Most of the time, my winter days with the goats is just doing routine things–feed and water. Part of that also includes just paying attention. It’s been nice to notice that Antigone’s head has completely healed up where her horns were removed.
Antigone and Pistol (in back)
I see Margarita is not very round. She’s bred and it makes me worry she isn’t getting enough to eat. That means I put her and her maa in the Love Shack. Although, after just a couple of days, I’d returned Maggie to the Love Shack three times and Margarita twice, so I gave up. Now I’m trying to get Margarita to eat in the milk room after Dolly is done with her extra feed.
Margarita and Maggie
Then I noticed Clover was under the bench in the greenhouse, which made me think that I hadn’t seen her when I fed grain. Sure enough, she got under there and couldn’t get out, so I had to pull her out. Luckily, that’s not a very frequent problem.
Clover
I’ve noticed Reva limping again. I consulted with the vet, and we’re going to try a different antibiotic that is more safe for while she’s pregnant and try to take care of that stubborn infection in her hoof.
Reva
Because I seem to not know how to truly tell when the girls need more copper, I also try to pay attention to anything that can give me a clue.
Mary with a fish tail
Of course, I’m not so sure that Mary’s fish tail isn’t an improvement. She’s actually getting enough hair on her tail to sport this look.
I also noticed one afternoon that Maybeline (I know she’s not a goat, but still…) had twine from a bale of hay wrapped around her foot. No matter how hard I try to keep them picked up, they end up everywhere. Anyhow, Maybeline was not about to let me take it off her foot, but she did run from me like I was a demon trying to drag her soul from her, and it finally fell off. Of course, she still thinks I’m evil now. I swear that girl better just be pregnant and hormonal, or she’s major bi-polar.
Maybeline (and Odie in back agreeing that Maybeline is crazy)
Fionn has been coughing off and on all fall and winter, but he seems to be acting fine. I am just keeping a close eye on him to make sure he’s still eating well and acting well. He’s not a young kid anymore.
Fionn
Then these two little stinkers managed to flip the lid off the corn, and I spent a couple of tense days hoping that they didn’t overeat on the corn. I did threaten Pluto that I’d never forgive him if he killed himself by overeating.
Anubis and Pluto
Then yesterday when I was doing chores, I noticed that Athena had a bloody back side indicating that she had aborted. At least she was not very far along (more like she didn’t settle than aborted), and she is acting fine, so I’m not worried about her. Still, I will keep a close eye on her to make sure she doesn’t get an infection.
Athena
Mama Phoenix was doing better. She was doing so well that she managed to fly up to the roof of the soap room to roost for the night. That means she reinjured her leg when she flew down in the morning. Sigh. We’re back to gimping around. Poor girl.
It seems like there’s always someone to take care of and do something with.
Tags: abort, Antigone, Athena, clover, copper deficiency, fishtail, health, hoof, infection, llama, Maggie, Margarita, Mary, Maybeline, Phoenix, Pistol, Reva
Teresa
