with great stress on the animals, the humans, and the neighbors. There is crying and calling and searching from both the does and the kids. Deep breath. The big goal will be to break the nursing habit, so there needs to be physical separation. Out of sight and out of ear shot would be ideal, but our infrastructure will not permit that so I have to come up with the best plan given the logistics. I think I have figured it out.
The north side of the barn would be mostly out of sight of the herd's permanent pen which is on the south side, so a temporary weaning area with t-posts and welded wire (maybe panels) there would be perfect. Well, the neighbors are also in that direction so they may feel less enthused about it but I am hoping a visit with a plate of cookies and an explanation the week before will help neighborhood relationships. Unfortunately the only door on that side of the barn is the man door, and at this stage of the breeding game I am not going to make a permanent and costly change in the barn structure, so the man door it is. I was considering a calf hutch for shelter, but I feel strongly about tucking all my goats safely in the barn every night, especially my wee kids!
Inside the man door I can rearrange one of the kidding pens to serve as an interior enclosure so that will be perfect, too. About kidding pens: After planning and drawing and planning and changing my mind and pricing and discussing it with Jim we have decided to invest in two dog kennels rather than piece together cattle panels and figure out gates and posts in the cement floor. These kennels can be easily stored away and then used again whenever and wherever - like a weaning pen - we need them. The costs are not that far off, either, from all the pieces and parts homemade pens would cost (especially the posts bolted into the cement floor). Add to all of that the fact that my husband is not exactly "handy", and although he is willing to help me he is not a happy carpenter.
Being a human parent includes making tough decisions and sometimes causing stress to your children because you know it will be good for them in the long run, and you keep your eye on the goal of raising your children to grow into healthy independent adults. You insist on them sleeping in their own beds, you resist the urge to deliver to school their forgotten gym clothes, you deny the requests to have their schedule changed because they don't "like" their teacher, you make them go to church and brush their teeth and eat their veggies ....... I suppose being a good goat mom involves some of the same kinds of decisions. Weaning/castration/disbudding won't feel good to the kids in the short run, but in the long run the kids will grow up to be healthy and independent adults who will be a pleasure to have as part of a herd.
Having a plan in place makes me feel more secure about it all. I can do this.
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| From Tractor Supply -- I may have to "wrap" smaller fencing material around the gate when the kids are teeny, depending on how large the gaps really are. |
Saturday, March 26, 2016
I'm Not a Vet For a Reason
Like so many animal-obsessed little girls, there was a period of time when I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian. 'Sounds like a dream job, right? Working each day with fluffy kittens and cute puppies, helping old dogs feel better and making pet owners happy. Except. Except that the job really involves a whole lot of putting animals to sleep, seeing suffering and pain that cannot be fixed, helplessly recognizing pet owners that are indifferent or even cruel toward their pets. And then there is the blood. And open wounds. And oozing.
My career decision rightfully moved toward the teaching profession, and it was a good choice. After 25 years I still love my art teaching job. Yes, I deal with annoying technology, messy pottery wheels and buckets of wallpaper paste, but there is no blood. There is no crying out in pain (unless you spend any time in the faculty room - there you can hear some crying out), there are no open wounds, and there is no oozing. I'm so glad there is no oozing.
It has come to my attention that when a goat gives birth there is apparent suffering and crying out in pain. And there is definitely oozing.
What to do? Well, after my girls were bred I began Operation Desensitization. I have watched dozens and dozens of goat birthing videos over the last several weeks, and I am happy to report I can now watch with great interest. I now not only keep my eyes open the entire time, I find myself critiquing the whole operation. "Oh, that's a nice kidding pen, filled with fluffy shavings!" "Why is that poor goat giving birth in the dirt next to a lawn mower??" "Wipe the poor kid's face, already!" "Why are they pulling on the kid when everything seems to be going fine?" "I did not see them use any anti-bacterial anything!"
Along with no longer feeling horrified, I am beginning to see the magic in the births I have been watching. Each doe is a little different. Some are more vocal, some seem to take it more in stride. The circle of life is so beautiful, and watching new life appear has to top anything else that we can witness. My maternal instincts have taken over, and I cannot wait to see my little does bring new kids into the world. I am excited and honored to be part of something so primitive and so elemental.
I will definitely have my vet's cell number handy, as well as the numbers of my experienced farm friends, but I think I can do this.
And I'm confident I can handle the oozing.
