Who’s Due For Spring Break

Well, I think most of my girls did not settle for spring break kids.

I’m glad Joani didn’t settle because she’s suddenly showing her age.

But I do have a few who I think are due for spring break.

I think Penelope is bred, but she’s in with Freddie if she didn’t.

Hera is starting to look round.

I do believe Benji bred Cupid for his only spring break kids. (with Tansy beside her)

I haven’t seen Bubbles come back into heat.

I’m pretty sure Athena settled.

I think Hilda settled; this will probably be her last time. (with Rosie)

It looks like Antigone has settled.

I’ll start doing udder checks pretty soon to see if I can confirm my suspicions. I think I have two who are going to give me oopsie babies.

I haven’t seen Aphrodite in heat since she got in with Xerxes.

I think Tansy settled after her little visit with the bucks too.

And I have no idea with Caroline (who also got in with the bucks twice).  I guess I’ll find out eventually.

Getting Through the Cold

Last week started nice, but Wednesday flipped the switch, and we’ve been miserably cold and windy since.  It’s been a challenge just to do chores and keep everyone going.

Maybeline, Odie, and the goats

The breeding groups have proved a bit of a challenge. Kind of.  Xerxes and his girls are really pretty crowded in there.  As soon as they start getting bred, I’ll move them back to the main herd.

LilyAnn, Joy’s back end, Xerxes, and Daisy

Benji and his girls are nice and cozy, but the lean-to isn’t quite as warm.  I need to do some work up there next spring.

Benji and Venus (Chiffon behind)

The two little bucks were acting like bucks with Flower and Antigone when I put them in there, so I let Antigone out.  It didn’t take too long for them to settle down with Flower.

Frodo (Lemuel inside)

I did finally put Antigone in with Freddie and his group.

Antigone

Penelope also decided she wanted to go in there.   That’s fine. There’s plenty of room.

Penelope and her sister Flora

I just have a hard time getting Freddie to let me open the door without smashing other goats or jumping on the gate.  He is being a pain in there.

Freddie (my makeshift gate is a challenge)

I’m also trying to keep a close eye on my old ladies. I have so many old ones that I worry about when it’s cold.

Coral

Aurora and I about froze standing out in the negative wind chills while she ate her extra feed, but she got it. I do think she’s holding her own. You know, as long as I keep giving her the extra feed.

Aurora

Perdita and Pretzel are the two little ones I worry about.  Haley has actually been pretty good to Pretzel and she seems to be doing okay. Haley is also back on the pain meds to help that back ankle where she had surgery and has arthritis and bone spurs.

Pretzel and Haley

Perdita I’m trying to make sure she always gets a little pile of hay to herself, and I’ve been letting her come into the chicken pen when I feed, so she can eat some corn.

Perdita (stretching)

It seems that our stretch of miserable cold has come to an end.  Within in a couple of days, it looks like a stretch of above average temperatures.  Sigh….I still want a long stretch of average.

Basking Season

After a week of gloomy, drizzle, fog, clouds, snow and horrible wind chills, we’ve had a slight turn.  There’s sunshine and no wind this morning.  Granted, it’s only 4°F out there, but it’s still better than yesterday.

The goats agree.  They came out of the barn to bask in the sunshine.

During the winter storm yesterday, I found Antigone huddled behind the door (that crack to the right of Bubbles).

Margarita (front), Joani (middle), Bubbles (back) and Caroline (right)

I had to pull her out because she has just a tiny bit of baby bump that meant she couldn’t get out.  I put her in the Love Shack with Flower.  She looks much more content this morning.

Antigone

Some of the critters are still staying inside.

Aurora catching the sunshine

Hera (top); Popcorn (bottom)

I still really worry about the animals.  We have a couple days of warmer temperatures coming and then another dive into Arctic temperatures before jumping up to the freezing point again.  Poor babies.

Bambi

Others are out looking for bits of leftovers from yesterday.

Penelope

Don’t worry, they are getting plenty to eat in this cold.