Unpleasant Tasks

Thursday I disbudded kids 1, 2, 4 and 5. I didn't have to disbud kid 3 because he is polled. I wethered kids 3 and 5. I always hate doing this because I'm afraid of alienating the kids from me (not a pleasant experience for them!). But, my worries were laid to rest Friday morning. I went out to feed and all the kids were jumping and running around as if nothing had happened and didn't hesitate to run right up to me. So the events of Thursday didn't seem to screw them up.

Just more unpleasant tasks associated with keeping up Almosta Farm. TTFN :)

What, you ask, is disbudding and wethering? Click on the links (blue print) in the body of the story to find out.

ADDENDUM TO THIS STORY:
Today, Saturday the 25th, John and Deana came over about 4:00pm. They wanted to make sure I got the kids disbudded before they got too old. Since I had 5 more kids left to do, I did it today with their help. It is a good thing too because kids 9 and 10, Trixie's 2 billy babies, are too, too big for the box I use to hold the kids for the procedure. John held the little buggers for me and it worked out great. I wethered them too. Thanks John and Deana!

They grow up so fast!

Dagney's kids were born January 31st. Remember how cute the kids were when they were just 12 hour old ? Well, they are still cute but they sure are growing up quickly!

At just one week old they started exploring on their own. At first they didn't go very far before turning back. Now they are all over the place!


In this picture taken yesterday you will see Dagney's billy in the background on the left, Dagney toward the right and kid #3 on the far right. Up front is kid #1.
Marcy's kids were born February 7th. The doeling was born first and the billy second. He is pretty much a mamma's boy but the doeling is very outgoing.




They seemed so tiny next to Dagney's 1 week old kids that I had them wear sweaters for about 3 days before I felt like they had enough bulk to stay warm on their own.


Now at 2 weeks old they are up an running with the best of them. Here is a picture of kid #4 (Marcy's 1st kid) with kid #3 (Dagney's kid) taken yesterday.Then of course there are Girl's kids born February 16th.

These doelings are very active and inquisitive.



They have no trouble socializing with the other goats.







They are especially interested in the big hairy beast behind the fence!



Last, but certainly not least, are Trixie's billies. They were huge when they were born. In fact, they were so huge that I had to pull them. Trixie gave it her all but couldn't quite finish the job. She and the billies are doing really well. The billies are still huge. They are as big as Dagney's 3 week old kids. Do you think I could get a shot of them standing together? NO . . . because Trixie is an elitist and won't let her kids associate with the rif-raf. They pretty much mind her too, and stay away from the other kids.


That does not, however, keep the other kids from coming to them :) This shot is of kid #10 (Trixie's 2nd kid) with Dagney and her kids in the background. It might give you an idea of how big the billies are.








Then there are pictures of the two billies together with their Nanny. Notice Gizmo running for his life if fear of Trixie after she pulled his tail when he got too close to the kids (LOL).




I hope you aren't getting board with all the pictures of the goats. Let me know if you want to see more. TTFN :)

Done and done :)

I have to go to work so this is not going to be very detailed. I'll give you details later. Suffice it to say kidding season is over at Almosta Farm. Trixie has had 2 beautiful bucky babies. They were freakishly huge! This picture shows that they are so big their sweaters don't even fit! (Little black bucky is nealing in this picture - he was #2 and is the largest). Like I said, I'll give details later. I have to get cleaned up and go to work. (Now all that is left is the foal!) TTFN :)

IT'S A GIRL . . .

I went to the feed store today with my friend. We were on our way home and talking about how tonight was forecast to be the coldest night of the week, down to 17 degrees. I jokingly said to my friend, "You wait, there will be babies there when I get home."

AND . . . IT's A GIRL!

All the goats had come out to the car to see if I bought them any goodies. All except Girl. I went looking for her in the loafing shed only to find her trying to dry off her new kid while keeping it out of the chilling wind that was blowing. I grabbed my sweat shirt and bundled baby up. Then the three of us made the long trek to the chicken coop where I turned on the heat lamp and got Girl and her doeling out of the wind. We cuddled and got all cozy. I got baby's sweater on her and she stopped shivering and perked right up. She is a real beauty!

I had been out with the goats about an hour. I was just getting ready to go inside when Girl started pawing at the ground and grunting. I thought she still looked kind of big! It wasn't long before baby girl #2 came along.


Girl was sooo funny. It was like she couldn't figure out what was going on. The kid came out and Girl just looked at me like "What just happened?!" (last year she only had one kid). I jumped up and tore the sac from the kid's face and she made a squeal. That was all it took. Girl literally twirled around and immediately started tending to the wee one.

BUT WAIT . . . THERE'S MORE!

Girl had just barely started drying off #2 girl when she stood up, arched her back and turned and looked behind her. A little bulge soon manifested itself as . . . can you guess? . . . little girl #3.














Each has been dried off and their sweaters put on. Girl is attentive to each and has seen to it that each has had their turn nursing. I will get more pics up soon but now it is getting late, and cold. So, I leave Girl and her girls in the chicken coop for the night where they will be safe and warm and I retire to my nice, warm bath. TTFN from me and the girls :)

No new babies yet. Poor Girl, Trixie and Star are waddling around like...well, like they are pregnant and just about to deliver! When the goats lay down they moan and groan and just can't get comfortable. Star just stands there with one hind leg held out to the side a little, kind of standing on her toe. Which hind leg depends on where the foal is laying at the time. Ahh, I remember it all too well. I'll bet Carol can begin to sympathize right about now! TTFN :)

Marcy's Surprise

I went out to the yard this evening to feed the horse and goats. I grabbed a few flakes from the hay pile and was about to throw them in where I always do. My two precious white baby girls were lounging comfortably in just the spot where I usually throw my hay. I chuckled and said, "Don't let me disturb you girls, I'll just put my hay someplace else!" They looked up at me as if to say, "Of course you will!" and didn't budge. So I threw the hay in another direction and went to get more. When I came back with the next load the girls were where I had left them and all the rest of the mob was around the hay already thrown in. All except for one goat and a kid who were over by the dog house. Not really paying attention, I assumed it was Dagney and her little brown billy . . .
BUT WAIT . . . another white goat?!


It wasn't Dagney, it was Marcy and her two little newborn babes! She was still cleaning them up when I came on the scene. Well, needless to say, we had our cuddle fest. Then I went for the camera. I didn't have to wait to take pictures of these babies since it was still light outside. So here they are, brand new and still wet!











The brown kid is a little doe and the white kid is a little buck.


The new kids are eager to explore and wander in and out amongst the other goats and the horse.



This doesn't seem to phase anyone. The animals just go about their evening routine of eating and seem to accept the new kids as just part of the family.











Marcy is at ease with this new arrangement. She is a great nanny. She is attentive but isn't at all stressed out. Even when I bundled the kids up in their little sweaters for the night she simply talked to them softly to reassure them that they were in no danger from this lady.

And where was Dagney's little billy through all this?


Asleep in the dog house with a chicken! He didn't seem to care at all about
Marcy's surprise.


There is always something fun at Almosta Farm. TTFN :)