My career decision rightfully moved toward the teaching profession, and it was a good choice. After 25 years I still love my art teaching job. Yes, I deal with annoying technology, messy pottery wheels and buckets of wallpaper paste, but there is no blood. There is no crying out in pain (unless you spend any time in the faculty room - there you can hear some crying out), there are no open wounds, and there is no oozing. I'm so glad there is no oozing.
It has come to my attention that when a goat gives birth there is apparent suffering and crying out in pain. And there is definitely oozing.
What to do? Well, after my girls were bred I began Operation Desensitization. I have watched dozens and dozens of goat birthing videos over the last several weeks, and I am happy to report I can now watch with great interest. I now not only keep my eyes open the entire time, I find myself critiquing the whole operation. "Oh, that's a nice kidding pen, filled with fluffy shavings!" "Why is that poor goat giving birth in the dirt next to a lawn mower??" "Wipe the poor kid's face, already!" "Why are they pulling on the kid when everything seems to be going fine?" "I did not see them use any anti-bacterial anything!"
Along with no longer feeling horrified, I am beginning to see the magic in the births I have been watching. Each doe is a little different. Some are more vocal, some seem to take it more in stride. The circle of life is so beautiful, and watching new life appear has to top anything else that we can witness. My maternal instincts have taken over, and I cannot wait to see my little does bring new kids into the world. I am excited and honored to be part of something so primitive and so elemental.
I will definitely have my vet's cell number handy, as well as the numbers of my experienced farm friends, but I think I can do this.
And I'm confident I can handle the oozing.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Great Expectations
Alternate Title: Are My Goats Really Pregnant? If So, Now What?
This morning the vet came by, and Lilly and Annabelle had ultrasounds. I'm am sooooo excited to report that they are both indeed pregnant and they are both carrying at least two kids!!!
Lilly was bred on January 31st and Annabelle was bred on February 1st. Both were in beautiful condition at the time of breeding, and they continue to be. So far I have done nothing differently as far as nutrition: I continue to give them a mix of alfalfa and grass hays, and a half cup of grain a day along with free choice minerals. Fresh, clean water (warmed twice a day and in heated buckets) is always available. Their coats are lush and they appear to me to be in great condition. I do struggle with my ability to judge if they are overweight (they are so fluffy in the winter, and their rumens make them look fat) so I asked the vet today to help me, and she did a great job demonstrating how to tell, and she determined they are in good shape right now.
Online there is a lot of technical info about goats and using ultrasound for pregnancy detection, and also many personal thoughts and stories in the forums. There is also a TON on purchasing your own ultrasound unit so you can do it yourself. I suppose really experienced people who have lots and lots of goats may wish to do that, but I really wanted my vet to come out and take care of things, including discuss upcoming vaccinations, check on my goats with fresh eyes, and to simply chat with me about what I should be looking for, feeding, and doing over the next few months.
My specific ultrasound goals for the girls included 1: confirming pregnancy (goats do not "show" much until later in the pregnancy) and 2: trying to determine if there are multiples (knowing full well that it is not always very accurate). Neither doe has been in heat since the breeding and my other two girls have been in heat a couple of times since then, so that is a good sign, but I still want to be sure. A big reason for knowing more details regarding pregnancy is the fact that nutrition for my little mammas will become increasingly important as we get closer to kidding.
I have read many scary things regarding what can happen if you over or under feed your pregnant goats. I'm certain that there are lots of people who just hope for the best and everything turns out great. It's like people who don't care about their dogs and let them run free - those dogs never seem to get hit by cars. The one freakin' moment my loved and pampered dog gets loose I lose him in the road. Sigh. It's been several years now but I guess I'm still bitter. But back to goats: I feel an immense sense of responsibility to have my girls stay healthy throughout this process, and to kid healthy babies. I confess to having moments of panic ("what the heck am I thinking??") contrasting with moments of great confidence ("this is a natural process that has been happening for eons"). I do believe in preparation, however, so preparing is what I've been doing.
I feel more confident after my visit with the vet. For $134 she drove to my house, examined the two does, did the ultrasound on both does, examined my old doe who seems to be having some trouble chewing (the vet found she is missing a tooth but is still in good condition, so I just have to monitor her at this point.) and stayed and discussed important things like nutrition and vaccinations with me. 'So worth every single penny.
