It is such a fun, exciting, busy time of year. Our farm gained 9 does & 6 bucks this spring from 5 mamas and 3 baby daddys.
My method of assisting the births is very hands off. I watch the mamas obsessively when their due date is approaching. I like to be there for the births in case they need help. But, I will only intervene if there is a problem. I am trusting the goats to know what they’re doing.
GEORGIA
2 Does & 1 Buck
Georgia is a champ. Birthing just seems to come easy for her.
We missed the births by just minutes. But when we got there, everything looked perfect.
These three are so very friendly – which is funny because Georgia is not the most loving goat.
MOON
2 Does & 1 Buck
Moon gave birth a few days before I was expecting. So, I was surprised one morning to find 3 cuties beside her.
Last year, Moon’s first freshening, I was not too impressed with her mothering skills. This year she is much better, thankfully.
WILLOW
2 Does & 2 Bucks
Poor Willow. She gets so, so big. She handles it well, though, and is always such a good mama.
I knew Willow was getting close to giving birth. So I kept checking on her. But, it was getting late so I finally left her alone. Sure enough, two hours later she gave birth to 4 kids.
WYLDESTYLE
2 Does & 1 Buck
I watched WyldeStyle the entire time she was in active labor and after kidding. I could tell she was getting close, so I just camped in the barn with her.
Her first kid came with little concern. Things seemed to be happening as they should and baby number 1 was born. She was very attentive to the baby, licking and talking to it.
Occasionally WyldeStyle would sit and push, but then get back to caring for Baby #1. We were nearing the half an hour mark and still not another baby. I was starting to get concerned because WyldeStyle behaved as if there was another one to be born.
Eventually, Baby #2 did come. But, the sac didn’t break. The baby just layed there completely surrounded and unable to take a breath. WyldeStyle didn’t try to help it because Baby #3 was coming.
Baby #3 was born the same way – without the sac breaking.
I waited as long as I could stand it. I was hoping the sacs would break and WyldeStyle would start doing her thing. But, they didn’t. So I went in the pen and wiped the babies clear. WyldeStyle right away got to licking. And all turned out well.
This was a new experience for me. I don’t know what the outcome would have been had we not been there.
BETTY
1 Doe & 1 Buck
Betty kind of surprised me. I wasn’t sure Betty was pregnant, but about 2 months before she gave birth I decided she was. She was looking a bit rounder and had a small udder.
As her kidding date got closer, though, I was having some doubts. Her body shape wasn’t changing, her udder wasn’t getting bigger. She wasn’t looking uncomfortable. My only clue that she might be was that she was a lot more interested in us humans. She wanted attention and to be pet – which is not her typical personality.
Her kidding date came and went. No kids. So I decided she must not be having babies.
And then…
I went to the barn to check on WyldeStyle and her babies the morning after they were born and I heard the tiniest cry from the other stall. Sure enough, Betty had recently given birth to 2 kids. One was up and crying. The other was laying there in its sac, still as can be. It was alive, but barely. I quickly cleaned her a bit and gave her back to Betty. Betty was not interested. So, I took her inside, kept her warm, and fed her a bit of colostrum. I didn’t have high hopes for her. She just wasn’t improving. Within minutes, kids are up and looking for milk. She wasn’t even trying to get up. It took her a couple hours. But eventually she seemed to be perking up, so I took her back out to Betty. Betty finally welcomed her and all seemed ok.
These two were the smallest kids we’ve ever had. The little girl didn’t even weigh 2 pounds and the boy weighed just at 2 pounds.
Two weeks later, I can say these two are as spry and spunky as our other goat babies. And Betty is a fabulous mama. I’m really very impressed with her. β€
#2kpioneer
