Jumbo Sized

Remember my tiny little dancing Gypsy girl?  She kept ending up spraddle legged until I made a little elastic device to help her keep her legs together and build muscle.  Well, Clover’s Jumbo boy had the same problem.  Kind of.  He also was so cramped and folded in there that his front hooves were folded under.

Poor Jumbo had problems on both ends, but I made a jumbo-sized orthopedic device for him.

He’s already doing much better!  We can’t forget his not-so-little sister, Janelle.  It’s no wonder he couldn’t move around in there.

Janelle, Clover and Jumbo

If Clover thinks she’s tired now, wait until they start running all over!

We’re Hot

For the last four days, we’ve been about ten degrees above our historic average, and it looks like it’s going to continue for another four days.  So far in the month of June we’ve had not a drop of rain. That means it’s been miserable weather for kidding and everything.  Today, I moved Pistol and her kids to the greenhouse because it’s a little cooler.  I could open the east door and at least let some air through.

Pistol and Astra

Every time the goats come up from pasture, they want a drink of water (kids too), so I’ve been filling the tubs several times each day.

Bambi with Quincy in front and Queenie behind

Poor Maggie and Harley do not do well in the heat, and with new babies, I have them up with Minnie and Helen so they don’t have to go out to pasture.

Maggie with Tequilla

All day today, I kept an eye on Clover.  See the red mug on the bench?

Clover

In typical Pistol fashion, she decided to bust the top out of it today.  Brat.  I’ve been using that mug for my iced tea for twenty-one years.

Finally, Clover had her kids.  In keeping with the Sam tradition, we have a huge buck with wattles and a nice sized girl with wattles.

Poor Cookie’s boys have had some lung issues.  I’m not sure if they didn’t get the fluid all cleaned out or if they caught a touch of something, but they were open mouthed panting when I checked them, so they went into the milk room.

That made milking a bit more fun this evening.  Yes, the black and white one (they really need names) is peeing on my floor.

Andy, Dolly and Cookie’s boys

I just took them back out to Cookie to nurse.

Cookie and kids

You can see, they are still favoring one side.  I’m still milking some out to make it easier for them to nurse.  I’ll keep checking them to see if they need to go back into the milk room for a while this evening.

My poor old geese are panting.

The llamas are actually handling the weather fairly well.  Granted, they are spending a lot of time in the barn, but they are not seeming stressed.

“Don’t make me go out in the hot sun.” -Maybeline.

I usually have the dog out in the yard whenever I’m doing anything outside because it scares me to leave him in the house with Rocky.  They have way too much fun.

The good news is that we have a decent chance for a bit of rain overnight.  That would be good.  I’m really ready for the break to more normal temperatures though.  You want to know the really good news?  With Clover having her kids, I will actually get to sleep all night tonight!  I’m excited!

I hope you’ll come back to join me for Friday’s Hunt.  I have this week’s items listed at the top of my side bar.

Fully Baked and Out of the Oven

Cookie’s official due date was this coming Tuesday.  I didn’t think she was going to make it that long because she’s huge.  I’ve never seen her look so big before.

Cookie Blackboer

This afternoon her timer went off and the babies were done.  She had a hard time getting the first one here.  He’s awfully big, but we finally got him out.

Buckling No. 1

Her second boy was a lot easier.  They are both doing well.  So is Cookie Mom.

Cookie and Buckling No. 2

That just leaves me three more goats to have kids this year–twin sisters, Pistol and Vinnie.

And Pistol’s girl, Clover.

I’m ready for all the kids to be safely here.