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| This was the contraption the vet used - she had no problems seeing the kids. She was able to snap a still shot, and when I put on the glasses I saw the little head and front legs of a kid! It was blurry to me, but it made sense after she explained it, haha :) |
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| Vinny and Sal are not coming near the barn as long as the vet's truck is in the driveway :) |
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| This was taken after the vet left - Leo is sitting on the counter wondering what all the hubbub is about. You can see Vinny still won't come near the barn, despite me handing out treats. You can see some treats sitting by my checkbook - macaroni - their favorite :) |
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| Annabelle and Lilly both did so well! They stood still (well, I held them, but they didn't really struggle) and were sweet for the vet. Here Annabelle is peeking around the corner, wondering what the heck just happened. |
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| These vets are amazing: Maplewood, from Middleport. |
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Great Expectations :)
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Monday, February 29, 2016
Leo & Juno
** This post has been sitting in my drafts folder since last summer - 'thought I should finally publish it!
Barn cats are controversial. Most adoption organizations will not let you adopt a cat for your barn, despite the huge population of cats and kitten in the shelters who are waiting for homes. Yes, there are more dangers for cats that live outside: coyotes, cars, fur traps, nasty people with guns. A barn kitty's life expectancy is shorter and that is a hard fact. It is true that to simply set free cats on your property (or worse yet, somebody else's property) is an abomination, but a properly cared for barn cat is the happiest form of feline.
So what constitutes proper care? Absolutely every single thing you would do for your indoor cat.
First, both males and females need to be fixed. It keeps them from roaming as much and - duh - it keeps them from making more cats. We have a neighborhood cat periodically visit our barn and it sprays, so not only is this cat making more cats it is smelling up my barn (yes, smelling up my barn because cat urine odor is extremely offensive, even in a barn). It astounds me how many people have unfixed cats.
Barn cats also need a constant supply of food and water. Well fed cats will still hunt, contrary to the myth that you have to keep them hungry. I guarantee your barn will be rodent free even when you have healthy food available.
Regular worming and vaccinations are also a must. These kitties are exposed to more than any inside cat, and it is our responsibility to keep them safe and healthy. By the way, even the goats are vaccinated against rabies.
A warm bed is also a must. My cats love the hay, but when it gets cold they want their comfy bed to snuggle. Leo likes to snuggle in the stalls with the goats, and some mornings I find Juno in a hay rack :) but most mornings I find them in their beds.
Barn cats need grooming from time to time. Of course their claws need to be intact, but their coats may get burrs or matts, and it is your job to take care of them.
Human affection needs will vary from cat to cat, depending on if the kitten was more feral or more tame. In my experience, my barn cats are friendly but will not go near our house even when we have tried to bring them in on the harshest winter days. They are too stressed and they feel safest in the barn. However, they love their humans, and they love attention.
So now to the fun part of this story: the addition of Leo and Juno.
Barn cats are controversial. Most adoption organizations will not let you adopt a cat for your barn, despite the huge population of cats and kitten in the shelters who are waiting for homes. Yes, there are more dangers for cats that live outside: coyotes, cars, fur traps, nasty people with guns. A barn kitty's life expectancy is shorter and that is a hard fact. It is true that to simply set free cats on your property (or worse yet, somebody else's property) is an abomination, but a properly cared for barn cat is the happiest form of feline.
So what constitutes proper care? Absolutely every single thing you would do for your indoor cat.
First, both males and females need to be fixed. It keeps them from roaming as much and - duh - it keeps them from making more cats. We have a neighborhood cat periodically visit our barn and it sprays, so not only is this cat making more cats it is smelling up my barn (yes, smelling up my barn because cat urine odor is extremely offensive, even in a barn). It astounds me how many people have unfixed cats.
Barn cats also need a constant supply of food and water. Well fed cats will still hunt, contrary to the myth that you have to keep them hungry. I guarantee your barn will be rodent free even when you have healthy food available.
Regular worming and vaccinations are also a must. These kitties are exposed to more than any inside cat, and it is our responsibility to keep them safe and healthy. By the way, even the goats are vaccinated against rabies.
A warm bed is also a must. My cats love the hay, but when it gets cold they want their comfy bed to snuggle. Leo likes to snuggle in the stalls with the goats, and some mornings I find Juno in a hay rack :) but most mornings I find them in their beds.
Barn cats need grooming from time to time. Of course their claws need to be intact, but their coats may get burrs or matts, and it is your job to take care of them.
Human affection needs will vary from cat to cat, depending on if the kitten was more feral or more tame. In my experience, my barn cats are friendly but will not go near our house even when we have tried to bring them in on the harshest winter days. They are too stressed and they feel safest in the barn. However, they love their humans, and they love attention.
So now to the fun part of this story: the addition of Leo and Juno.
Little Mammas & Receiving Goat Worship
I am happy to say that I believe both Lilly and Annabelle are pregnant as neither have appeared to come into heat since their dates with Lux. I am considering either ultrasound or blood tests to be certain, and so I will be calling the vet this week to inquire about that and see what they think.
