This week has been a busy one as we’ve seen both our momma goats (called does, the same as deer are) giving birth. Our La Mancha doe had twins about a week ago and our Boer goat gave birth last night as we were working on putting together the raised garden bed (more on that in a future post).
Do you wanna play? Do ya'? Do ya'?
Ginger, the La Mancha, birthed quickly and chose to give birth while we were away for the evening. We came home as she was finishing the cleaning up process on the second baby who was already trying to stand. The cream colored one with the black head spot is the boy and the reddish roan is a little girl we’ve named Cinnamon. They are as a soft to the touch as they look.
Cleaning up her babies. Good momma!
The next day, her milk bag was a little swollen looking and she was acting ticklish about letting the babies nurse. I think when the dog got in (we locked that sucker up, no worries!) she got nervous and waited too long to nurse the babies again. Then she was sore and didn’t want to.
We held her still and I milked her down quite a bit so she’d be relieved of the pressure and not become engorged. Then the kids could nurse and she was just fine. It’s been a week and we haven’t had any problems after that first initial morning.
Not sure these kids are used to kids...we may need to bring a few more children over for proper socialization.
Last night, S’mores was obviously in labor while we out in the backyard working. We’d moved some fresh cut grass into the shed so she would have a treat in there but she just ate some and then came back out by the rock play area to give birth. Silly girl opted out of all that nice, fresh, comfy straw!
The plus side of that is the fact that we were able to watch the entire thing from the fence and I recorded it. Excuse the shaking bits of the video but I had four kids mobbing me during this process. Trying to keep them seated and quiet while still getting to see the action for myself wasn’t entirely easy. (Note – you can see Ginger’s doeling from last year, as well as her two kids from this year in the video.)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJGwY3iE6tg[/youtube]
The little dark and white one is a girl, and the solid brown one is a little boy. So stinking cute – these babies seem more personable and friendly than the La Manchas.
All dried off. SO beautiful. I love the beautiful splashes of brown on the painted baby girl.
All four of these babies have the same father, a big, solid black Nubian buck who’s mom milks nearly a gallon per day. He is owned by a friend of ours, and when it’s time for a goaty boyfriend in the fall we just take the girls over there for a couple weeks and then bring them back. I didn’t go with Sidney to drop them off on their romantic date or I would have pictures of the dad for you.
Walking with mom, less than 48 hours old and already on the move!
Gosh I just love these babies. All of them will be for sale, so if you want one let us know.
Take me home and I'll lick your face.
Awwww those baby goats are so adorable. I miss being around animals.
It killed me in college not having any animals around. I’d make a trip to the pet store once a week at least just for some animal time. Lol!
OK so actually I snuck a stray cat up into my dorm room for about 3 months before getting caught. Tomato, ToMahto….
They’re so adorable, Angela. Thanks for sharing.
Lorie you’ll get a kick out of this…the things we do for our animals, eh? https://www.facebook.com/AngEngland/activity/4063938116533?og_perm_src=OPEN_GRAPH_SINGLE_STORY