Raising animals for meat and milk is always a challenge. Each week comes with new surprises and this one was no different. Just when you think that everything is going smooth, along comes a bump in the road. This weeks surprise bump came in the shape of new baby kids.
Don't get me wrong. We knew the kids were coming soon. We've already had the first batch of newborns and other then the sad day (earlier post) everything has been mostly as expected. Sure, we had to help with a couple deliveries but all in all its been pretty uneventful. All the kids are doing well and growing strong.
Well not quite two days ago handed us a huge pothole rather then a bump. After all the goats and other animals were fed and everyone seemed to be ready to settle in for the day we left for work like we always do. As things would have it, a customer was late coming by after work so we had to wait a little late before leaving. We also had to stop by the feed store for supplies which meant it was even later. Then we stopped and got a chicken biscuit and a tea for supper before filling the gas tank and heading on home. It was getting dark but still it wasn't overly late. We thought that we had the day mostly wrapped up.
When we get home we usually check on the goats and other animals but tonight as soon as I got out of the truck I heard tiny voices coming from the goat pen. First, I checked the boer goats and all was fine. Then I checked the pygmys and saw that Sandy had two new babies. She had them all cleaned up and mostly dry so it had been a while since they were born. Sandy wasn't standing though and didn't look very good. When we checked we found that there was still another baby that she hadn't been able to deliver. Only one little hoof was showing and we knew something was wrong. It was time for some serious help. I held Sandy still while my husband helped deliver the last kid which had its head twisted backwards and had to be turned. It was too late though and the baby didn't make it. If we had been home perhaps we could have helped but sometimes it happens that way and we've learned to deal with the loss.
Sandy was obviously still not doing well after the long difficult labor and I hoped she was just tired and a little weak. We made sure to give her warm water and antibiotics to prevent infection. I gave her some liquid drench to give her added vitamins and strength after the stress of the day. The babies had their first milk and we left her with them to rest a bit. After an hour we went back out to check on them and she was still not doing well but with our help she was happy to let the babies drink. We checked during the night and hoped she was just tired.
The next day she ate a bit and drank and the babies got more milk with our help. Its very important that they get the first milk because it has colostrum which the babies need. In the meantime, another goat was in labor having her own new kid. Everything went smooth for her and she has only one kid. Sandy kept losing energy and seemed like she just gave up. The stress of the hard delivery was just too much for her. Late last night Sandy passed away. I woke up from sleep at 3:00 and heard the babies up the hill while the dog barked. When I went out to check she was gone and one of the little ones was still by her side. I could hear the other one but I couldn't find it. I looked all over and couldn't figure out where it had gotten to. I finally found it squished in between three other Nannys flipped upside down on its back. When they would shift he would let out a little cry for help. He'd obviously gone looking to other mothers for warmth and milk and tipped over and couldn't squirm out. I was glad I had gone up there to check when I did. I went and got help and we moved Sandy out of the pen. Then we held the other new mother still while we let the two little orphans drink. They filled their little bellies and I brought them inside for the night.
They spent the night in the clothes basket curled up on a soft blanket. This morning we let them drink from the other new mother but she isn't happy about it. She fights us over the situation and I'm afraid to leave the babies alone with her. I hoped that I could graft them to her and she would learn to accept them as her own but she will have none of it. If another goat has single kids in the next day or so then I will try with her but for now I'm not sure if it will happen.
I will probably end up bottle feeding these two little orphans. I don't mind because its usually part of the work of having goats on the homestead but mothers milk and protection are always the best way in my opinion. Bottle feeding means mixing powdered milk, filling bottles, heating them up and nursing even while at work and in the middle of the night. Its just like having a human baby. They depend on us to feed them properly.
Which brings me to the end of this post (for now). I've decided (and prepping granny agrees) to make the journey of these two little kids into a regular addition here. I hope y'all will enjoy their little lives and watching them as they grow up. Through their time with bottles and new challenges I hope it helps to teach a bit about raising goats for the future as well as be something fun to experience.
One of them is a girl and the other lighter tan one is a boy and they will become part of our forever goats here at the farm. I always name the "keepers" and so these two will need names. I would like for suggestions for names from those of you who want to follow their journey. I'll list the names from all the ones offered and put them in a later post. I don't reuse names of previous goats here on the farm so every goat gets their own special name which they recognize and answer to. Won't you help name these little cuties and watch them grow:)?