I am nuts with excitement! I have been reading as many articles as I can find about caring for pregnant goats, the actual kidding, and then the first several weeks of kid care. I have been watching kidding video after graphic kidding video to try and desensitize myself to the process - and I think it has been working because now I feel less terrified. I have drawn out kidding pen plans, and gone over the plans with my husband (the saint). I have updated the website but I wish I had better photos of my little mammas - that was something I neglected to get last summer. I am hopeful to find homes for the kids, although if each doe only has one kid I may not need any homes other than my own ;)
Behaviorally I think the mammas are more affectionate toward me. I have always said my boys worship me but my girls only appreciate me. Well, I have been feeling worshiped by the girls lately, too. With goats, appreciation looks like this: you sit down on a bench and they come over, curious to see why you are there. You scratch them, they like it, but then they wander back to whatever it was they were doing before you got there (eating, most likely). With goats, worship looks like this: you sit down on a bench and they come up and snuggle, looking for scratches. They nibble gently on your sleeve, and maybe even paw you if you stop scratching. They will hang out with you as long as you sit there. Receiving Goat Worship is better than any drug.
So this leaves me wondering: has the breeding made this change in the does' behavior? Or is it just their age? When they were little kids they loved to hang out with me, but then became more distant - maybe they went through a "teenage" stage where they were too busy to really snuggle, and now they have settled into their mature personalities? They will be two years old in May. I really don't have the answer but I do know I LOVE having my snuggly girls back!
I am nuts with excitement! I have been reading as many articles as I can find about caring for pregnant goats, the actual kidding, and then the first several weeks of kid care. I have been watching kidding video after graphic kidding video to try and desensitize myself to the process - and I think it has been working because now I feel less terrified. I have drawn out kidding pen plans, and gone over the plans with my husband (the saint). I have updated the website but I wish I had better photos of my little mammas - that was something I neglected to get last summer. I am hopeful to find homes for the kids, although if each doe only has one kid I may not need any homes other than my own ;)
Behaviorally I think the mammas are more affectionate toward me. I have always said my boys worship me but my girls only appreciate me. Well, I have been feeling worshiped by the girls lately, too. With goats, appreciation looks like this: you sit down on a bench and they come over, curious to see why you are there. You scratch them, they like it, but then they wander back to whatever it was they were doing before you got there (eating, most likely). With goats, worship looks like this: you sit down on a bench and they come up and snuggle, looking for scratches. They nibble gently on your sleeve, and maybe even paw you if you stop scratching. They will hang out with you as long as you sit there. Receiving Goat Worship is better than any drug.
So this leaves me wondering: has the breeding made this change in the does' behavior? Or is it just their age? When they were little kids they loved to hang out with me, but then became more distant - maybe they went through a "teenage" stage where they were too busy to really snuggle, and now they have settled into their mature personalities? They will be two years old in May. I really don't have the answer but I do know I LOVE having my snuggly girls back!
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Kid Jammies
I know I'm pathetic, but I have already been shopping for my unborn kids. Goat jammies: I had to! Yeah, I know it'll be summer but the nights could still be chilly in June, right??
While searching online I found very few already-made jammies. Hoegger Supply have some that come only in pink and blue. Eh. So many sites have patterns to make your own jammies but I am not crafty at all. Some easier diy ideas include making little jammies from sweatshirt sleeves or socks, both of which seem doable, but still eh. And then Bingo! I did find a couple of Etsy shops that sold some cute jams:
I almost ordered from Wilkinson Farm - they have really cute knitted sweaters, but they look a little warm for June.
Chicken Scraps Shop have some very reasonably priced and very cute fleece coats that come in adorable patterns. I just ordered six!
While searching online I found very few already-made jammies. Hoegger Supply have some that come only in pink and blue. Eh. So many sites have patterns to make your own jammies but I am not crafty at all. Some easier diy ideas include making little jammies from sweatshirt sleeves or socks, both of which seem doable, but still eh. And then Bingo! I did find a couple of Etsy shops that sold some cute jams:
I almost ordered from Wilkinson Farm - they have really cute knitted sweaters, but they look a little warm for June.
Chicken Scraps Shop have some very reasonably priced and very cute fleece coats that come in adorable patterns. I just ordered six!
The photos are from the shops, but hopefully it's okay
to use them as I am advertising :)
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
We are (hopefully) expecting!
So this is a pretty big deal to us as newbies: both Annabelle and Lilly were bred to a buck, and we will hopefully have kids June 23rd/24th-ish! We are super excited and nervous, but this has been in the works for a couple of years so I feel as ready as I'll ever be.
