Goats and Fences

There’s a saying that if you throw a glass of water at a fence and water gets through, a goat can get through.  Well, I think there’s some truth to that.  I’ve had my mom separated from the rest of the herd, but things keep happening.

Moms in front; everyone else in back

Hera has figured out how to go back and forth so that she can eat grain with both groups.

Hera

She must have shown Aphrodite where she gets through because Aphrodite ended up back on the side where my moms are.  Apparently, she can’t get back through.

Aphrodite

At one point, Dolly put herself on the side with the rest of the retired girls.  That was good because she’s been picking on everyone, and I was going to have to figure out how to move her over there away from the moms.

Dolly

Then one day I got home from work and found Margarita on the wrong side.  At least her Peanut is little enough to follow her anywhere.

Margarita and Peanut

The next morning, Daisy had joined the moms.  I don’t know how.

Daisy

Then Harley and Cupid ended up on the wrong side.

Harley and Cupid (Stormy behind)

I’m starting to think I should just give up and put everyone back together.  But then Friday when I got home, I found Maggie with the moms, and she wanted to fight with Harley.

Maggie

Instead, I sorted everyone out again.  My moms still need extra care.

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The Next Kids

After lunch, we had a lull in the babies.  The weather has been a bit crazy with one front after another passing through, so lots of girls look like they might be kidding, but then they settle back down.  It’s also why you get crappy cell phone pictures.  All the rain has added another level of crazy to everything.  I am grateful that I managed to scrounge and cut panels at the ice level and make enough pens.

I keep checking them and doing those everyday things that need to be done.  Checking goats and laughing at Dolly in the big tub is always fun.

Dolly (Clover behind)

One of those things everyday things today was running Hilda’s boy, Gouda, to the vet for a clip on each eye because they were entropion.

Gouda

I’ve also started Blaze on an antibiotic because she has mastitis.  That also means I’m helping feed her boys.

When I went out about 6:30 Tuesday evening, I opened the door to the garage and immediately noticed that Bonnie had kids!

She has two little girls!

I love it when I just walk out and all the excitement is over and the kids are just getting ready to nurse.  It makes my job much easier. Although she does have one girl who is a bit weak, so I’m helping feed her while she gets stronger.

Then there’s Reva.  She went into labor late Wednesday morning.

Reva

It took forever, but I finally got a big boy pulled out of her.

These fat girls need to have two small ones, not one big one.  It would be easier for all of us.

While We Wait

While we wait for kids to arrive, the girls are mostly just haning out in the buildings.

Reva

Of course, rain and crazy wind makes them want to stay inside.

Astra Victoria, Joani, Gidget and Hera, Maisie

Athena and Dolly on the bench; Victoria and Joani lying; Astra’s back

I keep checking them.  I sometimes worry that more of them will get stuck under the workbenches, but that doesn’t happen very often.

Ava

They also wander around eating leftovers.

Annie and Mary

Astra has decided that it is not easy to walk on my paths that were filled with water yesterday and froze overnight.  I have to agree with her.

Astra

The ones in the garage are just lounging.

Haley (lying down), Cinnamon, Blaze, Bonnie, and Wanda

Actually, they’re just waiting on room service.

Bonnie

Wanda thinks we need better basking opportunities in the garage.

Wanda

They could all use a “wide load” sign.

Haley

I still keep wondering what the heck I did breeding Margarita.

Margarita

I guess I know–I keep thinking of her as a yearling, but she’s not.  She’s the same age as Caroline who is about twice as big.

Caroline (and Sidney in back)

If we make it through this, I will not be breeding her again.  I can’t take the worry.