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
Showing posts with label kidding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kidding. Show all posts
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
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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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 :)
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