I will mostly use the pronoun "I" as my husband is not nearly as into this as I am -- but he is a willing assistant. Twice he drove a goat an hour and a half in the back seat of his brand new truck to meet a smelly buck. Twice he hoisted in and out of his truck a now-smelly doe. Twice he missed out on things he really wanted to do (football party, quiet night at home) just because I came into the house saying "we have to go now!". Twice he listened to me ramble on in the truck for three hours about plans and what we have to do to prepare. He will also "willingly" build my kidding pens, he will also most certainly be present to assist me when the does actually go into labor, he puts up with the vast amounts of money I spend on my goat obsession, he listens to me go on and on about my dreams and goals ... he supports me, and I could not be more grateful because I know this goat thing isn't his choice. He clearly loves our animals but mostly he loves me. How lucky am I. Seriously. To have a supportive spouse is one of the best things one could ever wish for.
So KIDS - we are going to have babies! Some concerns and thoughts that are racing through my mind include:
-- I have a lot more reading to do so that I feel at least somewhat knowledgeable about the birthing process. I have never assisted in the birth of anything, not even a guinea pig.
-- I have to purchase all the supplies I'll need, but I did make two purchases already: a surveillance camera and a baby monitor.
-- I have already planned the barn layout with the kidding pens, and also the layout outside so all goats can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine safely. Now we just need to construct it (Jim, the saint, is needed here).
-- I think I am going to have "Open Barn" a few times a week after the babies are born so that everyone who wants to visit can, and so that the kids are well socialized with people. I'm thinking evening hours with cocktails and Saturday morning with the orange squeezer set up :)
-- How the heck will I feel confident in giving up my babies to people I don't know?? Applications? References? Gut feelings?
-- How many kids do I keep this year - one doe and one wether? I really don't want a larger herd but how can I NOT keep at least one??
-- Wait - what if neither doe is even pregnant at all, and my hopes will be dashed and I slide into a deep depression?
-- I am not experienced - what the heck am I thinking, that I can successfully handle kidding??
-- I am filled with a roller coaster of feelings including courage, excitement, doubt, fear, joy, panic .... it kind of reminds me of the time I was expecting a baby myself.
I will mostly use the pronoun "I" as my husband is not nearly as into this as I am -- but he is a willing assistant. Twice he drove a goat an hour and a half in the back seat of his brand new truck to meet a smelly buck. Twice he hoisted in and out of his truck a now-smelly doe. Twice he missed out on things he really wanted to do (football party, quiet night at home) just because I came into the house saying "we have to go now!". Twice he listened to me ramble on in the truck for three hours about plans and what we have to do to prepare. He will also "willingly" build my kidding pens, he will also most certainly be present to assist me when the does actually go into labor, he puts up with the vast amounts of money I spend on my goat obsession, he listens to me go on and on about my dreams and goals ... he supports me, and I could not be more grateful because I know this goat thing isn't his choice. He clearly loves our animals but mostly he loves me. How lucky am I. Seriously. To have a supportive spouse is one of the best things one could ever wish for.
So KIDS - we are going to have babies! Some concerns and thoughts that are racing through my mind include:
-- I have a lot more reading to do so that I feel at least somewhat knowledgeable about the birthing process. I have never assisted in the birth of anything, not even a guinea pig.
-- I have to purchase all the supplies I'll need, but I did make two purchases already: a surveillance camera and a baby monitor.
-- I have already planned the barn layout with the kidding pens, and also the layout outside so all goats can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine safely. Now we just need to construct it (Jim, the saint, is needed here).
-- I think I am going to have "Open Barn" a few times a week after the babies are born so that everyone who wants to visit can, and so that the kids are well socialized with people. I'm thinking evening hours with cocktails and Saturday morning with the orange squeezer set up :)
-- How the heck will I feel confident in giving up my babies to people I don't know?? Applications? References? Gut feelings?
-- How many kids do I keep this year - one doe and one wether? I really don't want a larger herd but how can I NOT keep at least one??
-- Wait - what if neither doe is even pregnant at all, and my hopes will be dashed and I slide into a deep depression?
-- I am not experienced - what the heck am I thinking, that I can successfully handle kidding??
-- I am filled with a roller coaster of feelings including courage, excitement, doubt, fear, joy, panic .... it kind of reminds me of the time I was expecting a baby myself.
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| Lilly on her way to meet Lux, Sunday, January 31st |
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| Annabelle on her way to meet Lux, February 1st |
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