The Goats Go to the Front Pasture

Considering Hera and Caroline can find a tiny spot to get through a fence, I figured the goats would find the big open gates, and I was right.

Haley and Joani coming back into the barnyard

The first thing they did was feast on the weeds south of the buck room.

My pastures are beautiful grass.  People are always asking how I get my pastures so clean.  It’s simple.  The goats like to eat all the weeds.

Here’s Casey working on thistle control.  Thank heavens they like eating thistles!

It only took a couple of minutes for Avril to find her mom and start nursing.

Astra and Avril

The next order of business was checking out the trees.

Haley and Moose

They also check the fences to see what they can reach.

They will keep all the trees away from the fences.

It’s important work.

Blaze

Daisy and Freddie were working on the wild grape vine.

Daisy and Freddie

Pretty soon they’ll actually make it to the bottom part of the pasture where it’s just thick grass.

I have to say, I was surprised that Cinnamon and Ava did not have their kids nursing.

Ava with a full udder; Cinnamon behind her

I didn’t separate them again, but I still got all of my milk.

Coming in June

Well, it has certainly been a crazy kidding year with all the oopsie babies.  We are finally reaching my second round of planned kids–June babies.

Hilda

We only have three girls left to have babies.  I decided Fionn wasn’t able to get the job done, and Joani isn’t going to kid this year.  That’s fine.  She raised three last year, so she’s entitled to a year off.

Joani

Caroline was supposed to have babies, but she managed not to settle also.  As naughty as she’s been this spring, I am threatening her with getting sold or eaten (remember, I’m a vegetarian), but she is totally not concerned.

Caroline

Aphrodite was in heat just as I put her in with Zeus.  If she settled, she’s due June 10th.  If she didn’t settle right away, she’ll be due June 30th.

Aphrodite

Hilda is due June 20ish.  She’s huge.  Really huge.  Maybe if she has triplets, I’ll have to help one with bottles and make it a tame keeper girl.

Oh, Hilda…

Finally, Antigone will have her first kids on June 23rd.  Well, that’s when she’s due.

Antigone

Then we’ll be done! Unless…

What Have I Done?

With Maggie aborting, it threw me into a panic of who else might be bred. I spent some time last weekend doing udder checks–feeling udders to see who might be pregnant.  There’s no need to check Blaze.  I just need her to pop those oopsie babies out so I can quit getting up at two in the morning.

Blaze

No need to check Gidget either.  She’s obviously due for spring break, just like I planned.

Joani, Gidget, Cutie, Bubbles

I checked all my little girls, and they are good–no udders growing.  Well, except, I couldn’t truly check Bubbles because she threw a hissy fit and wouldn’t let me touch her, but I will keep trying to check her.

Bubbles

Her maa, however, is another story.  Mary is definitely making an udder.

Mary

I also think Joani is going to have kids well before June.  You might recall, she just spent time with Fionn to get bred.  I think that was a waste of time now.

Joani

I’m guessing she’ll be due around the other girls who Zeus bred for the first week of April.

Cupid and Hera are both expecting the first part of April (and making udders)

I was suspicious about Cookie a while ago, so I felt her again, and I am afraid she is pregnant.  She really struggled last year, so I had no intention of breeding her.  Like Maggie, she’d been given a shot to prevent it.

Cookie

Then I checked Dolly because I know she shouldn’t be bred.  I gave her two or three shots (every dang time Zeus got out).  I really hate to say it, but she feels like she’s making an udder.

Pluto (her last kid) and Dolly

She’s going to be twelve this summer.  At this point, I began wondering if I was wrong and just couldn’t tell if they were making an udder.  I hope I’m wrong.

I checked Litha and Stormy and Bonnie and Harley–all goats I’ve seen in heat.  Not making an udder.

Stormy

Luckily, Coral, who has never had a baby, isn’t making an udder.

Coral (Reva behind her is due for spring break)

I didn’t check Penny because she hurts me when I touch her udder, but I’ll try to sneak a feel when I can find an opportunity.

Penny

All these really old girls (or the ones I was just planning on retiring), are getting extra care (food and copper).

Cinnamon

Bambi

I hope it’s enough.  I really do wonder if the bottle of lutalyse was bad.  I’ve never had it fail before.